Local engine shop FE qualified?
 

I have a local shop that has been around a long time (20+ years). The guy once drag raced professionally. I have known him over a dozen years. His family operated a large dairy operation with a huge fleet of trucks, which he maintained. Many of the trucks in the old days were 390 FT engines, so he has rebuilt lots of FT and FE engines over the years. He said it has been a while since he has done an FE engine, but as I questioned him about oil system modifications he was very familiar with everything I have ever read on the subject. He even told me to check out Jim Doves website.

His shop is capable of:
Boring and honing (his honing machine has a digital read out of the bore on two axis as it hones)
Sleeve engines
Solvent tanks
Head porting, multi angle valve jobs, and flow bench
Align bore block.
Mil heads and blocks
Recondition rods
Cranks – turn, polish, straighten, balance, and add mallory metal
Weld repair aluminum heads – cold repair cast iron heads.
Engine dyno

He builds diesels, tractors, Honda, Chevy, Ford, Mopar..... you name it. I know he builds lots of drag and dirt track engines. I have had him do engines in the past, and he always did good work. I know a half dozen racers who have use him and never heard of any complaints.

Jim Dove states on his website that if a shop doesn't have at least two FE engines in their shop at any given time then it is not a shop you should use for an FE. What is your opinion of using a shop like I have described?

Huh.

He's local. You've known him a bunch of years. His shop is equipped. He clearly has clientele, who are not unhappy. He also clearly has practiced, at least 20 years, at his craft. He has done FE's, albeit a while ago.

Jim Dove is qualified to pass judgment on what it takes to do an FE....but he may be talking apples to oranges. Somehow I don't think you are looking for an all-out FE, rather a street car engine. Yes?

Your guy might not get all the hp out of the engine that a Jim Dove might, but I'm thinking you would get a well-made, reliable motor that will make all the power you will want.

I would just suggest that whatever you do, bore and hone the block with a torque plate.