silverlock

Looking at adding an SC to my garage to complement my 993 Targa.

One thing I’m trying to get more data on — so I can factor it into ownership costs — is what I should expect to pay for a head rebuild (at the very least, new studs) in 2023? $4k? $7k? Even more? Parts & labor both.

I’m going to phone my air-cooled shop (Protosport here in NJ/NY) on Monday but more data is always helpful. Also gives me a clear negotiating lever on some of the higher mileage cars that have not had the work done.

theiceman

its very regional but i would not be surprised at a 10 k price tag. Things have skyrocketed in the past couple years.

id be interested in what they say as i just did it myself. id be curious how much saved.

GothingNC

One of my friends is having a top end rebuild now on his 86 Carrera. Machine work of the heads along with the valves and valve guides is going to cost him about $6K and a 2 to 3 month wait. This is on top of the labor, gaskets, head studs etc.

It will be close to $15K when it is done. Luckily the labor rate at the shop is reasonable. I just read someone paid $500 for an oil change in San Francisco, labor rate $275 hour.

theiceman

yup not shocked ,, when i did mine the machine shop called to ask why i brought them in as they measured out perfect. , he still charged me 1 grand 5 years ago to just clean them and puts seals in them.

whole project was about 5G total at the time, and that was just in machine shop and parts, labour was all mine. .. so 15 doesnt shock me in the least.

Edward

All costs have gone insane since covid, and labor is arguably the most hideous increase! My son just had to have a radiator replace in an 04 Volvo (which I could have done if it didn't have to come out from the freakin bottom!!!). The indy --whom I trust-- quoted 1400 total, What?!!! Parts and labor were both astronomical compared to only a scant few years ago. It's madness!
Sorry, nothing constructive to contribute except to empathize and vent

Edward

theiceman

the annoying thing is its almost like it was contrived, there is absolutely no reason for it. It started with restaurants trying to make up for all lost revenue from closures in the first 3 months with ridiculous price increases, then everyone just jumped on board with the perfect excuse for gouging people.

raspritz

$10K for head work. Regarding prices, it's a weird version of supply and demand. Many air-cooled mechanics have aged out and closed their shops or scaled back work. That increases the work for those shops that remain, many of which find it difficult to hire good help. In parallel, the wait-time for good machine-shop work has increased dramatically for the same reasons. My '67 engine rebuild timeframe recently doubled, as after many months of zero progress, we had to retrieve all parts sent to a well-known machine-shop, find alternative shops, and send everything elsewhere.

Have you shopped for high-end men's clothing lately? The cost has doubled since pre-covid. For that, I have no explanation.

Edward

We're on the same page, my friend! Everyone's excuse was "covid," and by extension "supply chain." And to make the price increases worse, places who cut back on services during the plandemic stuck with the cuts in services to consumers and kept prices high. For the few places who maintained excellent service without the price stupidity, I applaud and reward with my loyal patronage; to the others I hope they fall on their own sword of shame and bankrupcy. Who knows if there will be a swing back to sanity, or if this is the twisted new normal.

Rant, over. On the plus side of things, we get to enjoy aircooled art ...that is, until petrol --and now gas ranges-- are priced out to obscurity.

Edward

Todd Holyoak

I would suggest you contact Craig Garrett in Grand Rapids Michigan. He is well known on the Pelican board (user ID cgarr) and has a small shop offering Porsche air cooled machining. He did the heads on my 3.2 with new valves, guides etc and drilled them for twin plug when I rebuilt my engine as a boredom project during COVID (2021) for less than $2k including return shipping.

-Todd

Super90

+1 for Craig Garrett. He just did the heads on my 3.2 build. Twin plugged. Aasco springs and retainers. Very reasonable, high quality work, and great communication.

kwikt

^^^^great work and reasonably priced!