[blykins]

I suppose a customer could make the engine builder selection just like a mortgage or insurance selection, where the builders all lined up and discussed their strengths and weaknesses. Since the majority of customers these days come from all over the world, internet reputation will give you a good idea of a builder's product, but I'll be happy to discuss my own high and low points.

I feel my strongest quality could either be my experience with Fords or my communication with customers.

I pretty much build nothing but Fords....Windsors, Clevelands, and FE's. I probably do a greater number of FE's than the other engine families, but I spit out quite a few small blocks. These range from budget low hp engines all the way up to 700-800 hp drag race and road race engines.

I communicate a lot. The phone number that I give out is my cell phone number and I'm generally available by text or phone up until 9-10 EST. In my email program, I have a folder for each customer, and I would venture to say that each folder contains 50-100 emails, just from dialogue between me and the customer about choices and progress. If it's a Club Cobra customer, I usually try to start a build thread which shows progress, information, and pictures/videos. I try to follow up with each customer after the engine is delivered and to help support the install.

My major weakness is that I'm a one-man shop. This means that I may take a bit longer to spit an engine out than the other guys. However, I think this can be turned into a plus as well, since I'm the only guy who will touch your engine, from start to finish.

We all have issues from time to time on engines. It's just part of running a business. I dyno all of my engines, so I know if there's a problem right off the bat. If there is, I'll fix it before it goes out to the customer. These problems can range from a small leak up to issues with parts.

Most of the major engine builders that advertise all know each other and may even patronize each other. I buy a lot of heads and blocks from Robert Pond. I also have Keith Craft do a lot of my head porting since he has decades of porting experience, plus the ability to produce a CNC program specifically for me.

With that being said, if I were in the spot to have an engine built for myself (if I weren't able to do the work), I'd pick Robert Pond, Keith Craft, or Barry Rabotnick. I strongly feel that I could trust each one of them 100% and that they all do good work.

That's my 2 pennies...