Big Block Nitrous Power

Horsepower has been big on small blocks recently from the new GME Rod engine to the Ford 5 L Coyote,

some small blocks even got power ADDers like this Mustang GT that we supercharge.

Now that's all cool stuff. It kind of leads us to believe it's time for some all out big block horsepower and that's what this show is all about and that's why we got this 572 out of the mothballs to have a little fun today.

Now, this is an engine that has quite a history on horsepower

back around 2002. Just after its release, we went to a GM plant to see 570 twos assembled by hand with pretty strict attention to detail.

We saw lower the 4340 Ford steel crank into that tall deck bow

tie block and stab in the solid roller cam shaft with its 714 inch lift.

The GM guys were excited about the new aluminum heads with 1 18 cc combustion chambers,

3 15 cc intake runners stiff dual valve springs and 1.7 roller rockers

complimented. Of course with a single plane tall deck intake manifold.

Yeah, it was big news then for a big reason,

just add a starter, fire it up and make killer crate engine horsepower

back home. A little later we brought in all the 572 parts

along with pro stock racing legend Warren Johnson. Quite a hands on experience.

Talk it down one more time

as was dropping the same engine into horsepower's 69 project supernova with a huge performance racing trend behind it.

A few years later, after our DTs engine dyno

was installed, we broke it in, in style with a 2nd 572 which made an impressive 740 horsepower and 725 ft pounds of torque.

Today,

our goal is to bring that 572 to the next performance level. We'll try out two different highly ultra dominator race cars when we determine which one makes the most power with our combination

time for the squeeze play. That's right. A healthy dose of nitrous.

A while back. We sent these heads up to Livernois motor sports in Michigan where they underwent some surgery now to improve flow even more. They poured in and polished the intake and exhaust ports. And when the heads got back to us, we upgraded the valve train with a shaft mounted rocker system, but we went ahead and kept the one point

seven ratio.

We're gonna see if those tweaks add up to any extra performance over in the

dyno.

But first, we need to add some components to the engine like this MS D distributor.

Now, instead of just installing it, we're gonna show you how to properly set one up. So you don't risk damaging the distributor or the camshaft gear.

If you install it bottomed out, the heat expands the oil pump shaft and it could break the bolts off of the oil pump.

Now, once the distributor is seated, go ahead and take a measurement from the base of it to the intake. Now, raise it just a little bit, tighten down the collar and take another measurement. You want to be between 10 and 30 thousands,

that'll give you plenty of clearance for heat expansion.

Now, we can check for proper gear mesh in between the cam and distributor gear

to do that. Put some gear marking compound on the distributor gear and drop it back in the hole.

Now turn the motor over several times and that'll wear a pattern in the grease.

Your mark should be halfway down the tube.

The MS D distributor comes with heavy springs for the advance and we're going to swap them out for these light springs that would bring the advance in a lot sooner in the RPM range.

We're not going to lock it out to avoid hard starting conditions.

The first carburetor we're gonna try on our 572 is this Ha Haley Ultra Dominator in 1150 CFM. Now, this thing has fully adjustable external throttle linkage, dual inlet fuel bowls and built in site windows for easier float adjustment.

Now, something else that's pretty cool is they hand polish the Venturia inlets for better airflow and less turbulence. Now, something for erasers to consider this carburetor is made out of all aluminum. So it's 3.8 pounds lighter than your standard dominator

with the initial timing set

and the warm up complete.

Let's see what we get.

Yeah, man, this is unbelievable.

781 horsepower single, 1150 dominator

and torque is 640 ft pounds through the entire range.

Go ahead and put a degree or two a time in it and see if it pulls it anymore,

man. 789 horsepower at 6500 RPM, 694 ft pounds of torque at 5300 looks like that head work up at Liver. No really paid off. Now, when we come back from the break, we're gonna shove another dominator on here with another 100 CFM and see what kind of power we get out of it. Who knows? This thing might even end up breaking 1000 on the nitrous.

We're back

and moving on.

We're playing with our 572 with heads that were highly modified at Liver North.

We ran it with an 1150 CFM ultra Dominator and made 789 horsepower, 694 ft pounds of torque.

Now you're just in time to see what another 100 CFM will give us.

By the way, we're feeding this 572 with 100 and 10 octane race fuel and a lot of it.

It's burning about 2.5 gallons of run.

07, 91 was 699 ft pounds

time to play with some nitrous.

The ultra 1250 was the right thing to do and the gains proved it. Plus it'll benefit the nitrous. We're fixing to throw at it. Now, this is a cheater kit from N OS that's adjustable from a 150 to a 250 shot. Guess which two we're gonna try.

The first thing up is the spray bar.

This is a wet system which means both fuel and nitrous are sprayed downward into the engine through the spray bars.

So make sure the plate is installed with the N Os logo facing up.

What makes this easy is both fuel and nitrous use the same size jets for each shot.

Here goes the one fifties,

nitrous oxide allows the engine to burn more air and fuel. The results are more powerful combustion.

It's nonflammable but delivers more oxygen than atmospheric air by breaking down at elevated temps.

It's stored as a compressed liquid as it evaporates and expands in the intake. It causes a large drop in intake charge temps. This makes a denser charge for more air and fuel to enter the cylinder.

That's why it requires less timing. The amount of timing retard differs for every combo.

But a safe practice to follow is 1.5 to 2 degrees retard for every 50 horsepower.

All right, we're ready to make a pull on a 150 shot. Now, normally the throttle alarm activates the nitrous system, but because we're on the

dyno, I'm gonna do it with this switch. See if you can tell when I hit it.

Look at that

970 horsepower, 914 ft pounds of torque and 3500

man. To be honest,

that's a little more than I expected out of the 150 shot. I'm a little nervous to see what the 250 shots gonna do.

Here's my concern.

I know the Scat Ford Crank can handle about 1200 horsepower. Now, this motor also uses a manly Ford Shoppe

rod that'll handle about the same. What we're not sure about is the actual rod bolt that's used in the rod. Now, rod bolts come in different strengths depending on the reciprocating mass. How many RPM you're gonna turn it and what power level you're gonna be at?

Now, before we go any further with Nitrous, we wanna make sure we know. So we don't have a catastrophic failure with the engine. The only way to find that out is to tear it apart.

This bolt stamped both on the top and bottom with an A RP logo telling us it's an 8740 bolt. Now, that's good to about 8 5900 horsepower. What we wanted to see was a RP 2000 on the head, which would let us know that that bolt is good to about 1200.

So keep that in mind when you start throwing a bunch of nitrous to an engine, make sure it can handle it.

Now, what we're gonna do is pull the rods out of this thing and take it to a local machine shop. We'll show the new bolts go in and the rods being resized. Then in a few weeks, we'll come back, show the motor go together and make a couple pulls on the 250 shot watch for that on a future episode of horsepower.

The weekend car cruise, a tradition as old as the hot rod itself

ever since people started modifying the performance and looks of their classic rides.

Well, they wanted to show them off.

One of the favorite American cruise events happens every month from April through October

in Somerset Kentucky.

Summer nights started small in the year 2000

and now attracts car guys and gals from several states.

The monthly Somerset cruise kicks off with a Friday night block party where some of the expected 1000 cars come here

driving in. No trailer. Queens. Oh, yeah. I mean that is the fun of being in a car guy, get out and have fun and uh,

drive them until the wheels fall off.

There's no fee to show your car and of course,

I like the

no trophies or competition.

You'll see just about anything imaginable from the classics like this 58 Chevy convertible

to Rat Rocks.

Hey, we've been found a corral full of Mavericks. Only 25,000 built.

This is a place where you can find rare rides. Well, like this immaculate 55 Dodge Lancer now worth a fortune

next to a Herbie Bug the owner purchased for believe it or not

$85.

How

much

$5?

Here's your Oklahoma car.

Like any cruise in? You won't have any trouble getting owners to tell you everything you want to know and more about their car.

Car still got the original California carburetor on it.

You never know what cars or car people to expect. Ben Jones who will always be known as Cooter on the Dukes of Hazzard

came to sell some goodies and sign stuff for his fans.

Of course, this is just the opening act of a weekend long cruise in where there's plenty of go involved along with the show. All right guys, I appreciate all of you coming this morning. We have early Saturday morning, Ron rallies, the troops who want to take part in a fun run.

It's a scenic 40 mile ride on some of the main roads and back roads outside Somerset.

The countryside is gorgeous all the way to the destination.

An eight mile drag strip called Lake Cumberland Dragway.

A

lot of serious local racers joined in to show how it's done.

It's the first time many of these cruise cars have been on a drag strip, but it's all about having fun.

With the exception of a few grudge matches

several late model stock muscle cars face off

the Merrill versus Challenger

and the Camaro is winning with an 803

Camaro versus Mustang

and the Mustang wins with a 751.

Nothing decisive. Of course, but one thing's for sure,

we gotta get back to town for the main event,

the downtown show with a cast of more than 1000 mostly cool cars. We'll see you there.

You're watching Horsepower for a DVD copy of this episode. Just go to Power Block tv.com and order your copy for just 595 plus shipping and handling. Start your own horsepower collection delivered right to your door from the power block

horse. Power back cruising at the monthly summer night celebration in Kentucky.

What makes this such a cool attraction

in a big way? It's the volunteers who park the cars in and around the historic town square

and to help make the deal fun like whos and should be

if four ponies are your passion and you came at the perfect time.

It's Mustang month and almost 1/4 of the 1200 cars registered are Mustang Club members. Who's your Mustang Club from Columbus, Indiana. I'm really excited to have our club representative. We've got eight cars. About 14 people from our club.

A number of married couples brought two Mustang

is, is a newly restored fast back

hers, a drop top fox spot

to drive

my

car.

I met another couple from Lexington Kentucky who stay together. Despite distinctively different loyalties,

he found a Camaro 68 and restored it and we started going to some local shows and I said, hey,

I need a car.

So, um, this is my car. This is your car. We,

we found a lot to it. Do you have any friendly arguments over who has the best one?

Of course. But I know which one's the best. It's the Mustang.

Well beyond Mustang Alley, it's a mix of antique

muscle cars and more

which begs the question,

what will they allow in here? There's some qualifications that you have to have. We don't just let just any, any car come in and,

and we generally don't have any problem with that. 123. Like I said before, there are no awards or trophies, but there are door prizes

and this 96 vet would make a perfect project vehicle.

Ok, time to cruise the cruise and see what we find.

If everybody else is driving two cars.

I got a golf cart.

What are you gonna do

there? It is the original General Lee,

one of several 100

corvette corvette corvette corvette corvette

and I must say

we're dragging them.

Hey,

Jose,

ain't gonna hear me.

You gotta stop here. These guys are all about Mustang cop cars used for a limited time during the eighties. All of these cars were stock 302 cars

with stock drive train. It was the suspension that made them fast

and, and the lightweight, my personal favorite. Well, just maybe it's this Pro street Monte Carlo modified and personalized by its proud owner. 402 block 460 over. It's a solid roller cam. Uh It's got 100 shot of nitrous.

Is it done?

They're never done.

My wife thinks it's done.

Do you remember that famous street race from American graffiti,

yellow coup versus 55 Chevy?

Well, apparently this father and son saw the movie too many times. No bones about it.

They made replicas of each car.

We started out with this coup

and then we, we ended up bringing Paul and City out to a car show. So we needed a 55

and dad said, let's just do one for ourselves. And I said,

no,

I,

I don't know about that, Bob. We actually built a car in eight weeks. The black 55.

And uh from, from start to finish,

you still watch the movie

every chance we get pretty much.

Well, obviously, the couple that cruises together stays together.

This pair of Mustang owners decided to renew their valves with hundreds of witnesses.

You better kiss each other.

Oh, ain't it sweet?

Well, just like the weekend cruise tradition

carried on in towns like Somerset Kentucky,

showing them off,

driving them on the back roads,

even racing them down the strip.

It's an ongoing celebration of America's cool car culture.

We'll see you next time.