QUICK HELP PLEASE! Cams & Lifters
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 492
Likes: 31
From: NJ
QUICK HELP PLEASE! Cams & Lifters
I'm not a motor guy at all, but need some assistance. i am looking at a '70 on sunday morning with 93,000 miles. The owner says the cam and lifters are tired and need replacing. Says you can really "hear" them at high speed.
-How much worry should I put into this when thinking of purchasing it?
-How much money would the replacement cost?
-Would a complete re-build to freshen up everything be recommended at time of replacement of cam/lifters?
Car sounds good on paper except for this cam/lifter situation so I don't want to pass on a good thing if this is not really a big deal to get fixed.
Thanks in advance for your assistance!!!!!
-How much worry should I put into this when thinking of purchasing it?
-How much money would the replacement cost?
-Would a complete re-build to freshen up everything be recommended at time of replacement of cam/lifters?
Car sounds good on paper except for this cam/lifter situation so I don't want to pass on a good thing if this is not really a big deal to get fixed.
Thanks in advance for your assistance!!!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,540
Likes: 1
From: Pineville Kentucky
CI 6-8-9 Veteran
Originally Posted by TSAGG
I'm not a motor guy at all, but need some assistance. i am looking at a '70 on sunday morning with 93,000 miles. The owner says the cam and lifters are tired and need replacing. Says you can really "hear" them at high speed.
-How much worry should I put into this when thinking of purchasing it?
-How much money would the replacement cost?
-Would a complete re-build to freshen up everything be recommended at time of replacement of cam/lifters?
Car sounds good on paper except for this cam/lifter situation so I don't want to pass on a good thing if this is not really a big deal to get fixed.
Thanks in advance for your assistance!!!!!
-How much worry should I put into this when thinking of purchasing it?
-How much money would the replacement cost?
-Would a complete re-build to freshen up everything be recommended at time of replacement of cam/lifters?
Car sounds good on paper except for this cam/lifter situation so I don't want to pass on a good thing if this is not really a big deal to get fixed.
Thanks in advance for your assistance!!!!!
Don't do that. I would go ahead and rebuild the engine so you won't have to worry about it again. If it is a small block, it won't be that expensive, and well worth it. 
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 492
Likes: 31
From: NJ
Originally Posted by 2th farmer
I would pull the engine and replace it with a roller motor and new tranny and spend more money than the car is worth. (NO WAIT! that's what I did) Don't do that. I would go ahead and rebuild the engine so you won't have to worry about it again. If it is a small block, it won't be that expensive, and well worth it.
Don't do that. I would go ahead and rebuild the engine so you won't have to worry about it again. If it is a small block, it won't be that expensive, and well worth it. one place near me (County Corvettes in PA.) is quoting about $2,500 for parts and labor. For a complete rebuild. How does that price sound? I know they are an expensive place in the area, but the only price I've gotten so far.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,540
Likes: 1
From: Pineville Kentucky
CI 6-8-9 Veteran
The $ spent for a job done correctly is cheap. Do the job correctly and you'l likely never have to worry about it again. Use good quality parts and a reputable shop. Somebody here on forum will chime in a recommendation for your area. Start another thread and ask for recommendation of a rebuild shop in your area. I guarantee somebody will help you, this is a great place!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
2500 for a complete rebuild? What parts are they replacing or reusing? I have that in a short block alone. Machine work can be close to 1000 if it needs a lot. Find out what they are doing first before plunking down your money. How exactly do they know it is a cam and lifters. Usually a worn lobe is very tough to hear. The engine runs rough with bad lobes.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 492
Likes: 31
From: NJ
Originally Posted by Gordonm
2500 for a complete rebuild? What parts are they replacing or reusing? I have that in a short block alone. Machine work can be close to 1000 if it needs a lot. Find out what they are doing first before plunking down your money. How exactly do they know it is a cam and lifters. Usually a worn lobe is very tough to hear. The engine runs rough with bad lobes.
http://www.countycorvette.com/corvettes/pricing.htm
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Gordonm
2500 for a complete rebuild? What parts are they replacing or reusing? I have that in a short block alone. Machine work can be close to 1000 if it needs a lot. Find out what they are doing first before plunking down your money. How exactly do they know it is a cam and lifters. Usually a worn lobe is very tough to hear. The engine runs rough with bad lobes.
it's difficult to know what needs replacing until you pull it apart. 2500 might cover a stock cast parts rebuild, but not a performance motor.does it drop oil pressure as the car warms up?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 492
Likes: 31
From: NJ
Originally Posted by Nemesis_152
it's difficult to know what needs replacing until you pull it apart. 2500 might cover a stock cast parts rebuild, but not a performance motor.does it drop oil pressure as the car warms up?
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 11,593
Likes: 173
From: Clayton NC
They CAN build you a motor for 2500.. However this most likely means the block will not be decked, The rods will be re-used as will the crank. Pistons, rings and bearings, valve guides, valves are replaced. The bores honed not bored. It will not be blue printed. And you will have a grocery getter motor that will live many years if you don't have a heavy right foot.
I did this two years ago and didn't listen to my friends and those on the forum.. Guess what.. I'm doing it again but this time I'll have over 6k in my motor... And it's a Small block.. Dave..
I did this two years ago and didn't listen to my friends and those on the forum.. Guess what.. I'm doing it again but this time I'll have over 6k in my motor... And it's a Small block.. Dave..
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 154
Likes: 1
From: Azle TX
$2500 for a rebuild suggests little machine work and use of a lot of your old parts. You have an option of buying a crate motor for it. While more expensive at least the parts are new and you have choices as to performance level and budget. When you look at the car you should anticipate the worst (engine replacement) from what the seller is telling you. Unless the seller is a "motor guy" he may be misreading the noise as well. Could be bearings or other bottom end noise. If you can find someone a bit more knowledgable about motors to go with you that would be a good thing. Remember too that this is a 30+ year old high performance car. You need to be realistic about it. It may need much more work than just a motor rebuild and you should realize what you're getting into. They can be a blast when they're running right but a total pain when they're not, especially if you're unable to do a lot of the work yourself. The people here on the forum can give you some good advise (and sometimes not so good), but in the end you're the one crawling around underneath, busting you knuckles and shelling out the cash.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by TSAGG
one place near me (County Corvettes in PA.) is quoting about $2,500 for parts and labor. For a complete rebuild. How does that price sound? I know they are an expensive place in the area, but the only price I've gotten so far.
that sounds like reasonable rebuild by a reputable shop reusing old components that are ok to reuse.....they have a good reputation. ask them for specifics on what they do