PHOTOS BY RICHARD TRUESDELL

by Jim Youngs

Crate engines are thankfully a big part of our hobby these days. Instead of scrounging in a salvage yard for a greasy block that will need to be Gunked then taken to a rebuilder, you can pick up the phone and order a brand-new mill assembled especially for your new ride. You can pick whatever horsepower level you think you need, as much bling as you can afford and a matching color, and the thing arrives at your doorstep ready to connect the fuel lines and wiring and fire it up. And if you buy your powerplant from Engine Factory you get a motor that runs right out of the box (they run each engine for 40 minutes in real-world conditions before it leaves the warehouse) without having to do any tuning or fiddling to get it right.

This Lebanon, New Jersey company has got the crate engine package deal figured out as they've been doing business since 1969. Started by Bruce Nelson, the business is still a family owned and operated one producing something like 40 custom Ford and Chevy engines every month. When you call or email for information, you'll likely be communicating with one of the family members who know these engines well and know what works to get the power and reliability you want.

Engine Factory uses brand-name components throughout their craIe engines having tested just about everything in the course of their business. A scan around the compact, stacked-to-the-rafters parts department shows a who's who of the engine aftermarket parts business. Like we said, they've been doing this a long time and test every engine that's ordered so their pursuit of powerful and reliable engines is not guesswork.

A quick check of Engine Factory's website shows not only a wealth of engine choices, but a great deal of helpful information that goes a long way toward you getting exactly what you need. Included there are not only discussions of "How Much Horsepower," comparisons, FAQs, "Carb and Timing Adjustments," "Safe Installation," "Choosing a Cam," and a whole lot more, but also a bunch of videos on a whole lot of related topics.

Based on their long experience the company has some standard combination assemblies that they know work well, depending on the power requirements and such, but it's the vast array of cosmetic and ancillary pieces that separate one engine from another

Engine Factory first opened its doors in 1969 which gives them plenty of experience delivering engines tHat work. The company tests every mill before being shipped so that customers don't have much to do other than install it and turn the key and go.

Engine Factory knows for example that if a customer wants a 400hp Ford small-block for his Cobra replica, that a 351 Windsor block outfitted with a Comp hydraulic roller earn, aluminum Edelbrock heads, hypereutectic pistons creating a 10:1 compression ratio, with an Edelbrock RPM intake manifold topped with a Holley 650cfm double-pumper carb will easily do the job and deliver in excess of 400lb-ft oftorque as wel1. From that point the customer can choose what color to paint the block, what air cleaner will work best, the pulley system and other such necessities.

Thanks to a still-burgeoning Cobra replica market, small-block Ford mills areexcellent sellers for Engine Factory. The 351 Windsor mentioned above is the top pick and the company predominantly sens carbureted versions (70%) though they also offer EFI systems as well. The Chevy part of the business is also strong with engines ranging from a 320hp small-block to the monster 572ci mills, and everything in between.

Crate engines, like those from Engine Factory, have revolutionized the kit car hobby by taking a lot of the grease and guesswork out of the power equation.

KCB

 

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