Engine of the Year Award - NCRS Discussion Boards

Engine of the Year Award

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  • Patrick B.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • August 31, 1985
    • 1992

    Engine of the Year Award

    A common question on this forum concerns where to find an engine shop that understands what restorers want and need. We hear about bad experiences from shops that routinely deck the numbers off a block, insist that vintage heads need valve seat inserts, and suggest unsuitable aftermarket cams and valve springs when quality OE spec Sealed Power components would provide the original characteristics the restorer wants. Well, now we have an opportunity to raise the profile of stock restoration engine building in world of engine building professionals.

    Engine Builder Magazine is having an engine of the year contest, and the contestants are 9 over-the-top modified racing engines and one 63 Corvette engine built with full attention to finding all the right casting numbers and dated parts while saving a beat-up block and preserving its numbers.

    I went to the website below and voted for the restoration engine. Anyone can vote; you don't have to subscribe to the magazine. I think shops may think more about the restoration business if a lot of us show our appreciation for this kind of engine work.

    Go to: http://www.enginebuildermag.com/engine-year-contest/

    The article in Engine Builder which describes the 63 Corvette project was commented upon in this forum a few months ago. Some of us were critical of the engine paint because it was much prettier than a factory job with thin paint and overspray. I spoke to the young man who did the work (yes, a young man who shares the interests of us Corvette geezers) and he certainly understands what is typical of factory production. He explained all that to his customer, but the customer wanted a correctly built but cosmetically better engine. I certainly understand that. So, let's put in a good word for well restored 300 hp engines in a world of 2000 hp turbo monsters.
  • Michael J.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • January 27, 2009
    • 7100

    #2
    Re: Engine of the Year Award

    That's a good idea, to encourage the vintage engine builders of the country. I have a local NCRS member (transplanted from California) who has several top flight type cars, and lots of experience in rebuilding original engines. He is my go-to guy. He recently restored a 30K mile, beat up but original '64 L84 for me. He is the kind of guy who tears them down by himself, carefully documents and catalogs all the original parts, looks for date codes on everything, including bearings, and restores what original parts he can and any replacements are dead nuts on original replacements. He is not fast, but he is the kind of guy I trust to give me back as original an engine as possible.
    Big Tanks In the High Mountains of New Mexico

    Comment

    • Gene M.
      Extremely Frequent Poster
      • April 1, 1985
      • 4232

      #3
      Re: Engine of the Year Award

      This is no different than any other commodity or service performed. It requires a consumer (customer) to be educated on the service/product or what ever service that is to be performed. This is a time to spend more and get what one expects. Know the shop your dealing with. Also the complete stipulations of the service/work needs to be spelled out in writing with unquestionable exactness of specifications and requirements.

      I supply my engine blocks all stripped down bare with a special plate covering (bolted down) and protecting the engine pad. Maybe excessive but I feel necessary and the engine builder likes it too. It is never to be removed by none other than me.

      This is not rocket science. Race engines are a special handling and exacting specifications far beyond what a restoration requires. So I suggest to entertain the idea of a high quality shop. Bubba’s back room bargin basement might not be your best choice.

      Comment

      • Mark E.
        Extremely Frequent Poster
        • April 1, 1993
        • 4503

        #4
        Re: Engine of the Year Award

        Gene,

        Would you post a photo of your engine pad plate? I'd like to see it.

        Did you make or buy it?
        Mark Edmondson
        Dallas, Texas
        Texas Chapter

        1970 Coupe, Donnybrooke Green, Light Saddle LS5 M20 A31 C60 G81 N37 N40 UA6 U79
        1993 Coupe, 40th Anniversary, 6-speed, PEG 1, FX3, CD, Bronze Top

        Comment

        • Gene M.
          Extremely Frequent Poster
          • April 1, 1985
          • 4232

          #5
          Attached Files

          Comment

          • Thomas N.
            Very Frequent User
            • July 31, 2002
            • 396

            #6
            Re: Engine of the Year Award

            Here is my pad cover I did.
            Attached Files
            NCRS New England Chapter Chairman 2022, 2024
            N E Regional Chairman 2024
            1967 Corvette Convertible Under Restoration
            1996 Corvette Coupe NCRS Chapter Top Flight 99.5, NCRS National Top Flight 100.0

            Comment

            • Mark E.
              Extremely Frequent Poster
              • April 1, 1993
              • 4503

              #7
              Re: Engine of the Year Award

              This goes over the engine pad? How large is it, and how is it fastened?

              I like the fail safe visual this provides.
              Mark Edmondson
              Dallas, Texas
              Texas Chapter

              1970 Coupe, Donnybrooke Green, Light Saddle LS5 M20 A31 C60 G81 N37 N40 UA6 U79
              1993 Coupe, 40th Anniversary, 6-speed, PEG 1, FX3, CD, Bronze Top

              Comment

              • James G.
                Very Frequent User
                • August 22, 2018
                • 784

                #8
                Re: Engine of the Year Award

                This is probably the best insurance against an unwanted decking I have ever encountered...
                James A Groome
                1971 LT1 11130 - https://photos.app.goo.gl/zSoFz24JMPXw5Ffi9 - the black LT1
                1971 LT1 21783 - 3 STAR Preservation.- https://photos.app.goo.gl/wMRDJgmyDyAwc9Nh8 - Brandshatch Green LT1
                My first gen Camaro research http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.p...owposts;u=4337
                Posts on Yenko boards... https://www.yenko.net/forum/search.php?searchid=826453

                Comment

                • Thomas N.
                  Very Frequent User
                  • July 31, 2002
                  • 396

                  #9
                  Re: Engine of the Year Award

                  It mounts to the two water pump holes, and is slotted so you can put it on top of the pad, or a leave a little gap so it doesn't rub on the pad. It covers the entire pad and then some.
                  You could also tack weld the bolts to the mount, to ensure no tampering if needed, and grind the tacks later. This one is for a sbc, and I have one for a BBC also. Hope this picture explains it clearer.
                  Attached Files
                  NCRS New England Chapter Chairman 2022, 2024
                  N E Regional Chairman 2024
                  1967 Corvette Convertible Under Restoration
                  1996 Corvette Coupe NCRS Chapter Top Flight 99.5, NCRS National Top Flight 100.0

                  Comment

                  • Michael F.
                    Very Frequent User
                    • January 1, 1993
                    • 745

                    #10
                    Re: Engine of the Year Award

                    nice, very nice
                    Michael


                    70 Mulsanne Blue LT-1
                    03 Electron Blue Z06

                    Comment

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