Knowing there is lot less guys building engines themselves now days. Not knocking buying before that starts.

Like to hear why choose to build?

Will start it out. For me I will not race my car with abought engine. If was giving engine and told free as long as ran it and never tore it apart. I would hand it back and say thanks but no thanks. Building engine is most fun part for me. Racing it just proves it stayed together and survived me. Surviving me is doing something too. LMAO

I have built/assembled my own engines my entire life. Most important thing is finding a machine shop you can trust

quote:

Originally posted by Big Steve:
I have built/assembled my own engines my entire life. Most important thing is finding a machine shop you can trust

This^^.
I will add not just finding a machine shop to trust but finding one who can get parts out in a timely manner. For example, my Indy block and heads have been in 3 different shops for more than 2 years and never touched. In the 3rd shop now since Aug still sitting..

Dave

EDIT: Four shops

quote:

Originally posted by Big Steve:
I have built/assembled my own engines my entire life. Most important thing is finding a machine shop you can trust

I have as well.
I'm trying to gather things together for a final build before my machinist fully retires. He's already sold some pieces of machinery.

I also have a kink about cleanliness for assembly, and de-burring / detailing every part.

Main reason though is that I want NO doubt, if there is an assembly error, on who to blame.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Goob,

I used to build my own engines. Then I had a machine shop as a sponsor & I did the machining & building, the ultimate control of your own engine. Now, I have a trusted machinist/builder for my engines & it works well!

2BKING

Sadly machine shops are getting harder to find. My old(40 years working with_ just shut down, Sucks now got to find one I can train as to how I want to do things. LOL

One thing that got me started thinking on this was conversation last weekend. When I started bracket racing in 1986. Two or three guys bought engines. Seems now 2 or 3 build their own engine. Had guy ask me what my engine builder said about how I did something on engine. I replied I was ok with it hell I paid for it. He again asked no what did guy who built your engine say? Yea not brightest bulb in chandelier. Replied I told me it was ok hell it was my engine. He shook head and walked off. Do not think he ever caught on.
Again nothing wrong with buying engine if that is how you want to run and not knocking it. Plus if I build it and it breaks its all on me.

I've never had anyone build an engine for me.

I stopped building engines for other people because it was way too much work for way too little money. Even though I own all the specialty tools and equipment it appears I'm too methodical and too slow hangin' them together. Everyone wants it done immediately and they don't want to pay diddly squat.

Free was even too expensive, so I stopped.

Bob

I build ours and have trained my son as well. I can’t say I’ve never made a mistake. But I own em when I make em

For those with sbc building their own or even those purchasing built, what block manufacture is your preference?

I have two SBC Dart SHP blocks and one Little M by Dart.
No issues I can speak about. They just keep running.
Jok

quote:

Originally posted by markemark:
For those with sbc building their own or even those purchasing built, what block manufacture is your preference?

We've had two different SBCs with aftermarket blocks, one with a Dart Little M & our current World Products Motown II. Both are great blocks, but I prefer the Motown. The Motown is usually cheaper by about $500. The cost was not a factor for me, both blocks/engines were sponsored.

2BKING

quote:

Originally posted by wideopen231:
Knowing there is lot less guys building engines themselves now days. Not knocking buying before that starts.

Like to hear why choose to build?

Will start it out. For me I will not race my car with abought engine. If was giving engine and told free as long as ran it and never tore it apart. I would hand it back and say thanks but no thanks. Building engine is most fun part for me. Racing it just proves it stayed together and survived me. Surviving me is doing something too. LMAO

You know who I work with Chris. 5 NHRA championships. I get to build Jeffs motors , quite a few others and my stuff there. I’m all ears and eyes. I learn something every build whether it’s in the assy room , machine shop or the dyno.
What a team!
They just made my job easier and more fun!
Now if my body could keep up….

quote:

Originally posted by BP758:

quote:

Originally posted by wideopen231:
Knowing there is lot less guys building engines themselves now days. Not knocking buying before that starts.

Like to hear why choose to build?

Will start it out. For me I will not race my car with abought engine. If was giving engine and told free as long as ran it and never tore it apart. I would hand it back and say thanks but no thanks. Building engine is most fun part for me. Racing it just proves it stayed together and survived me. Surviving me is doing something too. LMAO

You know who I work with Chris. 5 NHRA championships. I get to build Jeffs motors , quite a few others and my stuff there. I’m all ears and eyes. I learn something every build whether it’s in the assy room , machine shop or the dyno.
What a team!
They just made my job easier and more fun!
Now if my body could keep up….

on the last line. No ****!!!!!

Thunking getting lil brother to do that same not best plan at this point. Machining some pieces to fill a tube in heads that use to be for MFI injectors so he can machine them out for more airflow in ports of 4 valve head for VW for his type 3 VW he runs in pro street in PDRA. Has run 4.70 with VR6 an needing another tenth to run with ls turbo guys.

Sometimes i can be my own problem maker.LOL

I've always built my own and used a trusted machine shop for the things I can't do. Not much to pick from here, but my buddy has his shop and has been doing engine work on pretty much everything, including all out pro mod engines forever. We basically exchange favors or parts for the cost, but it takes me forever to get stuff from him. Can't complain too much, this last build he only charged me $500 for close to $4k of work.....

Always built my own,this is my hobby I want to test my abilities and skills not my check book.But that's just my personal preference.

I have always built my own, for several reasons.

Mainly, because I am A N A L.
I find the meticulous part of it to be enjoyable, highly satisfying, even therapeutic. Even setting the ring end-gaps to the thousandth, which many people hate doing.

Patience, Care, Cleanliness, and Constant Rechecking - They all matter.

I can take the time to do every detail exactly the way I want it, even the most well-known builders cannot afford to spend the time that I take to do that.

I like to drive. Building my engines is a necessary evil for me that I have done since day one. A means to an end. Same with setting up my rear gears, aligning my front end, wiring, etc.... I just can't build my own transmissions.

If I wasn't so cheap I would just pay for it all.

quote:

Originally posted by CURTIS REED:
I like to drive. Building my engines is a necessary evil for me that I have done since day one. A means to an end. Same with setting up my rear gears, aligning my front end, wiring, etc.... I just can't build my own transmissions.

If I wasn't so cheap I would just pay for it all.

Same here 100%!

I build the engines and transmissions for my car and my son's car. I've been building engines for over 30 years now and recently started carefully opening myself up to do builds for others since, as the OP stated, there seem to be fewer and fewer folks out there building their own. Figured I have the skill and tools (as well as doing my own machine work) so why not?