When it comes to drag racing, perhaps Top Fuel dragsters are the kings of the game. One of these dragsters can sprint from nil to 100 mph less than a second, and reach 280 mph after just 660 feet. Going as fast as 330 mph, a Top Fuel dragster can complete a run in less than 4 seconds.

These feats cannot be achieved if not for the unique design of these dragsters and their over-powered engines. It would be mesmerizing to see how one of these dragster engines was rebuilt, wouldn't it? Thanks to Hagerty and Don Schumacher Racing (DRS), you can see one of these rebuilds for yourself in seven and a half minutes flat!

Torn Down Just To Be Reassembled

Top Fuel Dragster V8 Engine Disassembled
Via Hagerty/YouTube

As soon as a clutch of a Top Fuel dragster is released, its engine already starts to tear apart, thereby compromising the integrity of its parts. To ensure that the dragster’s engine can still go at full throttle for a subsequent pass, it is completely disassembled and re-assembled.

When rebuilding an engine, all major components – even the clutch -- are removed except for the crank and the camshaft. All parts are then inspected thoroughly for potential issues. All compromised elements are replaced with either refurbished or new parts. The entire rebuilding process – taking around an hour or so – ends when the engine is completely reassembled.

A Mill From Tony Schumacher’s Dragster

Top Fuel V8 Mill Assembly
Via Hagerty/YouTube

Hagerty was given an opportunity to rebuild a massive 500-cubic-inch V-8 engine that powers the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster driven by 8-time National Hot Rod Association Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher. Its 426 Hemi-based engine block, supercharger, cylinder heads and rods are all made from aluminum. Of course, many of its parts are quite massive. As calculated, this V-8 engine is able to deliver 11,000 hp of power!

By NHRA rules, a team only has 75 minutes to completely rebuild the engine and make the necessary chassis adjustments. Due to the forces involved, a dragster engine has to be completely replaced after around 12 passes. No engine lasts long in Top Fuel drag racing.

Only In Seven Plus Minutes

If you think watching an engine rebuild takes too much of your time, Hagerty was kind enough to do a time lapse of the process. Around an hour of rebuild time has been squeezed in just seven minutes. Trust me, watching the crew disassemble and reassemble such a powerful engine is genuinely satisfying!

Source: Hagerty, Hagerty Via YouTube