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Top Shop Challenge - Engine Building Contest

Building The Monster

By , Photography by

You Could Be The Winner Of This Custom-Built Engine!Go To SyntecTopShop.com and Vote For Your Favorite Engine

We're down to crunch time with only a few weeks to finish our Castrol Syntec Top Shop Challenge engine buildup. This engine build is one of the most fun projects that we've done in a while.

In the "Head Games" article (October issue) we showed you how Jerry took a new set of Trick Flow heads and took them apart, the reason being because we wanted to polish them, not because the heads needed to be gone through. This month, Jerry tackles the assembling of the long-block and leaving it ready for final assembly. We decided prep the engine and then candy painted the block using SEM custom colors. Touches like this were being done to separate us from the rest, since you know we are all about the paint and chrome. Soon people are going to know we are also about the need for speed, because our engine is going to get fully blinged out with some serious horsepower for the competition.

Jerry has been putting together this engine in stages and, after allowing the paint to dry, he assembled the Lunati bottom end. This Lunati billet crank was used to help the engine stay together with all of the torque that the Trick Flow heads and Comp turbos put out. Once Jerry finished the bottom end, he got the Castrol Syntec Lowrider engine ready for the final assembly and tuning.

Remember to go online and vote for your favorite Lowrider engine at www.SyntecTopShop.com; once there you can register for a chance to win this engine. Look out for next month's installment where we wrap up the complete build, including spending some time on the dyno at Westech Performance in Mira Loma, California.

  • Engine Building Engine Block Ready To Assemble
    The Castrol Syntec engine block ready to be assembled.
  • Engine Building Freeze Plugs
    Jerry added the freeze plugs to this heavy-duty World engine block.
  • Engine Building Candyapple Red Over Silver Base
    To keep it traditional, a Candyapple Red over a silver base was used for the color of the engine.
    Engine Building Candyapple Red Over Silver Base
    To keep it traditional, a Candyapple Red over a silver base was used for the color of the
  • Engine Building World Block Gutted
    With the World block gutted, it was completely masked off. We then used some high-heat primer that will allow the custom SEM candy to adhere to the engine block.
    Engine Building World Block Gutted
    With the World block gutted, it was completely masked off. We then used some high-heat pri
  • Engine Building Pulled Off Mock Up Heads
    While the engine block dried, Jerry pulled off the mock-up heads that were dropped in temporarily so we wouldn't ruin the polished Trick Flow heads we're actually going to use. Once the SEM paint had cured and dried for 48 hours the heavy-duty World block was ready to be assembled.
    Engine Building Pulled Off Mock Up Heads
    While the engine block dried, Jerry pulled off the mock-up heads that were dropped in temp
  • Engine Building Engine Block
    Here is a view of the engine block before the bearings and bottom end went into it.
  • Engine Building Billet Lunati Crank
    The billet Lunati crank was ready to go in after it was machined and balanced.
  • Engine Building Lunati Connecting Rods
    These Lunati connecting rods were used to connect the pistons and crank. Jerry used the CP pistons that were custom-made for our application and specs. The piston pin will keep the rod in place.
    Engine Building Lunati Connecting Rods
    These Lunati connecting rods were used to connect the pistons and crank. Jerry used the CP
  • Engine Building Piston Rings
    The piston rings that hold the compression had to be shortened and fitted one at a time.
  • Engine Building Installing Comp Cam Hydraulic Roller Cam
    Jerry started off by carefully installing the Comp Cam's hydraulic roller cam.
  • Engine Building Installed Crank Bearings
    Jerry installed the crank bearings.
  • Engine Building Four Bolt Main Caps
    The heavy-duty, four-bolt main caps were installed and tightened. This style cap helps prevent the bearing from spinning.
    Engine Building Four Bolt Main Caps
    The heavy-duty, four-bolt main caps were installed and tightened. This style cap helps pre
  • Engine Building Spiral Clips Lock In Place
    These spiral clips lock the pin in place, allowing the piston to connecting rod to stay together.
    Engine Building Spiral Clips Lock In Place
    These spiral clips lock the pin in place, allowing the piston to connecting rod to stay to
  • Engine Building Pistons Connecting Rods Dropped
    The pistons and connecting rods were dropped in one at a time. These pistons all went in smoothly.
    Engine Building Pistons Connecting Rods Dropped
    The pistons and connecting rods were dropped in one at a time. These pistons all went in s
  • Engine Building Arp Fasteners
    Using ARP fasteners ensured that the strongest fasteners would keep the engine together.
  • Engine Building Crank Assembly
    As Jerry assembled the crank assembly, he had to manually turn it throughout the process.
  • Engine Building Valvetrain Valley Cleaned
    The valvetrain valley was cleaned and ready to have the roller lifters put on.
  • Engine Building Oil Filter Adaptor
    One of the last things to go on this month was the Summit oil filter adaptor, which is designed to flow oil through the filter faster.
    Engine Building Oil Filter Adaptor
    One of the last things to go on this month was the Summit oil filter adaptor, which is des
  • Engine Building Bolt Torqued To Spec
    Every bolt used on the engine had to be torqued to spec.
  • Engine Building Bootom End Crank Fully Assembled
    The bottom end crank was fully assembled and only needed the oil pump, which would be installed later.
    Engine Building Bootom End Crank Fully Assembled
    The bottom end crank was fully assembled and only needed the oil pump, which would be inst
  • Engine Building Milodon Dual Roller Timing Chain
    The Milodon dual roller timing chain was bolted on and good to go.
SOURCE
Ace Machine
7515 Jurupa Ave., Suite E
Riverside
CA  92504
Lunati
4770 Lamar Ave.
Memphis
TN  38181
901-365-0950
www.lunaticamshafts.com
ARP
531 Spectrum Circle
Oxnard
CA  93030
805-278-7223
Milodon
2250 Agate Ct.
Simi Valley
CA  93065
805-577-5950
www.milodon.net
Castrol Syntec Speedy's Polishing
COMP Cams Sem Paints
www.sem.ws
CP Pistons
Irvine
CA
949-567-9000
www.cppistons.com
Summit Racing
P.O. Box 909
Akron
OH  44309-0909
800-230-3030
www.summitracing.com
Comp Turbo Westech Performance Group
11098 Venture Dr., Unit C
Mira Loma
CA  91752
9-09/-685-4767
www.westechperformance.com
Fast Fuel
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