Ilmor Engineering, a name synonymous with high-end circle-track racing engines, recently released a pair of videos in which they apparently let their hair down, so to speak, and put a fun, lighthearted twist on the business they take so seriously. This short-pun intended-series of videos follows along with the assembly and dyno setup of one of their Ilmor 396 engines-engine number #200, to be exact.
The Ilmor 396 is an LS-based V8 engine designed for ARCA racing. As we see in the video above, Ilmor starts with a Chevrolet Performance LSX block, a Crane Cams camshaft is inserted, a Callies 3.600-inch stroke is dropped in, and the Diamond Racing 4.186-inch pistons are locked onto the 6.200-inch rod and dropped into the block. The heads and valvetrain are bolted on to finish the engine at a speed that resembles a Hot Rodders of Tomorrow competition.
The ARCA-approved powerplant features a rating of 700-horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque with a valvetrain that will spin reliably to 7,500 rpm. The fuel-injected engine uses a spec Holley throttle body, HP EFI system, injectors and wiring harness. As you can see below, they get the engine on the dyno in a jiffy, too.