Engine Builder ? or Not ?

Old 07-15-2013, 12:10 PM
  #1  
bjuice
Administrator
RACING JUNKIE
Thread Starter
 
bjuice's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Greenville s.c.
Posts: 3,236
Default Engine Builder ? or Not ?

The age old Phrase " I build my own engines "

Really ? IMO to be a builder you must make it ( lathe )..machine it in numerous ways...if your not doing this you ASSEMBLE your own engines...

I am curious as to how many true engine builders we have on the forum..I know of one so far and that is Zipper...for some reason I am thinking Curtis is also a builder.

Who else..?
__________________
Bjuice..

"I'M YOUR HUCKLEBERRY ! "
bjuice is offline  
Old 07-15-2013, 12:22 PM
  #2  
Harbone
Moderator
RACING JUNKIE
 
Harbone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,041
Default

Not me!
I have assembled a few in the past.
I have had a trusted "engine builder" for 25+ years, every motor he has ever built for me still runs to this day. Has all his lathe's and equiptment in his shop and does not have to "farm" anything out.
__________________
Chris

As close to "Normal" as I can get...
Harbone is offline  
Old 07-15-2013, 12:30 PM
  #3  
Swiley383
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
 
Swiley383's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: White Bluff TN
Posts: 630
Default

I just assemble though I would like to watch a builder go thru the entire process and see all the machine work performed.
Swiley383 is offline  
Old 07-15-2013, 02:00 PM
  #4  
zipper06
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: La.
Posts: 2,890
Default

Close BJ, but i still have to farm out the crank balancing and if the block needs line boring/honing i farm that out also. On the balancing, i do the rods and pistons and tell the crank guy the bob weight.
I've been fortunate to work in machine shops all my life and at present time i have available everything from 5 axes CNC mills to OD/ID grinders and CNC lathes to work with.
Plus i have thousands of dollars in inspection equipment so i know where every diminsion is before the block is assembled.
I know of a 1/2 doz. machine shops around here but the big racers all go to a machine shop in Hattisburg to get their engine machine work done.

Zip.
zipper06 is offline  
Old 07-15-2013, 02:13 PM
  #5  
TheYellaBrick
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
 
TheYellaBrick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Emmett, Idaho
Posts: 7,334
Default

I just glue together. :shock: ops: :roll:

My brother 'builds' them.
:arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!:
TheYellaBrick is offline  
Old 07-15-2013, 04:02 PM
  #6  
BEAST477
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
 
BEAST477's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,900
Default

Just an assembler here. I use a guy with over 50yrs experience. His shop is so clean you could eat off the floor and never had a problem yet.
BEAST477 is offline  
Old 07-15-2013, 04:13 PM
  #7  
TheRabbit
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
 
TheRabbit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Augusta, Ga.
Posts: 2,276
Default

To be perfectly honest I can't afford to build my engines. My motor cost way to much for me to make a simple mistake
and ruin a pile of $. I have taken mine apart several times when I hurt it (from being too rich on the nitrous), but Steve puts it back together. He was the one that talked me into building this heavy nitrous motor in the first place. I payed him our normal agreement to make it into an all out nitrous motor and he does the rebuilds / freshen ups for free labor or very little labor. Matter of fact he's been on me for several years to come to his shop and freshen it there with his help so I can do it when I need it overnight.

My motor guy is still a racing guy. He'll go with to the track with his engines and he will freshen them overnight while the owner / driver sleeps. You can go to bed with a hurt motor or burnt pistons and wake up in the morning with a fresh motor! He loves that kind of stuff!!

This reminds me of something he and I were just laughing about last week. A few years ago I switched from C16 to Q16. The motor would literally chock you and make your eyes water. I made him drive the truck so he'd fix it. Needless to say as soon as he could get back to the trailer he started snatching out the air bleeds in the carb and fixed it! lol He lived in WV and I was racing in south Ga, but he made the trip to watch me race and to help me out!! I couldn't get that kind of service from anybody else!!
TheRabbit is offline  
Old 07-15-2013, 04:58 PM
  #8  
fla1976
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
 
fla1976's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,523
Default

I assemble and if there is machine work needed, I use the same guy I've used sine 1997.
fla1976 is offline  
Old 07-15-2013, 05:04 PM
  #9  
Tod74
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,137
Default

I assemble all my own stuff ....I have no way to machine it but I do all the clearance checks myself. Not with plastigauge either.
Tod74 is offline  
Old 07-15-2013, 06:16 PM
  #10  
wazup
Senior Member
EXPERT BUILDER
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 345
Default

Now that's a loaded ?

I build engines and there is a lot to an engine even after its been machined that has to be done.

I do a lot of work to my engine before it hits the machine shop. I don't consider a machinist that works with machines (lathe as you put it) or any other machines a engine builder, just because he or she can run a lathe don't make them an engine builder. I know I few good builders that have there machine work done at a different shop.

So like Zip what dose that make me. Bj you and so do a lot of other people anyone can put one together but staying together is another thing.
wazup is offline  

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service - Do Not Sell My Personal Information -