NASCAR engine built in 16 minutes
 

NASCAR Engine Built in 16 minutes! Competition to Air on Horsepower TV

ANN ARBOR, MI – Aug. 20, 2007 – Imagine putting together an engine for a NASCARâ race car in just 16 minutes. Pistons, bearings, crankshaft and other engine parts flying into a bare engine block.


That is exactly what you’ll see on Horsepower TV's coverage of the 2007 MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown held recently. Power-Block's "Horsepower TV" airs on the cable TV channel Spike.


The MAHLE Engine Builder Showdown features competing teams, each with two engine builders, who build engines for the top NASCAR NEXTELâ Cup races. The contest involves completely assembling and running a NEXTELâ Cup 357-cubic-inch engine in the shortest time possible.


The Showdown is an annual event sponsored by MAHLE Clevite Inc., a leading supplier of performance engine parts to racers and engine builders. (www.mahleclevite.com)


“This year's competition was one of the most exciting ever,” said Ted Hughes, brand and communications manager for MAHLE Clevite. "Our 2007 champions, Dennis Borem and Darrell Hoffman of Pro Motor Engines broke the all-time record with an engine-build time of 16 minutes and 25 seconds, which included 60 seconds of actual running time, and no penalties. That was one minute and 22 seconds ahead of the competing Hendrick Motorsports team. It was a remarkable, nail-biting finish."


This year’s winner received the Randy Dorton Memorial Trophy plus a cash prize of $26,000. Runners-up Kevin Webber and Scott Vester of Hendrick Motorsports received $9,000.


In all, 19 teams competed this year, representing other NASCAR teams like Dale Earnhardt Inc., Roush Yates Racing, Penske Racing and Bill Davis Racing.


Horsepower TV airs on the cable TV channel Spike. The show is scheduled to air on:

Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007 noon (EDT)

Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007 at 11:00 a.m (EDT)

Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007 at noon (EST)

Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. (EST)


Viewers are encouraged to check local listings for exact time and channel listings in their area.

That's pretty friggin' amazing.

It took me 20 minutes today to place the main and intermediate shaft bearings in the case halves.

Now, if I could only reassemble a 911 in 30 times the amount of time, that would be amazing!! LOL

What would be more impressive if they would install one of these engines in their cup cars and race a 500 mile'r.:)

I enjoy watching these competitions!! Maybe, this is what Motor Meister does???

along the same lines... I remember reading years ago about a contest to build a house... 3br, 2ba in 8 hours.... every part was lined up ready to put in...I don't remember how many people they had working on it maybe more than 100

It takes me that long to torque the heads!:eek:

MM does it, don't they?

That is indeed quick, but you would NOT want to put that engine in your car and expect it to stay together. Watch them slam the camshaft in, (probably nicked EVERY cam bearing edge in the engine). Along with shoving a ring compressor over the pistons with no regard to ring end gap location/orientation. Etc...

But it is after all, just a race to complete. Not for longevity.

And the service department only charges 40 hours of labor for the same thing!

And what is the point?

However, iif they take that 16 min. engine, then use it to try for a starting grid position, that would be impressive, but I don't think it gets that far.

Sherwood

The entire point is that many of us here have spent upwards of six months gathering parts, having things machined, plated and talking to experts, coupled with a couple hundred hours worth of research in books, workshop manuals and parts manuals. Then the NASCAR guys go and assemble an engine that RUNS in 16 minutes!

It just goes to show you how different they are. That said, I know the pros here certainly don't take six months to build an engine. The factory could assemble a 906 in 16 hours compared to 125 for a four-cam. That's a trained worker with new parts.

One other major difference is the number of part assemblies.

911 V8

2 part case Block
6 cly heads 2 Heads
6 P/C's 8 pistons
2 cams 1 cam
2 timing chains timing gear
more complex fuel sys. 1 big ole carb
Cly. Tin


etc.