Welcome to Thursday. The end of the week is about to hit us square in the face. That means it’s time for another Throwback Thursday. This week, I decided to focus on a question that seems to come across my inbox quite often: should I build an engine or buy one in a crate? That’s a question that cannot be answered by someone with no skin in the game. But in the article, Power Struggle: Build Your Next Engine Or Buy One In A Crate, we discuss ways to help you make your decision.

Deciding whether to build or buy an engine is one of the most important questions an enthusiast can ask themselves when it comes to powering the projects they work on. If you are going to build an engine from scratch, you will need a myriad of specialty tools, a decent recipe of parts, and a good machine shop in your back pocket. Now, if you already have things like a rod bolt-stretch gauge, piston-ring filer, and so on, then you most likely will be building your own. For the guy who can install an engine, but maybe not build one from scratch, then buying an assembled unit might be the best option.

Many procedures have to be completed before any engine can be assembled. Are you willing to pay for each of them if you custom build?

In the original article, we discuss the various things you need to consider when making the choice. For instance, we first talked about custom building. Unless you have an in-depth, working knowledge about how each part of an engine works together, selecting the parts and actually building an engine may seem intimidating. If you do not, paying close attention to the section about buying a crate engine might be your best bet.

When it comes to deciding whether to build an engine or buy a crated version, there really is no incorrect choice. The decision comes down to what makes you comfortable. If you can gather and assemble the parts you need to build an engine that will be reliable and deliver the kind of performance you are after, I say go for it. If building a custom engine seems a little unnerving, there is no shame in buying a crated version.

The option of purchasing a complete, ready-to-go engine can be a blessing for those who aren’t inclined to build an engine themselves or pay someone else to build it for them. But, more on what to think about and a full understanding of having an engine built, you really need to check out the original article. It definitely gives a lot of information that you need to consider. Since there is a lot more vital information in the original article, I felt, Power Struggle: Build Your Next Engine Or Buy One In A Crate would be a great article for this week’s Throwback Thursday showcase.