All you have to do is open your ears. Try Google on the term "turnkey
engine" and you will see hundreds of businesses selling engines they
call turnkey. No matter how narrowly any of us may prefer to use the
term the fact is that the industry in question broadly uses it in a
different way and thus people in that industry may also do so without
committing any inherent contradiction. Turkey in this case means just
what you wrote, an engine that is "ready to roll". No assembly required
of bearings, pistons, head, exhaust, intake, etc.

Mark

Don Hanson wrote:
>    Well gosh, people....I have never heard the term "turn-key" used in any
> other way than as described...."Turn the key" and use the device, the
> house, the car, whatever.  "Turn Key" means ready to roll....
>
>      I have never heard the term used to refer to a complete engine package
> that still is in a box, those are called Crate motors, or something else,
> but not Turn Key.
>
> .........