Rebuild cost breakdown?

[satellite66]

Just wondering what the average cost of an engine rebuild is. I have a 383 engine disassembled and would like to rebuild it. Not sure what steps to take next. I guess it's the machining (honing and leveling). About how much does that run?

 

[Dako]

It can vary quite a bit by: geographical location; how well known the machine shop is; etc. A friend said he had a stock rebuild done in SC for around $1,900 including 'some' parts. This was sending them an assembled motor and getting back an assembled motor. I'm guessing no pistons/ cam/ valve changes...just bearings, rings & seals.

I am into mine for about $4,500.

My total machine shop bill was $2,290. That included:
Disassembly
Hot tanking everything
Bore to .040 over
Polishing the crank
R&R cam bearings
Assemble Pistons to Rods
Some port work
Cutting/ lapping for larger valves
Installing hardened Seats
Assembling heads
Balancing the lower (rotating) assembly

Probably forgetting a few things as well. When he was done, I was left with installing:
Camshaft
Crank bearings & crank
Oil pump
Piston & rod assemblies
Timing chain
Heads
Lifters & push rods, intake
And of course all covers, pulleys and oil pan. Assembling myself saved me $325.

Parts were another $2,200+ that I provided.

 

[69Bee]

It will depend on your location mostly, but you should be looking around $2000 to $3500 depending on what you are doing to it, and the brand of parts. Aftermarket parts can make the price rise exponentially...

 

[satellite66]

Thanks for the input. Yeah I'm not sure what I want to do with it, and I don't have a car to put it in right now. But it's been on my stand for a year or so now (maybe two years?) (it came as part of the deal when I bought my Satellite) and I figured I should rebuild it (or have it rebuilt) and then figure out what to do with it. I was hoping i could have a little done to it at a time so I wouldn't have to interrupt my other projects.

 

[67 coronet]

i normally have several eng laying around ready to be rebuilt.no need to play with it unless you have something to put it in.final resting place can determine a lot of how you build it up.

 

[Dako]

i normally have several eng laying around ready to be rebuilt.no need to play with it unless you have something to put it in.final resting place can determine a lot of how you build it up.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[satellite66]

I know, or am pretty sure my engine has a forged crank. How do I determine what cam it has?

 

[clemul]

Rebuild Breakdown from a well known PA rebuilder for my 440 (2007 rebuild date)

Valve Job 210.00
Install Guide Liners 168.00
Resurface heads 70.00
8 V 1386 Valves 53.12
8 V 1900 valves 64.48
16 S 2970 seals 17.60
16 Manley Retainers 46.00
16 805-DO springs 82.50
16 Pioneer locks 746/766 4.90
Cook Block - Strip 95.00
Bore & Hone w/plates 310.00
Ck Align Bore & Deck n/c
Clean Block - C. Brg & Plug 75.20
Press Pistons off 12.00
Recondition Rods 125.00
Pin Fit and Install Pistons on Rods 59.00
Clean, Cut, Chamfer & Polish Crank 139.00
Balance Assembly 210.00
MK 632D w/cam Upgrade (32918) 672.14
ARP Rod Bolts 56.20
8 L2266F Forged pistons 496.32
__________________________________
Total 2966.96

 

[RustyRatRod]

You can learn to do some machine work yourself. Kits are available reasonably to check for cracks. I use dye penetrant because it work with ferrous and non ferrous metals. You can also hone your own cylinders. I have everything here to do basic valve jobs as well. I also have a cam bearing tool and can remove and install my cam bearings. You can also install your own freeze plugs. You can knock a nice chunk off your machine shop bill if you're interested in doing a little work yourself.

 

[satellite66]

Thanks for the info clemul and Rusty. I don't mind doing work myself but wouldn't I need some experience at doing machine work? Is it hard to hone the cylinders? Doesn't that have to be done precisely?

 

[RustyRatRod]

It does. It's one of the easiest things to do as far as machine work, though. Of course a ball hone a chimp could do, but a rock hone does take some practice.....still very easy to do right.