Engine of the Week is presented by
Home to many, many engine shops, our trip to Charlotte, NC earlier this year was filled with visits to all sorts of different engine building establishments. One of those unique shop visits took us to Kannapolis, NC to check out Poteat’s Engine Rebuilding.
We met with Andrew Seldomridge who showed us around the facility, which tackles just about any type of engine and job you can think of. Case in point, he had a build in progress of an engine they don’t see very much of – a Ford 2.3L Duratec engine. While this engine was out of the norm, we were excited to hear the details.
The Duratec is not your everyday Chevy or LS, but it stands tall with its own brand of prowess. Andrew informed me that this particular engine project was courtesy of a repeat customer, known for preferring the road less traveled, or in this case, engines that are a tad unique. Upon its arrival, the engine underwent a series of meticulous processes. From boring and honing the cylinders to balancing the crankshaft, decking the block, and more, Andrew and his team left no stone unturned to ensure the Duratec was in top form.
When it comes to the engine internals, a blend of stock and custom components tells the tale. Anchoring the assembly is a stock Mazda crankshaft. The client supplied a set of Eagle rods, Supertech 87.5mm pistons, and Clevite bearings. Although the brand of the rings remains undisclosed, they accompanied the piston package. The synergy of these parts was essential to the engine’s revitalization.
One might wonder, given the intricate processes and the attention to detail, how long it takes to complete such a rebuild. Surprisingly, Andrew assures that it’s a matter of a few days, provided there are no hiccups with the parts. The Duratec project, in particular, was smooth sailing, thanks to the customer’s diligent component preparation.
Aside from builds like this 2.3L Duratec, Poteat’s Engine Rebuilding also has its hands full with a slew of other engines, from marine builds to small block Chevys and LS engines. The scope doesn’t end at gas engines; the team also dabbles in diesel, focusing primarily on light and medium-duty engines such as the 6.7L Powerstroke, 6.6L Duramax, and even heavy-duty ones like the big Cummins and DD13 Volvos.
As for the 2.3L Duratec build, that short block will be back in the customer’s hands in no time thanks to Poteat’s Engine Rebuilding’s engine craftsmanship, regardless of the engine brand or type.
Engine of the Week is sponsored by PennGrade1, Elring – Das Original and NPW Companies. If you have an engine you’d like to highlight in this series, please email Engine Builder Editor Greg Jones at [email protected].
