Crate Engines for Dummies
So, you’re ready to buy an engine but don’t know where to start? You think you know what to keep in mind, but are you 100 percent sure? Where’s the best place to go to get honest, non-basis advice? Well, professional engine builders Smeding Machine and Performance have created that list to help out all you beginners.
1. You Get What You Pay For – Everyone understands the importance of having a budget when taking on a big project like building an engine, but as the old saying “you get what you pay for.” Take time to understand the importance of getting the right parts and only doing things once. This will help you stay within your budget, even if some of the parts cost a little more at first then anticipated. After all if you have to buy the same part numerous times in different sizes or types over and over, you are sure to blow your budget out of the water.
2. Go With An Expert – Unless you live next store to Ben Smeding or Vic Edlebrock, don’t follow the advice of your neighbors, friends or family. Take your questions and advice straight to an expert and let someone who builds engines for a living show you the way. And always remember, that manufacturers give suggestions for a reason and to build the best engine possible, please take these into consideration.
3. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions – You can never learn all that you need to know by being afraid to ask a question and find those answers you so desperately need. So, remember the only dumb question is the one you don’t ask. Take some time, compile your thoughts, do your research and then get those remaining questions answered so you have all the facts when making your decision.
4. Beware of Impostors – If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Make sure that you do a through background check into the company you are purchasing from. Ask questions to other people in the industry to check their reputation, contact past customers to get honest feedback and make sure they are legit in every way before you plop down your hard earned dollars.
5. Remember That Street and Race Engines Are Not the Same – Don’t get suckered into paying more for an engine that you don’t really need. Make sure that the motor you are choosing fits the intended application and go with that. Keep in mind that just because you friend has a race engine in his hot rod that runs the quarter-mile in, you don’t have to have one in your weekend cruiser.
6. Look at the Torque, not the Horsepower – When looking at the specs of the engine you are considering, the most important number to focus on is the torque, not the horsepower. You can always make modifications to your engine easily to add more horsepower so make sure you get the torque that you desire, so that your engine can easily handle anything you throw at it.
7. Go With New And Not Rebuilt – Why start with an engine that has been used and abused and then rebuilt, when you can buy a new one for the same price. New crate engines come with brand new parts and even a warranty. These are important things to keep in mind when spending your money as you want you dollars to stretch and last as long as possible.
8. Stick To Your Decision – After doing your research, trust and believe in the decision you have made. Never second-guess yourself, since that can only lead to uncompleted projects and mistakes being made. You made your decision because you knew it they were the right choices, so stick with it. Always remember an expert is just a call or click away if you need help.
Smeding Performance specializes in building reliable, low-maintenance crate engines for truck, car and marine applications. These engines are not rebuilds: Smeding crate engines feature brand-new engine blocks and premium components. Smeding Performance is located in
