Find a new mechanic and distrust anything this guy tells you. He's a bloodsucking sh--! You can buy ALL the parts and machine work, bore, turn crank, valves, etc for $1500 plus labor all day long. 40 hours of lavor is a gracious plenty. At 40 bucks an hour shop rate (which is higher than most rates) which should cover R&R, you're looking at 3 grand. The guy is trying to rip you off. Get out while you can. Kerryp Imperial59crown@xxxxxxx wrote: > Just got the pleasant news today from the mechanic I brought my > Imperial to for the engine rebuild, that his cost alone on the rebuild > was going to be around $4,000.00, and that I would end up paying > around $6,000.00. I told him for six thousand I could go buy another > '59 and swap engines, and that I would be there to pick up the car > tomorrow. He was telling me he was going to put in brand new pistons, > a new crank shaft, new valves with stainless steel seals for non > leaded gas, and all kinds of crap, but the truth is when I got the car > back how would I know if all of this stuff was in there? Fortunately > the car is in an area where there are literally hundreds of mechanics, > so I'm sure I will find someone to do it at a reasonable price. If the > going price for a new V-8 rebuild is around $2,500.00, why are they > trying to soak me on my old '59, which is much easier to work on? I > certainly don't look rich when I go there, on the contrary with my > casual shorts and old tattered t shirt, I look just slightly better > than some bum off the street. I guess I shouldn't be bringing it to > shops which specialize in antique automobiles. I will keep you posted > on the outcome of my quest to get my '59 back on the streets again. > For an engine which is so straight forward and easy to get at that > even I have done minor repairs on it, you would think a mechanic would > jump at the chance to work on it, and not charge an arm and a leg. The > engine on my Nissan is so crammed into the engine compartment that I > don't think I have ever seen a spark plug in there. Oh well, life goes on! > > Bill '59 Crown
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