We befriended Marvin McAfee of MCE Engines in Los Angeles some four years ago when we were looking for someone who wanted to build engines for us. Marvin willingly obliged and has ever since.
Marvin has a simple, modest shop deep in the heart of Los Angeles. He has been here all of his life with the exception being an Army stint in Korea during the early 1950s. He is an accomplished engine and car builder who also knows how to race. He has the art of cutting an apex and blasting a straightaway down to a science. Racers come to Marvin for feedback at racetracks all over Southern California. He makes better racers out of them.
Marvin is also an honor graduate from Northrup University with an extension background in both aviation and gas turbine engines. When most of us were just cutting our teeth on those first cars a half century ago, Marvin was pit-crewing in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Trans Am competition on the Jefferson Enterprises Grabber Blue '70 Boss 302 racecar.
Why do we take this time to tell you about Marvin McAfee and MCE Engines? Because we want you to know about an extraordinary engine builder in the Los Angeles area who has also shared an abundance of knowledge with us. We call MCE Engines "McAfee University" thanks to the information he has imparted to us through the years. Marvin is an exceptional teacher.
In recent times in your Mustang Monthly Magazine, we've taken the time to share the gift of knowledge with you thanks to the generosity of Marvin McAfee. Marvin builds powerful engines with attitudes - yet they're fiercely reliable mills that deliver both power and longevity. We've have critical emails and letters from readers who've wanted to know why we didn't get more power from an MCE Engines build. The answers is simple - because Marvin sees little point in building a powerful engine that isn't going to stay together. He stresses there are no free lunches. There are compromises that have to be made in the age-old battle between power and long engine life. That's why Marvin builds in both conservative power and longevity.
If you'd like to chat with Marvin, call 323-731-0462 or email him at mceengines@aol.com.