Insane Burnout Machine: 1500 HP Big Block Mustang

By John Coyle - May 13, 2022

When it comes to lighting up the tires, this big block Mustang is all business. But the video is comedy gold.

As someone who loves to see a car with a blower that’s level with the roofline, I couldn’t click on this video from Westen Champlin fast enough. And while I expected to be impressed by this absolutely unhinged machine? I wasn’t prepared for just how immensely entertaining this clip would prove. Because it is hilarious. The Kansas-based YouTuber was inspired to build his big block Mustang after watching footage of Australian burnout competitions, which he — quite correctly — feels put the ones on our shores to shame. And safe to say, he did America proud.

This Mustang left the line with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost motor, and since Champlin was planning to drop in a big block V8, he and his crew decided to have a little fun before they started the project.

First, some quick work with a Sawzall uncorked the exhaust note of the four-banger, and made it sound like “a pissed off lawn mover.” Then, while one of his buddies revs the engine, Champlin sprays nitrous into the air intake, which makes the little mill howl like a banshee. As you might expect, greasy bits don’t put up with this treatment for too long, and Champlin’s sales pitch about the condition of the motor are some of the funniest moments in an extremely funny video.

After the EcoBoost engine is toasted, Champlin and company get to work in the shop extracting it. And while this procedure is ultimately successful? It looks sketchy as all hell. At one point, the block is a hair’s breath away from crashing onto the front clip, but everyone manages to keep their cool, and the sheet metal remains unscathed during the surgery. Now, maybe you’ll watch this video and think a chain and forklift setup is a good substitute for an engine hoist. But I sure didn’t. Like so much else in this video, it falls squarely into the realm of “don’t try this at home.”

At this point, it’s probably necessary to mention that the 454ci donor mill comes from a wrecked Chevy Silverado 2500, which Champlin has sitting out in the yard. Now, while that extracurricular engine choice might make some Mustang purists upset, this seems more a like a case of using what you’ve got rather than any kind of deliberate poke at the Blue Oval. So I’m going to let it slide. And seriously, Champlin is such an effortlessly funny dude, despite the heretical nature of the build, it’s hard to do anything but enjoy the video. Check out the clip to watch the complete transformation, and let me know what you think!

Photos: YouTube