[WarrenG]

I know that I'm getting into this kind of late, but... All this discussion just reinforces what Curt Scott publishes in his book about Cobra Replicas. Basically, you can't do too much research before you give somebody your money. Whether it's for the car/kit or the engine or any other component. I'm in the process of purchasing an ERA and when it came time to find an engine builder I spoke to other Cobra and Replica owners who already had their engines. I also got recommendations from ERA for builders and got references from ERA for clients of theirs that had used different engine builders. I made sure that I spoke to owners that held dealt with the builder recently as well as a couple who had had their engines for several years and had put several thousand miles on their engines. After making a preliminary decision I spent the money for an airline ticket and rental car and travelled from So. Cal to Connecticut to visit the builder's shop and verify that he had the facilities to perform the job. I figured that spending roughly $600 for a few days in CT was alot better than possibly losing several thousand on a deal gone bad. I also figured that given the cost of the project it would end up adding only about 1% to the cost, a small price to pay. I've been back twice as part of other business and know for a fact that my engine is complete and ready to go.

Good Luck getting past this. If anybody still needs an excellent and reputable engine builder I would recommend without any hesitation, Joe Lapine of Danbury Competition Engines in Danbury, CT. It will soon be fall in New England, a fall colors tour would be the perfect excuse to go to CT and if you just happen to end up near an engine shop on the way, so much the better!