ChrisJ951

For those who have been following my ordeal with my engine, I finally got the quote to rebuild it. I won't list everything but wanted some opinions on some of the bigger items. I'm keeping it a 2.5 liter

Note- Some things are optional

1. Rebuild Engine- 42.45 hours @ $89 an hour = 3,778.05 (doesn't include all the parts. 3 of 4 pistons and rods will be carried over)

2. Lighten the crankshaft $925

3. Big valve ported and polished head $2,295

4. Machine shop work $1500. (He said the block was in great shape so I assume this would be for balancing?)

Since my block was cracked and the block I bought from Lart showed up cracked due to FedEx basically kicking the block from CA to GA, my mechanic wants to charge me $1500 for a block. I don't think so!!!!

He wants to charge me $650 to powder coat the cam cover and ceramic coat the header and crossover. I think that is way too high considering the powder coater is next door and I had a crossover ceramic coated for $80 that I didn't use.


All in all I have 2 estimates. One being for well over $10k and the 2nd being just under $5k. Needless to say, I will be going over there tomorrow to discuss.

refresh951

Sorry to see you go through all this. Your going to enjoy driving it all the more when it gets finished.

You could buy a killer set of tools for that kind of cash.

ChrisJ951

I'm seriously considering selling it as is.

carlege

jacob step back and think about what you need. I mean are you going to race the car? If i was you and cost was an issue and i wasnt going to race the car, you have all the goodies to get you as fast as you want without doing the whole Lighten crankshaft and bigger valves. See if you can get another block for a decent price (1500 is like a price of a whole long block assembled)

Powdercoating and all of that is BS just do what you need. Yes its convenient to do it now but its a un needed expense

refresh951

+1

Scott H

You don't really need several thousand in headwork, just skim, valvejob, and put it back on. The head is easy to take on and off (well, relatively) if you want to do headwork in the future. The crankshaft is also another thing, while it'd be nice to get it lightened, it will serve its purpose as is. That is $3k+ right there you can save.

Get it back together for cheap, enjoy it for a while, recoup some funds, maybe buy a second motor and build that up and swap it in the future.

Edit: What they all said... forum is hopping tonight lol

ChrisJ951

Carlege- I hear ya. I most likely won't be racing the car. I agree about the big valve head, but the lightened crank may not be a bad thing to do since I will be getting a lightened flywheel and new clutch and pressure plate. I think the 2nd estimate I got for $4,100 from him was for building it a normal 2.5. I will get clarification tomorrow.

carlege

jacob, keep in mind with a lightened crank it will take away some driveability. having a lightened flywheel might be all you will need to see a difference in the cars ability to rev faster. Search on the forum a little, lightened crank great for racing maybe not so great for getting stuck on 285 waiting for a wreck to clear.... know what i mean

ChrisJ951

Carlege- there are never any accidents on 285. hahaha. I hear ya. I'm going up there tomorrow to talk with my mechanic.

carlege

Know what you want..... most mechanics are great salesmen. Good luck!

ChrisJ951

Good point.

Black51

Have you considered buying the 2.6 lart is selling?

gpr8er

Just for frame of reference, I have built 2 motors in the last 5 years a 2.5 and working on a 3L. Both with lightened cranks, flywheel, full balance,ported head yada yada.

crank work=$175
lightened flywheel=$75
balance rods,crank,pistons,crank,flywheel/clutch=$150
head work=$600 this guy did beautiful work but has now retired
gasket sets,seals,belts,rollers,bearings=$1100

You don't need the bling powdercoating etc. Granted i'm in So. Cal and can hand carry all the pieces to the various machine shops I use. But the prices you list are way out of line. If a guy will do the motor for less than 5k and you trust that he knows what he's doing he's in the ballpark, maybe even a bargain.

azbanks

Am I missing something here? You've got two cracked blocks but the mechanic says one of them is in great shape???
Or is he talking about the $1500 block he is trying to sell you.

If you are spending that kind of coin, contact Chris White or some of the other vendors on here. $10K is crazy.

adwolfe12

+1, Buy a longblock and drop it in then go beat the **** out of it.