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What size engine does a Top Fuel dragster have?

Author

Daniel Foster

Updated on June 10, 2026

They are capable of covering the dragstrip in less than 3.7 seconds at more than 330 mph. Powered by a supercharged and fuel-injected 500-cubic-inch adaptation of the famed Chrysler Hemi engine, Top Fuel dragsters can burn up to 15 gallons of nitromethane fuel during a single run.

How big are the engines in Top Fuel dragster?

The typical Top Fuel engine displaces 496 cubic inches. They have hemispherical combustion chamber cylinder heads. The block and heads are usually made by Brad Anderson or Alan Johnson. The bore and stroke is 4.310 inches by 4.25 inches with a compression ratio of 6.5-to-1 or 7-to-1.

How much HP does a Top Fuel dragster make?

A Top Fuel Dragster—distinguished by a supercharged, custom-built, 500-cubic-inch engine—boasts 11,000 horsepower and burns nitromethane. By contrast, a Top Alcohol Dragster's output is about approximately 4,000 hp. Most alcohol dragsters burn methanol, although a few burn ethanol.

How much is a Top Fuel dragster engine?

Approximately 500,000 dollars is estimated for a Top Fuel dragster. There are a few notable drivers involved in this category that include Darren Morgan, Andrew Cowin, Phil Lamattina, Damian Harris, Wayne Newbey, Martin Stamatis, Phil Read, and Rick Rapiras.

How much HP do dragsters have?

How Much Horsepower Does A Top Fuel Dragster Put Out? There is no shortage of top-class dragster performance engines — a 500-cubic-inch engine propels a car that reaches 11,000 horsepower. As a comparison, a Top Alcohol Dragster produces about 4,000 horsepower.

20 related questions found

What RPM does a Top Fuel dragster idle at?

T-minus 90 seconds - Burnout & Backup After 15 seconds idling at 2400-2500 rpm, the signal to roll though the water box is given. “The fuel lever goes back to full and after three tire rotations through the water, I release the clutch to do the burnout.

How many G's does a Top Fuel dragster pull?

NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The modern NHRA Top Fuel dragster accelerates harder and pulls more G's than any [unclassified] fighter jet launch. At 5 G's, there's no wheeled vehicle on earth that even comes close.

Who makes the engines for Top Fuel dragster?

Top Fuel dragsters are powered by the powerful and fuel injected 500-cubic-inch Chrysler Hemi engine. During one engine run, one-fifth the amount of nitromethane fuel is available.

Who builds Top Fuel engines?

Dealer in Focus. Considered one of the greatest engine builders of all time - Keith Black - established the Keith Black Racing Engines® business in 1959 going on to design and manufacture engine blocks for the biggest names and wins in Top Fuel racing and Drag Racing history.

How much does nitromethane cost?

… Nitromethane used to power the engines of NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars costs about $16 US per gallon!

What is the fastest 1/4 mile time ever recorded?

Fastest 1/4 mile ever 3.58 secs @ 386 mph (621.61 km/h)Santa Pod dragstrip is the venue in which the current world drag racing record, a time of 3.58 seconds...

Does a Top Fuel dragster have a transmission?

Unlike a street or high-performance car that uses a manual or automatic transmission, a top-fuel dragster uses a centrifugal clutch and only operates in forward, high, and reverse.

How fast does a Top Fuel dragster go 0 60?

NHRA Top Fuel Dragster – 0 – 60 in 0.8 seconds

A Top Fuel dragster accelerates so quickly that its already passed 60 mph by the time the rear tires have crossed the start line (300 inches).

What is the fastest Top Fuel dragster time?

Force, who is battling Steve Torrence and Justin Ashley for the Top Fuel championship, covered the distance in a track record time of 3.682 seconds at 328.94 mph in her John Force Racing-owned dragster.

How much money does a Top Fuel driver make?

The base salary for Top Fuel Drivers in companies like NHRA range from $38,127 to $55,135 with the average base salary of $46,034. The total cash compensation, which includes bonus, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $38,265 to $56,067 with the average total cash compensation of $46,690.

How loud is a Top Fuel dragster?

The engine of a Top Fuel dragster generates around 150 dB of sound at full throttle, enough to cause physical pain or even permanent damage.

Who is Alan Johnson's Tuning 2022?

Sixteen years later, Doug Kalitta entered the 2022 season of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series with Alan Johnson as his tuner – the very gentleman that tuned Tony Schumacher to that stunning Hail Mary pass that ripped the championship from Kalitta's grasp in the final 4.42 seconds of the 2006 season.

How long does a Top Fuel engine last?

How Often Are Dragsters Rebuilt? Typically, street-car engines can deliver as much as 800 thousand miles before their motor must be replaced. Top-fuel dragsters must go straight for every quarter mile. It might not seem such a good idea, but seals are seldom full-throttle driven, and spark plugs disintegrate.

What distance do Top Fuel dragsters run?

The NHRA took a major and somewhat controversial step toward safety Wednesday by shortening the distance of Top Fuel and Funny Car races to 1,000 feet instead of the standard quarter-mile run of 1,320 feet.

What oil do Top Fuel dragsters use?

Top Fuel dragsters require 70W while Pro Stock racers run the thinnest oil possible, around 0W-5.

What is nitromethane used for?

Nitromethane is a colorless, oily liquid with a mild disagreeable or fruity odor. It is used as a propellant, fuel additive, rocket fuel, and solvent, and in making dyes, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and explosives.

How many G's can a human survive?

Normal humans can withstand no more than 9 g's, and even that for only a few seconds. When undergoing an acceleration of 9 g's, your body feels nine times heavier than usual, blood rushes to the feet, and the heart can't pump hard enough to bring this heavier blood to the brain.

How many G's does it take to blackout?

"If a force of 4 to 6 g is sustained for more than a few seconds, the resulting symptoms range from visual impairment to total blackout." "As the g forces climb up toward 7 g's, you sink further still in the seat. You can no longer see color. Everything appears in black and white.

What is the most G force a human has survived?

There are isolated incidents of humans surviving abnormally high G-forces, most notably the Air Force officer John Stapp, who demonstrated a human can withstand 46.2 G's. The experiment only went on a few seconds, but for an instant, his body had weighed over 7,700 pounds, according to NOVA.