Engine Rebuild $$$

[Anonymous]

I have a 64.5 mustang with a 170.Runs well but I want a little more power.I have a 200 ready to rebuild and got a quote for the work.I do not have the room to do it myself.
I have been quoted $1800 for a general rebuild which includes all the parts,machining etc.
I also got quoted from the same place $2200.for a custom rebuild which would include the same as above,but more extensive,better parts,balncing etc.Does this sound about right or is this way to expensive?

Thanks

 

[CobraSix]

IF you look around, do a search on google for remanufactured engines. You can get a remanufactured engine for about $1000. It is basically a stock rebuilt long block.

so...yeah, to me it seems a little high. Unless you have special parts in the block, might as well start over with a new block.

Slade

 

[Anonymous]

i got mine rebuilt for $900 something, reputable shop, so that quote is a ripoff

 

[gtm1086]

1800 to 2200. I guess it all depends on what they will do for that price. New pistons, crank cam, valves timing gears balancing. depending on were you are at that is not a bad price. no bargin but not bad.

 

[Junk-Falcon]

well if its

 

[strat1960s]

Hey,
I had everything done on my motor, port, polish, balanced, spin balanced, new port divider welded in place. Isky cam installed, adjustible roller rockers, the works, pluss a 1 yr waranty.

It ran me $1350.
Shop around. Visit the shops and look around. The place with a ton of trophys and a bunch of crusty old farts is where I would go. These are the guys that have the experience and knowledge.

 

[CobraSix]

I think strat has the right strategy for looking around.

The other option, and usually cheaper, is ebay. I found my current engine, rebuilt about 15k miles ago, for $100. Of course that is buyer beware.

If there are any local show and shine events for classic cars in your area, go talk to those people about where they get work done.

Also, do a search for a local mustang club (even if you don't have a mustang) or any local/regional car club for that matter. Most have a "member's recommended" page that gives a list of local vendors and workshops that do quality work.

Slade

 

[addo]

I did some "digging" and found the joint many garages sent their hi-po jobs to. Of course, these other places pretend they do it themselves, but when you stand in the doorway of the machine shop and see all the parcels with the names of speed shops, it's good for a laugh. Even better is they understand sixes and have the Aussie strategy of "let's see if if we can make it go 'till it breaks". :roll:

This might work for you, if you're in a big enough town.

Cheers, Adam.

 

[Anonymous]

It all depends on the area you live in and the shop you find...

I had mine done this summer and the machine end of the bill ran me 2500.00...

that included:
PARTS (Pistons, rings, valves, springs, keepers, locks, retainers, ARP head and rod bolts, Moly rods and some other misc engine parts...)
LABOR: complete rebuild of block and head with Long Block assembly for pickup, custom balancing, port and polish work on the head, . milled and decked, 4 angle cut on the valves...

I supplied the following and these are added costs to the above totals...
Headers, Schneider cam, Roller Rockers, lifters, double timing chain, HiPo Oil Pan.

And of course my Aussie 2v head which was another investment added to all of the above....

So you can pretty much gather my totals from the lists... but I am well over 5K for the rebuilt 200 my car currently sports... it all depends on what you are doing and where... this was the best shop in town and I paid about 500.00 more than their competition but it was worth it in my opinion.


Happy engine building...

Jimbo

 

[CobraSix]

Talk to the guy a few posts down with the complete rebuilt engine with an Aussie head for $2500. That's a pretty good price for all that.

Slade

 

[Anonymous]

What you have to find is someone who enjoys the different and a challenge.

This is not a rebuild most people would have the knowledge for... I had too many guys tell me they only do performance work on eights...
I called about two dozens shops and visited five before I decided to go with the one I did, and I have done business with them in the past... and needless to say will again I am sure.

I did not do the math, I needed help with CC'ing the head, and measuring for the mill and deck figures to get the right CR... as well as I wanted some assembly help... and things changed and we had to tear it apart at one point and re-assemble... so it was a learning experience for both of us... and they were great through it all.

I can only say do the research, it is worth the extra time to get what you want, and save money in the long run.

If you do not have the Ford Six performance handbook get one and read it a couple of times, take notes on the ideas you like, then walk into a shop and see if you can find someone who thinks along those lines, with a little patience you will find someone who wants to try something different from all the same old crap they get everyday! I had a whole shop of machinists help me load this engine on the truck, and they have called me several times to find out if I am coming over so they can hear it run...

They had my engine for five months. It took me that long to get all the parts worked out and put it all together so they could complete the job. Some shops would not even store an engine that long and they only lost a set of gaskets in the whole thing.

The 1800 sounds steep... I can see the 2200 for the performance work, but a basic stocker you should be able to get for under 1300 IMHO!

 

[MustangSix]

Most machine shop menus are ala carte. You pick the things you wnat done. If you simply drop off an old engine with instructions to "rebuild it", you may be asking for everything on the list.

I usually disassemble them myself and take the crank, block, head, piston/rod assemblies, and all the valves to the shop. Then I ask Joe to do the specific operations that I can't do at home - clean, mag, bore, hone, press pistons, valve job, deck, mill.....Then I take the completed parts home and reassemble them myself.

Typically, a stock engine block will cost me about $700 to reassemble, including parts. A little more if there's an expensive cam or timing set involved, but still usually under $1000. That's with premium bearings, moly rings, premium gaskets. If the head doesn't require major work, a three angle valve job will cost me another $250 or so.

If I counted the three or four hours of labor (@ ~$65/hr) that it takes to finish cleaning and reassembling everything, I can see where it would be possible for a rebuild to approach $2000.