Crate Engines
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 474
Likes: 64
From: Portage La Prairie Manitoba
Crate Engines
http://stores.ebay.com/Hot-Rod-SBC-e...enameZl2QQtZkm Anyone ever dealt with this outfit?
Looks like good prices!!!!
Looks like good prices!!!!
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 3
From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
I won't comment on his engines. But here are my thoughts.
The spelling on that ebay site is terrible.
I would want to talk to some of his previous customers before I shelled out $3-$4K on a motor. (and that goes for any ebay motor builders)
GM Sells crate motors with warranty. Some dealers sell the low HP motors (190HP) for around $1200 and then price goes up with HP.
Caveat Emptor
Pete
The spelling on that ebay site is terrible.
I would want to talk to some of his previous customers before I shelled out $3-$4K on a motor. (and that goes for any ebay motor builders)
GM Sells crate motors with warranty. Some dealers sell the low HP motors (190HP) for around $1200 and then price goes up with HP.
Caveat Emptor
Pete
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
i just visited his website and looked at the 383 stroker vortec head for 3699.....great price plus full of goodies problem is a local speed shop would have charged me about 4K to build that with out the carburetor.....perhaps they make money on volume sales........if your local shops can't build it for this price how do others do it?...just something to consider....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Here's his advertizing - I copied it from his Ebay auction text - my spelling may not be perfect but this is...... 
WHY BUY MY ENGINES WHEN THERE ARE CHEAP ONES OUT THERE BECOUSE I BUILD MY ENGINES WITH CARE AND CONCERN. I BUILD EVER ENGINE AS IF I WAS GOING TO PUT IN MY OWN RIDE. SEE I AN A REAL HOT RODER. I BUILD ENGINES BECOUSE I LOVE BUILDING ENGINES. I DONT DO IT TOO MAKE LOTS OF MONEY OR TO HAVE LOTS OF ENGINES OUT THERE SEE I BUILD ENGINES BECOUSE I WANT TO . I LOVE IT AND I DONT BUILD THEM AS AN ASSENBLY LINE ENGINE LIKE MOST MACHINE SHOPS DO. NOW TELL ME DO YOU WANT SOME ONE WHO DOSE NOT CARE ABOUT YOU THEY JUST CARE ABOUT THE BIG BOTTOM DOLLAR.THIS IS WHY I CALL MY SELF AN CUSTOM ENGINE BUILDER BECOUSE I BUILD EVERY ENGINE, I DONT HAVE TEN GUYS BUILDING ON ONE ENGINE JUST TWO ME AND ONE GUY AT MY MACHINE SHOP, THIS IS IT AND WE DO IT WRIGHT UNLIKE OTHERS .I KNOW YOU WILL LOVE YOUR ENGINE BECOUS I ALL READY DO.
WHY BUY MY ENGINES WHEN THERE ARE CHEAP ONES OUT THERE BECOUSE I BUILD MY ENGINES WITH CARE AND CONCERN. I BUILD EVER ENGINE AS IF I WAS GOING TO PUT IN MY OWN RIDE. SEE I AN A REAL HOT RODER. I BUILD ENGINES BECOUSE I LOVE BUILDING ENGINES. I DONT DO IT TOO MAKE LOTS OF MONEY OR TO HAVE LOTS OF ENGINES OUT THERE SEE I BUILD ENGINES BECOUSE I WANT TO . I LOVE IT AND I DONT BUILD THEM AS AN ASSENBLY LINE ENGINE LIKE MOST MACHINE SHOPS DO. NOW TELL ME DO YOU WANT SOME ONE WHO DOSE NOT CARE ABOUT YOU THEY JUST CARE ABOUT THE BIG BOTTOM DOLLAR.THIS IS WHY I CALL MY SELF AN CUSTOM ENGINE BUILDER BECOUSE I BUILD EVERY ENGINE, I DONT HAVE TEN GUYS BUILDING ON ONE ENGINE JUST TWO ME AND ONE GUY AT MY MACHINE SHOP, THIS IS IT AND WE DO IT WRIGHT UNLIKE OTHERS .I KNOW YOU WILL LOVE YOUR ENGINE BECOUS I ALL READY DO.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Kingston Washington
1st engine in the list.
Chevy 406 SBC aluminum heads 98%complete 500 hp
98% Computer balanced roller rockers,built by a true HR
98% done? wtf is that. lol only 4k
I would ask alot of questions before considering.Send them an email asking how their engine building is done.ie What do you use and do when building your engines? The response could be interesting or entertaining.
Buyer Beware,
-Ed
PS at least look for shops that brag about the shop equipment used or ask them what they use, Think the ebay guy has a cleanroom?
Chevy 406 SBC aluminum heads 98%complete 500 hp
98% Computer balanced roller rockers,built by a true HR
98% done? wtf is that. lol only 4k
I would ask alot of questions before considering.Send them an email asking how their engine building is done.ie What do you use and do when building your engines? The response could be interesting or entertaining.
Buyer Beware,
-Ed
PS at least look for shops that brag about the shop equipment used or ask them what they use, Think the ebay guy has a cleanroom?
Last edited by Hidro; Jan 1, 2005 at 11:03 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,672
Likes: 199
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
I would have a hard time sending 3-5grand to someone named Hammy who can't spell simple words, I know you don't need to spell to build engines but you do need to read a little
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 474
Likes: 64
From: Portage La Prairie Manitoba
I agree the man has poor spelling, but that may be due to a lack of formal education or he may be from another country.Some of the best mechanics I have seen are from " the old school " . Just wondering if anyone is near there to check him out.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: NJ
I would think that "Hammy" is from another country. His grammar is indicative of someone who did not come up through our education system. Hey, who knows, he may be one of the best kept secrets on the internet. But I agree, buyer beware.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Sometimes businesses (like good engine builders) open their Ebay store to sell their engines and parts. You can see their 'about me' page, their feedback and sometimes their homepage... there are good engine builders on Ebay, no doubt... some of them even say 'in business for over so many years' - they may have just opened an Ebay store recently and don't have high feedback numbers...
I don't think this one is one of those...the 98% makes me suspicious.... but who knows....
In his auction he's saying that he's in this business for 28 years... but he doesn't give his address, just a PO box...
his feedback# is 67, but mostly he sold cams, carbs or timing chain covers... only a few engines....
If you're really interessted in their engine(s) you may want to email one of the guys who bought an engine from them...
I don't think this one is one of those...the 98% makes me suspicious.... but who knows....
In his auction he's saying that he's in this business for 28 years... but he doesn't give his address, just a PO box...
his feedback# is 67, but mostly he sold cams, carbs or timing chain covers... only a few engines....
If you're really interessted in their engine(s) you may want to email one of the guys who bought an engine from them...
