Our History

April, 2007, marks our 71st year in business. The company was founded in 1936 by former equipment salesman Max Glessner and machinist "Papi" Cook. In those days the company reconditioned babbitted connecting rods, hence the name, Sterling Bearing. When bearing inserts became popular, causing rod babbitting to decline, the company adapted by shifting machining processes to crankshaft rebuilding. In the mid-70's a revitalization program included machinery replacement, inventory increases, and a move to our present 20,000 square foot building located in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. In the mid-90's we ceased machining operations and shifted all resources to warehousing operations. In July of 1999 we opened a branch warehouse, Sterling Engine Parts, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Sterling is best known for the creation of one of the first engine kits "east of the Rockies", Blockmaster Engine Kits. Our 26 year old kit program has long been recognized as the premier kit program because of our commitment to using brand names like Fel-Pro and Clevite and because or our custom kit program that allows the customer to design the kit exactly the way they want it. In the mid-70's Blockmaster kits were marketed and distributed through full-line warehouse distributors. As major manufacturers, like TRW, began producing their own engine kits most of the full-line WD's began selling "pre-packaged" kits which would be drop-shipped to their jobber customers direct from the manufacturer. Today, because of the complexity of modern engines and the large investment in rebuilding equipment, engine kits are sold primarily to machine shops and production engine rebuilders. Sterling's warehouses are stocked with most major brands of engine parts for domestic, import, heavy duty and agricultural engines. Our high performance offering continues to grow and now includes most major suppliers of aftermarket performance engine parts. Our remanufactured parts program now includes crankshafts, cylinder heads and connecting rods. We provide excellent order fill and provide customers with same-day shipping from to locations covering nine states.

 

Sterling is a charter member of the Engine Parts Group, Inc. EPG is a buying and marketing group for warehouse distributors who specialize in engine parts. Our group operates over 30 warehouses around the country. Sterling benefits from group buying incentives, business assistance programs and professionaly created marketing programs including the Engine Pro Protection Plan, a 3-year engine warranty; the Parts Finder Program which specializes in finding hard-to-get engine parts; and an affiliation with the oldest sanctioning racing body in the country, IMCA.

 

Our company is primed for future growth with the help of some great organizations, including: AERA (Automotive Engine Rebuilders Associaton), AAIA (Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association), ERC (Engine Repower Council), ASA (Automotive Service Association), ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) and Team Engine Pro. We've carved a niche in the engine parts business. Our goal is simple. If it has to do with engines...We Can Help!