Vision66

Bought a 66 triple-black convertible with a 427 engine (engine date stamped 1969) about a month ago and have put about 100 miles on it. This is a NCRS 3rd Flight Car. Prior owner only put 1,000 miles over 20+ years.

Engine developed a "clank" and the oil pan is now on shop floor with metal in the oil (appears to be bearings only ... so far). Oil was definitely too low.

I am heading in to get a detailed estimate tomorrow, but over the phone the estimate is $5800 for engine rebuild (they send it out) and a total not expected to exceed $8000 (which would also include the clutch since it makes sense to also do that along the way).

The recommendation is to rebuild and the shop is optimistic on the outcome - 4 weeks of work.

Does this cost sound about right? Any other good advice at this point?

Nowhere Man

might help to tell us where your located. shop rates can change across the country. parts are the same no mater where you are. it doesn't take that long to remove the engine three hours tops if your slow. the rest is tare down which should be less then a hour. then how ever long it takes a machine shop to do the machining and assembly. then about anther 3-4 fours to put the engine back in.

MikeM

Way too rich for my blood but depends entirely on what they want to do to that engine.

If the clutch isn't worn much, didn't chatter and was smooth, I'd put it back in with the rebuilt engine.

Easy Rhino

Too many variables to give a targeted estimate.

If the engine is removed, reinstalled, and rebuilt by a reputable shop, and needs nothing else but bearings, and you don't want any parts upgrades, you might get in and out for as little as $5K +/-.

But, and it's a big one - what is the condition of your engine? What are your plans for the car? Are you going to try to improve its originality?

Be very wary of project creep - it's a known disease here.

Crunch527

So this is a NOM car w/ a 1969 era 427...hmmm hard to say where a rebuild may go in terms of price...

If you are wedded to the "3rd flight" status, then you are probably right to rebuild what you have so it looks era correct.

I'd definitely do the clutch and flywheel with the engine out.

R66

WOW!!!
Guess there is a lot of difference between a BB and a SB on the rebuild costs.
If you are at a Chevrolet garage and paying $150/hr. labor with 2 hours out and 4 hours in, it is about $900. The head work could run $500 or a little more.
Cam, lifters, timing chain, oil pump are all things to replace on a rebuild.
Bore and hone the block, pistons, resize the rods, turn the crank on a small block for maybe $800 in this area. Tear down and assembly of the engine, about 5 hours - $750.
NOM engine - guessing $3500 to $4000.
Clutch and pressure plate with labor - $400 as the engine is already out.
My guess is less than $4500 if it needs everything.
This is excluding metropolitan areas where the labor can be triple the redneck rates.
I had to pay over $200 to get a $1.20 carb gasket replaced on a quadra-jet back in 1988 in the Chicago area - Chevrolet dealer.

67's

For the quoted price, on a NOM, I would just call Pace, and have a new one shipped.

65-L78

I just had my 65 396 rebuilt. All stock other than bored 30 over, New cam, rebuild heads, new pistons, machined original flywheel, new cam and pushrods, new timing chain and gears, oil pump. 5K, but that's in Anchorage, should be cheaper than that in the lower 48.

Boyan

454 HO...brand new, $6,160 shipped.

Crunch527

So, this is what I would do...abandon the old and swap in a new mill and new clutch...back on the road in a day or two...

cv67

Are you doing the R& R youself? How can anyone give an estimate til they see what it really needs?

No reason a stock rebuild should cost more than a few thousand doenst matter what year etc it is.

Do you drive it at all, why not put a crate in there as suggested & use the car up? No rewards for not driving it.

edit-just re read it so a shop is pulling out and reinstalling it do you even know what they are going to do to it, & who are they sending it to?
Most shops want 2k to r and r any motor plus everything else

MikeM

That is a little crazy in itself. A guy could do that two days a week and live pretty well. But I'm not in California.

And how do you give an estimate without even looking inside the engine? Easy, just do it.

Mr D.

Holly Crap. This is a perfect example of why I do my own wrenching on these cars. NFW I would pay someone $8K to pull a engine and rebuild it.

When I built up my 427 I dropped off a set of heads, block, crank, oil pan, timing cover and rods and picked up a Long Block for $4,800.

Given the description of your engine issues I thing you should be looking at bearings and a crank turn at best so about $2K. As for R&R of engine about 12 Hrs labor on the high side or $1500ish. But that's just my .02 which is not going to get you a engine rebuilt.

Good Luck.

Vision66

Appreciated everyone's insights and advice. It sounds like $5K on the high side and that I should be tempted to swap the engine out entirely since NOM. I don't have the time/patience to do this on my own at this point. I am married to the current NCRS 3rd Flight status and aspire to perhaps a 2nd Flight 10 years down the road (time and $ willing). With this said, I am going to drive this car 1000 miles per year since I bought it to drive.

Talked at length with the mechanic (he is a fixture here in Indy and referred by local Corvette owners) and also local Corvette restoration guy who has seen the car. Was assured several times the price on the highest end (of course you don't know) and decided to have the engine rebuilt (will discuss once disassembled to understand the cost better).

I'll post the outcome once I know more. Thanks again, everyone.

cv67

5k to do a stock rebuild on a 427? PLus labor?
The only thing hes specializing in is your wallet....that "tax" is one reason I dont own one its all bs.
Hope hes including a roller cam and a little bowl work or something

Wanna hear what he has to say once its torn down and his diagnosis

Nowhere Man

If you want second flight your heading way off in the wrong direction. First why was it a third flight car. Was condition terrible. No originality to car. Painted the wrong color?

MOXIE62

I do all the work myself except boring and turning crank. Not so much to save money but I do not trust these shops to do what they say they are going to do. It's not their engine so they don't give a damn if it blows in 5K miles or less.