Bleeding Blue Since 1982

More than 400,000 crate engines built by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts.

A legacy in the making.

It started in a small garage in central Nebraska. It’s grown to nearly half a million engines being started by satisfied customers worldwide.

More than 40 years ago, our founder, Norris Marshall, built one engine at a time for friends, neighbors, drag racers, circle track racers and street rodders. Today, BluePrint Engines now builds crate engines for every type of horsepower enthusiast — whether out to cruise, or out to compete — all from our state-of-the-art, 210,000-square-foot factory.

Our company, and our reputation, have grown by strictly following one mission: Affordable, reliable horsepower that you can drive every day. Impeccable horsepower that you can feel the moment you grip the wheel. The kind of horsepower that makes you eager to get outside and get your foot on the pedal.

To make that happen, we’ve tirelessly honed our engineering prowess, year after year. We now design our own blocks, heads, cranks, rods and oil pans as an OEM level manufacturer of new crate engines. We design and patent our own machines in-house to craft every crate engine to perfection. And of course, we dyno test every engine to ensure the highest level of quality. And that’s why we’ve become the #1 source for GM, Ford, and Chrysler compatible engines.

Our industrial division, Origin Engines, follows the same approach for items such as new gensets, forklifts, and wood chippers.

Horsepower for all needs and budgets. The perfect culmination of engineering and experience. That’s BluePrint Engines. The Authority in Crate Engines.

Norris Marshall walking in the warehouse

Founder, BluePrint Engines

Norris Marshall

“Since I was young, car culture and automotives have been a central part of my life. Growing up, my father was the stereotypical ‘50s hotrodder with the nostalgic flattop haircut and a ‘29 Model A roadster that he built. Later, Dad would go on to drag race a front engine “slingshot” and eventually do some circle track racing.

However, as our family grew his racing career came to an end; except for the stories. I grew up hearing those stories and that was the spark that turned me into a car guy. By the time I was a senior in high school, I was bracket racing at multiple tracks in the Midwest, and later did some stock car racing.

I started my business in 1982 in a 4-car garage in a residential part of town. Back then I was doing machine shop work, boring blocks, valve jobs, etc. My customers were racers, street rodders and shops.

The business grew into us doing complete engines, and eventually it turned into a factory where we re-manufactured engines. That business eventually topped out at 100 engines a day.

Over the past few decades, we’ve produced almost 400,000 engines for customers, as well as selling engines to retail stores like AutoZone and NAPA.”

Norris Marshall
BluePrint Engines CEO

Our Headquarters

2915 Marshall Ave
Kearney, NE 68847

Mon - Fri, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., CST

Get directions
Person inspecting engines