- Taken from All the Dirt Racing Magazine

Imagine an engine shop where each component of your expensive racing engines is prepared by a worker who specializes in making that piece the best it can be. Once all of the components are machined precisely, tested and matched, they are assembled by hands experienced with high performance power plants.

That's what every racer gets from the "performance division" within the Wagamon Bros. engine shop in the Twin Cities.

In a sprawling, growing facility that opened almost 50 years ago, 40 employees quietly go about their work, each specializing in their chosen field.    Separate building house the block machining, the crank machining and the cylinder head machining divisions.

"Our shop is very different from 99 percent of the other shops, because we don't expect one individual to know everything about every engine component. We have hired specialists to handle each component and each phase of the engine development program," Steve Wagamon revealed.  "When you combine our skilled workers with the absolute best in machining equipment, you find that we're hard to beat.   And that's why our engines are hard to beat too."

Wagamon Bros. Performance Engines has engineered and developed race engines for some of the most successful racers in the region for many years.  But only recently did the Wagamons actually admit to generating so much wild horsepower throughout the racing region.

Said Steve Wagamon, one of the second-generation of the engine building family, "ever since my dad and uncle - Perry and Wally Wagamon - got into business together, they've built high performance engines for racers.  We've had one of the best kept secrets in the racing business until the past several years, when we decided to start telling more racers what we can do for them."

"We can develop an engine program for any racer", he added.

"And we can do it for any driver in any class.  We develop race engines for everything from Street Stocks to Late Models, and we have an engine program for every budget, from the cost-conscious to those who want the best no matter what the cost."

"There are many good engine shops around the country," Wagamon said of his competitors.  "But our size and ability to specialize gives our customers that little extra bit of what they need to win.  And in a racing environment that's as close and competitive as WISSOTA's right now, a little bit extra is the difference between being the winner and settling for second place."

Wagamon is quick to point out that the family business has intentionally steered away from the "assembly line" process that many other engine shops - both large and small - seem to have adopted.

"We have typically developed each engine independently for each customer, based on his style, his needs and his budge.  We try to give the best personal attention to each racer and we're willing to come in over the weekend to meet with them if that's what they need.   All they have to do is call us and make an appointment," he stressed.

In addition to the custom work, Wagamon said, "We expect to have complete engines in stock for every class in 2004.  If you find yourself in need of an engine, give us a call first.   We'll also have a variety of short blocks in stock for each class."

Wagamon Bros. Performance Engines is continually upgrading equipment as new technology dictates, and one piece of equipment that really brought the shop to the forefront in the business was the Newen Gen II for CNC seat machining.  "we have the ability to duplicate Dart's seat geometry, allowing us to repair Dart heads without changing the seat or flow characteristics," Wagamon offered.

In addition, Wagamon Bros. uses a CK21 machine to hone engine blocks more precisely than any other machine can as well as an automated and computerized CNC machining center that increases precision during the engine building process.

The newest addition to Wagamon's Engine shop is the Rottler F-65.  Straight from the future, the machine allows them to perform modifications on almost any style or model engine block from machining the bell-housing to crankshaft centerline machining or installing lifter busings.   And it performs the tricky machine work with ease and extreme accuracy.  Other functions of the F-65 include machine cam bores and cutting for roller bearings.

"We expect to be able to speed up turnaround time on machine work by adding the F-65 because of its versatility.  Most shops that do race engines can't afford this type of equipment," Wagamon said, "but because of our size and overall volume, we can."

Wagamon Bros. is a dealer for Dart products, as well as World Products, Manley, Crower, Diamond, Wiseco and most other top brands.

Whether you simply want a rotating assembly to finish, a short block or a complete race package, Wagamon Bros. Performance Engines is standing by and ready to work for you.

Wagamon Bros. is also well versed in handling high performance engines for the street and strip, and they also do a lot of work for the marine industry, both stock and high performance.

The Wagamon facility also includes a complete "stock engine" shop where individuals and businesses can bring their passenger cars, trucks and other vehicles for engine work.

"We've got a huge garage area so that we can be a full-service shop for anyone who needs engine work.  We've got a staff on hand just to take care of pulling and installing engines for the folks who bring their everyday cars to us for work," Wagamon added.