I've watched a few Engine Master shows and it is hard for me to figure out if they have any money or not. They obviously have enough money to afford the testing time but they seem to recycle a lot of engine parts so I'm guessing that they don't have the resources to do really good engine development anymore. They seem to cut a lot of corners with the tests so I'm guessing they just don't have the money to do things such as correct the CR for each head. But I don't really know since I'm not involved in the show and I don't talk to any of those guys on a regular basis. I keep in touch with a few folks at Hot Rod but not anyone else.

Maybe.

But other than a head porter, or a apples to apples test data purist, who really cares? Don't get me wrong, I love data, and apples to apples (or recognizing the differences that don't make it apples to apples) is really really important. Plus the details and variables often not included in these tests can be important too.

But in this case, unless you have a fuel/detonation problem, nobody will be changing pistons to lower their compression ratio because they are using the TF verses a head with larger chamber head, or be adding thicker gaskets.

Said differently, when a guy is laying down cash for a performance bump for his car by changing heads, does he really care if 70% of the improvement is from flow and 30% from compression bump, verses 80/20, 60/40 or 100/0?

dammmm lol

Personally I enjoyed the show and am thankful for any relatively decent Mopar content.

The oil pump test was ok also, although I seem to recall similar tests already done by folks around here
many years ago.

Maybe I'm biased from being a fan of Dulcich's past material, though.

It doesn't matter what you do, someone is going to not like it.... so might as well do whatever you want.

I think it is some of what you just mentioned, but also I think they have had a lot of luck targeting an audience that isn't too interested in seeing the most scienced out builds that can be put together. All the engines and parts seem to be used in many different shows/articles or they get swapped into different vehicles. It makes me think they are mostly interested in meeting deadlines to get material out but keep it meaningful enough that the car guys that know a little more still find it interesting. I guess all these TV guys are making good money now, I saw the photos of the gigantic garage Dulcich just built, like 6k sf or something. Good for him...

I liked this test because it used a motor that's less racey and gives an idea what a great head like the TF240 does vs a steel head or the 440source head on a mild build with a very street friendly cam.

I liked the test, and I think the thought process of not attempting to equalize the CR is more real world, what you get if you just change your heads.

I would have liked to see them try a cam more in the upper 240-250 range though. What I would have REALLY liked to see if they wanted to quantify something interesting is if they bolted a set of the TF270s on also.

O

From what I've gathered while watching the show is,they have geard it more toward the average enthusiast... meaning efforts toward dispelling bench racing myths,breaking down cost per performance uprgade, intake,cylinder head, carburetor and exhaust shootouts etc.
I dont think the emphasis of the "Engine Masters" title is geared toward the all out competition engine building format of the Engine Masters Magazine any longer.

The choice of shortblock etc seemed right to me, as I bet 90 percent of the heads go on similar builds. A second test of a 512 cube RB with more of a bracket motor type build would be nice. Set compression at 12.5-1, and use a mopar 590 cam with 1.6 rockers to get about .600 net lift. That would give us some idea of the difference in two common routes guys choose.

Agree...

Guy's if you want to test the builds you come up with, I have a buddy that will rent you dyno time for as long as you want to test..

Dave

Having read this thread, I'll keep my rebuttal to some of the comments silent.

I very much enjoy the Engine Masters show, the vast majority of the people that watch it aren't engine builders or experts. I learn something during every episode. I don't care that things aren't apples to apples but they did flatly state their estimate of the CR affect on the HP number. The Indy cylinder head was flatly stated that they wanted to add it but couldn't get it or couldn't get it in time. The information shouldn't surprise anyone though, better heads=better power.

Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know how each head makes more HP. I’d like to add a test that takes that short block with a big roller with each head then one with a 4.15 crank and big cam for each head. Normal builds. Dinky cams, well you know..