Engine rebuild in BR?

[DuckYou]

I have a 66 ford thunderbird that I am restoring as a driver. I am looking for someone to pull the engine, rebuild it and put it back in. The resto shops I have talked to have wanted crazy amounts of money (one said could be up to $30k). I have a realistic number in mind from other jobs but I have not had this done in BR before.

do you have any recommendations?

 

[whitsend]

http://www.bayoushooter.com/forums/member.php?21822-LNSvince

PM Vince.

 

[DuckYou]

http://www.bayoushooter.com/forums/member.php?21822-LNSvince

PM Vince.

Pmed any other recommendations?

 

[oppsImissed]

Vince would be my first choice. Then Louie at THE Crank Shop or Trey at Trey's Automotive in Denham

 

[oppsImissed]

Also google "Got Duramax" ask for Charles Justice. Tell him what you need and that your trying to get it touch with Justin Landry that worked at Mienekie in Gonzales

 

[edman87k5]

What motor does it have? 390?
What are you calling a rebuild? Just rings, inserts and gaskets or going all the way with boring, new rotating assembly, cam, etc? (Everything new but block and head castings)
Price would vary a good bit depending.
I would like to know what shop quoted 30k though so I never call them.

 

[oppsImissed]

30k sounds like Remy quoted it. He wanted 35k to build a small block to take a 150 shot of NOS.. My 6k living room build smoked his azz at Lorranger mud boggs

 

[DuckYou]

What motor does it have? 390?
What are you calling a rebuild? Just rings, inserts and gaskets or going all the way with boring, new rotating assembly, cam, etc? (Everything new but block and head castings)
Price would vary a good bit depending.
I would like to know what shop quoted 30k though so I never call them.

I won't name names, but it was a restoration specialists in New Orleans who I found out outsources everything.

It does have the FE 390. I am looking for just new gaskets and hardened interior parts so I can run it without lead substitute. It runs and drives currently. I am not looking to make more power, just have a nice dependable driver.

 

[shroom14]

Go talk to Jason at express care automotive on sherwood forest next to all star

 

[edman87k5]

Even if you changed everything but the block, added a supercharger, nitrous and fuel injection and chromed every part, it still wouldn't cost $30k.

Can you do any work yourself? Pull the heads and send them to be built, change all gaskets and viola, good to go. Total cost if not paying for labor, maybe a grand. My guess for shop labor rates for same job, another 1000-1500. If you include boring, new pistons, cam and lifters, etc (complete rebuild) add another grand to that and another grand for labor. Like new still well under $5 k total.
Even better, buy a crate motor and throw in it for the same money and less downtime/headache.

 

[LNSvince]

Hey Guys,
Sorry, I don't have machining equipment in house.
We generally do the same and outsource to local machinist , to the specs we decide on.
all pre-determined for what the engine is going be used for.
My engine Guru "Skip" will assemble [ mock up ] with a fine tooth comb. If the T's are not crossed, or the I's not dotted, it gets sent back
until perfected.
Honestly here lately, Places like BB&T or Probe offer assembled short blocks with warranty with prices that are hard to beat even doing it yourself.
http://www.bbandtracing.com/ ask for Derrick.

The Biggest factor here is the condition of your current engine and what you have to work with.
Also, I have always been satisfied with the local machinist here.
Like any build, DONT EVER ASSUME anything.
If you get in the habit of checking your outsourced work, you will be just fine.

LAST ! DO NOT OVER BUILD YOUR ENGINE ! This is the biggest mistake everyone makes.
Be realistic with your long term goal.
Its easy to exaggerate to the machinist or builder on what you dream of at night.
He will listen to you, and build you EXACTLY the motor you did not need. This happens all the time.

Factor in the vehicle weight, gear ratio, tire size, operating RPM, fuel system, exhaust system, transmission, converter, brakes and suspension.

IF you need some help making decisions, email me.

vince@LNSauto.com

 

[alpinehyperlite]

Jeff Cobb autoworks. He has done all of the work on all of my family's antique vehicles.

1316 S Acadian Thruway, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
(225) 343-7525

 

[LNSvince]

I was under the impression that you wanted to build a hot rod engine.
send me your number so we can talk about what you have and what you need.
Ill try to call you tomorrow evening.
Ive got you covered.

Vince

 

[Suburbazine]

Jeff Cobb autoworks. He has done all of the work on all of my family's antique vehicles.

1316 S Acadian Thruway, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
(225) 343-7525

Jeff is great when it comes to fixing classics and I'd recommend giving him a call, just to see if he would take it. He doesn't do the machining work in-house, we generally sent the engine components to Adams Automotive & Machine Shop up on North. (I would not send the whole car to Adams, they don't have any dedicated bays to keep it safe).

I suspect Vince will beat Jeff in terms of price and turnaround time, though, as Jeff doesn't do a lot of domestic work.

 

[DuckYou]

Jeff Cobb autoworks. He has done all of the work on all of my family's antique vehicles.

1316 S Acadian Thruway, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
(225) 343-7525

Thanks for the advice on both forums!


I will talk to Vince and Jeff Cobb. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[DuckYou]

Even if you changed everything but the block, added a supercharger, nitrous and fuel injection and chromed every part, it still wouldn't cost $30k.

Can you do any work yourself? Pull the heads and send them to be built, change all gaskets and viola, good to go. Total cost if not paying for labor, maybe a grand. My guess for shop labor rates for same job, another 1000-1500. If you include boring, new pistons, cam and lifters, etc (complete rebuild) add another grand to that and another grand for labor. Like new still well under $5 k total.
Even better, buy a crate motor and throw in it for the same money and less downtime/headache.

i could do it myself but I have other priorities and most of my tools (including my air compressor) were stolen last year and I have not replaced it yet. If I feel like the savings justify the time it will take me to do it, then I will pull it myself.

 

[BOSS351]

Yeah, I hope Vince can take care of you. I had a buddy had his 428 from his 68 GT500 redone about 4 years ago completely for around 5k, including going on a dyno..He did do the remove and re install himself though.$30K is just plain crazy!!! I could never figure how cats like that stay in business screwing other folks that bad.

 

[alpinehyperlite]

I forgot I had postd it in both. Lol. Was a long night.

 

[DuckYou]

The price quote that guy gave me on paint was even more ridiculous. It was more than what a buddy had his 30's Rolls Royce done in GA, which included 10 rounds of hand paint and sanding on just the top coat - which won some awards. I asked if that would be to concourse levels (which I am not looking for) and he said no, just regular paint job.

 

[BOSS351]

Like I said...CRAZY!!