1,450+ HP Supercharged Gen 3 Hemi Built for Brian Bednar’s “OldsMopar” Cutlass
When we met Brian Bednar more than a year ago, we immediately knew we’d like him, and for a number of reasons.
The first obvious thing, he was racing a very good looking Oldsmobile Cutlass (and yes I do appreciate early 80s G-bodies) but unlike so many being raced, it was not LS swapped, it was so, so much better…he was running an NA G3 Hemi in his OldsMopar. Secondly, it was clear he was a very good racer, going rounds and consistently winning them in the 9.50 index class where he competed. Thirdly, when you learn more about Brian, you find Dr. OldsMopar is a hardcore racer, who very successfully campaigned a very fast Top Dragster competing in PDRA Elite Top Dragster, and prior to that, campaigning a full on Top Alcohol Dragster, winning in both.
In our prior efforts with Brian, he got a set of our valve covers, then later brought us his NA 421 G3 Hemi to tune up and improve, and while we were able to help improve it, taking it from 720ish HP to north of 830 HP, I could see the twinkle in his eye, and knew, given his capabilities and past as a racer, that would not be enough.
Our plan then became to build him a Race Spec 1,300+ Supercharged G3 that he could put in his car and run faster brackets as well as go use it to run Super Comp (8.90 index class). Running a full body door car there, especially a G3 Hemi powered Cutlass, would be as unique as its skilled driver is so that’s what we set out to do in 2026.
As plans often do, they don’t survive the first dyno pull. Soon there were further discussions about someday running the car in Division 2 Top Sportsman races.
A new plan was forged, take one of our Race Spec 1,650+ engines, begin taking a couple hundred horsepower out, and give him a 1,400ish HP engine to put in the car and begin sorting it out, begin running Super Comp, then unleash it in Top Sportsman and, of course, later turn it back up and push the car deep into the mid to low 7s.
So today, we worked with the crew at BES to do something we rarely (as in almost never) do, subtract 200+ HP.
Four dyno pulls and three pulley changes later, Dr. OldsMopar has a ready to get started with, G3 426 CID, Whipple 3.8l Supercharged(turning very safely slow), 1,450+ HP engine to get started with. Even at this power level, he should be capable of mid 7s, so plenty for the 8.90s, and later for Div. 2 Top Sportsman.
Tomorrow, we will go the other direction, back to making more power as we attempt to squeeze 800+ HP out of a hydraulic cammed, NA G3. Stay tuned for the rest of that story!
Come get your engine Doctor, it’s ready.
