Sema 2012: Enginehunting

As I mentioned during my coverage last week, the SEMA Show presents a near endless supply of content from a Speedhunters perspective. We could easily spend a month posting observations from the show, but for my final piece of coverage from SEMA I’d like to focus on the engines. Whether large or small, diesel or gas, modern or vintage – the display of horsepower at SEMA 2012 was as great as ever.

If one single powerplant could be considered the “star” of this year’s show, that would probably be the 2014 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet Engine Concept. Ford’s racing division threw everything they have at this motor, and it’s quite a piece. Based on the proven Cobra Jet race engines, the 5.0 has been fully built to withstand the the boost from its pair Borg Warner EFR turbochargers.

The placement of the turbos is pretty interesting with each turbine sitting well forward and below the engine itself. When the engine is mounted in the car you can hardly see them as they are mounted behind the fog light openings in the front bumper.

This sort of thing isn’t uncommon in the aftermarket, but to see the factory playing with wild forced induction setups is awesome. It’s also a fine example of just how much turbocharging has grown in the last couple of years. Ford hasn’t announced any horsepower numbers for this setup, but you can bet it’s pretty impressive. Anyone care to take a guess?

On the other end of the spectrum, Ford is one of many other automakers introducing smaller displacement turbocharged four and sometimes three cylinder motors. Obviously these motors are being designed for fuel efficiency, but I’m excited to see what tuners will be able to get out of them.

It seems that with whatever Ford does, GM is right there to answer with something of its own. It’s like we are right back in the horsepower wars of the ’60s. This is the Stock Eliminator 427 available in the COPO Camaro, a high revving NA V8 based off the LS7 from the Corvette Z06. This displacement is of course the same as the original 427 COPO Camaros from 1969.

If you are looking for plug and play emissions legal engine packages with tons of horsepower, GM has you covered with their E-ROD line. This is the E-ROD LSA with 556 supercharged horsepower ready to go in whatever you may choose to drop it in.

Mopar isn’t to be overlooked in this department either. They also offer a full range of ready to go crate motors, like this emissions-legal 5.7 Hemi with 375 horsepower and a 24,000 mile warranty. Like the GM E-RODs, it comes with just about everything you need – computer, cats, wiring harness and more.

Besides their Hemi line, Mopar also offers a selection of V10 engine kits and parts for those looking to capture the soul of the Viper. Oh how I’d like to drop one of these in a Dodge A100 van from the ’60s…

Whether its Ford, GM, or Mopar I just think it’s fantastic that these companies offer so many different forms of factory-proven engine packages and upgrade parts for enthusiasts. We are truly living in a golden age of Hot Rodding with motors that burn cleaner, run smoother, and make more horsepower than ever.

It’s not just the OEMs themselves that offer complete engine packages, but aftermarket companies as well. Edelbrock for example offers this complete supercharged Ford Coyote crate motor making a solid 700 horsepower and 606 foot pounds of torque on 91 octane pump gas. Never before has horsepower been so easy to come by…

All around the show you can see these engines being put to use under the hoods of cars from their respective makers – and sometimes vehicles from completely different brands. The LSX is of course dominant mill, being found in everything from Street Rods and Pro Touring cars to drift cars and dune buggies.

Naturally, most of the Pro Touring Mopars run modern Hemis like this 6.1 under the hood of a ’70 Charger out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Ford’s modern motors meanwhile pop up in the Mustang and other vintage FoMoCo builds – usually with a supercharger thrown on for good measure.

The 5.0 Coyote V8 continues to find its way into more and more vintage builds. This one was found in the engine bay of a customized 1950s era F100 pickup.

Is 2012 the year of the snail? It certainly seemed so with all of the crazy forced induction setups at SEMA this year. With the way these cars keep advancing, naturally aspirated engine setups and 500 horsepower just aren’t cutting it for many builders.

While on the subject of turbochargers and massive horsepower figures, you also have some pretty radical Diesel engine setups shown at SEMA. PPE offers this kit for the Duramax that makes an easy 1,000+ horsepower while being totally comfortable on the street.

Those numbers might sound wild, but it’s actually pretty common stuff in the realm of Diesel tuning. Americans might not have excepted Diesel passenger cars in the mainstream like Europe has, but we sure love our big trucks with boatloads of horsepower and torque.

Besides all that, the engine stands that PPE was using in their booth are downright bitchin’…

Then again even with all the high tech engine setups at SEMA, there’s still a place for doing things the tradiitonal way. You’ll still find many examples of old school horsepower production on the show floor.

This tunnel ram-equipped Ford small block is found under the hood of Galpin Ford’s “Galpin Gasser III” ’57 Ford. Sure you could get the same horsepower and much better fuel economy from a Coyote, but it just wouldn’t have the same feel.

It doesn’t get more traditional than a Flathead, right?

Besides the engines themselves, it needs to be said that the bays of some of these SEMA show cars are amazing. As you can see, the top guys go far beyond tucking wires and shaving a few things. Not much resemblance to factory Ford Fairlane engine bay is there?

I’m sure you’ve noticed that the majority of what I’ve posted so far are American V8s of some sort, and to be honest that’s where most of SEMA’s engine magic is. That’s not to say there aren’t other engines that grab your attention though. You can always count on Underground Racing to deliver in this department.

As popular as they are on the street. you really don’t see a whole lot of Hondas at the SEMA Show. I can’t really explain why, but I did find this boosted RSX representing for the Honda crowd.

Here’s a peek under the hood of  a certain Formula Drift championship winning Lexus SC430. This is one of those cases where the engine bay of a race car is better than most show cars.

Tucked in a corner of the North Hall’s lobby, I came across this pretty wicked circuit style FD3S RX7 with turbocharged three-rotor power under its vented hood. Another nice change of pace from the usual SEMA lineup.

Yes, that’s a Subaru WRX motor but what’s it in? That would Factory Five Racing’s latest kit car – the “818”. The 818 is an ultra lightweight tube chassis sports car to be built with running gear from an 2006-2007 Impreza donor car. Kit prices begin just under 10 grand.

How about some rarely seen Nissan KA24DET muscle? This fully built and boosted KA was under the hood of DSport Magazine’s S14 project car.

SEMA may have an image of being about big rims, loud paintjobs, and lots of flash, but as we’ve seen the show always delivers plenty of hardcore engine porn as well.

That will do it for my end of our SEMA event posts. Hope you’ve enjoyed.

-Mike

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1

are you guys going to do any coverage of the 818? mid engine kit car has sparked my interest.

2

Jeren's KA deserves much respect! In an era where EVERYONE and their mom go to LS's or SR, he stuck with an iron block that can take some abuse. Well done Sir!

3

More pics of the factory 5 818 please.

4

#engineporn

5

I recommend that you check out Nelson racing engines. You can waste hours on YouTube looking at his insane builds. Mirror image turbos anyone? You should honestly feature his work its top notch!

6

I've been a long-time fan of NRE. His vids are trully epic! He does build sick whips for sure!

7

V8's     
V8's everywhere

8
functionoverform

My vote is for the 20B three rotor the KA24DET is nice to see also..
Shit all the motors on display are awesome...

9
speedhunters_dino

My favorite post from SEMA!

10

@Chris a feature on NRE would be awesome!!! I subscribe to them a few years ago because of a 1200hp FC RX7 that they did some work on... that thing was STOOOPID Quick!!
I wonder whatever happened to that mid engine 2100hp AWD Pontiac Tempst they built... THAT would be an awesome feature!

11

@ClaytonPayton same here!! Is it awd? Because that would be very sweet! & a starting price of 10g's is a sweet deal on a brand new kit car! I can't get a WRX for anywhere near that where I live

12

@speedhunters_dino Mine too! But Ive always wondered why don't you guys do any diesel features on speedhunters?? 1000hp & 2000lbft & massive amounts of boost (anywhere from 50psi-150psi) is normal for the hardcore guys but they still drive the trucks on the street & use them like they were intended... Haul trailers all week & drag race on the weekends! They also use some pretty advance technology. Twin-chargering with a Super spooling the turbo is becoming really popular in the aftermarket & with good tuning some of these 8000lb trucks can run in tthe 12 second range right off the showroom floor!

13

Get any pictures of the Full-Race ecoboost f-150 they converted to single turbo? Pretty sick build, can't wait to see how much power those v6's will be capable of making. Ford is on top of their game right now.

14

YESSS! Love this feature!! Thanks, Mike.

15

compound turbo diesel motors are so dreamy. there isnt anything like the feeling of boost, with even more boost after the smaller turbo falls off.

16

totally awesome and amazing stuff up there.
but where's the rotary love? only one of so many pictures. and where's the insane-o drag builds? i saw some pretty wicked looking smart cars and other stuff in the walk around posts.

17

whoops i meant funny cars

18
speedhunters_dino

@Dusty Monkey  @speedhunters_dino If they sold them over here in Japan I would!

Author19

@Dusty Monkey I will have to look into this. My brother drives a Chevy Duramax for his work truck and even stock that thing is pretty fun!

Author20

@TrackOne Was this in the Ford booth? I must have missed it.

Author21

@Option86 Glas you liked it!

Author22

@Option86 Glad you liked it!

Author23

@ding0tr0n The FD is actually one of the only rotaries I recall seeing this year.

24

@Mike Garrett  @TrackOne Not sure which booth it was at.  That is definitely going to be a motor to look out for though.  It shares many of the same characteristics as the VR38DETT including 6-bolt mains....this engine is very strong right from the factory.  Plus it only weights 441lb's fully dressed.  Only issue is how tall it is...I'm still trying to see if I can stick one of these in my FD RX-7 lol.  Anyway....check it out if you want...here is a link.
 
http://www.f150forum.com/f70/heavy-work-underway-full-race-efr-ecoboost-upgrade-172309/index17/
 
http://www.full-race.com/articles/inside-the-ecoboost-f-150.html

25

Not usually into Amercian V8's... but that cobra jet engine is just divine!!

26

Daigo's car was there? That was a surprise. A good surprise!

27

Daigo's car was there? That was a surprise. A good surprise!

28

Daigo's car was there? That was a surprise. A good surprise!

29

Daigo's car was there? That was a surprise. A good surprise!

30

Glad to see the FFR 818 make it into the coverage! it can use 2002 thru 2007 as a donor, not just 06-07 as stated above. Cant wait to see what wild engines people build for the 818, both big hp turbo and what kind of NA setups that will scream on track, thats such a great new car project, rock on FFR!

31

yep, need me one of those LS copo engines

32

Hey Mike, Latin American Fan here!!! do you have the KA24DET pic for desktop format?? I have a KA24DE planning to be + T in the near future. also if there a full feature on that car or any car with KA24DET conversion would be awesome!!! Thanks guys for the awesome articles you guys do all the time!!. Laters!
 
Rodrigo Vivo

33

@LS1RX7_owen Me too!  I'm a Factory Five Racing fan as well, I'm really REALLY looking forward to the 818.  And yes, the kit is def. designed for 2002-2007 cars.

34

@Mike Garrett if you surf on over to DieselPowerMag.com it will give you everything you want to know about them & there are quite a few shops in SoCal you could check
out!

35

@TrackOne  @Mike Garrett thanks guys - we were in the Borg Warner Booth!  BW makes the turbos, transmission and transfer case for the F150 ecoboost and we are excited to push the limits on this new engine

36

@Dusty Monkey  @Chris its an fb not an fc and you're right it is retared fast

37

@Dusty Monkey  @Chris its an fb not an fc and you're right it is retared fast

38

@RodrigoVivo I agree, although i know not to expect much else from the sema coverage it would be a nice change of pace to see some more of the underrated engines in future post. It seems every import mag these days has turned into an lsx mag with all the s13 and 14 lsx swaps going on, I hate these cars b/c of this. Drifting is eventually heading in the same route as nascar everyone running the same shit just different fpr bits covering em. And that lambo!!! all i can say is DAT ASS!!!

39

@RodrigoVivo I agree, although i know not to expect much else from the sema coverage it would be a nice change of pace to see some more of the underrated engines in future post. It seems every import mag these days has turned into an lsx mag with all the s13 and 14 lsx swaps going on, I hate these cars b/c of this. Drifting is eventually heading in the same route as nascar everyone running the same shit just different fpr bits covering em. And that lambo!!! all i can say is DAT ASS!!!

40

@Droopid  Agreed. , Formula Drift its honestly turning into a  V8's Fest, which makes the competition between rookies and big teams almost impossible, unless you give in into the "dark side" and make a swap engine, but thats going off subject. I would really appreciate like Droopid said a change of pace and see some builds with underestimated engines like the KA24DE. or any other

41

@Droopid  Agreed. , Formula Drift its honestly turning into a  V8's Fest, which makes the competition between rookies and big teams almost impossible, unless you give in into the "dark side" and make a swap engine, but thats going off subject. I would really appreciate like Droopid said a change of pace and see some builds with underestimated engines like the KA24DE. or any other

42

Excellent coverage of the event!

43

Don't understand how MOPAR only get 375BHP out of a 5.7. LESS than BMW get from a 4.0...

44

OMG! This post is awesome. Hey I saw the "Parnelli Jones BIG OLY" for sale over on race-cars.com   Wasn't it a SEMA vehicle last year?
http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/ford/1331938289/1331938289ss.htm

45

@RodrigoVivo  @Droopid Thats why you watch D1SL or D1GP, I only got to FD because it close and I know half the people that compete.

46

Daigo I fucking love you, showing that you dont need a V8 to compete.

47

@Bathsalt Barry Agreed, although i dont like him much hes kinda a loose cannon imo, its true that he came to the us and compete as "rookie" to show how things are done in the Kings of Drift country... and without a V8...

48

In reference to picture #14. A Ford 4.6 'mod' motor actually stands for modular, not modern. That actually appears to be a factory supercharged 4.6 out of a 2003 / 2004 Cobra.   ;-)

49

@Bathsalt Barry  @RodrigoVivo  @Droopid 
Your kidding me right? You guys need to stop complaining about the V8 overtaking F.D thing. Your watching drifting not engine wars. It takes skills to drift no matter what engine is inside and last I checked D1GP has inline 6's that run power far greater then some of the V8 in formula D + some run V8s in D1GP.

50

@MattClarke @Bathsalt Barry @RodrigoVivo @Droopid Yeah but its not as fun to watch when everyone has the same engine

51

@Bathsalt Barry  @MattClarke  @Bathsalt  @RodrigoVivo I repeat "Your watching drifting not engine wars."

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