wallifishrmn

I have been contacting reputable engine builders and getting a wide variation is quotes to rebuild my LT-1 engine. Given the following information what would be a ballpark price.

I already have a NOS cam and a set of solid lifters, the motor and trans mounts. The following parts have already been rebuilt in the last 200 miles: water pump, fuel pump, holley carb, distributor, electronic ignition, alternator, AIR system, new ignition wires and engine wiring harness, fan, radiator, and thermostat. Other non-engine parks like power brakes, fuel and brake line,etc have been completely rebuilt.
Would like engine bored just enough to clean up cylinders, minor porting and polishing, forged pistons, etc.

Prices have ranged from $3500 to $5-$7,000. What is a fair price?

Thank ou for your help.

69L46

That's quite a spread, considering, you have many of the key parts already. Is there that much difference in the rebuild services being provided?

I would consider the shop's reputation first and foremost of course, since you get what you pay for.

wallifishrmn

Both are offering basically the same services. The are both "good" rebuilding shops but who knows unless ou have had an engine previously rebuilt b them.

Metalhead140

What's wrong with the current engine? What piston/rods/crank quoted for in each engine? What head work? What machining? What warranty? Run in on engine dyno? Either price could be fair, depending on what's included. Any reason you can't assemble it yourself? Only paying parts and machining and doing the assembly yourself would save you some coin. In my experience, cheaper engine builders normally use cheaper parts, don't spend as much time checking and measuring everything as they should, etc... But that doesn't mean that expensive engines are necessarily much better! Just that at the cheap end of the market there's not enough money in the purchase price to cover the best quality bearings/fasteners/seals/gaskets and extensive pre assembly measuring and checking. You don't always get what you pay for, but you never get what you don't pay for... Building engines right (in my opinion) is expensive. All those little bits and pieces add up fast.

doorgunner

You can do some work yourself........measure the cylinder bores/you may be able to hone the cylinders to fit a .005" oversize piston which will save a few hundred......have the crankshaft re-ground if needed/install new bearing to match......install new oil pump.....etc.

Being a rookie I bought a very good engine-specific rebuild book and did the honing/porting/matching/assembly myself. The engine now has 50,000 miles on the rebuild.

From there I did the same type of rebuild to the transmission and differential.

Just take your time.

radiotexas

If there are any racers around your area, talk to them. Drag racing, oval, off road, timed events, etc... Maybe one particular name or shop will pop up more than the others. Also, no matter who does the work, make sure they will not compromise any stampings on the block, heads, intake. Those numbers, letters, symbols are so important to the value of your car. Wish I could see your smile when you do the first start-up and here that cam talking to you. Good Luck

Easy Mike

Moot point. If you intend to farm the job to professional rebuilders, you'll have to settle on a shop. You're paying for their time and expertise.

Good luck.

Rescue Rogers

You can easily do it yourself. You don't even need to own alot of fancy tools. You can get a manual on all the procedures and auto shops will have the hones and torque wrenches for rent. The cylinders just need to be cleaned up. You can pull and press in the cam bearings easily and the bottom main bearings are 2 pieces so thats no problem. You just have to plasti-gauge the bearing to cap gaps to makes sure its within specs. If you where putting in all new pistons and rods or had a bottom end knock or something I would have a shop balance it. Especially if it was a high rpm rev monster, but staying stock is simple

Just mark all the pistons and rods as to which cylinder they belong in. Its very easy

Jebbysan

I can rebuild an engine like that in my own garage for about $2000.
This is assuming that it does not need major components replaced.
It also assumes not a lot of out of spec parts to machine.
There are a lot of little tricks you can do to these to enhance power.....
The last carb to pan SBC I built was a 64' 327.......it had ported heads and a modern cam and valvetrain........it was $3600....I did not dyno it, but it would have made an easy 380-390 horsepower......the cam was a mild version of the 350/350 L-46 cam.

Do it yourself or send it to me ! Lol.

Jebby

F4Gary

Aren't there better cams out there today than the old LT-1 cam? Same sound and lope, but better performance.

68notray

I'd say $2000 should get it done right, given the parts you have already

rvazquez

If you do farm the job out, make sure you get it in writing, or be there in person that you do not want the block decked, it's usually not necessary, and you will loose the important numbers that are stamped on the block.
Regards
Roy

69Vett

you need to better define what you want done at machine shop.
Do not pick a engine rebuilder based upon price alone.
new rings and bearings and gaskets, hone it out reassemble = $ cheap rebuild.

Completely head rebuild with hardened seats, all new hardware ?
springs pushrods,rockers,seals preimuum bearings, timing gears and chain, cam, lifters, new oil pump.
pistons ? Balanced and blueprinted ? proper block preparation , Align honing mains, decking the block ?
I personally would change the pistons, to forged higher compression.
I also would balance any rotating assemble if your bothering to rebuild the engine.



you can make performance changes inside and still look stock on the outside.

this looks stock, ... it is not.
add your location, for possible good machine shop references in your area.