Re: Current NASCAR engines
In the late 80's, early '90s, there was a shortage of V8's due to Detroit producing mostly V6 and 4 Cyl production engines. NASCAR ran V6's in the BUSCH series as a proving ground for what was to be the evolution into the Cup series. All teams used a somewhat generic block that was a clone GM truck big block. Ford, Chevy, Buick and Pontiac all supplied the heads to the race teams. The head was about all that segragated those motors. <br /><br />Detroit saw a comeback of the V8 early to mid 90's and NASCAR abandoned the V6 idea altogether. They developed a new V8 engine spec which all BUSCH teams started running in the late 90's. They basically still run that engine package today. NASCAR mandated that CUP teams switch to a similar engine spec as BUSCH, with added tweaks that give it extra horse power. They have been running that engine now for a while.<br /><br />From what I've read on several blogs, the only engine that looks anything like current production motors is the Ford. One comment I saw said to look at all of them unassembled, they all look pretty much alike. I don't know specifically what block the current Chevy's use. <br /><br />Rumors abound of NASCAR switching to an all aluminum block maybe as early as 2008 season.
