Imagine if the engine powering your car had a nameplate attached to it that said it was assembled by you. That would be pretty neat, wouldn't it? Well, thanks to Chevrolet, that's absolutely possible. And the first enthusiast to participate in the GM Crate Engine Build Experience recently walked out of the facility with a one-of-a-kind, hand-built LS7 crate engine. And yes, he built it himself.

"Building an engine is a time-honored tradition in hot-rodding, and this exciting new program allows enthusiasts to enjoy that magical do-it-yourself feeling, while still enjoying the value of a factory-engineered, warranted crate engine," says Jim Campbell, GM U.S. VP of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. Felix Chevrolet couldn't agree more - there's just something about getting your hands in there and helping your car come to life, isn't there?

When Chevy enthusiast Jeff Kasper from California heard about the program, he simply couldn't resist the draw of a custom-built engine for his hot-rodding experience. A proud owner of a new Camaro SS and an electric Chevrolet Volt, Kasper placed his order with his local Chevy dealer as soon as he could.

After placing his order, Chevrolet contacted him to assist with lodging and travel while he was in Detroit, as well as other activities at the Performance Center. He says before he knew it, he was on a plane to Michigan, where he was immediately immersed in the creation of his engine. From installing the crankshaft to firing it up for the first time, he said the experience was "the thrill of a lifetime."² His favorite part? "When the engine came to life, it was the payoff for a day's work and it was a satisfying success."³

Interested in building your very own Chevrolet crate engine, complete with an "assembled by" badge? Contact Felix Chevrolet, located at 3330 S Figueroa Street  to learn more. Or, maybe you'd rather take the more home-grown approach to fine-tuning your project car? Let our Chevy parts department help you find the right parts and accessories for your car.

Sources:
¹http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2011/Oct/1027_enginebuild
^2,3http://wot.motortrend.com/first-customer-goes-through-gm%E2%80%99s-crate-engine-build-experience-158763.html