Engine Builders
 

A friend and i where taking about this the other day. How many racer build their own engines? Or should say assemble their engines,After they are returned from the machine shop.

Re: Engine Builders
 

I do everything on my car except the machine work. Engine, transmission and rear end. I am slow though. I have had others assemble my engine in the past when i couldn’t or didn’t have time. Never worked out as well as when I did it myself.

Re: Engine Builders
 

We used to assemble our own after the machining was completed by Bill Ceralli. Many hours spent making sure all was just right.

Re: Engine Builders
 

I have done my own, other than machine work, forever.

Re: Engine Builders
 

i do all my checking and assembly once the machine shop is done ,,,I also do all my own chassis,headers and roll bar,, couldn't race other wise !

Re: Engine Builders
 

I've always had some of the best around do my machine work, going back to 1969 and Danny Jesel at Duffy's Machine shop..Then Tony Feil, for years.
Later on , Eaton/ Watters/ Hettler /Kadar.
Always assembled my own.
Also carburetors, headers, converters , transmissions, roll bars, rear ends, body, paint.
If I could sew a straight line, I probably wouldn't have Derby City Covers do my upholstery work ;-)

Re: Engine Builders
 

I farm out the machine work, but everything else is done by me in single home garage. It's cold and the quarters are tight, but it's what I do. Electrical, trans rebuild, painted in a rental space. Thought I didn't have the muscle for the rear end so I had a shop assemble the spool and install it. The seal leaked so I tore it apart and it was assembled with the wrong clearances.

Re: Engine Builders
 

assembling your race engine saves you pennies in relation to the cost of engines today.

most serious racers have professionals build their engines, transmissions and cars.

Re: Engine Builders
 

Not sure I agree with that statement. Buckle up because I bet I am not alone.

Re: Engine Builders
 

doesn't matter who disagrees, the fact is the best shops in the country aren't sitting by the phone wondering how they are going to keep the lights on.

Re: Engine Builders
 

A lot more racers than shops. Guys that have to pay to have theirs done, tell themselves everybody else does too.

Re: Engine Builders
 

I'm certain if you polled the racers at any divisional about who assembled their engine, the overwhelming response will be not them especially in the throttle stop classes and TS/TD

Re: Engine Builders
 

Who cares?

Re: Engine Builders
 

No doubt that thousands of people are better at it than I, but I've always done my own assembly because I truly enjoy it.

Re: Engine Builders
 

I've always done everything on my cars, but that's part of the reason I race.
Go to most any track on bracket night and you'll find plenty that don't even change their own oil on their car.It's a "if you didn't buy it it's no good world" .

Re: Engine Builders
 

Some people buy turnkey race cars and some people hunt for clean shells on Craigs List. Money for engine builders won't buy you .00 lights. I worry about Kenny O'Keefe; Gary Howe Jr and Seaburg because they are fantastic drivers. Motors are secondary.

Re: Engine Builders
 

I have always done my own assembling,
now carbs,headers and some fab work.

Re: Engine Builders
 

I have built all my own engine and trans for years. Bought a Pro Trans but I do my own maintenance. Got a good machinist. He does it like I ask.

Re: Engine Builders
 

My $ is on the good driver over the guy that assembles his engines in his garage, every round!

Re: Engine Builders
 

Ok what does being a rich tool bag that doesn’t
have the knowledge to do his own stuff have to
do with driving ability?

Re: Engine Builders
 

who's rich? If your definition of rich is the guy that can afford the $1500 - $2000 typically charged by professional race engine builders to assemble your engine, then I'm rich. My time is far more valuable than that for days worth of labor and many, many class racers all across the country agree with me as evident by the numerous race engine builders who are now swamped with rebuilds and orders for new race engines, some of which build hundreds of race engines a year

Re: Engine Builders
 

My lord, you can tell its off season by looking at the posts. Find something new or at least stop with the crap.

Re: Engine Builders
 

Surely you know there is more to it than screwing the engine together. Cam voice, where to degree it, choosing the piston ring combination, and ring land clearances to specify when having the pistons machined, oil pump volume & internal clearances, bearing selection & oil clearances to use, oil pan choice, intake manifold & plenum volume. Much more to it than picking your block up from the machine shop to either screw it together, or choose to have them screw it together.

Re: Engine Builders
 

Where I was going with this is what does doing your own assembly
Have to do with being a good driver or not? There are quite a few
Good drivers that do their own stuff!!!!

Re: Engine Builders
 

Part of the Stock experience is doing it yourself. At least for me it is. You learn more hands on IMHO. I take that 15-2000K and put it to good use. Nothing against shops I just do things my way.

Re: Engine Builders
 

I disagree

Re: Engine Builders
 

I have always assembled my own motors. I do everything but the machine work. It is a good feeling when someone in the pits comes up and admires your car and asked who does your motor work? I can be proud and say I do.
I take a lot of pride in doing most everything myself that I know how to. For us guys that do assemble our own motors we are still spending money with the machine shops to have them do all the machine work.
There is also nothing wrong with having someone do everything for you either.

Erik

Re: Engine Builders
 

Will somebody please roll down a window and let 1320 Ed out so he can get back to Yellow Bullet.

Re: Engine Builders
 

I understand completely now, Worlds fastest
chevelle Ed!!! Lol

Re: Engine Builders
 

you're living in the past! my former Chevelle has resided in France for the past 10 years.

Re: Engine Builders
 

X10......

Re: Engine Builders
 

I agree in part if reading this right. After 40+ years of being around racing, at the end of the day, the drivers that win it all seen to be a little lacking something, never wired up, nothing ever bothers them. Two come to mind, both track champions many times. One, had the mechanical ability but clueless, but knew how to knock the tree down. The other, he could change oil but that's it, knew the numbers, weather and the like backward and forward. Show up just before eliminations, kill you the tree, if he went red, buy back and win the day. Both cool as a cucumber. I, like most tried to stay away from these guys. The ones that can do it all, are the professionals.
Mike

Re: Engine Builders
 

So how do you explain Stinett and Driskell here in Div 5?

Re: Engine Builders
 

the list is very deep of great drivers that have won multiple divisional and national championships who don't assemble their engines and at the top of that list is arguably the best sportsman/class racer ever with multiple championships in numerous classes

Re: Engine Builders
 

In my case, I like to do as much myself as I can. That being said, life getting in the way of my race car time, makes it necessary to farm stuff out sometimes. Case in point, I'm determined to finish up a 68 Camaro street/bracket car all on my own. Rebuilt front to back, inside & out. Unfortunately since May of last year, my free time is next to none due to work and family health needs. Had I farmed the work out, I'd have been driving it by mid 2018. I have built my own engines in the past for bracket racing and had good success. If it's for the stocker or superstocker we have, it would pay off better for me to farm most engine & tranny needs out, to insure a class legal and competitive piece. It certainly is nice to be able to say I did it myself when the question is asked though.

As far as guys that build their own, vs a guy that can't change oil but can drive like Jesus, Well, lets just say I know a bunch that not only drive like Jesus, but build their own stuff, engine/trans/rear & more.

Have a great week everyone.

Re: Engine Builders
 

I can agree with Ed on one thing, although I would like to my time is very valuable running my business and raising 2 kids. I don't have the time and damn sure couldn't do as good as my engine guy. So I leave it up to him for now but maybe one day I will get to the point I can but for now I've been trying to find time to swap front struts and springs out for 4 weeks now lol.

Re: Engine Builders
 

One of the toughest things in life is to come to grips with / realize that you are far better off to pay the " experts " that do what they do best and don't try to do almost everything yourself. Everyone is good at something. If you make a good wage at making widgets, stay longer at work to pay a tranny, engine, interior, paint or who ever guy.

Re: Engine Builders
 

I don't necessarily disagree with this. But, from what I've seen, some guys can do it all, some guys just need a little help along the way, and some should just keep their damn hands in their pockets, except to pull out a checkbook.

Re: Engine Builders
 

Sorry Kenny ---- Thought I cleaned it up within the rules. Just chalk it up to being my redneck self.:-)

Re: Engine Builders
 

Well I see 1320racer is back to his old ways of being an agent provocateur and an arrogant know it all a**hole! Hopefully the administrator of this site will give this poltroon and his supercilious comments another vacation.
Go back to Jersey you moron!