Dyno Testing a 408 CID Gen 3 Hemi – 1,730+ HP for Deja Vu’s Next Evolution
We recently spent a day at BES Racing Engines dyno testing a 408 CID Gen 3 Hemi combination for Deja Vu, pushing the limits past 1,700 horsepower.
Push the limit, find the edge, move the limit. It’s the cycle of learning and innovation we love.
Some days the learning curve on the dyno is a a lot steeper and harder than others.
Regardless, when your blessed to do it with the crew at BES Racing Engines and then our new Blackbird Performance team member, Keaton White, saves the day by making a 4+ hour run to BES with needed parts, all ending with 100ish more horsepower, it is hard won, progress.
Today we made our initial pulls on Michael Judd’s Deja Vu’s bigger bullet. Another bad dude built by Ben. We are awaiting some improved supercharger parts but wanted to get started to see what this bigger cube G3 Hemi Drag Pak based can do and where its limits lay. This bullet, a G3 408 CID, built on the strong and light foundation of a Callies / Energy Manufacturing Drag Pak block, Callies Magnum crank, tested today using some pretty well worn 3.0l Whipple parts we had on hand, and still equipped with its diminutive 109mm throttle body.
It all started with Richie, finding water in the well worn blower that I brought to install and get the ball rolling. A quick leak check later, a phone call and Keaton was jumping in his truck at the home shop with a couple imtercooler cores to headed north on an express run to deliver them. After the non leaking intercooler was installed, the engine was up and running.
All seemed ok, as we made some tweaks to over 1,600 but the boost just wasn’t building as hoped. After the decision to swap rotors and case was well underway, a missing plug, that had been creating a significant boost leak was discovered. One pull later, with another set of old rotors in, we were at over 1,730 HP, and over 1,700 for a good long while.
With clearly more to get, yours truly decided to lean hard on it for one last pull of the day. Inspired by the potential this high winding 408 holds, surmising where we could fairly confidently could get another 50-100 HP next time, with some fresh and improved parts, I went for it, knowing we might find the edge. We did, and a set of rings and perhaps some now oval pistons, told us so.
A good start and with the improved parts already on the way, starting with a bigger than 109mm throttle body / inlet, I think we will be able to help Deja Vu step up and be in the game in the always tough Ultra Street competition.
Until next time, with another 50-100 in sight and the G3 Hemi dreams to follow.
