Are crate motors as reliable as stock ones?
09-19-2006, 09:09 PM
#1
5th Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Posts: 3,768
Are crate motors as reliable as stock ones?
This may sound like a silly question. It's just that I hear of so many folks having trouble with their crate motors/built motors. Is it just the nature of high performance engines...that they break?
As a related question: Is it normal for headgaskets to blow on stock motors? How about crate motors/built motors?
As a related question: Is it normal for headgaskets to blow on stock motors? How about crate motors/built motors?
09-19-2006, 09:17 PM
#2
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
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Posts: 845
RE: Are crate motors as reliable as stock ones?
depends on the builder. ford warentees there crates for as long as a new car.
if you go with a dss or other its all up to the guys that build them.
yes headgaskets go but not very often. detonation (from bumped timing) can kill them. a warped head, or deck is another reason. if you blew your headgaskets and didnt resurface the heads chances are very good they will go again. this is one thing i learned from working in the machine shop. its cheap to have done and well worth it. same rule applys for clutches, if you dont resurface the flywheel the newone wont live as long.
if you go with a dss or other its all up to the guys that build them.
yes headgaskets go but not very often. detonation (from bumped timing) can kill them. a warped head, or deck is another reason. if you blew your headgaskets and didnt resurface the heads chances are very good they will go again. this is one thing i learned from working in the machine shop. its cheap to have done and well worth it. same rule applys for clutches, if you dont resurface the flywheel the newone wont live as long.
09-21-2006, 08:39 PM
#8
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Hamilton, NJ
Posts: 15,042
RE: Are crate motors as reliable as stock ones?
Most people dont buy crate motors becaue they are a waste of money! You could either build your own or have a local recommended shop build one for way less... and screw the shipping charges! 
09-21-2006, 08:48 PM
#9
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Laredo, TEXAS
Posts: 6,054
RE: Are crate motors as reliable as stock ones?
The problem is that those who build their own engine may not know as much as they think they do.... for example, a race built engine from DSS will come with experience since they are in the race scene... a crate 302 from ford will be built well cuz thats what they do... blown head gaskets, blown engines, etc has a great deal to do with the driver mod and not so much with the builder of the engine unless it was built poorly in the first place by someone who thinks they know what they are doing, but not... this is only my most humble opinion... 
09-21-2006, 09:02 PM
#10
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: cape giradeau,mo
Posts: 8,872
RE: Are crate motors as reliable as stock ones?
i'll buy from D.S.S anyday!...i have ran this car so hard hell even tried to blow it up..blew HG'S...and guess what?...i still ran a 11.91 after all the drama...could i have built it myself with the same reliability....yepper!...but hey when you work so many hours it was just "convenient for me...