Engine Builders

[Jim Hanig]

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.

[Mike Pearson]

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.

[Frank Castros]

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

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Frank Castros

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

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

[gmonde]

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 !

[Mark Yacavone]

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 ;-)

[FireSale]

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.

[MR DERBY CITY]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

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 ;-)

X10......

[BTR69]

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.

[HR9121]

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.