Inside a Supercar V8 Engine! The facts, history and secrets with KRE Race Engines

A detailed look into what really goes into a V8 Supercar engine from one of the most successful engine builders in Australia. Join Ken from KRE Race Engines as we look at everything from billet cranks to custom made external oil pumps. See how technology has changed over the past 10 years and how important a good quality oil is for making these 5L monsters last the length of a full season of racing.

[@paul-morgan]

This is 10,000 times better than any tech segment with fox sports. Great infomation

[@danedigital3449]

I like listening to people who know what they are talking about. Cool vid guys. 👍

[@Rooster1172T]

Very rare in KZbin videos these days

[@Conservator.]

dane xrp Yes, somehow the other group is less interesting. 🤣

[@dennisferguson1029]

dane xrp XRP to the moon 🙌🏼

[@ianmangham4570]

I don't, I'd rather listen to YOU!

[@BatMan-oe2gh]

Big eye opener there! Did not know they got that sort of mileage out of the motors. And how old they actually were. Brilliant.

[@gazza116]

that was the best run down of a supercar engine ever,congratulations.

[@threesquared6720]

My thoughts exactly

[@B0SS330]

Gotta say, getting 650hp from a 5 litre with 10:1 compression is pretty impressive !

[@markmallinson935]

It is but it would be nice to see 700hp, theses cars have had this power for the last 20 years.

[@Fredrick656]

@@markmallinson935 yeah it’s boring

[@elroyfudbucker6806]

Getting the engine to rev to 7,500 helps.

[@Hapkido82AUS]

@@markmallinson935 before control camshafts came in, a HRT engine mechanic (for Tanders' VE) said, when dyno tuning on a chassis dyno, they would make 600 hp at the tyres, so they have been above 700 for a few years now...

[@azza9575]

It has alot to do with the piston to wall clearance they run, the engines are effectively siezed when they are cold

[@nine8three310]

I just went over my lunch break watching this. So bloody interesting.

[@katanaracing5948]

Finally!! A tech based video, that is actually technical and not some marketing hash...love to see more!

[@nickg4135]

More stuff like this please. Motorsport is always very interesting.

[@nulon]

We are in the final stages of putting together a 780ci build breakdown. Stay tuned

[@jamesrudd8637]

If you have a spare 17 minutes I definitely recommend watching. Very informative. What this guy knows couldn't be bought.

[@sixstringedthing]

Great job by Ken, KRE and Nulon. This came across as hugely informative and totally honest, definitely not just about giving the sponsor a bit of puff. Fascinating to hear about all the R&D and small incremental changes that have been done by Ken and his team, to this point where they can get 650hp out of a 5L pushrod V8 based on a 50 year old design and still make the block last for 20 years. Top work guys, brilliant engineering. I've used Nulon products for a long time and I'm certainly not going to stop now. Edit: Having a good old chuckle at all the "youtube experts" in the comments too... :)

[@naturesmagicalscenerieswit1876]

They banned the 308 after Perkins won bathurst in 1993, The 308 Perkins engines were making 620hp in 93 for 25k each, sad in over 25 years and over a 100k more they making 640hp with the same rules.

[@onomatopoeidia]

great video! That's info I haven't found anywhere else and perfectly presented. Top job. Amazed at how much work those engines do before needing rebuilding.

[@hotrods27]

I'm so glad I watched this video. The most interesting 17:48 minutes I could spend. Straight technical explanation in good detail on engineering and building racing engines. Thank you.

[@ryanokeefe12]

Fantastic stuff! ... The knowledge shown in the video is great. The biggest plus is the in depth "this is how it is because abc happened and now we do xyz". You can tell the passion this bloke has in his product. Not just a presenter trying to paraphrase what they've been told 2 minutes beforehand is refreshing!

[@donmathias1705]

Probably the best video I have seen explaining the subtleties of building racing engines. Good job.

[@michaelclark2840]

Amazes me the refinement over the years of all the engine components, but at the end of it, good oil is everything. Great video, thanks.

[@scottsmith491]

It's always a pleasure to here from a professional engineer. This is exactly the type of information I want to know. Thank you!👍😃.

[@stevesolo16]

This is one of the best insights into the inner workings of an amazing engine package.

[@falcon0351]

Ken has been there and done that!very nice to hear a professional talk the way he does.I appreciate the conviction in the way he delivers the facts.nice work.a pleasure to watch and hear👍

[@toddstephenson7154]

Great video spoken by the man himself. I’ve learned more in these 18 minutes then over the last 10 years. I’ve also completely revised my thoughts on Nulon products.

[@raygrant1074]

Really informative video, had me hooked all the way through. Brilliant job.

[@Flan133]

Wonderfully informative video. Fantastic to listen to such an experienced person.

[@dyallbydesign1852]

Excellent video guys. Loved the tech detail even though some was over my head lol. Keep up the good work

[@andywright2606]

What a great video guys. Best breakdown of a Supercar engine I've seen. Keep up the good work. Cheers

[@MrPropanePete]

Amazing attention to detail, Ken really knows his engines

[@Jonathan-L]

Ken Oath mate!

[@fw1421]

This guy knows his motors! Very knowledgeable gent!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@2burning2turning]

Wow, that's impressive, thanks Ken.

[@skollittie]

Clear, detailed and concise, awesome work. Cheers

[@davepayne347]

Great video and a great insight to how reliable these engines are these days. He's like the next level Mark Larkham when it comes to all the technical know how on the engines.

[@fatsolutions]

Brilliant video love listening to somebody who’s passionate about their craft

[@johnbowen2963]

could not ever fall asleep to this guy ,. wow a guy who knows his stuff, no crap, just a down to earth guy who talks sence

[@vajeye-nar6172]

I could listen to this guy talk engines all day

[@ToyBJ]

Great stuff , thanks Nulon !

[@gregthornthwaite8011]

Great stuff Ken ..... world class !!!

[@garageblitztv3215]

Just love how casually this guy is speaking, but his knowledge has come from years of experience and research! Great video even if it’s a plug for an engine oil 👍

[@rogerpearson9081]

Gale Banks is a big long plug for Banks engineering but so much information makes the plug incidental rather than nauseating. The killing a Duramax series has been fascinating seeing real world dyno figures on intercooler vs no intercooler, Tandem feeding turbos into a supercharger and how much extra the supercharger takes to compress an already compressed charge, even his diff cover vs the flat back bling ones.

[@granthugo856]

please do an extensive segment on the 410 sprint engines you also do so well. Fabulous insight

[@paullohrisch257]

That was very informative 👍 Anyone who likes engines and knows a bit about them would appreciate how much detail there was in this video.

[@rickyhorsburgh6581]

I love the kre sprintcar engines by far the most reliable power source in Australian speedway from my experience

[@pioneer5555]

Amazing video. This guy is a consummate expert and it shows

[@dafalzonAUS]

Watching this is more entertaining than the racing itself!

[@barneybetelgeuse6273]

Enjoyed watching the video, very knowledgeable man 😀👍

[@teretz571]

I just learnt heaps great video thankyou

[@drcolster]

One of Australia"s Top Engine Builders, Great Stuff Kenny...World Class Engines,Workshop And Experience...

[@realaussiemale567]

drcolster That’s what u tend to get when a business, such as that, builds their products to perform to a customers spec, rather than building it to suit a specific dollar value.

[@drcolster]

@@realaussiemale567 Yes..built to a spec because of The SuperCar Rulebook. and it does help when your getting paid big dollars for what you do..these SuperCar Engines cost plenty... you don't get the best parts and a workshop with the best of everything if your customers don't have Big Wallets...i've heard it from another top engine builder that talks to Kenny.. Kenny"s words, " I've done very well from building these engines."

[@MrGutfeeling]

Fascinating, amazing level of knowledge.

[@bradenmckay9576]

Brilliant video, thanks!

[@jasonswift7098]

Wow this was a really good video, I like how they use Australian Nulon oils too.

[@GMCRaptor]

Great add for AUSTRAILAN OIL Nulon. Well done guys!

[@pabauza]

Excellent video

[@tonymontana897]

Amazing Stuff ! Long Live the V8 !!!

[@dinosshed]

It’s all about the combination, great video thankyou

[@chrismurphy8383]

Yep, I agree - very informative and delivered with interest

[@smithy2]

Wow 10 to 15yrs life expectancy, thats crazy, great vid 👍

[@1royalwolf]

I wonder if there is anything this bloke doesn’t know about motors. Great insight into v8 supercar engines. The lifespan was a real surprise.

[@adrianpage180]

Kre are great to deal with! Great vid!

[@Rufusthered186]

Brilliant bit of engineering. And a great vid fellas.

[@RideWithKyle]

Love it! Thanks for the insight!

[@MJTAUTOMOTIVE]

Great video. Thanks.

[@loveiskey7833]

awesome information about these engines he definitely knows his job

[@bradbole6853]

fantastic video. cheers

[@actorzone856]

excellent video, now i know a bit more about the issue with thin rings in use in ordinary cars, its rev them harder, i use Nulon oil because i believe its better and not expensive, made in Australia is the most important for me.

[@nicholasduma5063]

quiet enjoyable explanations.

[@SCARPENTER290]

Great video 👍

[@jjjjjj9284]

Very very smart bloke and builds some great engines in all forms of motorsport

[@Azza18]

The video i didn't no i needed so much!

[@vrbanana]

Nice to listen to a guy who’s at the top of his job rather than people who bullshit their way through their job, riveting video 👍🏻

[@powerofone1645]

Very interesting. Keep em coming.

[@nulon]

We have a really exciting one launching today, stay tuned for the BK Racing monster Big block technical feature.

[@johndebono2353]

very interesting how its all put together. it's up to the engine builder to get all the spec right. good to hear that some engines, spec's change after an engine has been run

[@bigal878]

Great insight 👍🏻

[@tugboat8475]

Great information and well produced video. Would like to see a factory walk through of the whole process video.

[@MrOgre1110]

The engineering is so interesting.

[@GREENGENE18]

Cool story man! Tyvm...

[@jacksmith3189]

Good information Thanks

[@navaho5430]

Great stuff.

[@Strattos4]

Been looking for something like this for years. Thanks put putting up - and your talent for the vid was perfect. You also did a great job promoting Nulon oil without making it an oil advertisement. Great balance. More of this please!

[@r1bayside276]

This bloke knows his stuff.

[@encinobalboa]

V8 Supercar is what America's NASCAR should be. Great racing. Cars that look like stockers.

[@assgrabber99]

What a great video. I love to see this technical in depth video's from people who know where they are talking about. 1 question tho.. you talk about the inlet manifold because its part of the engine. I get that. But with that same logic, why are you not saying anything about (or show) the exhaust manifolt? From what i know, a good header can be a real asset to you enginepackage.

[@jamesf2656]

That was awesome

[@TheTiloalfa6]

Great info and knowledge! Pitty about that annoying background “heavy metal” noise all the way through!

[@Massimo1975Max]

Talented, gifted and supremely knowledgeable boys. Utmost respect to you. This was a Nulon advertisement. just saying. Video should say. "this is what we at Nulon do in conjunction with KRE team"

[@nulon]

We dont really have anything to do with building supercar engines Max, so the only thing we do in conjunction with KRE is oil testing.

[@rogerpearson9081]

It was but not done with bad taste or overkill. Advancements in oil technology is why these engines last. The old Mobil 1 was first but there may be better oils nowadays and not as premium priced.

[@samedwardson5911]

Great piece - great depth- was it sponsored by Nulon though 😀

[@rogerpearson9081]

Lots of interesting stuff. Surprised they only run a 5 w 30 but I suppose the clearances are a lot tighter than a normal car and the synthetic would still have a better film strength than mineral oil. [edit] I had started using the Nulon 15w 50 oil in my VS Commodore and found it to run very well and appears to stay clean for quite a while even with my mainly motorway running. Switched to the 5w 30 for my Holden Cruze and it has been good so far running the same motorway commuting. The Cruze has the Dexos spec which the Nulon has so happy to recommend. I expect to run this oil to max service life given its spec and the motorway running being easier on the oil than stop start traffic. My barometer for changing oil is when the car starts using oil which usually indicates aging and thickening.Bit of a rule of thumb but seems to work pretty well.

[@damnationswarhead8005]

nice vid😀

[@nasser.alkenani]

Amazing

[@Nordmore68]

One thing is people knowing stuff, this thing is about knowing how to talk about the things he knows a lot about. Same as with Papadakis. He knows, and he is good in formulating it to an audience that is interested.

[@zwarst]

Oil pressure check, cheque book whoa 😲

[@kevinnathanson6876]

Outstanding video; really first rate. I think that NASCAR will have to evolve more towards this model/configuration of engine as the sport moves forward, especially for cost control. BTW, did anyone happen to catch the brand of oil they run? I must've missed that. 🙄

[@dons1932]

In some ways NASCAR are more advanced, in others they are even more basic which makes their power output even more impressive.

[@kevinnathanson6876]

@@dons1932 Agreed; cylinder head work, valve springs, max RPM, camshaft, etc. are all more 'massaged' in NASCAR, but then we are still dealing with a single carb-type throttle body, wet sump oiling system in the engine, and the wonderfully anachronistic truck arm, solid axle, rear suspension and recirculating ball steering box. I agree that it is amazing that they get them to run as fast as they do, but disc brakes for Martinsville now cost more than $20,000 PER WHEEL! V8 Supercar teams also don't need a fleet of 30+ cars to run 36 tracks. I just worry that NASCAR becomes less relevant to manufacturers and too pricey for sponsors. Time will tell!

[@ronanrogers4127]

Oil is so critical. My superbike puts out a little more horsepower per litre (180 rwhp, 1301 cc engine), and there’s only one oil the manufacturer recommends. I bought mine in Germany and imported it when I came back after a few years, and the local dealers use the same brand oil but lower spec that has led to engine failures. It’s cheaper oil suited to engines with 1/3 the power because the shear strength is much lower. I’ve met several local racers whose engines have failed (big ends, some valves) because the Australian dealer uses lower spec oil. Oil...gotta use the best oil.

[@qcpoiu]

this guy has a v8 brain!!

[@CP0rings33]

The sound of these V8s is what I grew up on, the deep grunting V8s like the LS are cool but the howling high revving race engines can’t be beaten

[@jacquesgold]

Amazing content!!!! Thank you so much for the video. Is your oil available in South Africa? Would consider using it in my circuit racing applications. Please let me know?

[@nulon]

Jacques Smith so while we are Aus based, sparesbox.com.au will ship to SA for the right quantity. We also support you with the same technical analysis as we offer to the big guys via our oil testing system. Engineoiltest.com.au

[@jacquesgold]

@@nulon Legends, thanks. I will contact you for pricing, QTY`s etc. Thanks

[@mak265]

What a cool video. How much total ignition timing do you run?

[@Aseutester]

Does Bosch Make an LS compatible version of those Surface Discharge Spark pluges?! If yes where can I order some from?!?!

[@bannockchief]

The chamfer in the counterbalance looks backwards. Shouldn't the larger bevel be towards the main bearing so it can I pull more of the oil mist away from the rods and towards the main bearing?

[@Mrlegodj]

Smart guy

[@OgamiItto70]

That's EXTREMELY interesting -- 645HP (by what standard, I wonder?) out of only 5 liters (306 cubic inches) at only 7500RPM and with only 10:1 compression while using alcohol fuel and a pushrod cam valvetrain. (Is V8 Supercar still using E85?) That's WAY efficient! I'm curious as to the intake and exhaust runner volumes, valve sizes, swirl characteristics, squish spec's... It'd be REALLY interesting to see the torque and power curves...

[@Nordmore68]

I am sure you can find valve sizes and some information on net, for example: www.cams.com.au/docs/default-source/sporting-technical/national/2019-super3-v8-touring-car-series-sporting-and-technical-regulations---version-1.pdf?sfvrsn=9baa75af_2 From "2019 Super3 V8 Touring Car Series - Sporting and Technical Regulations - Version 1": T10 a,VI: For each Ford and Holden Motor Sport engine, the maximum inlet valve diameter is 53.97 mm (2.125 inches)

[@goingforadds]

If this guy ever runs a open forum/ seminar on engines, I'd be there, beer in hand

[@nulon]

It might be a 6 beer seminar though

[@cstavro]

I didn't quite hear what plug you use. Is it the Bosch motorsport Spark Plug F05CE0?

[@Gokizzmass]

"Based off the D3 head", i'm assuming he means the Yates D3 Cleveland head , it has the same canted valve layout.

[@peterdatechmen5506]

Nice numbers. Pity we don't get to see the power graphs.They really tell the story. Secret to every team.

[@greghill6117]

645 HP from 5L!!! I need to drop one of these into my 928 S4.

[@715101]

Yep all in by 7400rpm is the impressive part, rpm is often overlooked when people are talking hP per cube, I would expect 2hp per cube on a 9000+rpm motor but 7400rpm is insane the decades of R&D are showing

[@barryphillips7327]

The V8 in the 928 S4, in good health can perform pretty well, V8 supercar engine $100 000++.