It has been almost two months to the day that I posted a Blog about the horribly thrashed supercharged 347 of Rex Keith (see "Stock-Block Shock," May 19th, 2008). The brief report and photos detail the kind of carnage that is a direct result of stock-block failure, and hopefully some of you who are in the same position--pushing, or trying to push the 600-horsepower envelope with a stock 5.0 block--have learned through Rex's mistake, and are planning to build your engines with a good, aftermarket engine block as its foundation. I'll tell you how Rex is making out, after the proverbial jump...

In a nutshell, Rex is BACK! Well, almost back. After spying the rejuvenated timing cover and oil pan first (they both have been dressed with fresh coats of "Rex Green" paint, so it isn't too hard to miss them) yesterday afternoon, Extreme Automotive's Saul "The Surgeon" Gutierrez directed my attention to Rex's brand-new 347 bullet, which was sitting on an engine stand and awaiting completion.

The new powerplant, built by Brad Lagman and Mike Consolo of QMP Racing Engines of Chatsworth, California (www.qmpracing.com), is based on a Dart Iron Eagle 8.2-deck block, which features all-important and super-stout 4-bolt main caps. A new forged crankshaft, rods and JE pistons make up the rest of the short block.

Once again, a Vortech S-Trim supercharger will help bring the horsepower number somewhere in the mid-500s, which should be more than enough to get Rex's Fox body around the road-race circuit very quickly, and the important thing is, it should all stay together for a long time!