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School of Hard Blocks...
The best way to gain an education about racing is to have a mentor. For gearheads wanting to learn more about the ins and outs of race engine building, the brace of Reher-Morrison Racing Engines “how-to” books on upper and lower engine assembly are staples of the industry. The two books, commissioned in 1996 and published in 1998 give plain English information to prospective builders and assist those who need a bit of extra mentoring.
Teaching aspiring engine builders from around the world how to choose the right components for their race-engine applications and how to apply proper precision measurements, the schools include these two books as part of the curriculum’s $1095 tuition, with a "bring-a-friend" discount available. This Pro Stock engine builder has been in business for 34 years, producing power mills and racing to success with such drivers as the late Lee Shepherd and Bruce Allen. At this point in time, Allen is running a limited schedule of NHRA Pro Stock races under the Reher-Morrison umbrella. a
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Reher-Morrison Engine Building School holds five full immersion two-day weekend classes this year on their company campus. They try to keep a maximum number of students per class to 20, giving each instructor five students to teach each session. School was first in session this year on February 18-19, while the next classes take place on March 25-26. While the two tomes of reading material on upper and lower engine installation and technology aren’t necessarily used during class time per se, students have found them great research tools once the classes are complete. The lectures each day are based on R-M’s best-selling books and complement them. Teachers include Darin Morgan, induction research and development at R-M, his brother Brad, chief Pro Stock engine assembler, Mark Johnson and Mickey Ansley, both senior engine builders for the firm. There are often special appearances by Dave Reher and Bruce Allen. a
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Among the popular classes are lessons in cylinder head theory and practice, taught by R-M’s Darin Morgan. As Reher points out, “Darin loves to share his knowledge and shows the important details of head porting.” He’ll even critique students’ cylinder heads during the two-day flog. Reher-Morrison also instructs on precision measurement, teaching what and how to measure within an engine and what the results mean in the engine building process. Students learn to use micrometers, calipers, bore gauges and dial indicators. This part of the class also allows students to “cc” cylinder heads and determine the dome volumes on pistons, critical to determining static compression ratio. Students at the Reher-Morrison Engine School learn what block, cam, lifters, intake and cylinder heads are best for each application. “We teach how to save money, so our students don’t waste money on parts they don’t need as we help them determine what parts they need,” Reher advised. The practical considerations for final engine assembly, including how and what to check as the process goes along is part of the curriculum at this two-day school, as is dynamometer testing. Students are able to sit in on dyno sessions for an actual R-M Supere Series engine, learning what’s done as well as what all the dyno numbers mean in practical use. Finally, Reher-Morrison Engine School revels in giving viable information to its in-class students. David Reher and driver Bruce Allen dedicate time from their busy days to help students with nagging questions they might have after completing the two-day course. a
d v e r t i s e m e n t Although Reher-Morrison initially took their Engine School on the road, they found the best location was at their shops near Dallas-Ft Worth Airport, where the company has based itself for more than 22 years. The compressed curriculum is best suited for people with basic knowledge in engine building and takes their skills to a more advanced level. By keeping classes extremely small, students gain a good feel and vision for the challenges ahead of them, as well as giving “a lot of knowledge people don’t necessarily think about” when tackling the task of nut-and-bolting a racing engine, Reher said. “We want our students to have a better feeling about their abilities once they’ve gone through the school. Some have been educated in schools while others are self-taught,” Reher elaborated. “The latter is rare but it happens and we enjoy helping those people enhance their education.”
Reher-Morrison Engine School suggests at least a two-day stay in the area. The ratio of classroom to hands-on tutelage is about 50-50 but never set in stone, depending on class composition. To discover more about Reher-Morrison Racing Engines and their engine-building school, contact the firm at 817.467.7171 or check out the website: www.rehermorrison.com.
Got a comment? Drop us a line at comppluseditor@aol.com.
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To give a bit more hands-on information – as requested by students
– Reher-Morrison Racing Engines, located on the Ft Worth side of
Arlington, Texas, initiated its engine-building school in 2001.
This year’s five sessions will mark the program’s fifth anniversary. 
Sharing the company’s wealth of information about the “secrets” of engine building in both a fun and informational manner, Reher-Morrison’s engine schools have allowed prospective race tuners to get their starts in the business and those further along to enhance their careers.
Reher-Morrison Engine Schools delineate what to do in building engines – and also tell what not to do. Avoiding costly errors in parts choices by having the knowledge to take the proper products is essential in any type of racing, from weekend bracket warriors to Pro Stock professionals. Even teachers from community colleges around the USA have been known to take these fast courses to enhance their own careers!
© Competitionplus 2005
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