Ford Performance Crate Engines vs. The "Other Guy"A common mistake that Ford crate engine customers make when shopping for the best Ford crate engine value is that they try to compare motor combinations, performance numbers, and price to determine which offering has the most value. It's confusing because one offering can use cheap or inferior fasteners, gaskets, bearings, rings, valvetrain etc. that wont show up on the "spec sheet" and seem like a bargain. On the other hand, another offering might make "more power" and seem like the best performer. But there is much more that goes into a Ford crate engine besides a collection of parts, labor to machine and assemble them, and a dyno sheet. The engine development process is the most important factor of all and won't show up on a spec sheet or dyno chart. The development process is also where the most money is spent, before even one motor is sold. You can have a great spec sheet or a great dyno chart but if the motor isn't durable or if the parts are not matched properly then what seemed like the best buy really isn't. What if that cheap rocker arm or valve retainer fails 10,000 miles later? Who's fault is it? The engine builder can torque everything down, pass all the pressure checks during assembly, and make great power on a dyno before shipment, but are those parts designed to work together in harmony long after? That is why the most important part of your crate engine is the development and testing that went into it. That is where the true value of your Ford Racing crate engine is. Without it, your potentially left with a dead motor, flashy spec sheet, impressive dyno chart, scraped knuckles, and a light wallet. All Ford Racing crate engines start as an idea. The Ford Racing
engineers begin with a horsepower target and the engine family for
hitting that target. Then, Ford Racing documents the components that
will likely achieve the targeted horsepower and meet the durability
requirements. This procedure is based on Ford Racing's years of
experience in the high performance crate engine building business. Many
formulas also support this process. Next, Ford Racing has one or more
development crate engines built and sent to the engine dynamometer lab
for break-in and testing. During dyno-testing, fuel distribution, best
cam timing and best ignition timing for maximizing horsepower and
torque are assessed. If target performance numbers are not met or can
be improved, then changes are made accordingly. Often times, different
carburetors, camshafts, intake manifolds and cylinder heads are
evaluated.
After the performance targets are reached, the Ford crate engine is
run for durability. Durability testing is based on the market
application of the Ford crate engine. Various durability tests may be
run, sometimes as severe as 50 hours at wide open throttle, full power.
Others may be cycling tests where the Ford crate engine accelerates
from peak torque to peak power, then decelerates back to peak torque, repeating this cycle for many hours. If something fails or shows premature wear, then the development process
is started over. The weakness is resolved and durability testing begins
again. Upon successful completion of
durability testing, the Ford crate engine package is released for
production. This work ensures that you get a Ford crate motor that deserves to wear the Blue Oval. Manufacturer level development and testing is what makes Ford Racing crate engines inherently different. From the very beginning, your Ford Racing crate engine was not the result of a guy throwing together parts from a catalog, running it for a few minutes to make a dyno sheet and then shipped to you. Your FRPP crate engine was the result of a carefully followed engine development program to work out all of the bugs and failures, identify weaknesses and resolve them, and ultimately develop a motor that will do what it is intended to do. Your typical machine shop or online "bargain engine builder" does not have the OEM facilities, resources, or knowledge to build quality Ford crate engines using this OEM development approach. Only the Blue Oval can bring you this much real value.
After development and testing are completed, the motor is released to production. Your Ford Racing crate motor is assembled to high quality standards and tolerances.
Below are articles that walk you through the Ford Racing Crate Engine and Modular Cammer Motor Assembly Processes.
Ford Racing Crate Engine Build-Up Process Article
Ford Racing Modular "Cammer" Motor Build-Up Process Article
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