I'm curious to know what you find as well.

The block PN dates to the early 2000's, which as we all know they were running the Hemi 99 stuff in NHRA PS by then. There was an IHRA 5" BS Hemi head available as well. While I have never personally seen one, I am inclined to believe that it's a cross between a Shotgun Head and a CHemi head based on what I have been told by others.

Regardless, I'm sure the stuff is more than capable of getting the job done. It's always interesting to see where the old Pro Stock stuff turns up. Hopefully there's not too much 'one-off' stuff inside...that could make things interesting.

Did this engine happen to come in a Dart?

no - a 1972 Challenger

340KID,

What did you find out on the motor?

All Merlin castings beginning with P are direct Chrysler checked out part numbers.

The block casting P5249533 is a Chrysler part number. There is so much material in this block they were very flexible in machining. It was supplied by Bill Mitchell and is likely a complete 1997 to 1999 Pro-stock Eicke motor. If so the bore spacing will be 4.9" and honed out to 499 CI. It is a Merlin based GM design but was used by Mopar and qualified as a ProStock Mopar motor based on cast in Chrysler part number. In the words of Bill Mitchell Jr, 'with a foundry and machining services, the teams could pretty much get anything they wanted'. The Merlin Part number is 080080S. Good luck finding any information on that or an original spec sheet. I'm not sure if they ever existed in public as the block was a very specific casting and heavily machined while being considered a Special Order. All the ones I know of were lightened by C&C valley profiling, side walls were profiled, they used Bryant Racing Billet Crank with a 3.625" stroke, and 4.9" bore spacing. There is a huge range in Merlin prices from $2500 to $10k. These were on on the high end at the time.

If you find a spec sheet or have any additional information please do share it.

Thanks,
John

They were Pontiac Symmetrical port pro stock heads with a Mopar part number. They used a Merlin block. Not Mopar at all.

Agreed. It’s mopar by part number on block only so it could bend around the rules.