Diesel Short Block Buyer Guide: What a Build Done Right Includes

Two short blocks can have the same part number on the box and be completely different engines. The difference is the machine work you cannot see once it is assembled. If you are shopping for a 6.7, 6.4, 6.0 or 7.3 Powerstroke, a Cummins or a Duramax short block, here is what to ask before you buy.

Who Actually Built It?

A lot of engines sold online are drop shipped from a builder you will never talk to. The seller cannot tell you the clearances, and when something goes wrong you are stuck in the middle. Ask who did the machine work and whether you can call them. At Powerhouse the machining happens at our own shop, Tru Cylinder Head and Machine in Jefferson City, Tennessee, on our own equipment.

The Machine Work That Matters

Magnaflux crack inspection

Every block gets crack checked before a single cut. A hairline crack found after assembly is a whole engine wasted.

Pressure testing

Casting integrity is verified, not assumed. Coolant passages that seep under pressure show up here, not in your customer's oil.

Line honing and line boring

The main bore gets trued to the crank centerline as required. A main bore that is out of line wipes bearings no matter how good they are.

Deck milled 100% flat

A flat deck is what lets the head gasket seal. On engines known for lifting heads, this is not optional.

Torque plate honing

This is the step most builders skip. A cylinder bore distorts when the head is bolted down. Honing with a torque plate bolted on simulates that load, so the bore is round when the engine is actually assembled. Rings seal better, oil consumption drops and the engine makes its power longer.

Blueprinted and balanced

Clearances are measured and set, not assumed from the box, and the rotating assembly is balanced.

What Should Be in the Box

Most builders sell you a short block and leave you chasing gasket sets. Every Powerhouse short block includes the full engine gasket package needed to install it. Here is the current lineup:

• 2011 to 2019 6.7 Powerstroke: HX rod and main bearings, Stage 1 billet cam, OEM lifters
• 2020 and newer 6.7 Powerstroke: HX bearings, Stage 1 billet cam, OEM lifters
• 2008 to 2010 6.4 Powerstroke: new HD Maxxforce 7 pistons, Stage 1 cam, OEM lifters
• 2003 to 2007 6.0 Powerstroke: new pistons, Stage 1 cam, honed and decked block
• 1994 to 2003 7.3 Powerstroke: OEM overhaul kit, Stage 1 cam, oil cooler, LPOP and lifters
• 1998.5 to 2023 5.9 and 6.7 Cummins: lifetime warranty oil cooler and water pump, Cummins oil pump
• 2001 to 2016 Duramax: Compstar crankshaft and HX main bearings

Understand the Core Charge

Every one of our short blocks carries a $2,500 core charge. Send your old engine back and you are credited. If the rods or crank are not usable, you are credited for whatever is good. A core is considered bad if the block has holes, will not rotate, or needs sleeving. Ask any builder for their core policy in writing before you buy.

Short Block, Long Block or Ready to Run?

• Short block: block, crank, rods, pistons and cam, ready for heads.
• Long block: heads installed and ready for your accessories. Pair a short block with a set of our new cylinder heads, built better than factory with no core charge.
• Ready to run: complete and dressed. Drop it in and go.

We build all three, plus performance builds spec'd to a horsepower target. Call with the application and we will quote it.

Common Questions

Do you ship short blocks?
Yes, nationwide by freight, quoted per order. In East Tennessee we deliver free on short block orders.

Do you sell to repair shops?
Yes. Shops, fleets and dealers can open a wholesale account for 10% off short blocks. Call 865.640.2097.

Can I add upgrades?
Yes. Valve springs, pushrods, coated pistons, Wagler or Carrillo rods, Stage 1 to 4 cams, ARP studs, O ringed blocks and more. Because the machining is ours, so are the upgrades.

Questions? Call Powerhouse at 865.640.2097 or Tru at 865.548.8520.