How much $$ for a basic rebuild??

MustangDanny · 11-27-2001, 09:14 AM

How much should I expect to pay from a local engine shop for them to do a basic rebuild on a shortblock (delivered to them as a shortblock)? Nothing fancy, just something to hold me over until I can afford a REAL motor.

Thanks

fiveohpatrol · 11-27-2001, 01:17 PM

well your doin the same thing as me, except i think im gonna assemble it

im gonna build a strong 331 after college in a little under 3 years so im just gonna build one just to get by for the time being

im going with the summit hypereutectic kit for $260, comes with pistons, rings, and all gaskets necessary for the rebuild

i'm guessing somewhere between $200-300 for the machinework done to the block

so it can probably be done for right around $500

MustangDanny · 11-27-2001, 04:27 PM

So if I went with forged pistons, then I'm looking at something like $700...

but then again if I eventually build a real motor, why not get the cheaper pistons for now right.

anyone else?

gtsr515 · 11-27-2001, 10:02 PM

If your not ready to build it heavy duty, then go as cheap as you can.

You get what you pay for.

PKRWUD · 11-28-2001, 06:17 AM

If it's your first engine rebuild, add $500 to what ever total you come up with. You will still need new belts/hoses/water pump/plugs/filters/oil/coolant/clamps/sensors/brackets/bolts/nuts/bits/pieces, etc, etc.

Take care,
-Chris

MustangDanny · 11-28-2001, 08:55 AM

Well the car IS mantained. All those parts you mentioned are new or in good shape on my motor.

PKRWUD · 11-28-2001, 10:24 AM

That's too bad. Those are famous last words. It's kinda silly to drop $1000 on an engine and skimp over the cheap stuff, but it's your call. I've done dozens of these, and trust me, you'd be alot better off preparing to buy these items in the first place. Hose clamps weaken and strip, as do nuts and bolts. In fact many of the nuts and bolts you will be wrenching on are only intended to be torqued one time. They lose their strength and reliability after that. I won't even mention how silly reusing fluids and filters would be. Why install a set of plugs that were burning in one engine and install them into an engine with different requirements? How new are your wires? Do yourself a favor and either plan on a new water pump (even if your current one is two days old), or make sure yours is completely submerged in a mixture of water and coolant while not in use. Otherwise, the seals will crack. Your hoses may suffer a similar fate, but you sound set in your ways. Good luck.

Take care,
-Chris

P.S. I forgot to mention battery cables in my first post.

MustangDanny · 11-28-2001, 12:38 PM

I hear ya Chris... thanks.

PKRWUD · 11-28-2001, 12:55 PM

I'm just being honest with you. Every guy I've ever met who's done a rebuild spends $500 more than they thought it would cost because of all of the unforseen extras. My best friend wouldn't listen to me either, and halfway through breaking in the cam, the water pump started to leak out the weep hole. Not fun, but I made him swap it out.

Take care,
-Chris

Phantom5oh · 11-29-2001, 09:52 AM

Chris is right... I am rebuilding my brothers 350 right now and so far it has cost him almost 800 more than he expected, because he didn't count all the "little things" that add up very quickly when your not thinking about them... he wouldn't listen when I told him how much it was going to cost...
what about balancing this thing??? thats another 300 easy, but its worth it if you want it to last until your new engine is ready... cause there are 2 things I have learned along the way:

its ALWAYS more than you expect and you may need it a little longer than you think you will...

Steve

Nitrous Al · 11-30-2001, 12:13 PM

Danny, go to Auto Zone or Pep Boys and get a remanufactured longblock for about $1300. It's cheap and it'll be enough to get you by until you save up for a better motor.

MustangDanny · 11-30-2001, 01:12 PM

AutoZone has a remanufactured LONGblock for $1300?? Forged pistons or the cheapos?

Phantom5oh · 11-30-2001, 10:44 PM

I've never even thought of that... something to keep in mind for the next person who asks me to rebuild their engine or really cheap...

11-27-2001, 09:14 AM	#1
MustangDanny Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 70	How much $$ for a basic rebuild?? How much should I expect to pay from a local engine shop for them to do a basic rebuild on a shortblock (delivered to them as a shortblock)? Nothing fancy, just something to hold me over until I can afford a REAL motor. Thanks __________________ -- -1991 LX 5.0 Sedan, 5 spd (new 'Z' tranny), 3.73, aluminum DS, Hedman headers, 190 LPH, MAC CAI, Flowmaster catback. (170K miles on motor) Best ET: 14.434 @ 96.04 MPH - 2.205 60' (Radials) My Notch

11-27-2001, 01:17 PM	#2
fiveohpatrol I'd rather be basketweaving Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,551	well your doin the same thing as me, except i think im gonna assemble it im gonna build a strong 331 after college in a little under 3 years so im just gonna build one just to get by for the time being im going with the summit hypereutectic kit for $260, comes with pistons, rings, and all gaskets necessary for the rebuild i'm guessing somewhere between $200-300 for the machinework done to the block so it can probably be done for right around $500 __________________ NMRA O/C 9516 NA pumpgas stickshift 347 10.65@125.6, 6.73@100, 1.41 60ft

11-27-2001, 04:27 PM	#3
MustangDanny Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 70	So if I went with forged pistons, then I'm looking at something like $700... but then again if I eventually build a real motor, why not get the cheaper pistons for now right. anyone else? __________________ -- -1991 LX 5.0 Sedan, 5 spd (new 'Z' tranny), 3.73, aluminum DS, Hedman headers, 190 LPH, MAC CAI, Flowmaster catback. (170K miles on motor) Best ET: 14.434 @ 96.04 MPH - 2.205 60' (Radials) My Notch

11-27-2001, 10:02 PM	#4
gtsr515 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Sunny, Hot, Sebring, Florida Posts: 725	If your not ready to build it heavy duty, then go as cheap as you can. You get what you pay for. __________________ Remember...2nd place is 1st place for losers!

11-28-2001, 06:17 AM	#5
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	If it's your first engine rebuild, add $500 to what ever total you come up with. You will still need new belts/hoses/water pump/plugs/filters/oil/coolant/clamps/sensors/brackets/bolts/nuts/bits/pieces, etc, etc. Take care, -Chris __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

11-28-2001, 08:55 AM	#6
MustangDanny Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 70	Well the car IS mantained. All those parts you mentioned are new or in good shape on my motor. __________________ -- -1991 LX 5.0 Sedan, 5 spd (new 'Z' tranny), 3.73, aluminum DS, Hedman headers, 190 LPH, MAC CAI, Flowmaster catback. (170K miles on motor) Best ET: 14.434 @ 96.04 MPH - 2.205 60' (Radials) My Notch

11-28-2001, 10:24 AM	#7
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	That's too bad. Those are famous last words. It's kinda silly to drop $1000 on an engine and skimp over the cheap stuff, but it's your call. I've done dozens of these, and trust me, you'd be alot better off preparing to buy these items in the first place. Hose clamps weaken and strip, as do nuts and bolts. In fact many of the nuts and bolts you will be wrenching on are only intended to be torqued one time. They lose their strength and reliability after that. I won't even mention how silly reusing fluids and filters would be. Why install a set of plugs that were burning in one engine and install them into an engine with different requirements? How new are your wires? Do yourself a favor and either plan on a new water pump (even if your current one is two days old), or make sure yours is completely submerged in a mixture of water and coolant while not in use. Otherwise, the seals will crack. Your hoses may suffer a similar fate, but you sound set in your ways. Good luck. Take care, -Chris P.S. I forgot to mention battery cables in my first post. __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

11-28-2001, 12:38 PM	#8
MustangDanny Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 70	I hear ya Chris... thanks. __________________ -- -1991 LX 5.0 Sedan, 5 spd (new 'Z' tranny), 3.73, aluminum DS, Hedman headers, 190 LPH, MAC CAI, Flowmaster catback. (170K miles on motor) Best ET: 14.434 @ 96.04 MPH - 2.205 60' (Radials) My Notch

11-28-2001, 12:55 PM	#9
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	I'm just being honest with you. Every guy I've ever met who's done a rebuild spends $500 more than they thought it would cost because of all of the unforseen extras. My best friend wouldn't listen to me either, and halfway through breaking in the cam, the water pump started to leak out the weep hole. Not fun, but I made him swap it out. Take care, -Chris __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

11-29-2001, 09:52 AM	#10
Phantom5oh Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 334	Chris is right... I am rebuilding my brothers 350 right now and so far it has cost him almost 800 more than he expected, because he didn't count all the "little things" that add up very quickly when your not thinking about them... he wouldn't listen when I told him how much it was going to cost... what about balancing this thing??? thats another 300 easy, but its worth it if you want it to last until your new engine is ready... cause there are 2 things I have learned along the way: its ALWAYS more than you expect and you may need it a little longer than you think you will... Steve __________________ 95 GTS 03 DR 650SE Sgarzi's Machine Works

11-30-2001, 12:13 PM	#11
Nitrous Al Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Everett, MA Posts: 417	Danny, go to Auto Zone or Pep Boys and get a remanufactured longblock for about $1300. It's cheap and it'll be enough to get you by until you save up for a better motor. __________________ Nitrous Al

11-30-2001, 01:12 PM	#12
MustangDanny Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 70	AutoZone has a remanufactured LONGblock for $1300?? Forged pistons or the cheapos? __________________ -- -1991 LX 5.0 Sedan, 5 spd (new 'Z' tranny), 3.73, aluminum DS, Hedman headers, 190 LPH, MAC CAI, Flowmaster catback. (170K miles on motor) Best ET: 14.434 @ 96.04 MPH - 2.205 60' (Radials) My Notch

11-30-2001, 10:44 PM	#13
Phantom5oh Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 334	I've never even thought of that... something to keep in mind for the next person who asks me to rebuild their engine or really cheap... __________________ 95 GTS 03 DR 650SE Sgarzi's Machine Works

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