Ever wanted your own engine business

[Dallas56]

DanEC, I had a similar experience with Keith about a month ago. I drove to Arkadelphia to look at a Superformance that Keith was selling, my first Cobra, never met Keith before. He had put a small block stroker (427 cubic inch, 580 horsepower, 590 torque) and Tremek TKO-600 into a beautiful new SPF roller (Royal blue, double Wimbledon racing stripe). Keith gave me the full tour of his shop and two hours of his time, showed me the car, demo'ed the engine (no drive, it was wet), went over all paperwork (including Dyno data), and answered all questions. I bought the car on the spot. Keith is a big talent, hard working, honest, responsive. He and Shelly worked with me to resolve an SPF roller issue (no issues at all with the engine) and to generate all the paper work necessary to get a new title in Texas. Keith trailered the car to me in Dallas on his way to the Texas annual meeting in San Marcos. Car is great, engine is breathtaking. (Yesterday, a Corvette pulled up to me at a red light, driver rolled his window down, said "Now, that's a man's car, tell me about it." This was right after a cop waved at me, and a kid on a hot shot motorcycle challenged me (a challenge this brand new and inexperienced old man owner declined).) Keith gave me his cell number and has answered my phone calls at 8 PM at night. I can't speak highly enough of the guy and don't understand how any customer could have an issue with him. If he retires . . . our loss.

[Keithc8]

I want to let my customers know and hopefully and future customers that I am not retiring anytime soon. I more or less wanted to see if there was anyone young or old that might have an interest in getting thir feet wet in this business.
There would be no way I do not think that someone could walk in one day and me leave the next. I just want to slow down a little on my end and just wanted to see if there was anyone interested in getting into this business that had a true desire. This would take someone that had a love for cars and engines and wanted more than a job. It is getting harder and harder to find those kind of people.
I have good employees that could pretty much run the shop without me as long as the work was rolling in. Well as we know that does not just happen without talking with people and being involved with activities that put you in touch with car people. My engine assembler Jeff Henry has been with me 15 years and I would put him up against anyone anywhere. He is one of the few like me that when his name goes on something he wants it the best it can be. You have to have pride in your work and have a desire to be the best.
Like someone here said Roush has very little to do with the crate engine business. Pretty much got approached with an ideal to do the crate engine deal when his shop slowed down. Other people run it and he said do not do anything to hurt my name. They have done a pretty good job with that, but you will not call there and talk about a problem with Jack Roush, he has other things to do.
I started my shop about 17 years ago after splitting with a partner. I had a 3000 square foot building and myself for about a year and then Jeff came to work for me and then about 4 months later my brother-in-law. We three took it from there up to about a 12,000 square foot shop, ten employees and about 20 engines a month sold to about 20 different countries world wide.
Know with over 2 million invested and three children I will not retire in the next year but do plan to slow down some. So I hope that we can keep doing business with the Cobra community because it has been good to us. Just checking and looking for a few options in the future.
By the way the profit margins are tight in this business and I do not see how some of these others places can compete with us with our location and lower overhead. I tell people we are not the cheapest and we are not the most expensive but somewhere in between.
Thanks for the post and private e-mails and be sure we will not leave our customers high and dry.

Thanks, Keith Craft

[SoTxButler]

Something GOOD on tax day.....who would have thunk it!!!!!

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by Dallas56

DanEC, I had a similar experience with Keith about a month ago. I drove to Arkadelphia to look at a Superformance that Keith was selling, my first Cobra, never met Keith before. He had put a small block stroker (427 cubic inch, 580 horsepower, 590 torque) and Tremek TKO-600 into a beautiful new SPF roller (Royal blue, double Wimbledon racing stripe). Keith gave me the full tour of his shop and two hours of his time, showed me the car, demo'ed the engine (no drive, it was wet), went over all paperwork (including Dyno data), and answered all questions. I bought the car on the spot. Keith is a big talent, hard working, honest, responsive. He and Shelly worked with me to resolve an SPF roller issue (no issues at all with the engine) and to generate all the paper work necessary to get a new title in Texas. Keith trailered the car to me in Dallas on his way to the Texas annual meeting in San Marcos. Car is great, engine is breathtaking. (Yesterday, a Corvette pulled up to me at a red light, driver rolled his window down, said "Now, that's a man's car, tell me about it." This was right after a cop waved at me, and a kid on a hot shot motorcycle challenged me (a challenge this brand new and inexperienced old man owner declined).) Keith gave me his cell number and has answered my phone calls at 8 PM at night. I can't speak highly enough of the guy and don't understand how any customer could have an issue with him. If he retires . . . our loss.

I saw your car up on a lift in his shop when I was there. A beautiful car. Glad to hear Keith isn't going any where soon.

Dan

[DAVID GAGNARD]

6 or 7 years ago, I place an order for a 331 rotating assy. with Keith,told him it was for a road racer and what kind of rpms/use it would get, he put together the parts and pieces for me....I could have bought the same stuff from Summit/Jegs or any one of many other places, but Keith was about a 100 bucks less for the same parts and driving distance for me, so I saved another 100 bucks or so on shipping. Also, my flywheel was a 28 oz. balance and needed a 0 balance for the stroker,he said no problem, bring it when you come and we'll re-balance it to 0 for you while your'e here.......

They did so while Tony gave me the $2.00 tour of the shop, and what amazed me was every employee down to the 2 guys tearing down old greasy motors and washing them, would stop and say "hello" and shake my hand as we went thru each department and those folks didn't know me from Adam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Class act people down to the lowest guy on the totem pole.......first class shop with $$$$$$$ equipment too..........

David