Machine shop wows.

[charx2]

Originally Posted by Shane

quality machine work costs.

luckily, the chinese have not figured out a way to do this sort of work locally. yet.

Because they are all over here opening chinease buffets! I think they do a much better job working with the generals chicken than working with his motor! If I wanted to eat my motor, I would by it from the chinese.

[1quik70]

personally, I think you got hosed. I had BOTH heads on my big block done for about the same money, and I thought that was highway robbery! But as long as your happy with the end results, that is all that matters!

[Lee H]

For all new parts, valves, springs, guides, keepers, seats, and machine work that's a good price. New guides and seats and the machine work to install those are driving that cost. Can't compare labor and facility costs here in Cali with other parts of the country.

Now if you want to save a little money, ask for the difference if you decide not to do the hardened seats. If your engine is going to be treated decently and not hotrodded a lot or used for towing you can get by without harded seats. If I where on a tight budget I would not hesitate to opt out of cutting those heads to install hardened seats. That being said, I always opt for hardened seats as I drive my toys like they were stolen.

[steelscout]

Prices may vary to each region of the shop, supply and demand stuff, just saying.
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[DT1]

[QUOTE=Shane;4474452]quality machine work costs.

You couldn't have said that better. If and when you find a good machine shop you should send them Birthday, Christmas and Valentines day cards every year.

Personally, I'd rather pay a higher price than to do the job over in a few months. I've been there.

[BOZO]

I'm a machinist working in manufacturing R & D now, but at the last machining job shop I worked at they had a 3 sided thing called a machinists triangle.One side represented getting it fast, another cheap, and the other quality. You could have any two out of three, but not all three. One head building option hardly ever considered (if the head has bad guides but decent seats) is to buy valves with .015 oversize stems and a compatible reamer. Ream out your existing guides and hand lap the seats. This all can be done at home for less than $150 including the lapping compound. This may sound like a really el cheapo way to do your heads but I did a set of 307 heads about 10 years ago and they are still running strong.

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by BOZO

I'm a machinist working in manufacturing R & D now, but at the last machining job shop I worked at they had a 3 sided thing called a machinists triangle.One side represented getting it fast, another cheap, and the other quality. You could have any two out of three, but not all three. One head building option hardly ever considered (if the head has bad guides but decent seats) is to buy valves with .015 oversize stems and a compatible reamer. Ream out your existing guides and hand lap the seats. This all can be done at home for less than $150 including the lapping compound. This may sound like a really el cheapo way to do your heads but I did a set of 307 heads about 10 years ago and they are still running strong.

I ran an engine for about 5 years with hand lapped valves. It was still running strong when I sold it. Didn't miss or burn oil. I used the girdle style valve seals.

[Jacfourteen]

Originally Posted by BOZO

One head building option hardly ever considered (if the head has bad guides but decent seats) is to buy valves with .015 oversize stems and a compatible reamer. Ream out your existing guides and hand lap the seats. This all can be done at home for less than $150 including the lapping compound. This may sound like a really el cheapo way to do your heads but I did a set of 307 heads about 10 years ago and they are still running strong.

They used to hand lap valves for years. I wouldn't do it for a race engine, but for a cruiser it would work fine. For the original post, for the amount of work done, and if it was good quality it sounds like you got a fair price.

[70cst]

Originally Posted by 1quik70

personally, I think you got hosed. I had BOTH heads on my big block done for about the same money, and I thought that was highway robbery! But as long as your happy with the end results, that is all that matters!

As one said one has to consider that different parts of the country. Some machine worl will be much more expensive than other parts of the country. Such as Ind. and Oh. where things can likely be done for less money than the Wast coaast. Also one gets what one pays for. Quality isn't cheap. JMHO

[Dieselwrencher]

Man, $500 is a great deal! The last common rail head I had crack checked, surfaced, new guides, and new valves with lapping them in was $800. Now add the cost of new valve springs and my time to assemble and clean it. Quality machine work is expensive and hard to get done anymore.

['70_402]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Exactly.

And that is why crate engines are so popular. 1700 dollars at the dealer will get you a 100 percent new 4 bolt main 350 engine. With warranty...

When a guy gets to adding up all of the costs, he's really got to make a decision as to which direction to go with his hard earned dollars. If someone wants a stock engine, crate is a great value.

that's very true, but there is no better feeling than knowing that you personally tourqued every bolt in that motor... it's a notch in the ol belt and some piece of mind...

also a little FYI here, i paid $2,200 for my Brodix aluminum BBC heads.. it was a roller motor and with machine work to block, crank, and some porting to the heads i had almost $1,600 in just machine cost... so you guys are all getting a good deal.. of course mine was a 600 horse street motor.

The BBC heads alone cost more than i paid for the WHOLE truck originally.

[dubds10]

When I saw $500 I thought that was cheap lol If you guys are getting heads completely redone for anything less than $500 you're just robbing the machinist. I know guys up here who do full porting/polishing etc etc and you're looking at $1000's for these heads.

For $500 I wouldn't be complaining at all