Re: [FWDLK] Hemi Rebuild

["Bill K." <pontiac@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Just for comparison's sake -

In college I did a '59 Pontiac 389.

They have the same lower end as a Pontiac 400, so the bearings are the same
from '59-'78 - there are some '59 specific peculiarities that make them more
money, but all Pontiac blocks are the same so there are a lot of shared
parts.  +.030 pistons were more money, if they'd had the gear to check for
core shift I could have saved some money going +.055 and using stock bore
400 pistons.


Anyways, doing the removal, teardown and machining myself in class, plus
parts through a couple of suppliers, new guides in the heads, hard seats,
planing I paid to have done through a guy who taught the machining classes
and has his own shop, I had about $1100 in it.  It still needed new
valvetrain parts and final assembly at that point.    That was 10 years ago,
but the parts prices are about the same now.

I wouldn't be surprised if the labor to have a shop do the same work would
take you to $2500 pretty quickly.


Like Adam says, it makes a difference in what parts you use, what work you
do yourself and just who does the rest of the work.   I would imagine that
on the 331 the suppliers are a little more limited, so the prices will be
higher.




Bill K.



----- Original Message -----
From: "Adam Lindenbaum" <AdamL57@xxxxxxx>
To: <L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 6:16 PM
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] Hemi Rebuild


> My friend just had his 318 2x4 Poly rebuild last year for under $2,500 and
> they pulled the engine and reinstalled it! He got new pistons,all the
machine
> work,bearings,ect.They even painted the engine the correct MOPAR silver.It
all
>  depends on who does the work and the quality of the parts.The 400 in my
'57
> cost twice as much in parts and machine work,and it's a more common engine
> to get parts for and I assembled it other than the short block,but I used
MOPAR
>  PERFORMANCE parts,an Isky cam,tri-metal bearings,ect,ect. The machine
work
> was  done at the best race shop around,the engine internals were balanced,
> each piston was measured and the cylinder bored for it.There is a lot of
> difference in machining at a mass production shop and a true race prep
shop.If I  was
> getting even a stock engine done I would talk to the local drag racers and
> stock car drivers and see who most of them use for their work,I would also
> after  the block and heads were checked bring in my own bearings,pistons
(if
> needed,but most engines need at least a .010 over bore to true up the
> cylinders,even when new),cam,brass freeze plugs(they don't rot out) valve
springs and
> anything else it needs.If you buy the parts yourself it's  usually cheaper
than
> thru the shop,you can shop around more,compare prices and  don't have to
pay
> their mark up.Remember one thing,you get what you pay for most  of the
time.A
> balanced well put together engine will run smoother and last  longer,stock
or
> hot rodded.Mass production shops are into speed,not quality.They  don't
> plastigauge the bearings,the cylinders are all bored to the same size,not
to the
> piston size,and they do vary,the torque specs are usually not considered
and
> done with an air gun,they also don't degree the cam .Spend the extra
couple of
> hundred dollars on quality machining it's worth it.I think my  machining
with
> bottom end assembly and balancing cost around $1200.
> Adam Lindenbaum
> 426 Hemi/4 speed Fury
> 57 Savoy Kustom
>
> *************************************************************
>
> To unsubscribe or set your subscription options, please go to
> http://lists.psu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=l-forwardlook&A=1
>


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----


No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 268.2.2/280 - Release Date: 3/13/2006




-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 268.2.2/280 - Release Date: 3/13/2006

*************************************************************

To unsubscribe or set your subscription options, please go to
http://lists.psu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=l-forwardlook&A=1