Inside A 2,100-horsepower Off-the-shelf Big-block Screamer

The prospect of an off-the-shelf 2,000-horsepower engine for under $50,000 would certainly have been a pipe dream a few years ago. Now KPE Racing has developed such an offering. But don’t think the bullet that EngineLabs found screaming away on the DTS dyno in the video above is just any typical crate motor.

“Call it a custom motor that’s been built more than once,” explains Brandon Graham of KPE, noting that the Texas-based shop built five “Blown 532” combinations over the winter and have three on the shelf.

The blown 532ci big-block is geared toward Top Sportsman and Top Dragster racers. The package does have a few options, mostly in the choice of superchargers, cylinder block and injector hat. The video engine sports a PSI 14-71 hi-helix and pulled 2,100 horsepower at 22 percent overdrive.

“That’s barely turning it,” boasts Graham. “In IHRA competition, we can turn as hard as 36 percent overdrive. There is plenty of wick left at that pulley combination.”

The standard blower is a BDS 14-71, which supports over 2,000 horsepower and offers a starting price point of around $45,000. The PSI or DMPE supercharger adds around $7,000 to the total cost of the build. 

The foundation for the KPE Blown 532 is either an aluminum block fitted with a Crower crank, JE pistons, GRP rods, Moroso oil pan, custom KPE-spec camshaft and Jesel belt drive. Brodix BB3x 380 heads are used right out of the box along T&D rockers. A Professional Performance Products intake manifold supports the blower of choice. Fuel is handled by Enderle, and MSD provides the spark.

Consistency and durability are often key advantages of a blown engine, especially when compared to nitrous engines.

“If you’re trying to be consistent, you get a huge power range with the blower. If conditions and track allow for it, make a pulley change and go a half-second faster,” adds Graham. “And you can dial it in around 1,600 to 1,800 horsepower, make 150 to 200 laps without having to go into the bottom end.
 
“What a lot of guys will have is a naturally aspirated big-block that makes maybe 1,000 or 1,200 on the motor,” sums up Graham. “Then they have to spray the house down to qualify at a Top Dragster race. But with a blower we can qualify at any race in the country, and more is on tap with a simple pulley change.”

 

About the author

Mike Magda

Mike Magda is a veteran automotive writer with credits in publications such as Racecar Engineering, Hot Rod, Engine Technology International, Motor Trend, Automobile, Automotive Testing Technology and Professional Motorsport World.
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