Big Cubes Big Power

Valley Performance builds a 540 cubic-inch Hemi that makes 914 horsepower.

- BARRY KLUCZYK

With the eye-popping performance of Mopar's latest supercharged Gen III Hemis, it's all too easy to forget the stunning capability of the old-school street Hemi. It's worth remembering that a smidge of compression, a few extra cubic inches, and some carefully curated airflow in a naturally aspirated Gen II Hemi can top the output of a Hellcat Redeye.

That's exactly what the Michigan-based Mopar engine specialists at Valley Performance delivered when customer Honda Joe Fuentes (yes, that's his legal name) brought them a truckload of parts, including an aluminum Indy Maxx block, and asked them for some big street/strip power.

"Figures tossed around during our initial discussion included 900-1,000 horsepower, naturally aspirated. But getting there took careful planning, and not all the parts Honda Joe delivered were going to work," says Jack Barna, owner of Valley Performance.

In the end, the project netted out at 914 horsepower and 740 lb-ft of torque, with the all-alloy Hemi atomizing 110 octane through a single four-barrel carb on the engine dyno. Barna notes that they could have pushed the engine's output very close to that 1,000-horsepower threshold with a less streetable combination, but Honda Joe was also adamant about durability and drivability.

"We went a little conservative with things like the cam specs to help keep down the maximum rpm, but we also went over the top with areas such as the valvetrain, all to ensure a maintenance-free combination," says Barna. "That approach also helped the engine make more low-end grunt, for a greater feeling of performance on the street."