It’s not often the opportunity arises to see and hear video of a bona-fide Pro Stock engine on the dynamometer, but today is that lucky day if you click the “Post” link above. This particular beast was on the dyno at Book Racing Enterprises, and as is to be expected, not much information is visible in the frame with the exception of the rpm level on the monitor.

However, any fan of Pro Stock racing (who isn’t, really?) will find this music to the ears, and to get the lowdown, EngineLabs placed a call to the man behind the bullet, BRE’s Bob Book.

“The engine is 499 cubic inches, but that’s about all I can tell you,” Book teases. “The stroke and bore are things I can’t discuss as the people who own the engine own everything about it,” says Book.

He was able to share some non-specific information, though.

“This block and cylinder heads have factory GM part numbers on the castings that can be bought right over the counter. It’s all in what you do with them once you get them that matters,” he explains. “It’s a standard 16-valve, 16-pushrod, overhead-valve carbureted engine, and in the grand scheme of things, it’s the pinnacle of power in a naturally-aspirated gasoline engine. These engines are pushing three horsepower per cubic inch. If you take any gasoline powered engine that’s ever been made in the world, there are none that make more power per cubic inch than a 500 cubic inch Pro Stock engine.”

Book credits his staff and suppliers, like Winberg Crankshafts and Jesel Valvetrain for helping him to tune this puppy up. He says that the 10,200 rpm seen here is just a warmup hit, and that the engine actually turns much higher rpm to be competitive. In fact, he mentioned that there are some competitors turning over 11,000 rpm on a regular basis.

“At that rpm level, the engines are just a ticking time bomb,” he says.

Pro Stock influences every end of the engine building business for drag racing, because the latest and greatest technology in overhead-valve engines is first developed in the Pro Stock arena, and then a few years later, after it’s no longer the latest and greatest stuff there, it trickles down to the next levels of drag racing engine building. Enjoy the video from his Facebook page!