Am I spending to much money???.... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

CHEVY & GMC FOREVER · 02-27-2005, 04:14 PM

O.K. yesterday I brought my 350 motor (completely taken apart) to be rebuilt. Anyway this guy who is rebuilding it wants 2,000 $$ for this to be done, Hot tanked ( get all grease and paint off motor), boring motor .030 over or 358 cubic inches, Compition Cam - Lifters, Roller Timing Chain, New Valves/Springs, Deck Block, Mill Heads, Degree Cam, Mild Porting, Clean up exhaust ports, New Pistons - Bearings ETC., Balanced, and Blueprinted. The only reson I ask is I could buy a crate motor for that much and I'm wondering is it worth it ???????

bigcdawg99 · 02-27-2005, 04:22 PM

No 502?

CHEVY & GMC FOREVER · 02-27-2005, 04:24 PM

I decided that rebuilding the 350 would be better and my wife had a little say in it to

Longhorn Man · 02-27-2005, 04:28 PM

I think that sounds a little high...but I'm cheap.
If the motor is only going .030 over, then it's just a 355.

CHEVY & GMC FOREVER · 02-27-2005, 04:29 PM

Only 355 oh I thought it was 358 sorry

superchevy · 02-27-2005, 04:42 PM

A new GM crate 350 is $1500.
You're getting more cubes, a Comp valvetrain, ported heads, blueprinting and balance for $2000..
SC

CHEVY & GMC FOREVER · 02-27-2005, 04:48 PM

so this is the right thing to do?.

69 Short Fleet · 02-27-2005, 05:05 PM

Just tell your wife a 396/402/454/502 is more rare than bigfoot... and their starting to run out of them... and it will make her look 10 years younger when she's driving it... and their super economical at the gaspump... and lie, lie, & lie some more....... and make sure she doesn't read this post (lol) (just kidding)

**VetteVet** · 02-27-2005, 05:25 PM

What kind of rep has this guy got? If he is talking balancing and blue printing he must mean static balancing because dynamic balancing takes some pretty expensive equipment. All that machining work drives the cost up so I'd say if he's good and stands behind his work it's well worth it. Besides being local he can help you with reassembly or any problems later on.

VetteVet

gonebad2 · 02-27-2005, 06:27 PM

That's a fair price for a rebuild...That's alot of labor for the rebuilder. Plus, you are getting a better engine than the low end stock replacement GM crate. If the rebuilder is good, he'll make sure everything is to spec. The low end GM crate engines are mass produced in Mexico. I would think an experienced engine builder takes a little more pride vs the production line in Mexico.

ChevyDude · 02-27-2005, 07:04 PM

.030 over and a 400 crank....= 383 cubes!!!

67_C-30 · 02-27-2005, 07:08 PM

...IF the builder is reputable and has the knowledge of building the right combination. I would ask for specs of the cam he intends to use before you turn it over. Many people "overcam" a basically stock engine which is usually renders the engine not as powerful as it would be with a stock cam. Just make sure the cam is compatible with what you want out the truck, and compatible with gears and stall speed if is an auto tranny.

farside847 · 02-28-2005, 12:46 AM

I paid $1600 plus parts to have my 307 rebuilt. But I wanted to keep it numbers matching, so I didnt have much of a choice besides pulling it myself.

dave3156 · 02-28-2005, 03:41 AM

Price sounds good. Make sure he has references. Ask to talk to other people who he did rebuilds for. If everything checks out go for it. Its getting hard to find anyone who will do porting anymore because of the time it takes to do it right. You will end up with a great custom engine. Take lots of pictures as he rebuilds then post them so we can enjoy it too!

mrein3 · 02-28-2005, 09:35 AM

It depends on what you are getting for $2000. If the $2000 is for a completely assembled engine with a guy standing behind it you're ok. If it is a box of parts out of the machine shop I think it is high.

Like Chevydude said, for what you are doing you may as well find a 400 crank and do a 383. For about the same money you get more cubes.

I recently did a 383. About the only thing I didn't do is the heads. I ended up putting $75 to the heads because my machine shop guy said they needed guides. The heads had a valve job done 15,000 miles ago. The valve job was $100/side about 4 years ago.

I was busy with work last fall so I had the machine shop guy put the bottom end together for $75.

Obviously excel doesn't copy well into html but from the stuff below I think you'll get the picture.

The $317 383 "kit" is probably close to what the same thing would be for a 350 rebuild. What you are left with in differences between the two rebuilds is the crank shaft. The $200 I spent on that was for one that was ready to drop in. Your 350 crank probably needs 100 or so dollars worth of machine work before it goes back in.

383 related parts & labor:
Crankshaft $200.00
400 Balancer (used) $30.00
Balance job $200.00
Cut con rods for cam clearance $20.00
400 flywheel $30.00
clearance block for con rod clearance $15.00
ARP con rod bolts $38.00
Oil pumpdrive $8.00
Oil pumpsump $9.00
"Performance engine Kit: Sealed power moly rings, Fel pro gaskets, con rod bearings, main bearings, cam bearings, block plugs, 383 pistons, three piece timing set, oil pump" $317.00
R&R block plugs $10.00
degrease block $35.00
deck block $50.00
bore & deck-plate hone cyl(s) $80.00
deck-plate charge $10.00
"Remove, install, & fit cam bearings " $25.00
Recon con rods $80.00
Pin fit new pistons $28.00
Assemble short block $75.00
Sales tax $26.13
$1,286.13

BTW, the fresh 383 rocks. I had chains on all 4 tires yesterday and pulled my fish house anywhere I wanted to.

**Daubs** · 02-28-2005, 10:59 AM

Friend of my dad ran a machine shop back in the day. We pulled the 305 from my 82 K10 and had him rebuild it (remember, this was 1988).

One thing I remember him saying concerned balance and blueprinting. He said that drives the cost of a rebuild through the roof! Said he used to b&b his race engines back in the 70's and NEVER blew an engine. And I know him...he was really hard on his engines.

$2k for what you are getting sounds like a pretty good deal. Back in the late 80's this guy said for him to do complete rebuild (b&b, hone deck, all milling, new pistons, bearings, cam, lifter, valves, etc., etc., etc.,) it would run aroun $3,000.

4x4Poet · 03-01-2005, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrein3

...BTW, the fresh 383 rocks. I had chains on all 4 tires yesterday and pulled my fish house anywhere I wanted to.

That's exactly what I want! Fish housepower.

ZOOMY · 03-01-2005, 07:23 AM

The GM Crates come with a warranty, good anywhere in the USA !!!

arkracing · 03-01-2005, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrein3

It depends on what you are getting for $2000. If the $2000 is for a completely assembled engine with a guy standing behind it you're ok. If it is a box of parts out of the machine shop I think it is high.

Like Chevydude said, for what you are doing you may as well find a 400 crank and do a 383. For about the same money you get more cubes.

I recently did a 383. About the only thing I didn't do is the heads. I ended up putting $75 to the heads because my machine shop guy said they needed guides. The heads had a valve job done 15,000 miles ago. The valve job was $100/side about 4 years ago.

I was busy with work last fall so I had the machine shop guy put the bottom end together for $75.

Obviously excel doesn't copy well into html but from the stuff below I think you'll get the picture.

The $317 383 "kit" is probably close to what the same thing would be for a 350 rebuild. What you are left with in differences between the two rebuilds is the crank shaft. The $200 I spent on that was for one that was ready to drop in. Your 350 crank probably needs 100 or so dollars worth of machine work before it goes back in.

383 related parts & labor:
Crankshaft $200.00
400 Balancer (used) $30.00
Balance job $200.00
Cut con rods for cam clearance $20.00
400 flywheel $30.00
clearance block for con rod clearance $15.00
ARP con rod bolts $38.00
Oil pumpdrive $8.00
Oil pumpsump $9.00
"Performance engine Kit: Sealed power moly rings, Fel pro gaskets, con rod bearings, main bearings, cam bearings, block plugs, 383 pistons, three piece timing set, oil pump" $317.00
R&R block plugs $10.00
degrease block $35.00
deck block $50.00
bore & deck-plate hone cyl(s) $80.00
deck-plate charge $10.00
"Remove, install, & fit cam bearings " $25.00
Recon con rods $80.00
Pin fit new pistons $28.00
Assemble short block $75.00
Sales tax $26.13
$1,286.13

BTW, the fresh 383 rocks. I had chains on all 4 tires yesterday and pulled my fish house anywhere I wanted to.

guess i should be sending my motors to this guy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $15 to clearance the block! and $90 to bore and hone with a torque plate?! and $50 to deck the block?!
That is cheap as heck - WTF
The Balance for $200 seems in line though
I pay close to 3times that much for machine work here in the NorthEast

mrein3 · 03-01-2005, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arkracing

guess i should be sending my motors to this guy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $15 to clearance the block! and $90 to bore and hone with a torque plate?! and $50 to deck the block?!
That is cheap as heck - WTF
The Balance for $200 seems in line though
I pay close to 3times that much for machine work here in the NorthEast

The devil is in the details.
The guy doesn't do a whole lot of work any more.
He is VERY good. I had him do the 350 in my 72 Chevelle in 1989. It still runs like a top.
However he is VERY slow. I dropped my stuff off in June and didn't get it back until November after I made a big stink about it.

BTW, he sent the balance work out to be done by somebody else - thus the "market" price.

arkracing · 03-01-2005, 09:23 AM

Ok that makes a little more sense to me...whew i feel a little better now

junkyardjohn · 03-01-2005, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arkracing

Ok that makes a little more sense to me...whew i feel a little better now

DON'T FEEL LIKE THE LONE RANGER..... I USSUALLY TAKES ME $1800-$2000 TO BUILD A MOTOR COMPLETE, & THAT IS WITH ME DOING ALL THE ASSEMBLY. BUT THAT IS WITH ME BULDING IT WITH ALL GOOD COMPONENTS, & NOT BUILT SOUTH OF THE BORDER , NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING GUY MAKING $4.50 A DAY. I ONCE BOUGHT A 72 RUSTFREE SHORT FLEET, WITH NO MOTOR OR TRANS. FOR $400 BUT THAT IS NOT A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE PRICE OF ONE.

JOHN

arkracing · 03-01-2005, 03:19 PM

I know it was a BBC 396 and all - but i spent 1600+ to have the block:

-Airless shot machined (basically like shot peening - stress relieves and cleans @ the same time)
-Jet Washed
-Clearanced for bigger rod bolts
-Installed cam bearings + freeze plugs
-Bore and Hone with Torque Plates
-Align Bored/honed
-0 Decked
-Balanced/Blueprinted
-New Rods Pressed on New pistons
-New Crank Cleaned and balanced and polished
-Heads: 3angle/bowl blend/mild pocket porting/cut for the bigger 2.190 Valves/milled to 112cc Chambers

I still assembled my self and bought all my own parts - but it was worth it to me because i know what i have and it is exactly the way that i want it

So i would say again - 2k is a fair price to have a motor done

Scrubby · 03-01-2005, 06:52 PM

Is it going to make 330 hp and 380 ft/lbs? Because you can get the brand new GMPP 330 hp 350 HO for $2450 from Sallee Chevrolet.

woodchip · 03-01-2005, 09:28 PM

I just talk to a local guy today about rebuilding a 396. He said around $2500. that was with allnew parts boring disasem and reasem.

02-27-2005, 04:14 PM	#1
CHEVY & GMC FOREVER Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New Lenox,IL Posts: 306	Am I spending to much money???.... O.K. yesterday I brought my 350 motor (completely taken apart) to be rebuilt. Anyway this guy who is rebuilding it wants 2,000 $$ for this to be done, Hot tanked ( get all grease and paint off motor), boring motor .030 over or 358 cubic inches, Compition Cam - Lifters, Roller Timing Chain, New Valves/Springs, Deck Block, Mill Heads, Degree Cam, Mild Porting, Clean up exhaust ports, New Pistons - Bearings ETC., Balanced, and Blueprinted. The only reson I ask is I could buy a crate motor for that much and I'm wondering is it worth it ??????? __________________ 1985 Chevrolet C-30 454 1-TON Dooley 1969 CHEVROLET CST-10 PICK-UP Good memories 1999 Chevrolet Z71 Ext. cab 5.7L Good Memories With a quart of oil, and a gallon of gas, she won't let no other car pass!!!. & FOREVER

02-27-2005, 04:22 PM	#2
bigcdawg99 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 67	No 502? __________________ 71 GMC Shortbed Fleetside (under construction) "I like guns. You got a gun, you don't have to work out." Chris Rock

02-27-2005, 04:24 PM	#3
CHEVY & GMC FOREVER Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New Lenox,IL Posts: 306	I decided that rebuilding the 350 would be better and my wife had a little say in it to __________________ 1985 Chevrolet C-30 454 1-TON Dooley 1969 CHEVROLET CST-10 PICK-UP Good memories 1999 Chevrolet Z71 Ext. cab 5.7L Good Memories With a quart of oil, and a gallon of gas, she won't let no other car pass!!!. & FOREVER

02-27-2005, 04:29 PM	#5
CHEVY & GMC FOREVER Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New Lenox,IL Posts: 306	Only 355 oh I thought it was 358 sorry __________________ 1985 Chevrolet C-30 454 1-TON Dooley 1969 CHEVROLET CST-10 PICK-UP Good memories 1999 Chevrolet Z71 Ext. cab 5.7L Good Memories With a quart of oil, and a gallon of gas, she won't let no other car pass!!!. & FOREVER

02-27-2005, 04:42 PM	#6
superchevy Got big-block? Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,453	A new GM crate 350 is $1500. You're getting more cubes, a Comp valvetrain, ported heads, blueprinting and balance for $2000.. SC __________________ '68 CST SWB factory 396/T400 buddy buckets, a/c, ps, pb '72 Corvette convertible 454/4spd/ac, ps, pb '73 GMC Sierra Grande short wide 454/T400 ps, pb, ac '77 K5 Blazer black on red, 350/T350/NP205 ps, pb, ac all original '78 GMC Sierra Classic short wide 454/T400 ps, pb, ac '72 GMC Sprint SP454. 1 of 38 built. '73 GMC Sprint SP454. 1 of 71 built. '75 GMC Sprint SP454. 1 of 25 built. SOLD! '72 GMC K25 4x4 468/4L80e/NP205 build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...23#post4324423 SOLD!'55 Chevy gasser 496/4spd build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...96#post4324396

02-27-2005, 04:28 PM	#4
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	I think that sounds a little high...but I'm cheap. If the motor is only going .030 over, then it's just a 355.

02-27-2005, 04:48 PM	#7
CHEVY & GMC FOREVER Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New Lenox,IL Posts: 306	so this is the right thing to do?. __________________ 1985 Chevrolet C-30 454 1-TON Dooley 1969 CHEVROLET CST-10 PICK-UP Good memories 1999 Chevrolet Z71 Ext. cab 5.7L Good Memories With a quart of oil, and a gallon of gas, she won't let no other car pass!!!. & FOREVER

02-27-2005, 05:05 PM	#8
69 Short Fleet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kelowna B.C. Canada Posts: 1,086	Just tell your wife a 396/402/454/502 is more rare than bigfoot... and their starting to run out of them... and it will make her look 10 years younger when she's driving it... and their super economical at the gaspump... and lie, lie, & lie some more....... and make sure she doesn't read this post (lol) (just kidding)

02-27-2005, 05:25 PM	#9
VetteVet Msgt USAF Ret Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 8,719	What kind of rep has this guy got? If he is talking balancing and blue printing he must mean static balancing because dynamic balancing takes some pretty expensive equipment. All that machining work drives the cost up so I'd say if he's good and stands behind his work it's well worth it. Besides being local he can help you with reassembly or any problems later on. VetteVet __________________ VetteVet metallic green 67 stepside 74 corvette convertible 1965 Harley sportster 1995 Harley wide glide Growing old is hell, but it beats the alternative.

02-27-2005, 06:27 PM	#10
gonebad2 Merciless Butcher Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: CC Nevada Posts: 1,447	That's a fair price for a rebuild...That's alot of labor for the rebuilder. Plus, you are getting a better engine than the low end stock replacement GM crate. If the rebuilder is good, he'll make sure everything is to spec. The low end GM crate engines are mass produced in Mexico. I would think an experienced engine builder takes a little more pride vs the production line in Mexico. __________________ Your Bought And Sold....I Got Your Soul!

02-27-2005, 07:04 PM	#11
ChevyDude Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 3,071	.030 over and a 400 crank....= 383 cubes!!! __________________ Alex 1971 Lil' Red 350 SBC 700R4

02-27-2005, 07:08 PM	#12
67_C-30 I have a radical idea! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sweet Home Alabama! Posts: 6,513	...IF the builder is reputable and has the knowledge of building the right combination. I would ask for specs of the cam he intends to use before you turn it over. Many people "overcam" a basically stock engine which is usually renders the engine not as powerful as it would be with a stock cam. Just make sure the cam is compatible with what you want out the truck, and compatible with gears and stall speed if is an auto tranny. __________________ '67 C-30 Dually Pickup 6.2 Turbo Diesel, NP435 ‘72 C-10 SWB , 350 4bbl, TH350 '69 C-10 SWB , 250 L6, 3 OTT '69 GMC C3500, dump truck, 351 V6, NP435 '84 M1009 CUCV Military Blazer 67 C-30 Turbodiesel build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=254096 My trucks http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ediafilter=all Member of the 1-Ton Club! Last edited by 67_C-30; 02-27-2005 at 07:11 PM.

02-28-2005, 12:46 AM	#13
farside847 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 995	I paid $1600 plus parts to have my 307 rebuilt. But I wanted to keep it numbers matching, so I didnt have much of a choice besides pulling it myself. __________________ 1971 Chevy C10 Shortbed Stepside, 307v8 3-on-the-tree

02-28-2005, 03:41 AM	#14
dave3156 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 336	Price sounds good. Make sure he has references. Ask to talk to other people who he did rebuilds for. If everything checks out go for it. Its getting hard to find anyone who will do porting anymore because of the time it takes to do it right. You will end up with a great custom engine. Take lots of pictures as he rebuilds then post them so we can enjoy it too!

02-28-2005, 09:35 AM	#15
mrein3 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Center City, MN, USA Posts: 3,254	It depends on what you are getting for $2000. If the $2000 is for a completely assembled engine with a guy standing behind it you're ok. If it is a box of parts out of the machine shop I think it is high. Like Chevydude said, for what you are doing you may as well find a 400 crank and do a 383. For about the same money you get more cubes. I recently did a 383. About the only thing I didn't do is the heads. I ended up putting $75 to the heads because my machine shop guy said they needed guides. The heads had a valve job done 15,000 miles ago. The valve job was $100/side about 4 years ago. I was busy with work last fall so I had the machine shop guy put the bottom end together for $75. Obviously excel doesn't copy well into html but from the stuff below I think you'll get the picture. The $317 383 "kit" is probably close to what the same thing would be for a 350 rebuild. What you are left with in differences between the two rebuilds is the crank shaft. The $200 I spent on that was for one that was ready to drop in. Your 350 crank probably needs 100 or so dollars worth of machine work before it goes back in. 383 related parts & labor: Crankshaft $200.00 400 Balancer (used) $30.00 Balance job $200.00 Cut con rods for cam clearance $20.00 400 flywheel $30.00 clearance block for con rod clearance $15.00 ARP con rod bolts $38.00 Oil pumpdrive $8.00 Oil pumpsump $9.00 "Performance engine Kit: Sealed power moly rings, Fel pro gaskets, con rod bearings, main bearings, cam bearings, block plugs, 383 pistons, three piece timing set, oil pump" $317.00 R&R block plugs $10.00 degrease block $35.00 deck block $50.00 bore & deck-plate hone cyl(s) $80.00 deck-plate charge $10.00 "Remove, install, & fit cam bearings " $25.00 Recon con rods $80.00 Pin fit new pistons $28.00 Assemble short block $75.00 Sales tax $26.13 $1,286.13 BTW, the fresh 383 rocks. I had chains on all 4 tires yesterday and pulled my fish house anywhere I wanted to. __________________ '70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN



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02-28-2005, 10:59 AM	#16
Daubs Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Eastern Nebraska Posts: 613	Friend of my dad ran a machine shop back in the day. We pulled the 305 from my 82 K10 and had him rebuild it (remember, this was 1988). One thing I remember him saying concerned balance and blueprinting. He said that drives the cost of a rebuild through the roof! Said he used to b&b his race engines back in the 70's and NEVER blew an engine. And I know him...he was really hard on his engines. $2k for what you are getting sounds like a pretty good deal. Back in the late 80's this guy said for him to do complete rebuild (b&b, hone deck, all milling, new pistons, bearings, cam, lifter, valves, etc., etc., etc.,) it would run aroun $3,000. __________________ '72 Chevy K-20 Crate 350, SM465, 4.10's

03-01-2005, 07:23 AM	#18
ZOOMY Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: WIS Posts: 1,752	crate The GM Crates come with a warranty, good anywhere in the USA !!!

03-01-2005, 09:23 AM	#21
arkracing Weekend Warrior Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: CT Posts: 1,787	Ok that makes a little more sense to me...whew i feel a little better now __________________ -'07 GMC Sierra K2500HD -'66 C10 Suburban -'68/'71 K20 Service Bed Project -'69 Chevy C30 Mason Dump -'33Ford P/U 396ChevyPowered

03-01-2005, 03:19 PM	#23
arkracing Weekend Warrior Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: CT Posts: 1,787	I know it was a BBC 396 and all - but i spent 1600+ to have the block: -Airless shot machined (basically like shot peening - stress relieves and cleans @ the same time) -Jet Washed -Clearanced for bigger rod bolts -Installed cam bearings + freeze plugs -Bore and Hone with Torque Plates -Align Bored/honed -0 Decked -Balanced/Blueprinted -New Rods Pressed on New pistons -New Crank Cleaned and balanced and polished -Heads: 3angle/bowl blend/mild pocket porting/cut for the bigger 2.190 Valves/milled to 112cc Chambers I still assembled my self and bought all my own parts - but it was worth it to me because i know what i have and it is exactly the way that i want it So i would say again - 2k is a fair price to have a motor done __________________ -'07 GMC Sierra K2500HD -'66 C10 Suburban -'68/'71 K20 Service Bed Project -'69 Chevy C30 Mason Dump -'33Ford P/U 396ChevyPowered

03-01-2005, 06:52 PM	#24
Scrubby Check out GMTrucks.org Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boise, Id Posts: 284	Is it going to make 330 hp and 380 ft/lbs? Because you can get the brand new GMPP 330 hp 350 HO for $2450 from Sallee Chevrolet.

03-01-2005, 09:28 PM	#25
woodchip Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lexington N.C. Posts: 160	I just talk to a local guy today about rebuilding a 396. He said around $2500. that was with allnew parts boring disasem and reasem.

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