Asking the over asked question again that results in "my engine guy is the best" but who are some quality engine builders that won't break the bank. I'm aware of the some of the popular names in business like Patterson and Wilson. But who are some builders you found good customer service with along with a great product. In my case im looking at a sbc bracket motor.


I ask because i saw an ad for one with a what looked like a good deal. I then search the said builder the google results produce countless negative reviews filed with the better business bureau. So i wanted to get some first hand reviews if possible on what you liked/didn't like, and what you for when selecting a motor. Thanks in advance and pardon my inexperience.

For a sbc bracket engine that will make good power and not break the bank you should look at Shafiroff. That said, everyone will recommend who they use and some might tell you who to stay away from if they had a bad experience.

Both the engine builders you mention are very capable but their clients are very different. For a bracket engine, Wilson would be the better choice. Several of our friends and competitors run BBC engines built by Chris as do a few here and we race with Chris on a regular basis throughout the season,

Others who have very good reputations and supply power to numerous past and present World Champions, Division Champions and big $ gambler race winners are Sunset Performance, SDPC The Race Shop and PAR. You'll find more engines from these 3 builders than anyone else when competing in big $ brackets and the NHRA LODRS across the country and I have engines from both The RACE shop and PAR who IMO and many others builds the most reliable power for the money. PAR is also the largest BRODIX dealer in the country as well CALLIES which is important today when you want an engine now and other builders are telling you 8-12-16 weeks to get blocks, heads, cranks, etc. Another good builder is OAKLEY and APD. While all these engine builders can certainly build you a sbc engine, keep in mind their R&D is mainly bbc engines because that's what the market demands and what they are primarily building/selling.

Stay away from builders advertising on/selling on RACING JUNK, EBAY, ETC. and stay away from Steve Schmidt.

Customer service AFTER the sale should you have any issue, is EVERYTHING, have the tough conversation before you give anyone your money and if they don't say what you want to hear, take your business elsewhere, your money is green and good everywhere!

You should try to stay with someone in your area. When there is a problem, you don`t have to go far. I have a customer who had a guy build him an engine 3000 miles away from him and it lasted 6 hours. They will not answer the phone or return emails with this guy because they have his money and he`s far away. One problem with Shafiroff, his dyno numbers are inflated. This info comes from 2 dyno guys i use who had their customers bring in Shafiroff engines to dyno. He`s about 80HP inflated. In a nut shell, you get what you pay for. Do some research on the engine builders and if possible go and check out there shop. Look at there equipment and how clean there shop is. Best bang for the buck usually means it has a bunch of made in china parts in it which is really hard not to do. Only high end builds have American made parts in them.

Paul, I haven't met an engine builder in over 30 years whose dyno numbers proved out on the ET slip and when they don't, they almost always blame the converter guy. All I care about is what it will run on the track, dyno numbers are for naïve young men and foolish old men, both wanting a hardon!

PAR or KB RACE ENGINES…

Oakley is great after the sale.

quote:

Originally posted by Chillin:
Oakley is great after the sale.

x2

Do it yourself. One of the most rewarding aspects of the sport is designing and building your own. You’ll need enough tools to verify outsourced special machine shop work and your assembly, but that’s an investment and can be used forever.
It doesn’t take many tools. Micrometers, dial bore gauge, torque wrench’s,
You can do it.

quote:

Originally posted by 1320racer:
Paul, I haven't met an engine builder in over 30 years whose dyno numbers proved out on the ET slip and when they don't, they almost always blame the converter guy. All I care about is what it will run on the track, dyno numbers are for naïve young men and foolish old men, both wanting a hardon!

Yup, i agree. My dyno numbers on my SBO were correct and the car ran what the dyno sheet said it should run but yes, the converter needs to be right. I heard from my converter guy that if the suspension isn't set up right, it`s hard to make the converter work right. That also can go both ways.

Philip Oakley , qality products ,Fair price , and service after the sale ....and a dyno thats not juiced up ... nuff said

I was like Paul for many years. I finally decided it was just more effective for me to have it done. One thing about it is that the engine belongs to them till it comes off the dyno.

I’ve used several over the years and had good luck with all of them. I guess I was just blessed. I used Dave Slatten this last time and was very pleased.


SDPC Raceshop has treated me well as has Sunset. There is something to be said about using someone closer to you. Do your research!

I've never had anyone build a engine for me, I've always built them myself. Building a SBC Bracket engine is just not that complicated. Keep in mind you are not building a high RPM Competition Eliminator engine, just a reliable bracket engine.

Start by finding a LOCAL machine shop that has a great reputation, have them do all the machine work, that leaves you with the engine assembly. Ask for references or ask the racers in your area. The few specialty tool that you will need to do the final assembly can be borrowed, rented or purchased for very little money. The list will include a torque wrench, hand tools which you will need if you do race the car, a few micrometers, the engine stand you should be able to borrow or rent.

Buy a book on assembling a SBC, there are hundreds available and have fun doing the job yourself. In the end you will have a far better idea and appreciation of how the engine works. When you are done the tools you purchased will cost you far less than paying someone to do the assembly.

Bob

Bob, I and most bracket racers today just don't see any benefit. 1st, there are no local machine shops anymore no mind that have a great reputation, the few that are left can't find anybody that wants to do that work and even if there were, you have to load your junk up and take it there, when they are done, take it back to your home shop and then load it up again to take it to be dyno'd. 2nd, All this to save the $1500 assembly cost while the parts will cost you MORE doing it yourself. It's never been so easy, so affordable to build a bracket race engine using brand new, aftermarket parts designed and fabricated for racing. A 700HP sbc can be had for around $15K, meaning the assembly costs is only 10% of the bill and 1000HP BBC for around $25k and it's assembly cost is only 6% of the bill. It's why the lanes, especially those racing Top Bulb/Electronics/Super Pro today are full of engines built by professionals.

That said, for the few that want to assemble their engine, the better route would be to buy a complete, prepped, unassembled engine from one of the builders I mentioned above and have at it .

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 1320racer,

I think most have been mentioned here, but to second what others have said

PAR
Oakley
Wilson
Wilkerson

Please save yourself time and headache and use a reputable engine builder.

quote:

Originally posted by 1320racer:
Bob, I and most bracket racers today just don't see any benefit. 1st, there are no local machine shops anymore no mind that have a great reputation, the few that are left can't find anybody that wants to do that work and even if there were, you have to load your junk up and take it there, when they are done, take it back to your home shop and then load it up again to take it to be dyno'd. 2nd, All this to save the $1500 assembly cost while the parts will cost you MORE doing it yourself. It's never been so easy, so affordable to build a bracket race engine using brand new, aftermarket parts designed and fabricated for racing. A 700HP sbc can be had for around $15K, meaning the assembly costs is only 10% of the bill and 1000HP BBC for around $25k and it's assembly cost is only 6% of the bill. It's why the lanes, especially those racing Top Bulb/Electronics/Super Pro today are full of engines built by professionals.

That said, for the few that want to assemble their engine, the better route would be to buy a complete, prepped, unassembled engine from one of the builders I mentioned above and have at it .

I can’t buy all the parts for what PAR will build the entire engine for.

Another good option for Northeast Texas is I.C.E. race engines in Whitewright Texas.

In the Kansas area consider Luke Siebert who speciales in LS engines and custom carbs.

In the Arkansas market area consider Kuntz and Company.

In the Shreveport LA market is Stanfield Racing.

All of these shops have modern equipment and knowledge of how to win.

quote:

Originally posted by racerdude2054:
I can’t buy all the parts for what PAR will build the entire engine for.

EXACTLY, and why I stated it will cost MORE $ doing it yourself.

If I had nothing to start with and starting from scratch the best bang for your buck would be Shafiroff. Quite a few people around here run their sb stuff with good success. You can save a few bucks and learn a little along the way by buying a complete shortblock and assembling the rest on your own.
As some have already mentioned, you may not be able to buy the parts for as much as they'll sell you an assembled engine for. They do freshen ups also.

joe jolley at sunset performance engines has always treated me like gold. you can expect a wait at any reputable place and if they can get on it tommorrow somewhere you better run lololol

What are your horsepower expectations? That has a lot to do with recommendations. If you want 750hp it takes quite a bit more knowledge than if you want to build your run of the mill 550-600 horse engine. Over 600 horse and or 7500 rpm the margin for error starts getting much smaller.

I have always built my own engines. I have been a machinist for over 35 years and have everything to measure with so it's cheaper for me. If I put it together and it scatters on the 3rd pass, meh it's on me. I don't have to make that call to the builder.