The Great American Supercar Engine

Spread the news: Joel Rosen is back.

Rosen, the man behind the legendary Baldwin-Motion SS and Phase III big-block Camaros, Novas, Chevelles, Biscayne Street Racer Specials, and Corvette Supercars of the '60s and '70s, has returned with a 21st Century version of the mind-blowing cars that roared out of his shop in Baldwin, Long Island, New York, and terrorized the streets not only in the U.S., but around the world.

He's once again joined by Marty Schorr, who was part of the original Motion Performance group that turned out those legendary "take no prisoners" ground-pounding musclecars. Rosen and Schorr have linked up with a new Motion Team consisting of Joel B. Ehrenpreis and Larry Jaworske.

Together, they're launching a new, limited-production, 12-car build, two-seat '69 Baldwin-Motion 540 Camaro SuperCoupe designed by Kris Horton and powered by a Kinsler-injected, 540ci Merlin/Motion engine. Cranking out over 700 hp, the Merlin/Motion 540 is set back 13 inches on a full tubular chassis for a true front/mid layout. You could call it the "great American supercar."

Billy Mitchell, who built engines for Rosen 35 years ago, was commissioned by the new Motion team to assemble the prototype engine. "Since I built many of the original Baldwin-Motion cars and built and drove the NHRA-record-setting A/MP Motion Supercar Club Camaro," Mitchell says, " I knew exactly what the new car needed... a Motion-spec, 700-plus-hp, all-aluminum 540-inch Merlin big-block."Rosen and Mitchell teamed up to design the engine to Rosen's specifications. Mitchell began by blueprinting and balancing the engine. The Merlin III heads received a COMP Cams roller valvetrain with a flat tappet camshaft for the initial build. This "Phase I" engine was built with a single 1050 four-barrel with 82/82 jetting on a Merlin X manifold that delivered 630 hp at 5,800 rpm, and 630 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm on the dyno.

Mitchell removed the 4-bbl carb and intake, sealed the engine, and shipped it to Keech's Performance (part of the Motion team) in Sarasota, Florida. From there, the engine went into "Phase II" assembly. Steve Keech picked up where Mitchell left off, and was responsible for completing the engine and installing it in the prototype Baldwin-Motion 540 Camaro SuperCoupe.

Billy Mitchell chose the Eagle...        read full caption Billy Mitchell chose the Eagle lightweight 4350 chromoly steel crankshaft for durability and high rpm performance.

Since the crank is internally...        read full caption Since the crank is internally balanced, the rear flange is counterbalanced for bottom end smoothness.

The main journal oil-feed...        read full caption The main journal oil-feed holes in the Eagle crank are cross-drilled to increase oil flow to the mains.

The Eagle ESP H-beam connecting...        read full caption The Eagle ESP H-beam connecting rods measure 6.535 inches and weigh approximately 785 grams each.

A second set of Mitchell-prepared heads was shipped, and these were sent out for polishing. When they returned, they received the COMP Cams roller valvetrain. A roller camshaft, with a custom Motion grind designed by Rosen, was slipped into the block.

The crowning jewel atop the Merlin/Motion's 540 engine is the exotic Kinsler Cross Ram injection system. Rosen worked with Jim Kinsler on the overall specs to produce a precise, computer-controlled sequential electronic fuel injection system to accurately feed the 700-plus-hp the Merlin/Motion engine now produces.The Merlin/Motion 540 is the first in a succession of engines that can be tailored to the customer's power preferences. Motion can build an engine capable of producing 1,000 hp, if the buyer wishes, for their Baldwin-Motion 540 Camaro SuperCoupe. Since only 12 will be built, however, buyers best be quick to belly up to the bar and order one. Just like the old days at Baldwin Motion, Joel Rosen and the new Motion team's 21st Century Baldwin-Motion 540 Camaro SuperCoupe, with its Merlin/Motion engine, are building the great American supercar again.

A connecting rod's weakest...        read full caption A connecting rod's weakest link is always the bolt. Mitchell chose ARP L19-forged rod bolts for optimal strength.	The 10.0:1 compression Mahle...        read full caption The 10.0:1 compression Mahle small dome forged-aluminum alloy pistons are lightweight and have high structural rigidity. The skirts are graphite coated with an iron coating for use in the Merlin/Motion's aluminum cylinder bores.	World Products' Merlin aluminum...        read full caption World Products' Merlin aluminum block has a 4.50-inch bore, 4.25-inch stroke and 4.840-inch bore spacing. The block's beefy bottom end features front and rear main webs over an inch thick.
Each Merlin/Motion block is...        read full caption Each Merlin/Motion block is numbered to match the Camaro SuperCoupe's production number. This is number one, the original prototype.	Fel Pro's pre-flattened steel...        read full caption Fel Pro's pre-flattened steel wire ring head gasket has a compressed thickness of 0.041 inch and seals with minimum brinelling of the Merlin III aluminum heads.	While the Merlin heads are...        read full caption While the Merlin heads are beautifully machined, it's a good idea to make sure they're true. In this case, the deck was shaved 0.004 inch.
The Merlin III combustion...        read full caption The Merlin III combustion chamber measures out to 119 cc's and comes with a good three-angle valve job. The tolerances were checked and the valves were then lapped in.	COMP Cam's roller valvetrain...        read full caption COMP Cam's roller valvetrain was installed with Hi Tech Stainless 1.70 rockers and 7/16 studs. The stainless steel valves measure 2.30 inches on the intake and 1.88 inches on the exhaust.	Ten-degree retainers and keepers...        read full caption Ten-degree retainers and keepers from COMP Cams were used for the big dual valve springs, which were set at 150 pounds at the seat.
The height mic determined...        read full caption The height mic determined that the installed height of the valvespring was 1.88 inches in the Merlin/Motion head.	Part of the Phase II process...        read full caption Part of the Phase II process was to polish the second set of Mitchell Merlin III heads, add the roller rocker valvetrain, and install the new custom Motion grind camshaft. A Cloyes timing chain was then installed.	The exhaust ports were blended...        read full caption The exhaust ports were blended and smoothed followed by a standard port and polish job. It wasn't necessary to raise them or do any welding.