Am I cheap?

[jlaird]

I want to bring my engine that I had built back to the shop to have it put on the dyno to break it in. It's been a year since its been built. I want to get it bolted to the chassis and trans so I can continue with my build. The dyno time is going to be $300. Then he said another $170 because he need to measure and install pushrods and rockers, and install the HEI. (cost of pushrods not included) So its going to be a $500. day. I'm kind of bummed

What do you guys think?

[BB72CHEVKT]

Originally Posted by jlaird

I want to bring my engine that I had built back to the shop to have it put on the dyno to break it in. It's been a year since its been built. I want to get it bolted to the chassis and trans so I can continue with my build. The dyno time is going to be $300. Then he said another $170 because he need to measure and install pushrods and rockers, and install the HEI. (cost of pushrods not included) So its going to be a $500. day. I'm kind of bummed

What do you guys think?

that is what i paid to have done

[petey-pablo]

WOW Thats expensive but hey if you have the money do it.. I would just use the money twords the truck and break the motor in yourself Just my opinion..

[72BlckButy]

Originally Posted by petey-pablo

WOW Thats expensive but hey if you have the money do it.. I would just use the money twords the truck and break the motor in yourself Just my opinion..

x2

[lyrikz]

Im kinda in the same spot you are in. I had my motor built in june. Full workup. I want to get the motor broke in, or do SOMETHING so it wont hurt the engine waiting ya know.. The engine builder guy said that i dont want to wait more then a year before i start it.... I have the motor in the truck now, i just dont have a cab.... Im thinking once i get the radiator installed i should be able to fire it up... I dont know.

Let me know what you end up doing. 500 dollars seems about right. They will be working on your engine for the day probably....

[jlaird]

Thanks for the replies. This is something that I could do myself with others help, but it wouldn't be for awhile, I couldn't even guess when. Plus I would be paying for the shops expertise in tuning the engine properly, so when the time comes, its ready to go.

I would love to spend the money on other parts, but my gut tells me this will be money well spent.

[cdowns]

expensive but probablly worth it to have the motor broke in tuned and dynoed ,ready as a turnkey no fuss no muss install hookup the wires and you're ready to go

[glock35ipsc]

Cost to convert an old points distributor to prime the oil system - Next to nothing.

Cost to break-in the motor sitting in my own frame - Nothing.

Learning how to install and adjust my own valve train - Priceless.

[jlaird]

Originally Posted by cdowns

expensive but probablly worth it to have the motor broke in tuned and dynoed ,ready as a turnkey no fuss no muss install hookup the wires and you're ready to go

My thoughts exactly.

Glock, you have a good point too and I do like to do as much as I can myself. I might ask if I can stay at the shop while he works on it. Depends on if I can take a day off work.

[1968SWBBigBlock]

DYNO DYNO DYNO DYNO DYNO DYNO DYNO DYNO DYNO DYNO

If the guy is any good it will be worth every penny you spend!!!
They can look at so many more items during break in that can prevent you from damaging a new motor

My dyno guy found 40 horsepower on the dyno - between timing - jet changes and carb spacers
On the track I would have had 30 passes to even get close to what we did in 6 hours

Mine was 425.00 and included swapping the springs after breakin.

I had as many dyno pulls as I wanted, 15 in all, for the same money.

Make sure your dyno man will work with you - I looked at 10 dyno shops before I found this guy -
Todd used to build motors for the Larry Morgan Pro stock team - for several years he ran the pro stock leasing program.
Lots of valuable experience for the money I shelled out

[glock35ipsc]

If he will use the time with you as a teaching moment, and let you get some oil on your hands, then it might be worth the money. I am a frugual mo-fo, in the fact that I like doing everything possible myself and putting the money elsewhere. Someone on here has a quote in their sig: "I think I'll do it myself and pay the extra $500." I love that one.

Personally I wouldn't do it for an everyday street motor, but if was a performance motor that would be seeing some track time then sure. But that's just me.

1968SWBBigBlock made a lot of good points too. There is a lot you can squeeze out of a powerplant when they are hooked up to life support.

[big_al_71]

My motor was built by us and has not seen a dyno yet, however we tuned, adjusted the rockers and now I am just driving it I have put around two hundred miles so far, changed the oil already twice and so far so good. I had to rejet my hp650 twice, added a one inch spacer it feels really good. It only sat for about three weeks untill we started it. If my motor was going to sit for a much longer period maybe I would had put it on a dyno to be broken in, but I rather do it my self enjoying the ride at the same time.

[1968SWBBigBlock]

Glock - I agree - I like doing everything I can myself as well - this was my 1st big block and 1st motor in 18 years - I spent enough on parts and machine work I wanted to make sure it was spot on before I dropped it in the engine bay. I also do not have a ton of room or time to work on things at my place so getting it right the 1st time was one of my priority's.
I learned so much from this dyno experience.
Todd would let me do about anything I wanted except run the equipment.
Just watching a pro and seeing how they do the little things can make your life so much easier.