Roush Motors Prices??

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Cashburn

No experience out here in the Northeast with Smedding ... never even seen one.

I don't have a Smeding engine either, but they have a great reputation out here on the West Coast. They've been featured in several magazines including a recent Kit Car magazine, plus here's more:

http://www.mustangmonthly.com/techar...rformance.html

http://www.mustangandfords.com/proje...t_4/index.html

While Smeding is not as famous a Roush, he's built a very good business over the years. Again, I have neither a Roush nor a Smeding. My engine was built by Tom Lucas at FE Specialties and I'm happy, but then I have less than a 1,000 miles on it.

[PCW]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

I don't have a Smeding engine either, but they have a great reputation out here on the West Coast. They've been featured in several magazines including a recent Kit Car magazine, plus here's more:

http://www.mustangmonthly.com/techar...rformance.html

http://www.mustangandfords.com/proje...t_4/index.html

While Smeding is not a famous a Roush, he's built a very good business over the years. Again, I have neither a Roush nor a Smeding. My engine was built by Tom Lucas at FE Specialties and I'm happy, but then I have less than a 1,000 miles on it.

I want everyone to understand, I'm not bashing Roush, if their prices were more in line with what I have found local builders charging, I would consider them. My point is that there is a lot of local Builders that have been doing this for many many years. Ben Smeding, Tom Lucas -FE Specialists and Eliot Franklin - Mustang Corral, just to mention a few. They know what their doing and they are very respected in the industry. They use high end parts, I'm sure Roush uses as well. They might not have the notoriety of Roush, but they can build you a great motor and that's what I'm buying.

I know a lot of people feel the more expensive, the better the product and that may be true in some cases, but there are other options that are just as good. If saving money isn't a big deal to you, then that's cool. I look at it like if I save a few thousands here, that could pay for my TKO 600 or a 17" rims and tires upgrade or just in my pocket. Different strokes for different folks, if you have a Roush and you are happy with it, that is all the matters. If people are going look at me or my car differently because I don't have a Roush, then, oh well.

Thanks to all that posted your comments and thoughts. I appreciate your honesty and opinions.

Craig

[patrickt]

Luck has a lot to do with it as well. One of the bigger FE builders, that is mentioned on Club Cobra all the time, and who is well-respected, gets absolutely blasted on my local Cobra forum because we've had a couple of members that, for whatever reason, have had bad experiences with that builder (who eventually made everything good, it just took time). And that particular builder has successfully built probably a zillion FE motors. Think about it, if you've done anything a thousand times, you've probably done it poorly at least a few times out of that number. But around here, we expect engine builders to be like 767 pilots on a landing -- you only get one chance to do it right, and you damn well better do it right, because you probably won't get a second chance. Oh, and you have to do it right every single time, no exceptions.

[767Jockey]

Originally Posted by patrickt

But around here, we expect engine builders to be like 767 pilots on a landing -- you only get one chance to do it right, and you damn well better do it right, because you probably won't get a second chance. Oh, and you have to do it right every single time, no exceptions.

You'd be surprised........

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by 767Jockey

You'd be surprised........

Well, you know what I meant.

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by PCW

I want everyone to understand, I'm not bashing Roush, if their prices were more in line with what I have found local builders charging, I would consider them. My point is that there is a lot of local Builders that have been doing this for many many years. Ben Smeding, Tom Lucas -FE Specialists and Eliot Franklin - Mustang Corral, just to mention a few. They know what their doing and they are very respected in the industry. They use high end parts, I'm sure Roush uses as well. They might not have the notoriety of Roush, but they can build you a great motor and that's what I'm buying.

I know a lot of people feel the more expensive, the better the product and that may be true in some cases, but there are other options that are just as good. If saving money isn't a big deal to you, then that's cool. I look at it like if I save a few thousands here, that could pay for my TKO 600 or a 17" rims and tires upgrade or just in my pocket. Different strokes for different folks, if you have a Roush and you are happy with it, that is all the matters. If people are going look at me or my car differently because I don't have a Roush, then, oh well.

Thanks to all that posted your comments and thoughts. I appreciate your honesty and opinions.

Craig

Craig,

Sounds like your decision has been made. The "hunt" for the best engine that fits your own vision is the most important factor. In most cases, the final decision is combination of exhilaration and relief.

Like Rodney, I've heard nothing but good things about Smeding. Everything you purchase is a balance between the actual value of the product compared to competitors, and after market service. For me the Roush motor was money well spent.

[PCW]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

Craig,

Sounds like you're decision has been made. The "hunt" for the best engine that fits your own vision is the most important factor. In most cases, the final decision is combination of exhilaration and relief.

Like Rodney, I've heard nothing but good things about Smeding. Everything you purchase is a balance between the actual value of the product compared to competitors, and after market service. For me the Roush motor was money well spent.

Doug,

To be honest, I haven't. I still have quotes coming in for a 427W build. I will most likely be going with a local builder. I would love to put in a Tom Lucas 427SO, but those BB are so loud Just fyi his 427SO motor, New Genesis/Pond Block, all top end parts, turn key is less than 15K, all specs on his website.

Craig

[767Jockey]

Whatever you do, save yourself from some HUGE grief if you go this route, and go with the Pond block. Don't ask me how I know this........

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by 767Jockey

Whatever you do, save yourself from some HUGE grief if you go this route, and go with the Pond block. Don't ask me how I know this........

Yes, the prevailing opinion is to avoid the Genesis block. Pond or Shelby, if you decide on an FE.

Roush, Smeding, Keith Craft, Tom Lucas, Barry at Survival, George Gessford, etc. all have a lot of happy customers here. Sometimes it's all about "the feel" you get when you speak and correspond with people.