ENGINE STAGE COMPARISON
JBA Performance Engines are built to your specific needs and performance levels that you want to achieve. They are available in various stages that define various performance levels using factory and/or a combination of aftermarket parts.
Review the comparison chart below to see how each stage stacks up.
This Engine Stage Comparison San Diego guide gives you a clear overview of the differences between Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3. For more engine-building standards, visit the Automotive Engine Rebuilders Association (AERA).
ENGINE STAGE COMPARISON
JBA Performance Engines are built to your specific needs and performance levels that you want to achieve. They are available in various stages that define various performance levels using factory and/or a combination of aftermarket parts.
Review the comparison chart below to see how each stage stacks up.
Engine Block
1
2
3
Factory seasoned block cleaned, magnafluxed
🔴
Superior alloy factory block or aftermarket 4-bolt main block used
🔴
🔴
Check for cracks
🔴
🔴
🔴
De-burr casting flash to relive stress risers
🔴
🔴
🔴
Oil galleys and all holes drilled and tapped
🔴
🔴
🔴
Bored up to .060, 90 degrees off crankshaft centerline
🔴
🔴
🔴
Torque plate honed for proper ring sealing
🔴
🔴
🔴
Surface decked minimum for proper gasket sealing
🔴
Square decked to exact deck height 90 degrees off crank
🔴
🔴
Align-honed for straightness and specific bearing clearance
🔴
🔴
🔴
Clearanced for stroker rod and crankshaft applications (if applicable)
🔴
🔴
ARP hardened head and main bolts
🔴
🔴
ARP hardened head and main studs
🔴
Painted to customer’s requested color
🔴
🔴
🔴
Cylinder Heads
1
2
3
Stock: cleaned & magnafluxed and checked for cracks
🔴
Aftermarket: AFR, Edelbrock, Dart, Trick Flow, or other popular brand
🔴
🔴
All bolt holes drilled and tapped
🔴
🔴
🔴
Surfaced for maximum quench & compression
🔴
🔴
🔴
New bronze guide liners installed & sized
🔴
🔴
Valve guide sized to exact specs
🔴
🔴
🔴
New hardened seats installed (if required)
🔴
Performance 3-angle valve job includes top & bottom radius cuts w/ bowl blend
🔴
🔴
Performance 5-angle valve job includes top & bottom radius cuts w/ bowl blend
🔴
Valve is faced, back cut and hand lapped
🔴
🔴
Mild street port matching
🔴
🔴
Street performance porting
🔴
🔴
Gasket matching, runner porting & chamber polish
🔴
🔴
Intake-to-cylinder head match
🔴
🔴
Combustion chamber detailed
🔴
🔴
Mild race porting
🔴
Crankshaft
1
2
3
Factory crank cleaned, Magnafluxed, check for cracks
🔴
Aftermarket: Callies, Scat, Crower, or other popular brand
🔴
🔴
Checked for straightness (straightened if needed)
🔴
🔴
🔴
Performance balanced
🔴
Hi performance internally balanced
🔴
🔴
Heavy metal added if necessary
🔴
🔴
Grind and micro polish
🔴
Micro-polished
🔴
🔴
🔴
Connecting Rods
1
2
3
Factory rods big and small ends re-sized for specific bearing clearance
🔴
Aftermarket: Manley, Scat, Eagle or Crower forged steel connecting rods
🔴
🔴
Beam ground to relieve stress risers
🔴
Weight matched to within 0.5 grams
🔴
🔴
🔴
Big & small ends checked for specific bearring clearance & pin fit
🔴
🔴
ARP or other hardened rod bolts
🔴
🔴
🔴
Re-sized if necessary
🔴
🔴
Engine Assembly
1
2
3
Balanced and blueprinted
🔴
🔴
🔴
Critical tolerances measured & documented including:
🔴
🔴
🔴
Rod and main bearing clearance, paired rod side clearance
🔴
🔴
🔴
Valve-to-guide clearance and installed height
🔴
🔴
🔴
Spring pressures, cylinder head flow numbers
🔴
🔴
🔴
Piston-to-bore clearance, installed ring gaps, deck height
🔴
🔴
🔴
Piston-to-valve clearance, balance and bob weight
🔴
🔴
🔴
Camshafts degreed and installed
🔴
🔴
🔴
All bearings, gaskets, seals, internal parts measured, documented & assembled
🔴
🔴
🔴
Trial assembled to check clearances on long stroke or rod combos
🔴
🔴
Assembled and quality control checked
🔴
🔴
🔴
Engines broken in under load using DTS Powermark Dynamometer
🔴
🔴
🔴
Engine tested and tuned for maximum performance
🔴
🔴
🔴
Engine Block
1
2
3
Factory seasoned block cleaned, magnafluxed
🔴
Superior alloy factory block or aftermarket 4-bolt main block used
🔴
🔴
Check for cracks
🔴
🔴
🔴
De-burr casting flash to relive stress risers
🔴
🔴
🔴
Oil galleys and all holes drilled and tapped
🔴
🔴
🔴
Bored up to .060, 90 degrees off crankshaft centerline
🔴
🔴
🔴
Torque plate honed for proper ring sealing
🔴
🔴
🔴
Surface decked minimum for proper gasket sealing
🔴
Square decked to exact deck height 90 degrees off crank
🔴
🔴
Align-honed for straightness and specific bearing clearance
🔴
🔴
🔴
Clearanced for stroker rod and crankshaft applications (if applicable)
🔴
🔴
ARP hardened head and main bolts
🔴
🔴
ARP hardened head and main studs
🔴
Painted to customer’s requested color
🔴
🔴
🔴
Cylinder Heads
1
2
3
Stock: cleaned & magnafluxed and checked for cracks
🔴
Aftermarket: AFR, Edelbrock, Dart, Trick Flow, or other popular brand
🔴
🔴
All bolt holes drilled and tapped
🔴
🔴
🔴
Surfaced for maximum quench & compression
🔴
🔴
🔴
New bronze guide liners installed & sized
🔴
🔴
Valve guide sized to exact specs
🔴
🔴
🔴
New hardened seats installed (if required)
🔴
Performance 3-angle valve job includes top & bottom radius cuts w/ bowl blend
🔴
🔴
Performance 5-angle valve job includes top & bottom radius cuts w/ bowl blend
🔴
Valve is faced, back cut and hand lapped
🔴
🔴
Mild street port matching
🔴
🔴
Street performance porting
🔴
🔴
Gasket matching, runner porting & chamber polish
🔴
🔴
Intake-to-cylinder head match
🔴
🔴
Combustion chamber detailed
🔴
🔴
Mild race porting
🔴
Crankshaft
1
2
3
Factory crank cleaned, Magnafluxed, check for cracks
🔴
Aftermarket: Callies, Scat, Crower, or other popular brand
🔴
🔴
Checked for straightness (straightened if needed)
🔴
🔴
🔴
Performance balanced
🔴
Hi performance internally balanced
🔴
🔴
Heavy metal added if necessary
🔴
🔴
Grind and micro polish
🔴
Micro-polished
🔴
🔴
🔴
Connecting Rods
1
2
3
Factory rods big and small ends re-sized for specific bearing clearance
🔴
Aftermarket: Manley, Scat, Eagle or Crower forged steel connecting rods
🔴
🔴
Beam ground to relieve stress risers
🔴
Weight matched to within 0.5 grams
🔴
🔴
🔴
Big & small ends checked for specific bearring clearance & pin fit
🔴
🔴
ARP or other hardened rod bolts
🔴
🔴
🔴
Re-sized if necessary
🔴
🔴
Engine Assembly
1
2
3
Balanced and blueprinted
🔴
🔴
🔴
Critical tolerances measured & documented including:
🔴
🔴
🔴
Rod and main bearing clearance, paired rod side clearance
🔴
🔴
🔴
Valve-to-guide clearance and installed height
🔴
🔴
🔴
Spring pressures, cylinder head flow numbers
🔴
🔴
🔴
Piston-to-bore clearance, installed ring gaps, deck height
🔴
🔴
🔴
Piston-to-valve clearance, balance and bob weight
🔴
🔴
🔴
Camshafts degreed and installed
🔴
🔴
🔴
All bearings, gaskets, seals, internal parts measured, documented & assembled
🔴
🔴
🔴
Trial assembled to check clearances on long stroke or rod combos
🔴
🔴
Assembled and quality control checked
🔴
🔴
🔴
Engines broken in under load using DTS Powermark Dynamometer
🔴
🔴
🔴
Engine tested and tuned for maximum performance
🔴
🔴
🔴
What engine do you want?
Fill out our Custom Engine Request to tell us about your vehicle and goals—our team will review it and follow up with a custom JBA engine build tailored to you. Use this Engine Stage Comparison San Diego overview to match your power expectations with the exact stage that fits your build.
Not sure which configuration fits your build? Visit our Service & Repair page or contact our Engineering Department to talk through your goals.
submit a custom engine request
Not sure where to start? Send us a message.
What engine do you want?
Fill out our Custom Engine Request to tell us about your vehicle and goals—our team will review it and follow up with a custom JBA engine build tailored to you.
Not sure which configuration fits your build? Visit our Service & Repair page or contact our Engineering Department to talk through your goals.
submit a custom engine request
Not sure where to start? Send us a message.