2014 COPO Engines

[Mike Keener]

Wonder if anyone noticed the GM 2014 COPO Engine Blueprint Specifications now posted on the NHRA web site?

Couldn't help but notice that GM went from 3 engines in 2012 and 2013 to 4 engines in 2014 including an all new 450 cu in version rated at 460 hp! Sooo..If you want to run the Shootout and don't have a 2014 COPO with a new 450 you will obviously be leaving a bunch on the table.

Seems to me like all the 2012 and 2013 427 COPO's just got penciled out of competition at least as far as the shootout is concerned unless the powers that be decide to give a weight break to smaller engines, and we all know what kind of complications and infighting that can bring in to the mix.

Wasn't there 20 or so 2012 and 2013 COPO's in the Indy shootout last year? On the surface it appears that number will diminish unless these guys have the ability to change their cars to a 2014 and pony up for a 450.

MK

[Jack Matyas]

Originally Posted by Mike Keener

Wonder if anyone noticed the GM 2014 COPO Engine Blueprint Specifications now posted on the NHRA web site?

Couldn't help but notice that GM went from 3 engines in 2012 and 2013 to 4 engines in 2014 including an all new 450 cu in version rated at 460 hp! Sooo..If you want to run the Shootout and don't have a 2014 COPO with a new 450 you will obviously be leaving a bunch on the table.

Seems to me like all the 2012 and 2013 427 COPO's just got penciled out of competition at least as far as the shootout is concerned unless the powers that be decide to give a weight break to smaller engines, and we all know what kind of complications and infighting that can bring in to the mix.

Wasn't there 20 or so 2012 and 2013 COPO's in the Indy shootout last year? On the surface it appears that number will diminish unless these guys have the ability to change their cars to a 2014 and pony up for a 450.

MK

Mike - I think you'll find there will be no shortage of '2014's' at the track this year .

[Rat Raceway]

Wow. 450 cubes. Going to be a monster after a builder gets there hands on one.. Heck... Going to be a monster from Chevy...

[Mike Keener]

Jack,

I'm sure you're right about no shortage of 14's showing up next year. Whether or not many will be equipped with 450 cu in engines remains to be seen.

However, what about all the 12 and 13 guys that liked running their 427 cars in the shootout? Will they convert to a 14 and invest in a 450 or just run their cars in the class in which they choose to run in Stock Eliminator? Since the shootout is only contested at 3 events per year it's not that big of a deal I guess.

The other thing I noticed is for 2014 is the 427 engine is rated at 430 HP. GM seems to have gotten around the 445 hp factor assigned to the 12 and 13 automatic cars by changing the throttle body to the 3.545 used on the 350 and 396 instead of the 4.02 used on the 12 and 13 cars. How much the smaller throttle body hurts these engines remains to be seen.

MK

MK

[Jack Matyas]

Originally Posted by Mike Keener

Jack,

I'm sure you're right about no shortage of 14's showing up next year. Whether or not many will be equipped with 450 cu in engines remains to be seen.

However, what about all the 12 and 13 guys that liked running their 427 cars in the shootout? Will they convert to a 14 and invest in a 450 or just run their cars in the class in which they choose to run in Stock Eliminator? Since the shootout is only contested at 3 events per year it's not that big of a deal I guess.

.

MK

MK

Mike - I'm sure the GM brass didn't want to make any of the '12 or '13 cars obsolete but you're right - they were O for 4 last year and I'm sure they'd like to fix that as the whole point of being involved is to win races -- kinda like the old attage "win on Sunday / sell on Monday" .Both Ford and Mopar have ringers in this game and Chevrolet wants an equal playing field .Their new 450 might give them a chance for a Sunday Wally ..........Who remembers the runner-up ?

[Tony Curcio]

Will any of the new COPO engines have direct injection like the 2014 Corvette?

[Rat Raceway]

Tony, Chevy said not in 2014 or 2015 we will have to see after that...

[Jeff Teuton]

The Mopar 426 Shoot out motor was made off the 427. Same bore, same stroke, Copo has slightly larger throttle body, same compression, so we will get 450 also. I am hoping there will be more than 3 shoot outs. I am hearing about 6 this year.

[Mike Keener]

Kudos to 6 races instead of 3 Jeff. I love to see heads up racing but I knew this would happen with the 450 deal as soon as GM announced it. Obviously Mopar and Ford will follow suit and everything will be right back where it started.

Looks to me like everyone should have been happy with things the way they were and kept it to the 427 deal so everyone with a fortune invested already didn't have to start over with their engine programs in order to remain competitive.

Not to mention you will obviously have to have a 2014 car in order to run the new engines. Oh well too late now. Looks like the 450 train has left the station.

MK

[Jack Matyas]

Originally Posted by Mike Keener

Looks to me like everyone should have been happy with things the way they were and kept it to the 427 deal so everyone with a fortune invested already didn't have to start over with their engine programs in order to remain competitive.

MK

Seems to me that if you're not winning races you have to move forward and build combinations that have a chance of success .Yes , many of us have the 427 deal but you can't change the specs and they just aren't enough to play in that arena .But they do make a very nice BB/SA and CC/SA car .