This is topic which: engine short block or kit in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by gercolla1 (Member # 3068) on :
 
I am planning on running a 331. Should I buy a complete shortblock for about $2000ish or should I try to save some money(if possible) and just buy a crank/piston kit and have some machine work done locally?
 

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Posted by CDT (Member # 5004) on :
 
why not have the whole thing done locally? Just have the shop buy the parts they like to use.
 

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Posted by Apexmotorsports (Member # 5307) on :
 
There are many good engine builder's around. If you do decide to buy a kit buy it from the people who are doing the work for you.

We personally have chosen to go with crate engines assembled to our specs from CHP. We have found that CHP gives us the best bang for the buck since some of these companies manufacturer their own parts. CHP manufacturers their own Probe Pistons and connecting rods, which many engine builders in the area use also. That is one of the main reasons why crate engines are cheaper and the fact that CHP produces close to 100 engines a month. When you have enconomies of scale you will always have a price advantage.
 

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Posted by 92stangLX (Member # 3252) on :
 
I would have a "reputable" local machine shop do the build up. The only thing I don't like about crate motors is that if you have a problem with it you will have to ship it back to the place you bought it from. If you have a local machine shopd assemble it then you have someone close to you that you can take it if there are issues.

Good luck
 

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Posted by racercosmo (Member # 1864) on :
 
Does anybody know about Top of The Hill in Livermore? When I worked at Modacar, they would come over and use our dyno a lot. It was cool to see a Daytona Coupe, or an old NASCAR car driving down the street. I think they specialized in vintage cars, but Fords.
 

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Posted by Apexmotorsports (Member # 5307) on :
 
Top of The Hill Performance is arguably one of the best engine builders around. They make great stuff BUT are very expensive.
 

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Posted by phil a (Member # 3596) on :
 
i'd source some parts from a reputable source (brian @ adperformance.com, chp, etc) then have a local machine shop put everything together/balance it for you.

phil
 

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Posted by 93PONY (Member # 60) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Apexmotorsports:
There are many good engine builder's around. If you do decide to buy a kit buy it from the people who are doing the work for you.

We personally have chosen to go with crate engines assembled to our specs from CHP. We have found that CHP gives us the best bang for the buck since some of these companies manufacturer their own parts. CHP manufacturers their own Probe Pistons and connecting rods, which many engine builders in the area use also. That is one of the main reasons why crate engines are cheaper and the fact that CHP produces close to 100 engines a month. When you have enconomies of scale you will always have a price advantage.

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