Carolina Machine Engines and Phoenix Engines

[Ricky Bobby]

Anyone have any experience with Carolina Machine Engines and or Phoenix Engines? Seem to have great prices on crate engines with dyno and warranty.

[sgianino]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Anyone have any experience with Carolina Machine Engines and or Phoenix Engines? Seem to have great prices on crate engines with dyno and warranty.

How's about a blykins or Keith Craft Motor? Them guys will build ya a nice motor

[incoming]

Whatcha looking for?

[incoming]

I went with a standard compression 351w short block and put the rest together myself. I haven't put her on a dyno yet, I'm old school and want to somewhat of a break-in procedure.

I went with standard compression to try to ween my car off the expensive gas. My car was strictly a track car for over twenty years.

I can't remember the gentleman I dealt withs name but he was good to work with. When I told him it was going in an FIA Cobra, he said he'd get me a good block.

I got a '94 truck block.

[twobjshelbys]

Did you use the forum search function? Carolina shows up in a few posts as a casual reference but no huge feedback. That lack of presence says something. Not sure what. They may be popular in other circles, just not a huge presence in the Cobra community.

Cost, quality, schedule. Choose 2.

A 40K car with a 30K side oiler makes little sense. Start with a Windsor based engine. They are available from many sources here.

Good luck.

[Ricky Bobby]

I'm not looking for anything sexy just 351w stroker to 427 with ~450hp and about the same torque with alum heads, forged internals.

I did utilize the search function and due to limited information why I posed the question.

Both these companies have some competitive pricing with dyno, break-in service and warranty. So they have sparked my interest.

Craft is on my radar as well.

@incoming- so you got your engine from one of them, which one? Carolina Machine Engines since they are in your neck of the woods?

[Tommy]

I know nothing of those vendors, but I did fall victim to two vendors during my recent project. I mention these to encourage you to ask the right questions in advance and get everything in writing at the outset. ... One vendor had a great reputation as a builder of race engines for 15+ years. I learned after I was in too deep that he had sold his business (and name) to someone a year or so before. The new owner was awful. .... I had worked successfully with the second vendor some years earlier. But I discovered again too late that his business was failing and he was taking money from newer clients to complete work for older clients like a pyramid scheme. In both cases I was foolish to not get more of our agreements in writing in detail. You don't have to learn the hard way like me.

BTW, one sign to look out for is an unreasonably low price. Sometimes a failing business, desperate for cash will do that to keep money coming in the door. Be particularly careful if the price seems too good.

[Mark O'Neal]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

I'm not looking for anything sexy just 351w stroker to 427 with ~450hp and about the same torque with alum heads, forged internals.

I did utilize the search function and due to limited information why I posed the question.

Both these companies have some competitive pricing with dyno, break-in service and warranty. So they have sparked my interest.

Craft is on my radar as well.

@incoming- so you got your engine from one of them, which one? Carolina Machine Engines since they are in your neck of the woods?

I've built thousands of them (when I still owned CHP). Still do it, but that's not what I'm shooting for here.....I'd suggest aiming a bit higher since keeping the output down to that would probably dictate using a flat tappet cam.

I'd going to guess that you are going with a Dart block 4.125 x 4.000 stroker setup. So a smooth running engine would be about 10.25:1, AFR 185 heads (or equivalent...flow matters, brand does not) and a hydraulic roller of about .575 lift. That will net you high 500 H/P and low 500 torque. 91 octane friendly and very easy to drive. My own choice would be a Holley sniper injection system, and that's always a personal preference.

A good dual plane would give you better average horsepower number, and a single plane will give you higher peak numbers. We did a 408 for Engine Masters a few years back that would provide the data.

Anyone that suggest anything more complicated than that is just funning you.

I "know" both companies, in that I've sold a lot of parts to both of them. But that's the wrong side of the relationship to recommend from.

[incoming]

I went with Carolina.

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by incoming

I went with Carolina.

How long ago did you purchase the block?

[sgianino]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

I'm not looking for anything sexy just 351w stroker to 427 with ~450hp and about the same torque with alum heads, forged internals.

I did utilize the search function and due to limited information why I posed the question.

Both these companies have some competitive pricing with dyno, break-in service and warranty. So they have sparked my interest.

Craft is on my radar as well.

@incoming- so you got your engine from one of them, which one? Carolina Machine Engines since they are in your neck of the woods?

I have no complaints at all with Keith Craft...built me a nice 496 Stroker with all the good stuff....and its a little sexy, depending on how ya look at it. Granted the Motor has about 5K miles on it over a 15 plus year period....but never had a problem.
So my 10 cents worth of Opinion comes from my Personal Experience with a Keith Craft Motor not as a sidewalk Warrior
And Remember Ricky Bobby"Shake and Bake"
Im Sal "The Magic man" Now you see me now you dont

[Mark O'Neal]

Keith is one of the finest engine builders in the country, and all around good folks.

[Mark O'Neal]

Originally Posted by incoming

I went with Carolina.

What did you do for heads, cam and manifold?

None of my business, of course, but you're allowed to be nosey on Al Gore's interwebz.

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by Mark O'Neal

I "know" both companies, in that I've sold a lot of parts to both of them. But that's the wrong side of the relationship to recommend from.

Actually, this is a good perspective on a company's health and potential quality. If they are not paying their suppliers on time or treating them like Sh!t then quality of supplied parts will suffer and or they could be in jeopardy of going out of business.

So I would love to hear the perspective of a former supplier.

[incoming]

@Ricky.

can't remember. had a stroke due to covid.

[Mark O'Neal]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Actually, this is a good perspective on a company's health and potential quality. If they are not paying their suppliers on time or treating them like Sh!t then quality of supplied parts will suffer and or they could be in jeopardy of going out of business.

So I would love to hear the perspective of a former supplier.

I've never had a single issue with either one of them.....or Keith Kraft, or blykins, for that matter.

[Mark O'Neal]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

I'm not looking for anything sexy just 351w stroker to 427 with ~450hp and about the same torque with alum heads, forged internals.

I did utilize the search function and due to limited information why I posed the question.

Both these companies have some competitive pricing with dyno, break-in service and warranty. So they have sparked my interest.

Craft is on my radar as well.

@incoming- so you got your engine from one of them, which one? Carolina Machine Engines since they are in your neck of the woods?

Well, I started the combination, so they're all copying me.

Carolina is a long time customer and is an excellent shop.