Crate engines to assemble yourself

[jdean]

Actually the sbf or sbc kits would be hard to screw up. Just check the clearances and torque to spec and they will probably be reliable. An FE is a totally different ball game. Lots of variables and quirks to figure out, and that is where experience pays big.

[RodKnock]

Patrick, maybe you can barter Keith's services for your "LED in the trunk light" and "Replace your tailights for LED's at $25/pop." Man, Keith's Kirkham builds would go beyond legendary.

BTW, I would NOT offer kits. Smaller margins, bigger headaches.

[Excaliber]

...anyway, instruction sheets are over rated...

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

...anyway, instruction sheets are over rated...

And I would also like a set of Keith Craft wrenches in a decorative box. What I really like are my box wrenches that ratchet -- GearWrench makes them I think.

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by jdean

Actually the sbf or sbc kits would be hard to screw up. Just check the clearances and torque to spec and they will probably be reliable. .

You can idiot proof anything, but history tells us there are better idiots in the field. When I see the cliam "unbreakable!" I take that as a personal challenge.......I think this is a lighted fuse. But, hey, what do I know.......................

[DoneByDoug]

Keith,

I did exactly what you propose about two years ago with your 331 stroker. Lance sent me all the pieces. Built it myself. Very strong engine.

With that said, if it were my business, I would only do it within a class environment. Too many potential pitfalls with bad customers requiring too much phone support after the fact.

I'm envisioning a rural Arkansas mountain setting, plush log cabin accommodations, and all the Keith Craft Moonshine I can drink.

[ERA Chas]

Over 60 opinions here Keith, what your decision?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

Over 60 opinions here Keith, what your decision?

... and those ratcheting box wrenches need to have the little flex joint on the end -- I like that.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by patrickt

... and those ratcheting box wrenches need to have the little flex joint on the end -- I like that.

I'm sure Keith is sorry he put this thread up.

[Fordzilla]

Keith, Look at the headaches & problems you have now (all shops have them). Imagine how many more you'll have.

[olddog]

Originally Posted by tcrist

You were correct. Your post was in response the KC original post. The replies went off in a tangent about assemblies and that is where I was. I did not mean to make it sound like your response was incorrect in any way. Sorry.

No apology needed. Everyone seemed to be going one way, so I re-read Keith's posts. You did nothing wrong.

[Don]

Touched on in other posts , the program will not only be judged on the quality of the parts, but the timely response to technical and Customer Services issues., including after sale guidance/advice during the assembly.

[olddog]

Some people make it sound like building an engine is magic and art requiring a wizard.

It is simply having all parts machined to the correct sizes and then proper assembly in the correct order, with good fasteners and gaskets.

Granted knowing what combination of parts work well together, requires knowledge and experience.

If someone such as Keith provides a package that has the right combination of parts with the proper machine work already done, the vast majority of the high skill work is already done.

Granted a well designed engine such as a small block requires much less skill to assemble than a FE requires.

I'm guessing that a good shop would final assemble a small block in a few hours, with a couple more hours, if the clearances were not correct. I know I have done it in a day, when all went well. If I'm correct here, we are only talking saving $500 to $1000 in labor. However you may save more if the shop no longer has to stand by the whole product.

All the talk of morons scrambling to build their engine and then blaming the parts seller for his own mistakes is a little over blown. Sure it is a valid point, but what about the people who know nothing about an engine, buy a complete engine, and plumb the remote oil filter wrong? I suspect Keith has stood behind a lot of engines that were destroyed by the purchasers total ignorance. I think I would be more afraid of the guy purchasing a fully assembled and warrantied engine who has never changed a spark plug in his life, than someone who plans to assemble his own engine. The majority of people who plan to assemble their own engine likely have quite a bit of skill and experience.

[Keithc8]

I was just testing the water on this and it sure came back with a lot of opinions. I agree it could cause some head aches if the person doing the work did not know what he was doing. We already sell a lot parts to guy that do some of their own stuff. A person would have to know that they were responsible for the engine because they assembled it. This would also have to be made very clear. We do not make these parts or box all of the parts like bearings and rings and that would have to be checked.
We stay pretty busy so like you all said this might be more trouble than it would be worth. Sure got a lot of input and I appreciate your opinions about all of this.
I still want to do an open house and cover a lot of engine stuff at it to give the customers an ideal what goes into all of this. I always get a kick out of some of the guys that tell me that they have been doing engines for 20 or 30 years. What they mean is that they have assembled engines for that long. A lof of them have no ideal what goes into the machine work on the block, heads and other parts to get it to that point.
As always if we can help with an engine or parts just let us know. Several of you are right there are a lot of head aches in this business and we try to keep as many from happening as we can.

Thanks, Keith Craft