Experience with Engine Rebuild costs

[Hybrid]

I just had a friend advise that he was quoted $5,000 to do a full rebuild on a 38 Nash Twin ignition eight engine. It has been 10 years since I had a shop do up an engine for me, so maybe I am out of touch, but that seems exhorbitant. I know that it is an unusual engine but I would expect about $2,500 tops unless they are having to replace pistons, rods, etc etc. Am I out of touch with the going rate?

[Rick Hoover]

Hybird,

That's really not too out of line with cost, depending what they get into. A Model A Ford engine will run you $2,500.00 today for a complete rebuild. I currently have a "29 Continental 8 in the machine shop now and I'm expecting a $4,000. to $5,000. bill when completed.

Rick

[Guest]

well my buick straight-8 was $1,750 complete and my '58 cadillac is coming out right now and is $1,900. I'm pulling it myself, and reinstalling it. (that's what I'm doing today!)

here is a site that has a nice price list for newer cars.

http://www.actionautowreckers.com/

a friend got his 1930 six rebuilt for $5,500.00, about double the normal price.

[Guest JT]

Just the machine work and reassembly of the short block of my packard straight eight was $1850 not including any parts. That included crank work, balancing, align bored, block bored & decked, hardened valve seats, etc. With parts I have more than twice that in the rebuild and that's with me doing final assembly of engine and installing in car. There's all sorts of prices out there for rebuilding depending on a lot of factors so I don't think $5k is out of line.

[1937hd45]

I am NOT making up this story! Back in the days when a top shelf Model A Ford engine rebuild was $1,500.00 a local club member asked me how much a rebuild should cost. I told him fifteen hundrd dollars,he just about fell over. He then went on to explain that since he had restored the car the motor had been rebuilt three times, and none of the three rebuilds cost over $500.00. You get what you pay for! Never use a shop that knows nothing about your motor.

[Rick Hoover]

That pretty well sums it up Bob. "You do get what you pay for." I also remember the days of $1,500.00 Model A engine rebuilds and customers not happy about paying that much back then. My last bill for a Model A rebuild from Schwalm's was just shy of $2,500.00 and again I heard some grumbling. Fact is, I never had a Schwalm Ford engine built by either Baron or Ora ever fail me or a customer.

Your story about that fellow doesn't surprise me one bit.

Rick

[Guest stude8]

For the record 5 years ago it cost me $3750 for rebuilding a 1930 Studebaker President 8 to a short block condition. It was a 5 main bearing 8 with babbit main and rod bearings. Cam bearings were used as is. Included were disassemble, clean engine in hot caustic tank, reassemble and align bore with new pistons, rings, stainless valves, valve springs, cam gear, boring to +.030 AND dynamic balance of all reciprocating parts. I added head and gaskets, setup valve lash, reassembled accessories and did reinstallation in car. Work was done by a first class shop and there were no surprises in the end, it ran as new. Overall I ended up with $5600 in receipts for parts and contracted labor. The $5000 bid sounds right to me if they do the job right. Stude8

[D Binger]

I think that the $5000 is in the ball park. I have had two engines rebuilt in the past four years. One was a 1914 Buick 4 cylinder engine that cost about $3200 and the other was a 1922 Buick 6 cylinder engine that was about $3900. Both had new babbit poured, new pistons, new valves and the 1922 was ballanced. This was from a friend who has a machine shop, so I am sure that there was a slight discount.

A good rebuilt engine will be one of the larger expences you have in restoring a vehicle. It was mentioned earlier, "You get what you pay for".

Dan

[6219_Rules]

Granted I am new here and know very little, but when searching for engine rebuilds on my '47 Flat head, most of the quotes were right around $3200.00 including parts. The assumption being very little would have to be done other than putting in new hardened valve seats, seals, rings and valve guides. It also included pulling, painting and re-installation. So it sounds like your quote is not out of line.

Good luck in the project! I hope to hear how it is going. I have decided to maintain the original engine unopened as long as possible. So far it is running beautifully and only leaks a little oil. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[1937hd45]

Randall, Back in th 1960's you could get one of those Caddy flathead V8s new in a crate for $250.00. They were olive drab,left over WWII tank engines.

[ex98thdrill]

I think a lot of the prices depend on the engine and the availability of parts. It cost us $2,500 to rebuild a Ford 302 V8 in the mustang, we paid $4,000 to do the flathead 6 cylinder in our '40 Plymouth woodie wagon, and we've already got a price estimate of $2,250 to do the Flathead V8 in the '42 Ford.