In an era when nearly every component of a race engine is custom ordered, the biggest hurdle to getting a new powerplant on the track is parts delivery. Next to low oil pressure, an engine builder’s biggest frustration is staring at a bench full of parts and seeing an empty space where the pushrods or rocker arms or any other vital part usually rests.

It could be even more frustration for rotating assembly parts. At least if the short-block could be assembled, an engine builder can maintain some sense of schedule by getting the block, crank, rods, pistons, bearings and rings together.

To that end, JE Pistons is making a promise for late summer and fall engine projects. For any order submitted up to November 1, 2013, JE will ship custom pistons in three weeks (15 business days) or less. If JE misses that deadline, then the engine builder gets $100 off on a future custom order of four or more pistons.

JE says the guaranteed delivery period begins on the day that the JE sales representative gets all of the necessary information to start the design and manufacturing process — and it ends the day the product actually goes out the door. JE says it won’t be responsible delays caused by the shipping company.

Here’s some additional fine print : “This guarantee does not apply to orders with special order items, coatings, 3D milling operations (3D undercrown or ultracrown), billets, offset lathe dish or require a custom built cylinder head profile as these features add additional days. Please contact your JE Representative for an exact lead time quotation at the time of order.”

The delivery period doesn’t begin until JE Pistons has 100 percent of all the necessary information to begin design and manufacturing process, so have all the necessary specs handy when ordering.

And even more from the lawyers, who dictate that eligible job types are defined as follows:

• “No change: A custom product that has been ordered previously and requires no changes to the design. The JE job number must be provided.”
• “Reference: A custom job that has been ordered previously and requires basic changes such as bore size, compression ratio or compression height. The JE reference job number must be provided.”
• “New: A new custom order that has not been created before. This order type does not include orders that require a piston or cylinder head sample layout.”

The promotional discount expires at the end of the year; so, if you get a late shipment, contact your JE representative right away to take advantage of the C-note offer.