Performance Engine Builders You Can Actually Trust
From mild street builds to forced-induction tunes and turbo-diesel tow rigs, we’ve been building, machining and dyno-tuning high performance engines in Darwin for over 25 years. Every build is done in-house by the same team, using parts we’ve put through their paces in our own racing program. No off-the-shelf packages. No guesswork.
Unlock Your Vehicle's True Potential
Visit Our Workshop
Workshop Location: 31 Tannadice Street, Winnellie, NT
Phone: 08 7918 1433
Workshop Hours: Monday to Friday: 8 am to 5 pm Saturday to Sunday: Closed
Performance Engine Builds
Street, Race and Specialty Builds. All Done Under One Roof.
A proper performance engine isn’t a parts list. It’s the combination of the right parts, the right tolerances, and a calibration that matches the build. That’s where most engine shops fall short. They’ll spec a build, send the machining out, drop it together, and hand it back without ever putting it on a dyno.
We do the opposite. Every engine that leaves our Winnellie workshop is spec’d, machined, assembled and dyno-tuned by the same team that races out of the same building. When we tell you a build will handle the heat, the boost or the towing load, we’re not guessing. We’ve already done it on the track and on the road across Australia.
Whether it’s a daily-driver street car you want to wake up, a drag or circuit car chasing real horsepower, a tow rig that needs to pull harder without grenading, or a competition engine built to make the most of its budget, we’ll spec it properly the first time.
Why Choose Redline
What Sets a Real Engine Builder Apart
Plenty of automotive workshops advertise engine builds. Far fewer can do the machining, the assembly and the calibration in-house. Here’s what you actually get when you bring a build to us.
Full In-House Machining
Head surfacing, boring, honing, crankshaft work, line boring, in-house valve jobs, cam bearing replacement and block decking. It all happens here at Winnellie with precision machine tools and the experience to use them properly. That means we control the tolerances, we control the turnaround, and your engine never gets parcelled off to a third party who’s never met you.
Parts We Race With Ourselves
We don’t pick parts off a catalogue and hope. We supply and fit brands we’ve personally tested, including ARP fasteners, Kelford and Crow Cams, Comp Cams valvetrain, ACL bearings, NPC clutches, Manta exhausts, Process West cooling and Haltech engine management. If it’s gone in one of our engines, it’s been earned.
Dyno-Verified Before It Leaves
Every performance build is run on our in-house dyno before it goes back to you. Live testing of EGTs, AFRs, boost and oil pressure ensures the calibration is locked in safely under load. You get a printout and a tune signed off by the person who built the engine, not someone reading numbers off a screen interstate.
Built for NT Conditions
Darwin’s heat, humidity and towing loads punish engines that were calibrated somewhere cooler. We calibrate every build for the conditions your engine will actually live in, including heat soak management on supercharged combinations and safe EGTs on turbo-diesels under load. Reliability locked in alongside the power figure.
We Fix What Other Shops Get Wrong
We see plenty of engines that have been tuned elsewhere and come back with drivability issues, misfires, or just a calibration that doesn’t suit how the customer actually drives. We diagnose first, then recalibrate from the ground up. Most of the time the fix isn’t where the previous shop was looking.
Our services
Performance Engine Building Services
Five core services covering everything from a worn daily driver through to a full race build. All performed in-house by our team.
Custom Performance Engine Builds
Full custom builds from a bare block up. Forged internals, race-spec valvetrain, port work, ARP fasteners throughout. Each build is designed around your goals, your fuel and your usage, not a one-size-fits-all package. LS engine builds are a big part of what we do (VE, VF, Walkinshaw supercharged), along with Ford Barra turbo sixes, Toyota turbo-diesels (1HD-FTE, 1HZ, 1HD-FT), HiLux N70 and N80, LandCruiser 200 and 79 Series, Ford Ranger and Raptor, Nissan Navara and more. If your platform isn’t listed, ask. We’ve probably built one.
Engine Rebuilds and Refreshes
Tired engine that’s lost its edge? We strip it, inspect it, machine what needs machining, and rebuild it back to factory spec or stronger. Includes head reconditioning, hone and re-ring, new bearings, seals, gaskets, and a full pressure test before it goes back in your vehicle.
Forced Induction Builds
Turbo and supercharger work, including the supporting parts most builders skip. Stronger internals, upgraded fuel system, intercooling and oil cooling, and a Haltech ECU calibrated on the dyno to keep new boost levels safe and repeatable. Built once, built right.
Diesel Performance Builds
Turbo-diesel rebuilds and performance upgrades for tow rigs, work utes and 4WDs. Stronger pistons, ARP studs, ported heads and conservative custom Stage 1 calibrations that deliver real-world gains while protecting EGTs under load.
Machining and Engineering
Stand-alone precision machining for trade customers and DIY builders. Head surfacing, valve seat cutting, boring, honing, crankshaft grinding, line boring and block decking. One of the only full-service machine shops in the Northern Territory, with the experience to back it up across 25+ years in the industry.
Ready to Talk About Your Build?
Spec in hand or still working it out? Call us. We’ll give you a straight take on what’s worth doing and what isn’t. No pressure, no sales pitch.
How We Work
From Initial Chat to Keys Back in Your Hand
Every build is different, but the process stays consistent. Here’s roughly how it goes.
1. Consultation and Build Goals
We start with a proper conversation. What’s the vehicle, what do you want it to do, what’s the budget, what’s the realistic timeline? From there, we put together a spec that matches the goal, not one that just adds parts for the sake of it.
2. Strip Down and Inspection
Once the engine is out, we strip and inspect every component. Cylinder bores, crank journals, head surfaces, valves, cam bearings, everything. You get a report on what’s reusable and what’s not before we order a single part.
3. Parts Selection and Machining
With the inspection done, we lock in the parts list and start the machining. Because it all happens here, we’re not waiting on couriers or third-party turnaround. Most performance builds move through machining in days, not weeks.
4. Assembly
Hand-assembled by the same builder from start to finish. Every clearance checked, every torque spec verified, every fastener ARP where it matters. We document the build as we go, ensuring you’ve got a full spec sheet at the end.
5. Dyno Tuning and Verification
Engine goes back in, vehicle goes on the dyno. We tune for power, but we tune for reliability first. EGTs, AFRs, boost and oil pressure are all locked in, and you’ll get a printout showing exactly what your engine is making.
6. Run-In and Handover
We walk you through the run-in procedure, hand over the spec sheet and dyno results, and let you know what to keep an eye on for the first few hundred kilometres. After that, it’s your engine to enjoy
2008 Holden VE SS Commodore: Camshaft Package & Custom Tune
This VE SS came in with a lifter tick and underwent a complete top-end upgrade package in our workshop. During the build, we identified worn cam bearings, removed the engine, replaced the bearings, completed an in-house valve job and fitted a full performance camshaft package before a custom dyno tune.
After Redline: 414 HP / 511 Nm
Despite the aggressive camshaft combination, the car retained excellent street manners while delivering a strong increase in power and torque.
2014 Holden VF SSV Commodore: Walkinshaw Supercharged LS3 Tune
This VF SSV rolled in with a misfire and drivability issues after being tuned elsewhere. We diagnosed a faulty earth that the previous tuner had missed, then completely recalibrated the car from the ground up.
Factory: Walkinshaw supercharged baseline
After Redline: 581 HP / 813 Nm
Smooth, predictable power and consistent performance even in NT heat, where heat soak commonly affects supercharged combinations.
2025 Ford Ranger Raptor: Stage 2 Performance Tune
Came in with quality bolt-ons already fitted, including a Process West intercooler and piping kit and a Fabulous Fabrications airbox. Factory calibration was heavily limiting the setup, so we fitted a Manta twin 3-inch turbo-back exhaust and locked in a full custom Stage 2 dyno tune.
Factory: 285 HP / 443 Nm
After Redline: 370 HP (30% gain) / 625 Nm (41% gain)
Massive jump in response and power delivery, with safe and repeatable numbers.
Real Results From Our Workshop
A few recent builds from our workshop. Every figure here is dyno-verified, not marketing maths.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a performance engine builder actually do?
A performance engine builder takes a stock or worn engine and rebuilds it to make more power, last longer, or both, depending on what you’re after. That covers everything from a refresh with stronger internals through to a full custom build from a bare block. At Redline, we handle the spec, the machining, the assembly and the dyno calibration in-house, so the same team is responsible for the engine from start to finish.
How do I choose the right engine builder?
Look for someone who does the machining themselves, has a dyno on site, and is happy to walk you through the spec before any money changes hands. If they’re sending the work out, you’ve got no guarantee of who’s actually touching your engine or what tolerances they’re working to. Ask about platforms they’ve built before, ask to see real dyno-verified results, and ask how they sign the build off at the end.
How long does a performance engine build take?
Depends entirely on the build. A straightforward refresh on a common platform might be a few weeks. A full custom build with forced induction, custom machining and a long parts list can run two to three months or more. We give you a realistic timeline up front and keep you updated as we go.
How much does a performance engine build cost?
Budgets vary widely. A basic rebuild on a four-cylinder might start in the lower thousands. A full custom turbo build with forged internals, machining, supporting mods and dyno tuning can run well into five figures. We’ll give you a proper quote once we know the platform, the goal and the parts spec. No vague numbers, no surprises mid-build.
What parts matter most in a performance engine build?
The unsexy ones, mostly. ARP fasteners, quality bearings, the right pistons and rings for your boost level, and a properly machined block and head. People get distracted by cams and turbos, but if the bottom end isn’t right, none of it lasts. We spec the foundation first, then build the power on top of it.
What's the difference between a rebuild and a performance build?
A rebuild brings a tired engine back to factory spec or close to it. A performance build takes it further, with stronger internals, different cams, ported heads, forced induction or all of the above, plus a calibration to match. Both go through the same machine shop. The performance build just has more in it and takes longer to dial in.
Can you build engines for vehicles I bring from interstate?
Yes. We get plenty of customers shipping vehicles or engines up from interstate, especially for diesel and 4WD work. Give us a call to talk through logistics, and we’ll work out the best way to handle it.
Ready to Talk About Your Build?
Whether you’ve got a clear spec in mind or you’re still working out what your engine needs, give us a call. We’ll talk you through what’s realistic, what’s worth doing, and what isn’t. No pressure, no sales pitch. Just a straight conversation about your engine.