Performance Engine Building

JBA Performance Engines are custom-built to your desired specifications and performance levels.

“Originality, innovation, or a mass-produced crate engine? We won’t build it until you order it. This explains the popularity of our JBA AntiCrate program. Power engineered the way you want it and hand built for your application. No sitting under a heat lamp. . .just fresh horsepower!

~J. Bittle, President, JBA Performance Engines

3 Stages to Choose From

JBA Performance Engines are built to your specific needs and performance levels that you want to achieve. They are available in various stages that define various performance levels using factory and/or a combination of aftermarket parts. 

• JBA PERFORMANCE ENGINE - STAGE I

  Stage I- Stock to mild street performance:

  Engines are built and machined with the classic resto-rodders in mind. The emphasis is on original design with modern horsepower. We use your original core parts and fill them with the latest performance hardware. A lot of the machining operations we utilize on our all out competition engines are applied to every stage engine to insure proper clearances, valve train geometry, and maximum functionality.

  Engine Block:

  • Factory Seasoned Block cleaned, Magnafluxed
  • De-burr casting flash to relive stress risers
  • Oil galleys and all holes drilled and tapped
  • Bored up to .060 off crankshaft centerline
  • Torque plate honed for proper ring sealing
  • Surface decked minimum for proper gasket sealing

  Cylinder Heads:

  • Stock Factory Heads cleaned, Magnafluxed
  • New bronze guide liners installed & sized
  • 3-angle valve job
  • New hardened seats installed (if required)
  • All bolt holes drilled and tapped

  Crankshaft:

  • Factory crank cleaned, Magnafluxed, check for cracks
  • Checked for straightness (straightened if needed)
  • Factory correct 427 Chevy big block with Tri-Power (3 two-barrels)Grind and micro polish

  Connecting Rods:

  • Factory Rods big and small ends re-sized for specific bearing clearance
  • Beam ground to relieve stress risers
  • Weight matched to within .5 grams

  Engine Assembly:

  • Balanced and blueprinted
  • Critical tolerances measured and documented
  • Camshafts degreed and installed
  • All bearings, gaskets, seals, internal parts measured,
  • documented and assembled

• JBA PERFORMANCE ENGINE - STAGE II

  Stage II- High performance:

  Street engine packages built using our techniques in blueprinting, assembly and high-performance parts collection, to bring out the best in factory components. We start by using only the highest quality name brands such as ARP fasteners, SRP forged pistons, Manley stainless valves, Fel-Pro performance gaskets, Federal Mogul bearings, Edelbrock intake manifolds, Holley carburetors, Canton high performance oil pans, and Competition Cams roller camshafts, lifters and valve train assemblies.

  Engine Block:

  • Factory Seasoned block cleaned, Magnafluxed
  • De-burr casting flash to relive stress risers
  • Oil galleys and all holes drilled and tapped
  • Align-honed for straightness and specific bearing clearance
  • Bored up to .060 off crankshaft centerline
  • Torque plate honed for proper ring sealing
  • Square decked off of crankshaft centerline to exact deck height
  • Clearanced for stroker rod and crankshaft applications (if applicable)

  Cylinder Heads:

  • Stock Heads: Cleaned & Magnafluxed
  • Surfaced for maximum quench & compression
  • New bronze guide liners installed & sized
  • Performance 3-angle valve job
  • Includes top & bottom radius cuts w/ bowl blend
  • Street performance porting
  • Gasket matching, runner porting & chamber polish

  Aftermarket Heads

  • Dart, Trick Flow Heads or other popular brand
  • Surfaced for maximum quench and compression
  • Mild street port matching

  Crankshaft:

  • Aftermarket: Scat, Eagle, Crower or other popular brand
  • Micro-Polished
  • Performance Balanced, Heavy metal added if necessary

  Connecting Rods:

  • Aftermarket: Manley, Scat, Crower or other popular brand
  • Big & small ends checked for specific bearing clearance
  • Re-sized if necessary
  • Weight matched to within .5 grams

  Engine Assembly:

  • Balanced & Blueprinted
  • Critical tolerances measured & documented
  • Camshafts degreed & installed
  • All bearings, gaskets, seals, internal parts measured, documented, blueprinted & assembled.

• JBA PERFORMANCE ENGINE - STAGE III

  Stage III: High performance street and strip packages:

  Designed and engineered to deliver race engine performance in a street friendly package. JBA Stage III engines are built for your specific application. Our engine packages utilize our machine shop’s capability to modify and test parts using a “whole engine” approach. Our racing experience enables us to select proven combinations, eliminating the guesswork. Stage III engines use only the highest quality, race-proven parts on the market. Some of these include Dart, Ford Racing, Shelby or World products engine blocks, AFR or Dart cylinder heads, Ross pistons, Total Seal Rings, Ferrea valves, Crower and Comp camshafts and valve train components, Scat, and Carillo crankshafts, Clevite bearings, Moroso or Aviad performance oil pans, and Holley, Fast, Vortech and Procharger induction systems are used specifically for our Stage III engine packages. JBA’s Stage III packages are built and tuned to give you unequalled performance for your hot street or weekend warrior.

  Engine Block:

  • Superior alloy factory block or aftermarket 4-bolt main block used.
  • Align-honed for straightness and exact main Bearing clearance
  • Bored 90 degrees off crankshaft centerline
  • Torque plate honed for proper ring sealing
  • Square decked to exact deck height 90 degrees Off crank centerline
  • Mocked up and clearanced for long stroke or rod
  • Combinations
  • ARP hardened bolts or stud kits
  • Custom detailed: de-burring of casting flash
  • Tap oil galleys and bolt holes
  • Painted to customer’s requested color

  Cylinder Heads:

  • Aftermarket: AFR, Edelbrock, Dart, Trick Flow or other popular brand
  • Performance 3-angle valve job
  • Valve guide sized to exact specs.
  • Mild porting
  • Intake-to-cylinder head match
  • Mild runner port work
  • Combustion chamber detailed
  • Valve is faced, back cut and hand lapped

  Crankshaft:

  • Aftermarket: Callies, Scat, Crower or other popular brand
  • Forged steel
  • Internally balanced
  • Micro-Polished

  Connecting Rods:

  • Aftermarket: Manley, Scat, Carillo, Crower or other popular brand
  • Forged steel
  • ARP or other hardened rod bolts
  • Big & small ends checked for specific bearing clearance and pin fit
  • Weight matched to within .5 grams

  Engine Assembly:

  • Balanced & Blueprinted
  • Critical tolerances measured & documented including:
  • Rod & main bearing clearance, paired rod side Clearance, valve-to-guide clearance, installed height and spring pressures, cylinder head flow numbers, Piston-to-bore clearance, installed ring gaps, Deck height, piston-to-valve clearance, balance and Bob weight Camshafts degreed & installed
  • Trial assembled to check clearances on long stroke Or rod combinations
  • Assembled and quality control checked
  • Engines broken in under load using JBA’s DTS Powermark Dynamometer
  • Engine tested and tuned for maximum performance Using JBA’s DTS Powermark Dynamometer

• JBA PERFORMANCE ENGINE - STAGE IV

  Stage IV- Race Only:

  Please contact our Engineering Department to discuss your Stage 4 Engine

• JBA PERFORMANCE ENGINES STAGE COMPARISON

  Engine Block	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3
  Factory seasoned block cleaned, magnafluxed
  Superior alloy factory block or aftermarket 4-bolt main block used
  Check for cracks
  De-burr casting flash to relive stress risers
  Oil galleys and all holes drilled and tapped
  Bored up to .060, 90 degrees off crankshaft centerline
  Torque plate honed for proper ring sealing
  Surface decked minimum for proper gasket sealing
  Square decked to exact deck height 90 degrees off crank
  Align-honed for straightness and specific bearing clearance
  Clearanced for stroker rod and crankshaft applications (If Applicable)
  ARP hardened head and main bolts
  ARP hardened head and main studs
  Painted to customer’s requested color
  Cylinder Heads	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3
  Stock: cleaned & magnafluxed and checked for cracks
  Aftermarket: AFR, Edelbrock, Dart, Trick Flow or other popular brand
  All bolt holes drilled and tapped
  Surfaced for maximum quench & compression
  New bronze guide liners installed & sized
  Valve guide sized to exact specs
  New hardened seats installed (if required)
  Performance 3-angle valve job includes top & bottom radius cuts w/ bowl blend
  Performance 5-angle valve job includes top & bottom radius cuts w/ bowl blend
  Valve is faced, back cut and hand lapped
  Mild street port matching
  Street performance porting
  Gasket matching, runner porting & chamber polish
  Intake-to-cylinder head match
  Combustion chamber detailed
  Mild race porting
  Crankshaft	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3
  Factory crank cleaned, Magnafluxed, check for cracks
  Aftermarket: Callies, Scat, Crower or other popular brand
  Checked for straightness (straightened if needed)
  Performance balanced
  Hi performance internally balanced
  Heavy metal added if necessary
  Grind and micro polish
  Micro-polished
  Connecting Rods	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3
  Factory rods big and small ends re-sized for specific bearing clearance
  Aftermarket: Manley, Scat, Eagle or Crower forged steel connecting rods
  Beam ground to relieve stress risers
  Weight matched to within .5 grams
  Big & small ends checked for specific bearring clearance & pin fit
  ARP or other hardened rod bolts
  Re-sized if necessary
  Engine Assembly	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3
  Balanced & Blueprinted
  Critical tolerances measured & documented including:
  Rod & main bearing clearance, paired rod side clearance
  Valve-to-guide clearance and installed height
  Spring pressures, cylinder head flow numbers
  Piston-to-bore clearance, installed ring gaps, deck height
  Piston-to-valve clearance, balance and bob weight
  Camshafts degreed and installed
  All bearings, gaskets, seals, internal parts measured, documented & assembled
  Trial assembled to check clearances on long stroke or rod combos
  Assembled and quality control checked
  Engines broken in under load using DTS Powermark Dynamometer
  Engine tested and tuned for maximum performance

Performance Engine Engineering Worksheet

Use our worksheet to let us know the details about your vehicle and work with us to outline the perfect build!

In an effort to provide you with the best fit for your project we need to understand what your goals are. Please take a few minutes to fill out our JBA Performance Engine Engineering Worksheet. This information will be reviewed by one of our engineering team specialists. They will contact you regarding your needs and follow up with information on a custom JBA Performance Engine that best suits your needs. 

JBA Performance Engine Engineering Worksheet »

Not sure where to start? Send us a message to get started.