Why or Why Not: Buy a Engine Challenge Motor

[StreetSnake]

I want to ask the experts. If given the oppritunity would you buy a engine that has performed in a engine challenge. I may have the chance to buy a past SBF winner. Any and all opinions would be most appreciated. Thanks for all the help.

[Anthony]

Why not. If the engine is built close to the specifications you would have built anyways, then why not. I would think that the engine builders put alot of TLC machining and assembling into these engines that they don't expect to recover much of the labor costs.

[Manowar]

Street,
Are you referring to an "Engine Masters Challenge, sponsored by Jegs and presented by Popular Hot Rodding" winner? Or some other competition?
Generally the only issues in that competition are the compression ratio (this years' rule was 10.5) and the question of whether the engine you want has experienced detonation. Last year, many entrants tried compression above 11.5 on 91 octane and rattled their motors. The pulls start at 2500 RPM and that's a tremendous load.
Find out if your choice had such a problem and how the builder repaired and re-spec'd it. (Generally new pistons, lower compression.) Jetting and timing may need to be adjusted to live better on the street as they're optimized for the dyno. All are excellent motors.

[StreetSnake]

Manowar, I PM'd you.