Dart SHP Sport-Block Engine Build

AN MSD distributor and Moroso Blue Max wires were used on this engine.

Initial testing was done with a Barry Grant Demon 650 carburetor. It proved to be the best working carb, according to Lake and McAfee.

The engine was removed from the engine stand and bolted to a dyno stand. McAfee hooked up a Tilton starter

A flywheel is required for dyno testing.

Kooks headers are bolted on and funneled into tubes to send the spent gases outside. It only took an hour or so to get this engine hooked up and ready to run once we had all the parts for the dyno cell. An electric water pump system is used to circulate water through the engine. According to Maskin, a crank-driven water pump will rob anywhere from 3-5 hp--something to note for those not running an electric water pump.

ERC high-octane fuel was transferred to the dyno cell's fuel cell.

The engine was brought up to a maximum of 6,400 rpm during our engine dyno testing.

Lake found 30 degrees of ignition makes the most power on this engine.

A 1-inch spacer was used under both the 650 and 750 carburetor. The best combo for the street and performance proved to be the Demon 650 with the 1-inch spacer.

The spacer was worth about 8 hp as output swelled from 468 peak to 476 hp with the 650 carb on top.

A Demon 750 was bolted on and didn't produce any better results. The average power from 2,800 to 6,400 rpm increased, but peak horsepower was down by 11 hp.