*****Who Should Build My Engine ?????

[rbien1]

Hi everyone,new guy here but have been on/off this site for months.I am going to buy the ERA 427 comp. version.I am having them build it turnkey as I have absolutely no skills in this area.I have been studying engine builders and have some in mind.I will have one of them build a 427BB all aluminum with aprox. 600 HP/torque(roughly).The names I keep seeing on this forum and others are:Lykins Motorsports,Keith Craft.Pond Motorsports and Engine Factory.I know that this is a difficult question to ask but I am looking for quality and reliability.Your experience with these shops would be greatly appreciated.If you prefer to send responses via email please do so at rbien1@hotmail.comThanks,Bob.

[rodneym]

There's a handful of top notch FE specialists.
I'd go by closest distance. Between Barry Rabotnik, Brent Lykins, Keith Craft and Tom Lucas.
There's others, too. Might want to try the FE forum.

[Ron61]

I agree with what Rodney said. They are all good builders but I would go with the one closest to me as it is much easier to get something fixed if anything happens to the engine soon after you get it.

Ron

[1795]

I would concur with Ron and Rodney. They all have good reputations and are quite knowledgeable, proximity to you is the next most important factor in case something goes wrong. Nobody is perfect, even the best occasionally get bad parts or have an off day. What separates the best from the average or worst is how they address the mistakes. Integrity is high among this group from what I have seen.

[Dimis]

Welcome and happy new year to you.

I chose Brent for various reason that were applicable to me.
I couldn't be happier with the entire experience.
He built me a "custom" engine, exceeding my expectation. Not a cookie cutter engine, not a create engine, but a custom engine, if you get what I mean.
Any future engines I need will be built by Brent also, I've no doubt about that.

But If we were to ignore my bias toward him, I'd investigate the following options, before I went anywhere else.
Blair Patrick (of Blair Patrick Engines)
Barry R. (of Survival Motorsport)
George Anderson (@ Gessford)

Best wishes.

[undy]

Another nod for Brent. No one will give you a better engine and a more personalized touch.

[blykins]

I suppose a customer could make the engine builder selection just like a mortgage or insurance selection, where the builders all lined up and discussed their strengths and weaknesses. Since the majority of customers these days come from all over the world, internet reputation will give you a good idea of a builder's product, but I'll be happy to discuss my own high and low points.

I feel my strongest quality could either be my experience with Fords or my communication with customers.

I pretty much build nothing but Fords....Windsors, Clevelands, and FE's. I probably do a greater number of FE's than the other engine families, but I spit out quite a few small blocks. These range from budget low hp engines all the way up to 700-800 hp drag race and road race engines.

I communicate a lot. The phone number that I give out is my cell phone number and I'm generally available by text or phone up until 9-10 EST. In my email program, I have a folder for each customer, and I would venture to say that each folder contains 50-100 emails, just from dialogue between me and the customer about choices and progress. If it's a Club Cobra customer, I usually try to start a build thread which shows progress, information, and pictures/videos. I try to follow up with each customer after the engine is delivered and to help support the install.

My major weakness is that I'm a one-man shop. This means that I may take a bit longer to spit an engine out than the other guys. However, I think this can be turned into a plus as well, since I'm the only guy who will touch your engine, from start to finish.

We all have issues from time to time on engines. It's just part of running a business. I dyno all of my engines, so I know if there's a problem right off the bat. If there is, I'll fix it before it goes out to the customer. These problems can range from a small leak up to issues with parts.

Most of the major engine builders that advertise all know each other and may even patronize each other. I buy a lot of heads and blocks from Robert Pond. I also have Keith Craft do a lot of my head porting since he has decades of porting experience, plus the ability to produce a CNC program specifically for me.

With that being said, if I were in the spot to have an engine built for myself (if I weren't able to do the work), I'd pick Robert Pond, Keith Craft, or Barry Rabotnick. I strongly feel that I could trust each one of them 100% and that they all do good work.

That's my 2 pennies...

[vector1]

I don't think a one man shop is a weakness, least one knows who is putting their hands on the motor.

[rodneym]

Forgot about Pond and Gessford.

And vector1 is right, the 'one man shop' is great.
Picks up the phone, deal with the owner/builder directly, that means a lot these days.

[DanEC]

Amongst the top tier builders location may be a factor. In my case, Keith Craft's shop is just 80 or 90 miles down the road. That allowed me to stop in and tour his shop, look at components, witness the dyno run-in and transport the finished engine myself. If I have a major problem it will be a lot simplier to get it back to him to examine.

[mjl]

Not The Engine Factory ! I had an engine built from them in 09 and was the worst Money I had ever spent

[Don]

Have you asked ERA for their opinion on engine builders ? If there is a reluctance to name one, might be they would offer the top 3.

[66gtk]

Joe Lapine at Danbury Comp Engines did the motor for my turn key ERA. I think he's done quite a few for the turn key cars and he has a good reputation. Curt Vogt at Cobra Automotive might be another - both shops are in CT which makes it convenient for ERA to get the car built as quickly / efficiently as possible?

[G-Pete]

Off the shelf.

Now the reasons: Better warranty, if there is something wrong - any Ford dealer can fix the problem.

If you have no skills to get an natural aspirated engine running right, you need all the support you can get.

Here is your 600HP...

427 Aluminum Long Block - Rear Sump M-6007-Z427ART - FordRacingPartsByDonWood.com

[blykins]

If you're not mechanically inclined then that link that was just posted would not be wise, as they don't come with an intake manifold or any supporting parts. The picture is slightly misleading.

As for the warranty, you have to prove that you have a problem first, and I doth necessarily think most ford dealers would sit and tinker with a carbureted engine.

[Three Peaks]

OP is looking for a BB 427, the listed link is a small block stroked 427. Heck, for the near $14K price tag, you could have an FE built I believe.

Bob

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by Three Peaks;1****46

OP is looking for a BB 427, the listed link is a small block stroked 427. Heck, for the near $14K price tag, you could have an FE built I believe.

Bob

Yes, although probably not a side oiler unless he already had the block and heads. A standard or stroked 428 is certainly do-able from a builder for that as I'm an example. I think with clutch, flywheel and bellhousing I came in around the $14k mark. A stroked 390 would come in a little lower yet.

[Machwon]

Brent isn't exaggerating- he's been terrific to deal with and has among the (if not THE) best customer service I have experienced when dealing with engine builders. I don't mind waiting a bit for quality- the car isn't going anywhere anyways

[JLip]

There are many engine builders out there...... I dealt with Christian @ Engine factory and could not be happier with his customer service and have to say the 351 stroker 535hp they built has been trouble free, no oil leaks, etc and runs great. They build a Lot of engines and are very competitive if you compare apples to apples. Good Luck!

[AL427SBF]

From ERA's website, it might be dated info -

Remember! Our bias is to use engines made locally.
Check around your neighborhood for a "Ford Expert".

427/428

Cobra Automotive - Wallingford, CT, 203-284-3863. Jim Inglese and Curt Vogt - A prominent local builder of small blocks.
Danbury Competition Engines, Danbury, CT 203-748-7356 - Joe Lapine - A local (to us) engine builder who specializes in Ford small block and 390/428 engines. He doesn't have any original 427 cores that he's willing to part with, but will put together a good '27 with your core or a new aluminum block.

Dove Manufacturing, Cleveland, OH - 440-236-5139 - Manufactures complete engines, aluminum blocks, heads and water pumps. Our experience with the aluminum parts has been mixed. You are better off buying a complete engine that has been tested rather than individual parts.

The Engine Factory supplies several variations of the Ford small block and FE. We have no direct experience with them, but the reviews on Club Cobra have been very good..

Ford High Performance Exchange, Melville, NY 631-643-8834 - Tony Carey - An experience builder of all Ford engines.

Keith Craft, Inc., Arkadelphia, AR, 870-246-7460 - An experience builder of small and FE-block Fords. Both iron and aluminum available. Currently KC offers a base 482CID aluminum FE for around $17,000.

Genesis Performance - Indianapolis, IN, 317-357-8767. A new supplier of complete FE engines and blocks. Both iron and aluminum available.

Gessford Machine - 402-463-9844 or 800-829-3448, Hastings, NE 68901. George Gessford is an experienced Ford builder with a loyal following. His web site also has a wealth of engine and parts information.

Keith Craft Racing Engines - Tel: 870-246-7460, Fax: 870-246-7418, Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Complete FE and small block engines, and many Ford Motorsport parts.

Shelby American - 310-538-2914 - Brand new all-aluminum 427 engines. More money, but have that famous Shelby signature on 'em.

Southern Automotive (Bill Parahm - 800-255-8236) - builds complete small blocks and FEs. Our customers have had mixed results, but Parahm seems to have a very strong general following. Do a search on ClubCobra for more information.

Total Performance, in Michigan. 586-468-3673, e-mail - John Vermeersch
They have an extensive cache of 427 parts and the expertise to put them together right. Years of experience have built a very loyal following.

289/302/351 Windsor

Cobra Automotive - Wallingford, CT, 203-284-3863. Jim Inglese and Curt Vogt - A prominent local builder of small blocks.
Danbury Competition Engines, Danbury, CT 203-748-7356 - Joe Lapine - A local builder with lots of experience with both the small block and FE.

The Engine Factory supplies several variations of the Ford small block and FE. We have no direct experience with them, but the reviews on Club Cobra have been very good..

Ford High Performance Exchange, Melville, NY 516-643-8834 - Tony Carey - An experienced builder of all Ford engines.

Ford Motorsport (Through your local dealer) - Economical new crate engines directly from Ford. Built to a price, so don't expect any exotic parts.

Gessford Machine - 402-463-9844 or 800-829-3448, Hastings, NE 68901. George Gessford is an experienced Ford builder with a loyal following. His web site also has a wealth of engine and parts information.
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