Shafiroff Racing Engines Builds Small-Block Engine - The Modest Mouse

Shafiroff said their strict quality control measures allow the company to build lower-cost combinations that perform admirably. He went on to say that the parts chosen for the Real Street line were done to ensure longevity and durability-provided the engine is used in its intended form. As noted earlier, the 427ci bullet we followed knocked out over 550 hp and the components used are more than capable for that power range. However, if you throw two hits of nitrous on top of it, then the parts will be pushed past the intended application. "You pick your power and match the components for the right recipe."

SSRE starts off with a Dart SHP block that features 4.125-inch bores to help bump up the cubic inches. If you recall, SHP blocks burst onto the scene just a few years ago as a low-cost option for the increasingly hard-to-find OEM blocks. It boasts several nice features like four-bolt main caps but maintains a reasonable price. SSRE turned to a set of 6-inch Eagle rods and a 4340 steel crankshaft that features a 4-inch stroke. The compression stands at 10.25:1 thanks to a set of Mahle pistons, which are custom designed by SSRE. "There is no such thing as rinse and assemble," noted Shafiroff. The engine parts are in stock and the engine assembler gets a cart with all of the parts ready to be put together; the components have already been machined and inspected before reaching the engine build room.

The top-half of this engine build features the HHR package, which stands for Hot Hydraulic Roller. Not only is the camshaft upgraded to an aggressive hydraulic roller stick but the heads are swapped to a set of AFR 210cc aluminum heads. This pumps the base power of the Real Street 427ci up by over 40 hp. Shafiroff laughed when we asked for the cam specs, but did say that SSRE will custom tailor the camshaft to any customer's requirements. The AFR heads feature 2.080/1.600-inch intake/exhaust valves and flow numbers come in at 311/237 cfm on the intake/exhaust ports. Those numbers were measured using a 4.060-inch bore, meaning the AFR heads flow more on this engine due to its larger bore size.

The final pieces to the puzzle were a Quick Fuel 750-cfm carburetor and MSD ignition system. The Real Street 427 didn't disappoint us on the dyno as it blasted out 566 hp and 588 lb-ft with ease. The SSRE website advertises this engine as a 565 hp/575 lb-ft package, right below what this engine tested. We liked how the engine repeated those numbers several times on backup runs. All SSRE crate engines are run on the dyno to ensure trouble-free performance and to verify it produces the advertised horsepower. Topping it off, shipping is free in the 48 mainland states and SSRE engines carry a standard 2-year warranty.

It might be just a small-block Chevy to some but 566 hp on pump gas is hardly modest for any street car.

Quick Notes

What Is It
A potent drop-in crate engine

Bottom Line
This is a viable alternative to building your own mill

Cost (Approx)
Starts at $7,300 for the 402ci and $8,800 for the 427ci