Coast High Performance

[John McMahon]

Don't beat me to death. I am at my wits end regarding a replacement motor for McStang for track use only.

I thought my 370 was salvageable but it may not appear to be.

I am considering a shortblock 393W from Coast High Perfromance and am wondering about folks experience with them.

I have heard some negative comments on CC in the past.

I am specifically looking at the Street Fighter GT and wondering if anyone has purchased one.

http://www.coasthigh.com/Assemblies/assembly_home.htm

Do these guys stand behind what they sell?

Anyone have any experience with this motor from them?

I need to make a decision soon and don't have a ton to put in a replacement short block.

[agro1]

John - Just do a search for Coast High Performance and you will see everything that has been discussed. They were great to deal with until I had a problem. They're customer service after the sale is terrible, from my experience. Do not let the fact that they have a "warranty" fool you...Any good engine builder will stand behind his work, just because Coast will put it in writing doesn't mean they will stand behind it, they didn't with me...
Give Southern Automotive a call. From what everyone on here has said they build great motors and are a pleasure to deal with. They are a small company that NEEDS to keep their customers happy. Coast on the other hand is a huge company and could give 2 sh!ts if they loose a few customers here and there...IMO

EDIT -

Didn't see you were in Jersy. You should give the Engine Factory a call as well. I think they are in NJ as well.

[prgrip]

I had a 427 stroker built in Sept, 2000. After install, there were problems. They replaced the motor at no charge. That's more than Ford would ever do for a crate motor. I'm sure any independant would stand behind their product.

I am trouble free so far

[Thorin]

John,

Andy Dunn - the story teller. He had a Coast and I believe reversed the oil lines on his cooler. See if you can find his story - he had great things to say about Coast. I believe they actually built a new engine!

Dave Lowell

[sharpel]

I have never purchased a CHP motor, but I do know that the 3 year warranty is void if the car ever goes to the track. Thought I should mention that just in case you were not aware of that fact.

Happy hunting,
Mel

[Dirtrich]

If you want a shortblock, you should take a look at Flatlanders
Dart Iron Eagle shortblock for $5,500. They told me they have them in stock but I am looking for a complete crate engine.

http://www.crateengine.net/

[John McMahon]

hmmmm.....

I know folks have had trouble with CHP, but I'd like specifics, feel free to email me if you don't want to speak here.

In regards to Soutern Automotive, I know somebody that got burned by them as well, so it is a crap shoot, I know that.

As I said, this will be a track only car, so I know most warranties void that. But I suspect if I am buying a race prepped motor, they know I'm going racing.

I have also looked heavily at DSS Inc in IL.

I need a short block quick, I don't have time for most builders, otherwise I'd use my own. That's why I'm looking at these high volume builders.

[FIA#9]

Hey John, how the heck are you? I was considering a DSS stroker and just got the catalog today, sent an email. Wondering why you aren't considering them...they have 331 and 347 high winding motors with afr heads that seem well built. Don't know anything about their reputation. Can't decide whether to build one or buy one, but you know theres never enough power. The 351 strokers don't want to rev too high. Steve Smith

[agro1]

John, I will agree with others here...ONCE I got the problems straightened out (after they burned me for $1000) the motor has been fine. Also, if you specify a "race motor" they will not warranty it, except for their 90 day warranty - but I still don't know if THAT applies to race motors...
If your looking for something quick, well, Coast took 8 weeks to get mine done...You just gotta get in line.

[southernfriedcj]

Originally posted by John McMahon


In regards to Soutern Automotive, I know somebody that got burned by them as well, so it is a crap shoot, I know that.

Care to elaborate?

[RACERAL]

393.. close to 500 horses.. I think you could have just as much fun with a little more reliable motor.. I don't know squat but the 393 and the 427 stroker.. arn't they on the edge... those boys over at www.ffcobra.com are into this stuff big.. my want to try there... what about the roush motor witha 2 yr. warr...

[Thomas Gayer]

In all fairness to Ford, i bought a crate motor from them and it had a knock until it warmed up and they replaced it.

I would not hesitate to buy from Coast, but there are other options out there. PAW or the guys in Arkadelphia Arkansas. They were going to build all the 427s for the ford mustang until the project was scrapped.

As far as a 427 Windsor being "on the edge". I'm 54 yrs old for gods sake and I feel the motor will have more longevity than me.

Happy St. Patricks day!

may all your traffic lights be green!

tell me this we spend most of our life waiting behind red lights, but when we die they get a police escort to run them all to get us to the cemetary.......

[Steve R]

John,
It is a crap shoot for sure. A Good way to provide a little piece of mind is to tear down the new assembly and use a micrometer set
to double check their work, and while your at it, check for cleanliness and make sure it has the parts you paid for, the cam is
degreed, rings are gapped, valve springs don't bind, ect... I did this with the engine I had rebuilt for my van. Glad I did. I paid for good used heads and new valves. I got
cracked heads with old valves, they did not resize the rods. I brought the thing back to them, calmly cross examined the owner
in front of a few customers and his employees. I carried a check out the front door. All the recommendations and BS are no
substitute for using the old noggin.
Remember, drag racers tear their's down regularly. It sounds extreme, but it's not really that big a deal. good luck.
Steven

[Naja]

John -
As I mentioned in a previous post about Coast High, I had nothing but problems from them. It eventually took 6 months to get a "shelf" item from them, after they sent the wrong item, then refused to acknowledge that we returned the part until we threw the UPS confirmation at them, then it supposedly took another 2 months + to machine the correct "shelf" item. Of course, you have to pay 'up front', so they have your money. They would never return phone calls, or when they had to "check" on something, you would never hear back from them. They never admitted that they screwed up, and, of course, never apologized.
I thought it was choice when the owner (?) posted a reply the last time Coast High was bashed - he wanted us to believe that they have the 'highest standards for customer service' (I guess he gets his standards from the same place the Sadam Hussein gets his advise for human rights). Again, he never apologized to the people who had posted about their myriad of problems.

BEWARE!!!!

Regards,
Frank Newman

[agro1]

Just for the record - Chris Huff (one of the owners of CHP) posted here ONCE, in his own defense, as a direct result of all the bad press he had been getting around here...He never once addressed each persons concerns that had started threads; on the contrary, he only had good things to say about his company and their product and furthermore NEVER posted AGAIN. I sent him a letter once that was never replied to and made many phone calls that were never returned. And then when I did finally speak to someone they had every excuse in the book as to why my particular problem had occured, from accusing me with not taking proper care of the motor to accusing the installer of not knowing what they were doing...

If those guys at CHP were burning on the ground I wouldn't waste the time to piss on them to put the flames out...

[Ozona]

CHP 377 in a sportsman block.