Alex 
The performance world is going quiet, with many brands abandoning their ICE powerplants in favor of simple electric motors that make instant torque, with none of the drama or complication of a traditional engine. When it comes to aftermarket vehicle support, however, the tuner and racing scene is still very much dominated by internal combustion, and we’re on a direct path toward manufacturer-backed muscle.
A video from Steve Morris Engines shows just how much power a GM 427 crate motor can make when combined with a 3.0-liter Whipple supercharger. A fairly simple combination that really takes the guesswork out of a potentially race-winning machine.
The 10.0-liter combo freely revs up to its redline, with a stable, flat curve. The supercharger provides 19.5 pounds of boost, and running on e100 produces a whopping 1,450 horsepower and 1,220 lb-ft of torque.
Perhaps the most incredible part (to those who have built a performance engine before) is just how easily the beastly combination starts up and runs smoothly. If it weren’t for the giant bellmouth on top of the supercharger, this could easily be mistaken for a mild street engine, and not the drag racing monster that it actually is.
The GM LS platform really is unmatched when it comes to driveability and ease of use, even when making an insane amount of power. According to the presenter, Kyle, the engine showcased in the video is essentially the Stage 3 LS that Steve Morris Engines offers for purchase for under $40,000.
For Mopar fans, the Don Schumacher Racing DSR1150 engine will take your Hemi V8 to 1,150 horsepower. If you’re into Ford Performance, Shelby American also surprised the scene at the Woodward Dream Cruise with its Mustang GT500 Code Red, which makes 1,300 horsepower from its supercharged 5.2-liter Predator V8 when running E85. But here we see another GM LS V8 engine leapfrogging both. So while the high-octane horsepower wars feel like they’re sunsetting in the OEM space, the aftermarket is still breathing fire, and continues to excite with wildly powerful engines.
