Cost to have a six rebuilt?

[Mark B]

I have been quoted $1600 and $1800 to have my 250 six rebuilt. That's for a complete rebuild. New pistons, rebore, valves, springs, timing gears, valve guides, frost plugs, oil pump, machining, quality parts, etc. Not including re & re. Is that reasonable? I'm in Canada and things cost a little more here, but it still seems like a lot.

For you guys who did yours, how much did it cost? How did you save money? And what about getting the old carb rebuilt or replaced?

thanks

PS the red truck is not mine - just a nice pic. Mine is the white one.

[68gmsee]

Actually, it's high but not unreasonably high depending on what's done to it and if they actually have to repalce all of those parts.

I did one about 10 yrs ago and it cost about $700. However, I did all the r&r.

I took the block in and had a shop rebore and do the machine work and later took the head to another shop to have them rework it. The only new parts I used were, lifters, rod and crank bearings, new pistons, rings and gasket set.

[redmonster]

I recently did my 250 straight six and it cost me $1200 that is about the best price I got, the highest was $1700

[Hubscrub]

i can't help you with $$$ but that is a sweet truck! and i like the inlines

[68lwb292]

Sounds Cheap enough to me

[stovboltguy]

hi markb,your prices are fair, i've done the 194 in my malibu ss and the 230 in my dads beaumont and they were $1300. and $1500. make sure your engine guy replaces the plastic cam gear.

[magicoolbus]

My 235 ended up on the higher side, just a shade under 2100. Coulda had a real nice sbc for that. .060 over on bore, new pistons, resized rods, crank at 10/10. Head with hard exhaust seats, new guides, VJ and surface. New cam, lifters, rockers and shafts. Oh yeah, lots of tin parts thru their JetClean.

['68OrangeSunshine]

I spent over a grand in 1977 on a 292, but it lasted until 2002. I dropped $1200 at the machinists for another 292, completed in 2005. Hoping to go another 25. If you pro-rate the cost of building an L6, Vs the cost of replacing a V8 every 10 years, it's still a deal.

[kyull67]

Yep, It's right in the ballpark. Spent $1500 on mine about two years ago.

[northerngmc]

Canada EH!

I had a 235 rebuilt for my 1959 GMC in 1996 and the parts cost me $1000. I had my local high school do the rebuild.

So I would say that your price including everything is about right.

[PanelDeland]

Check what parts they will be using.The price seems about in the right ballpark,if they will give you somewhat of a warranty.If they're building a good engine they should be comfortable with that.Have them use V-8 or propane pistons to bring the compression up to about 9:00-1 for a little more power.Rebuilding your carb should be fine unless you're wanting to hot rod the 6 then you will need to double your budget for speed parts.6's ain't cheap to hop up.

[northerngmc]

Yes I agree with above, it is not cheap to hop up a 6.

Meet a guy a couple of years back with a real nice 59 GMC is Saskatoon and he had a 235 that he claimed had 300 hp. He also claimed it was $8500 machining costs.......

[tkeduk8r]

I had my students tear dwon a 292 for me last spring and the price for machining and parts (275HP) was just shy of $1700 by the time i had figured in a new 4bbl intake cam/lifters, and Tom Langdons cast headers. My machining (@school prices) included mag and pressure test block/head, .030 overbore, .10/.10 crank, install 9:1 compression LP gas pistons on rods, install cam bearings, deck head .020 and install 1.84/1.60 valves w/ hardened seats and bronze guides. I think thats about it, but like I said $1700 with my own labor to put together....
--Mike