whats the average price for machine work...

[berencam]

i need the block hot tanked, mangafluxed, bored out, pistons pressed, cam bearing installed, and surfaces ground. i went to the parts store and couldnt get a definitive answer out of them. they finally said wouldnt be more than 700. that seems kinda high tho, so what would be a better estimate of what ill be getting into.

[HoupPhotography]

That's quite a bit of work, it doesn't seem like much but it is, that price is in the ballpark. Are they assembling/disassembling the motor? If so, that is a great price!!

[berencam]

not disassembling at all, they will get a bare block. Just seems high to me. 4 years ago the same work with head work also( i have new heads so i need no headwork) cost me only 450 so i was kinda shocked at the price.

[El Jay]

That doesn't sound too bad to me, Brother.

But on the other hand, where you are & where I am could make one heckuva diferrence in price!

Just my .02.

El Jay

P.S. Why are you up so late?

[berencam]

Originally Posted by El Jay

That doesn't sound too bad to me, Brother.

But on the other hand, where you are & where I am could make one heckuva diferrence in price!

Just my .02.

El Jay

P.S. Why are you up so late?

Its my day off and i intend on using every second of it

[HoupPhotography]

Originally Posted by El Jay

P.S. Why are you up so late?

That's funny dude!!


4 years ago is a long time, I have noticed (very recently) that machine work, motor parts, etc has gone up considerably due to the fuel increase and again it has a bit to do with your location too!!

[El Jay]

Originally Posted by berencam

Its my day off and i intend on using every second of it

I know what you mean.
I don't have a dispatch for tomorrow, so sure enough, my dispatcher will call me @ 0700

I got kin scattered all over the area back there.
An aunt & uncle in Eureka Springs, AR, a cousin just not to far over the border in MO, & another cousin in the Rogers/Bentonville area. The cousins are obviously the offspring of my aunt & uncle.

I have the perfect excuse for making the trip back there, but never seem make it.

If I ever do, I'm gonna give you a holler.

Maybe next year.

[El Jay]

Originally Posted by HoupPhotography

That's funny dude!!


4 years ago is a long time, I have noticed (very recently) that machine work, motor parts, etc has gone up considerably due to the fuel increase and again it has a bit to do with your location too!!

I'm on the left coast, which is the same time as you right now.

Berencam is 2 time zones east of us.

BTW, why are you up so late????????
Inquiring minds wanna know.

[HoupPhotography]

Originally Posted by El Jay

I'm on the left coast, which is the same time as you right now.

Berencam is 2 time zones east of us.

BTW, why are you up so late????????
Inquiring minds wanna know.

No S***, it's about 3am there!!!

My excuse is Insomnia, sometimes it sucks but when I need to get things done, it's kinda cool....

So the next question is, why are YOU up so late...?

[El Jay]

Originally Posted by HoupPhotography

No S***, it's about 3am there!!!

My excuse is Insomnia, sometimes it sucks but when I need to get things done, it's kinda cool....

So the next question is, why are YOU up so late...?

I'm confused.

My computer says you're in PHX (I used to live there), so it should only be a 1/4 past dark noon, not 0300+/-

If I sleep more than 4, maybe 5, hrs. in a row; I'm estactic.

If I don't get called to work, I'm going to wander over to the parts house & pick up the dizzy that I ordered for my '72 Fury & grab a dizzy cap & rotor for my '69 C-10.
That'll be whenever I decide to roll outta bed.

[berencam]

Well at least now its all established that we are all up late .
Mabee since the cost of engine machining is so high i should just opt for a new long block.

[El Jay]

Originally Posted by berencam

Well at least now its all established that we are all up late .
Mabee since the cost of engine machining is so high i should just opt for a new long block.

Yeah, we are.
Some of us more than others.

But back to your engine question; you could get a long block, for sure.
But personally, I LOVE BUILDING MOTORS!

Sorry about the caps!

[berencam]

Normally i would love to build my engine, but at the moment i have rented a storage unit for a garage and its a little pricey. So for now its more of the quick fix. Hate to be quick about anything but this time it isnt really an option.

[El Jay]

Originally Posted by berencam

Normally i would love to build my engine, but at the moment i have rented a storage unit for a garage and its a little pricey. So for now its more of the quick fix. Hate to be quick about anything but this time it isnt really an option.

Okay.
I can understand that.

But a good machine shop should be able to do all the work & get your block back to you in a week, or less.
Figure 2 days of no stress reassembly. You don't want to be rushed there!

Another day to stuff the motor in the truck

Realistically, you're talking less than 2 weeks.

Going back to "I love to build motors": it's therapy & very relaxing for me.
So in that respect, cost isn't a big object, for me anyhow.

Let's get to the important stuff, how are you recovering after your accident?

[HoupPhotography]

Originally Posted by El Jay

I'm confused.

My computer says you're in PHX (I used to live there), .

Yeah it is, I was talkig about the other guys in TN or where-ever

[berencam]

Originally Posted by El Jay

Okay.
I can understand that.

But a good machine shop should be able to do all the work & get your block back to you in a week, or less.
Figure 2 days of no stress reassembly. You don't want to be rushed there!

Another day to stuff the motor in the truck

Realistically, you're talking less than 2 weeks.

Going back to "I love to build motors": it's therapy & very relaxing for me.
So in that respect, cost isn't a big object, for me anyhow.

Let's get to the important stuff, how are you recovering after your accident?

very well physically, financially is a different matter, they only offered me 2700 for my truck the first go around with the insurance co. second round was 3700 so im a bit mad there and dont really know where to go from there. Also they guy only had liability so his coverage was only 25k and my medical bills where 75k and rising(still need braces to straighten my teeth. The hardest part for me has been loosing my old truck to be honest. Me and my dad built it(he taught me everything i know about cars) and was one of the only times i spent with my dad. Now all i have to show for it is scars and a horn button(was the only thing i was able to save off the truck). Its been a long road but i've had lots of people help me out and its all worked out.

[El Jay]

Originally Posted by HoupPhotography

Yeah it is, I was talkig about the other guys in TN or where-ever

I see.
Tryin' to pull one over on the ol' guy.
I know how you kids work!

[El Jay]

Originally Posted by berencam

very well physically, financially is a different matter, they only offered me 2700 for my truck the first go around with the insurance co. second round was 3700 so im a bit mad there and dont really know where to go from there. Also they guy only had liability so his coverage was only 25k and my medical bills where 75k and rising(still need braces to straighten my teeth. The hardest part for me has been loosing my old truck to be honest. Me and my dad built it(he taught me everything i know about cars) and was one of the only times i spent with my dad. Now all i have to show for it is scars and a horn button(was the only thing i was able to save off the truck). Its been a long road but i've had lots of people help me out and its all worked out.

There ain't a damn thing I can say, other that ,"Shoot! That sux!" (gotta be polite on the board)
If I can do anything to help let me know.
I'll keep you in my prayers.

On a lighter note, I done some quick checking. That cousin of mine, & his wife & family, are just outside of Aurora.
They got a bar on 39, about 1/2 way between Hwy 60 & Bus. 60.

I got to make the trip just because my aunt & uncle are getting up there in age.

[berencam]

aurora is about 1 1/2 hours from where i am. Mabee if i can get my ride fixed up in time we could arrange a small board cruise.

[El Jay]

Originally Posted by berencam

aurora is about 1 1/2 hours from where i am. Mabee if i can get my ride fixed up in time we could arrange a small board cruise.

That would work for me, if I could find the time & money to get my old, fat, lazy a$$ outta CA!

[70GMCer]

A little over a year ago, I took my bare block 350 to the machine shop. They hot tanked it, cam bearings installed, bored 30 over & notched for a 383 built. This cost me $425.00

To have them put this engine together would have cost me around $800 for a short block, and that was the cheapest price I found in my area. I still put it together myself though.

[greasy68]

The machine shop here in Texas was about the same as your original number of 700. If you buy stuff from them, the price for the machine work usually goes down because of the profit built into them selling you the parts. For the exact same work you indicated it cost me 650. It sounds like a decent price.

[bobbo]

I can check with a friend today who owns a machine shop in Billings, he is going to do the machine work on kyull67's engine and rebuild it with a beefier cam, all new parts in the block and head, absolutely everything on a 250cid for just under 1400...I can see what he would charge for what you want and let you know tonight. I know it's a little ways for ya but if I can get you a good price it would be worth the hour or so drive to do it.

[lilred67]

i priced the machine work for a 350 here in ft.worth. the average was $700.00+/- for complete machining block and heads.....no parts. another $1000+/- for parts. i bought a $1700.00 gm crate motor with warranty.

[Billla]

Originally Posted by berencam

i need the block hot tanked, mangafluxed, bored out, pistons pressed, cam bearing installed, and surfaces ground. i went to the parts store and couldnt get a definitive answer out of them. they finally said wouldnt be more than 700. that seems kinda high tho, so what would be a better estimate of what ill be getting into.

You really need to be clear on exactly what you're pricing. "Bored out" - is that with a torque plate? "Surfaces ground" - is the block being squared or just a clean-up cut?

Seattle pricing:
Thermal clean and mag block: $137.50
Bore and hone: $198.00 (add $80 for torque plate)
Press piston pins: $164.00
Cam bearings: $51.75
Block resurface: $164.50 ($197.50 square)

What's missing here is installation of plugs and freeze plugs - typical block prep which is usually around $100.

So, the price can range from $715 to $929

FYI, the reason that crate engines are so cheap is they crank 'em out - much of the money you spend for machining is set-up time; the block isn't just bolted into the machine, it needs to be indexed and this takes time. Skilled time, which equals expensive time.

Note this doesn't include line hone if required, crank grinding, etc.