Trust But Verify
Marvin McAfee
MCE Engines
Los Angeles, CA
Marvin McAfee is a name you've seen in Mustang Monthly before. When most of us were out cruising or making out in the back seat, Marvin was a crew chief for an SCCA/Trans Am racing team. Palms got sweaty whenever the Grabber Blue Jefferson Enterprises Boss 302 showed up for action. With no major sponsor and little more than raw talent, Jefferson Enterprises' performance on the SCCA/Trans Am circuit was exceptional.
Marvin has built many cars in his 75 years. His forte is custom engine building. This man leaves no stone unturned and begins his regiment at teardown.
Closely inspect all engine parts during teardown. Unusual wear patterns indicate flawed parts that must be machined or discarded. Double and triple check your work. Easier to check again than to do it all over because you missed an important detail, causing engine failure. Use spray-on antifriction graphite coating and plenty of engine assembly lube during build-up. It'll give your engine a fighting chance during start-up. Always assume it's going to sit for a while before it is fired. Always err on the side of caution when it comes to engine tuning. Lean toward rich when it comes to fuel mixture. Always be conservative with spark timing. Even though it makes 25 more horsepower when you set the ignition timing at 38 degrees BTDC and lean the mixture with smaller jets, it's a different world when you hit the road and really lean on it. Detonation (spark knock) can destroy an engine at high rpm and wide-open throttle. Blueprint all engine builds. Including dynamic balancing, even if you're building a stocker.