Ok. I work at an automotive machine shop that specializes in hi performance engines. I do the test fitting + final assembly. We have equipment ranging from a dyno to a 5 axis cnc machine for head porting.
One of our biggest customers is Cobra Automotive in Wallingford Ct.
www.cobraautomotive.com (we laugh every day about the comments on there about them doing engines and "the boss spends so much time in the dyno room we call it his 2nd home." )They do alot of top-end Ford work. Restoration of Cobras + Gt40's-+ Mustangs. They also do alot of race prep + track support.
We probably build about 10 289's a year along with plenty of freshen ups for them--they sell them all over the world. Last year we did a whole bunch of FIA legal motors that got shipped to customers in Europe. (One customer is the shop that preps the GT40 + the red Falcon in GTL.)
So what I end seeing is an engine block on an engine stand + a pile of boxes-then many hours of putting it together and measuring -take it apart + machine again and again -until its finally assembled with exacting clearances. Then it goes back to Cobra--they put on a show worthy paint job + attach all the shiney stuff (as we call it, their valve cover installation area
) then it comes back to us to be dynoed. Then I sweat it out that I did EVERYTHING exactly right while it gets flogged on the dyno. Once finished it goes back to them-and they take credit for it and off to the customer-or installed at their shop. I dont see the cars-I just do the engines. Only time of the year i see any of them is at Watkins Glen in Sept.
