Who Builds the Best 428FE over 500hp?

[PHM]

I am looking for a good engine builder. I want to put a FE big block in the new SPF that i just ordered but i want 500 plus HP. What are your recomandations.

[blykins]

Call Keith Craft. 500hp with a 428ci FE isn't too hard to get, but with a stroked 428, you'll get there and have plenty left over.

[lineslinger]

I sometimes think this should be called the forum for Kieth Craft or the KC endorsement site.
There are a lot of options not being brought up, Keith's company and it's good work seems to be the only alternative ever mentioned.
Not meant as a personal dig, his shop has done well by me many times and I was, at one time, on a first name basis, not by my choice, with Tony.
There are a lot of builders with all the skills and knowledge offered by others than the more well endorsed company's in here. The loyalty is impressive and well deserved, but keep your eyes open.
A lot of CC members have always issued a big time endorsement of Keith Craft and it is justified, but it's not wrong to do biz or pursue alternative sources of quality in your own home town, and I am not a builder of any sort, just an observation.
I could not afford KC, I found an absolute stud of a builder with a little research, at half the cost anticipated, 20 minutes from my home.
I read a lot of offerings about a variety of other local shops and their work a lot in here.
Not so much anymore, check your local options as well.
Point being, if you can get by the fan clubs and all that flag waving, deserved or not, there are other options, and your expenditures (dollars) will keep it all competitive.

[Rick Parker]

The Lineslinger speaks the truth.

[DonC]

In your neck of the woods you might want to look at Danbury Competition Engines in Danbury Conn. Very satisfied with what they built for me.
DonC

[blykins]

There's nothing wrong with giving props to a shop that has a good reputation.

As for me, I build my own engines, but I have bought a lot of machined blocks and other parts from KC.

I just happened to be the first one to name a shop, I'm sure there will be others that will mention Gessford, Southern Automotive, Doug Garifo, etc. However, I've never dealt with them. So I talk about who I know and who I have experience with.

[undy]

Originally Posted by lineslinger

I sometimes think this should be called the forum for Kieth Craft or the KC endorsement site.
There are a lot of options not being brought up, Keith's company and it's good work seems to be the only alternative ever mentioned.
Not meant as a personal dig, his shop has done well by me many times and I was, at one time, on a first name basis, not by my choice, with Tony.
There are a lot of builders with all the skills and knowledge offered by others than the more well endorsed company's in here. The loyalty is impressive and well deserved, but keep your eyes open.
A lot of CC members have always issued a big time endorsement of Keith Craft and it is justified, but it's not wrong to do biz or pursue alternative sources of quality in your own home town, and I am not a builder of any sort, just an observation.
I could not afford KC, I found an absolute stud of a builder with a little research, at half the cost anticipated, 20 minutes from my home.
I read a lot of offerings about a variety of other local shops and their work a lot in here.
Not so much anymore, check your local options as well.
Point being, if you can get by the fan clubs and all that flag waving, deserved or not, there are other options, and your expenditures (dollars) will keep it all competitive.

Not to be a KC thumper but .... does your local engine builder have a 5 axis CNC machine and probably one of the most killer pieces of CNC software around for Ebok FE heads? Does he have a CNC block machine for blue printing all his blocks. I could go on... There's more here than just one's abilities, integrity and customer service. The "tools" also make the mechanic. There are other tremendous engine builders on this site other than KC ... Barry w/ Survival Motorsports, Southern Automotive and George w/ Gessford to name a few. I'm sure there's a lot of local talent out there too. KC's "assets" played a major role in my decision to go with him. In the FE world of more or less one-off engine block (and head) castings by comparatively small businesses like Pond, Dove and Genesis, it's nice to know your guy has the equipment to make all the manufacturing inconsistencies go away.. The same holds true if you want to bring a seasoned 65 side oiler block back to Ford's original drawing specifications too. If you level all the resources then I'd go with any of the aforementioned builders and maybe even one or two around my haunts.. jus' my 0.02..

D

[lineslinger]

Originally Posted by undy

Not to be a KC thumper but .... does your local engine builder have a 5 axis CNC machine and probably one of the most killer pieces of CNC software around for Ebok FE heads? Does he have a CNC block machine for blue printing all his blocks. I could go on... There's more here than just one's abilities, integrity and customer service. The "tools" also make the mechanic. There are other tremendous engine builders on this site other than KC ... Barry w/ Survival Motorsports, Southern Automotive and George w/ Gessford to name a few. I'm sure there's a lot of local talent out there too. KC's "assets" played a major role in my decision to go with him. In the FE world of more or less one-off engine block (and head) castings by comparatively small businesses like Pond, Dove and Genesis, it's nice to know your guy has the equipment to make all the manufacturing inconsistencies go away.. The same holds true if you want to bring a seasoned 65 side oiler block back to Ford's original drawing specifications too. If you level all the resources then I'd go with any of the aforementioned builders and maybe even one or two around my haunts.. jus' my 0.02..

D

My comments were never intended as a "my guy - your guy" type of comparison, please don't go there with this.
The simple point was, and is, as you ended up stating so clearly, there are many good options to look at in terms of builders, they should all be researched.
By the way KC and his work are integrated into certain area's my 68' SO.

[undy]

Originally Posted by lineslinger

My comments were never intended as a "my guy - your guy" type of comparison, please don't go there with this.
The simple point was, and is, as you ended up stating so clearly, there are many good options to look at in terms of builders, they should all be researched.
By the way KC and his work are integrated into certain area's my 68' SO.

...just pointing out that it's more than the sum of one's abilities and knowledge and not intended as a "my guy, your guy" response.

[Nantucket427]

Miller Machine & Auto Parts, 500 R Groveland Street, Haverhill, MA 01830 978 372-6212. He is an old drag racer that has forgotten more about FE motors than all of us will ever know. Phil Miller stood behind all of his work.
I wanted to be able to look the guy in the face when we had discussions and be able to pick-up and deliver parts myself.

[bret a ewing]

Lineslinger has a good and valid point. I also use a local engine builder, who by the way is awesome............with bowtie products. But FE's are a little quirky, and he admits it. So, I choose to use a dedicated "Ford Racing" engine builder.
Just my opinion, but for a basic rebuild yep, any competent shop can do the job. But, I feel, if you want a product that has endured trial and error durability plus the benefit of dyno-testing to maximize performance, go with a specialist: KC, George Anderson, etc.

[quickjack]

On a street I occasionally go by, there is a hand written sign by a guy named Cletus which says engine and transmission rebuilding. I could get his number if any of you like. ;-)

[PHM]

Thanks for the info on Cletus but i'm a little scared that the owners name is Rosko P Coltrain.