Whether you’re tackling your first engine building project or you’re a veteran of the practice, proper planning is always the best place to start. So before you dive headlong into a new engine build, take the time to develop a proper plan and equip yourself for success. The planning phase is when you determine the scope of your engine project and lay out the goals you’re hoping to accomplish. Are you hoping to create a powerful engine? Do you envision a souped-up beast? Is this engine’s intended purpose for racing or for everyday use? How soon do you need to have this engine finished? These are all things you need to consider before even starting your build process.

Thankfully, Regis Manufacturing is here for you, providing all the parts you need to build the engine that fits the vision of your next project. We’re going to explore four facets of the planning process today to help you get your engine build kicked into gear!

Organize Your Budget

Take the time to sit down with your budget and assess how much you can realistically afford to spend on your engine. If you browse around our online inventory, you can get a pretty good idea of the cost of the parts you’ll need to get the job done. For the larger components of your engine build, will you be hiring the services of a local machine shop, or will you be renting the large tools and garage space needed? Not everyone has a home shop equipped to handle hoisting and lowering an engine into your vehicle for assembly once all of your upgrades have been implemented. And, of course, factor in the cost of buying the engine itself!

Determine Your Engine’s Intended Use

Whether you’re planning on building an engine as a hobby, for practical use, or for competitive racing, you need to figure out what your intended use is going to be. Will your engine be a high-performance monster of an engine that will blow away the competition at the race track? Or will your engine build focus on increasing horsepower to make your muscle car really roar? Or, different still, are you planning on building an efficient, healthy engine that will extend the lifespan of your vehicle? Determining the goal for your engine build is critical, as different types of engines are going to require different parts and internal adjustments to perform to their peak capabilities. For example, high-performance engines used in racing need to be specifically adjusted to generate maximum compression for a quick start off of the line. Your engine’s use will determine your strategy moving forward.

Ensure You Have the Proper Workspace Available

Do you have the necessary space, time, and tools you need to actually complete your engine building project? This may surprise you, but some eager first-time engine builders will rush into a project, only to realize that they don’t have the garage space or large tools necessary to complete their project or to raise and lower their engine into and out of their vehicle. If you’re planning on building a racing engine, you certainly need to consider if you have the time available to invest in such a time-consuming endeavor. Quality engines take time, and rushing through a project like building a racing engine will only lead to disappointing results. Give yourself plenty of time to build in the offseason.

What Resources Do You Have For Help With Your Engine Build Project?

There’s absolutely no shame in planning for help with your engine build. Assess the resources that are available to you — do you know any experienced mechanics or racing professionals that can help to guide you through your engine building project? We highly recommend seeking out the help of a trusted friend or experienced engine mechanic, especially for first-time engine builders. Engine builds aren’t especially difficult when you know what you’re doing, but engine assembly requires specific torquing and adjustment of various components within your engine — these are nuanced details that make having an experienced mechanic on-hand an invaluable resource. They can teach you how to assemble and inspect your engine in the right way, helping you avoid unnecessary mistakes that would need to be fixed later. Expert builders are also a great resource to advise you in the planning stages of your engine build!

Trust Regis Manufacturing For the Parts You Need

We hope that this engine building planning guide has been helpful! To keep your garage fully stocked and to stay equipped for future engine builds or modifications, shop our online store! Regis Manufacturing has been producing top-quality engine building parts and tools since the days of hot rods and T-Birds. We’re proud to have a reputation that precedes us as one of the most trusted names in engine building for generations.