Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 2 of 4 1 2 3 4
Re: engine assembly labor [Re: CompWedgeEngines] #1055033
08/18/11 04:07 PM
08/18/11 04:07 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,112
LONG ISLAND
fishy340 Offline
master
fishy340  Offline
master

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,112
LONG ISLAND
do like i did,i got banged in the u know what..and never went back to the guy!then found a humble dude that likes what he does for a living.and is very reasonable price wise.

Re: engine assembly labor [Re: fishy340] #1055034
08/18/11 06:16 PM
08/18/11 06:16 PM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,253
Florida STAYcation
dIc dOc Deity ! Offline
The village idiot's idiot
dIc dOc Deity !  Offline
The village idiot's idiot

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,253
Florida STAYcation
Quote:

do like i did,i got banged in the u know what..






I talked to a Bud down-the-street ... BBC guy .... who got -also.

He supplied all-the-parts to this famous HP rebuilder for his dually. He was charged for ring filing/fitting ... yet the rings he supplied were std 30 over.

Re: engine assembly labor [Re: fishy340] #1055035
08/18/11 06:26 PM
08/18/11 06:26 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,113
Lost in Pooler, GA
Gumbydammit Offline
super stock
Gumbydammit  Offline
super stock

Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,113
Lost in Pooler, GA
Compwedge, you are RIGHT ON THE MONEY there.

For a performance engine build, 800 is not out of line. Checking clearances, maybe needing to get + or - .001 bearings, deburring parts, file fit and deburr rings, install cam bearings, wash the block and all the parts ( properly ), final assembly, it all adds up and when its done properly, it takes TIME.

Add setting up the top end, checking valve spring pressures and installed heights, valve to guide clearance, rocker arm alignment, etc. and it should easily be another $500.

I'm not an engine guy, but I am in a trade-type business. IF someone wants me to provide a service, and stand behind my work, sure no problem. Knock me down on my price, no thanks, go somewhere else.

BTW, if it's a Hemi, and you are having him assemble the short block only, I don't blame him for not degreeing the cam without having the Heads. He could set it at the cam grinder's spec with out having the heads, but to me that's only part of the degree job. With the heads on he can check piston to valve clearance at different degrees of crank rotation.

I wouldn't degree it without the heads either. If he did, you bolt the heads on, and fire it up only to have the valve hit the pistons, you'd come back with your head on fire accusing him of not doing his job. There's more to it than bolting stuff together. I know this, and I'm no expert. The real pros know.

Last edited by Gumbydammit; 08/18/11 06:33 PM.

I'm Gumby dammit!
Re: engine assembly labor [Re: Scotts71chall] #1055036
08/18/11 06:45 PM
08/18/11 06:45 PM
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,394
Ambridge, Pa.
R
rickraw Offline
top fuel
rickraw  Offline
top fuel
R

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,394
Ambridge, Pa.
i also agree with compwedge. kick up the cash, don't be cheap. get it done right the first time. then have some fun with ur ride. stay safe, seeya.

Re: engine assembly labor [Re: Gumbydammit] #1055037
08/18/11 06:48 PM
08/18/11 06:48 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,080
organ
M
maximum entropy Offline
master
maximum entropy  Offline
master
M

Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,080
organ
Quote:




I wouldn't degree it without the heads either. If he did, you bolt the heads on, and fire it up only to have the valve hit the pistons, you'd come back with your head on fire accusing him of not doing his job. There's more to it than bolting stuff together. I know this, and I'm no expert. The real pros know.


two different things. whoever does the top end is responsible for valve to piston clearance, and quench. i would never do a short block only. scary. gimme the whole job or go elsewhere.


for what is the good life if not doing things thoughtfully?
Re: engine assembly labor [Re: maximum entropy] #1055038
08/18/11 07:00 PM
08/18/11 07:00 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,112
LONG ISLAND
fishy340 Offline
master
fishy340  Offline
master

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,112
LONG ISLAND
this is a shortblock topic!

Re: engine assembly labor [Re: fishy340] #1055039
08/18/11 07:17 PM
08/18/11 07:17 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,113
Lost in Pooler, GA
Gumbydammit Offline
super stock
Gumbydammit  Offline
super stock

Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,113
Lost in Pooler, GA
Quote:

this is a shortblock topic!




Well aware, just sayin.


I'm Gumby dammit!
Re: engine assembly labor [Re: Scotts71chall] #1055040
08/18/11 07:26 PM
08/18/11 07:26 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 169
SW WI
C
cudacustoms1 Offline
member
cudacustoms1  Offline
member
C

Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 169
SW WI
I was in the same position as you are with the same shop. I had them do the assembly on my BAE motor after having nothing but trouble with a different shop. They were very good to deal with. Since working with them I have talked to several different people I know that have used them and been happy with there work.

Re: engine assembly labor [Re: Scotts71chall] #1055041
08/18/11 09:30 PM
08/18/11 09:30 PM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 261
Wisconsin
BLONDE BARRACUDA Offline
enthusiast
BLONDE BARRACUDA  Offline
enthusiast

Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 261
Wisconsin
I dont know about the hemi but the engine builder I recently used charged 350. for long block asembly on a stroked small block

Re: engine assembly labor [Re: BLONDE BARRACUDA] #1055042
08/18/11 10:46 PM
08/18/11 10:46 PM
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,091
Delray beach, Florida
P
Performance Only Offline
top fuel
Performance Only  Offline
top fuel
P

Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,091
Delray beach, Florida
Quote:

I dont know about the hemi but the engine builder I recently used charged 350. for long block asembly on a stroked small block




350.00 for a stroker long block assembly? can you tell us the name of the shop please?


machine shop owner and engine builder
Re: engine assembly labor [Re: BLONDE BARRACUDA] #1055043
08/19/11 12:27 AM
08/19/11 12:27 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,587
Great Neck,LI,new york
hemi-itis Offline
I Live Here
hemi-itis  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,587
Great Neck,LI,new york
Something smells FISHY,and I now HATE the smell of fish!!


HEMI-ITIS has no cure.
My condition is fully BLOWN!!
Re: engine assembly labor [Re: hemi-itis] #1055044
08/19/11 01:18 AM
08/19/11 01:18 AM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,178
Someplace you aren't
S
SomeCarGuy Offline
I Live Here
SomeCarGuy  Offline
I Live Here
S

Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,178
Someplace you aren't
800 is fair. If another local shop is cheaper by a little, you could ask for the cam degree job to be thrown in.


I want my fair share
Re: engine assembly labor [Re: SomeCarGuy] #1055045
08/19/11 08:53 AM
08/19/11 08:53 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,003
Shelby Twp. Mi
HardcoreB Offline
master
HardcoreB  Offline
master

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,003
Shelby Twp. Mi
Quote:

800 is fair... you could ask for the cam degree job to be thrown in.



I agree...burn that bridge over $1-200. There are just some people you shouldn't do business with until their perception changes IMO. Let him take it to this other shop that is cheaper, I say. I like Todd's explanation/reasoning; How would you feel if daily, your boss adjusted (only downward) your wage based on your performance? As mentioned, I would also have the same shop do the entire assembly. But, if I were this original shop and happened across this post, I would not take the job. IMO the OP is unfamiliar with the work required. Also, you are unable to recognize accurate advice from respected/sucessful members. You even contradict yourself. I honestly hope you get this worked out and all parties win. But, again no self-respecting shop would do business with you in your current state of mind IMO.

Re: engine assembly labor [Re: BLONDE BARRACUDA] #1055046
08/19/11 11:24 AM
08/19/11 11:24 AM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,325
Clinton Twp... north of Deetro...
L
Labratt Offline
Good Ol Randy B!
Labratt  Offline
Good Ol Randy B!
L

Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,325
Clinton Twp... north of Deetro...
So spill the beans,Ms. Blonde Barracuda! Who did the long block for the "discounted" price of $350.00???

Re: engine assembly labor [Re: hemi-itis] #1055047
08/19/11 12:11 PM
08/19/11 12:11 PM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,253
Florida STAYcation
dIc dOc Deity ! Offline
The village idiot's idiot
dIc dOc Deity !  Offline
The village idiot's idiot

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,253
Florida STAYcation
Quote:

Something smells FISHY,and I now HATE the smell of fish!!




I agree ....verrry FISHY-itis !

Re: engine assembly labor [Re: Scotts71chall] #1055048
08/19/11 01:41 PM
08/19/11 01:41 PM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,399
Aurora, Colorado
451Mopar Offline
master
451Mopar  Offline
master

Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,399
Aurora, Colorado
To me it sounds a bit on the high side, but not unreasonable. It takes a few days to correctly check and assemble, mock up, tear down, correct, clean, and re-assemble an engine. The question is what exactly are they checking, and correcting? How are they fitting the cam? How many times are they torque the studs and bolts? What will they correct for free, or charge extra for? What block prep are they doing? Are they installing the frost plugs and painting the block? What oiling system, how complicated a system (If they are installing it?) I think for the price they should degree the cam too?
I can see a long block costing more. It takes a bit of time to disasemble all the valves, check spring pressures, measure and correct spring install heights, mock up rocker gear, measure for pushrods, check and correct intake manifold fit, ect. I was thinking more like 16 hours at $50/hour = $800?

Last edited by 451Mopar; 08/19/11 01:58 PM.
Re: engine assembly labor [Re: dIc dOc Deity !] #1055049
08/19/11 01:42 PM
08/19/11 01:42 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 38
Visalia Ca
P
prostreet68 Offline
member
prostreet68  Offline
member
P

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 38
Visalia Ca
The shop that did the work on my motor said that its $1200 for him to do it.

Re: engine assembly labor [Re: 451Mopar] #1055050
08/19/11 05:41 PM
08/19/11 05:41 PM
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,091
Delray beach, Florida
P
Performance Only Offline
top fuel
Performance Only  Offline
top fuel
P

Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,091
Delray beach, Florida
Quote:

To me it sounds a bit on the high side, but not unreasonable. It takes a few days to correctly check and assemble, mock up, tear down, correct, clean, and re-assemble an engine. The question is what exactly are they checking, and correcting? How are they fitting the cam? How many times are they torque the studs and bolts? What will they correct for free, or charge extra for? What block prep are they doing? Are they installing the frost plugs and painting the block? What oiling system, how complicated a system (If they are installing it?) I think for the price they should degree the cam too?
I can see a long block costing more. It takes a bit of time to disasemble all the valves, check spring pressures, measure and correct spring install heights, mock up rocker gear, measure for pushrods, check and correct intake manifold fit, ect. I was thinking more like 16 hours at $50/hour = $800?





is 50.00 bucks an hour the going rate where your located for a premier engine builder?
keep in mind that the OP is supplying the parts, so if they don't fit right, he has to pay for the correction also. those parts as delivered fitting properly is NOT the responsibility of the builder. it is his job to catch any problems and correct them though. after all, that's worth paying for, right???

Last edited by Performance Only; 08/19/11 08:34 PM.

machine shop owner and engine builder
Re: engine assembly labor [Re: prostreet68] #1055051
08/19/11 05:57 PM
08/19/11 05:57 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 413
Norway (old world)
Oyvind Mopar Offline
mopar
Oyvind Mopar  Offline
mopar

Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 413
Norway (old world)
The assembling cost is then appx 10% of the engine value, in parts. So it is no big deal. More important is to have it properly done, and documented, and a warranty in some way against assembly errors if something bad happens at a later stage. An unskilled assembler can easily destroy your high value parts, or set them up so they self-destruct. I think that will be all the difference. Saving 2-300$ is no deal if the 10-15k$ engine fails....
If it is a bread and butter sbc, then it is a completely different story. But, you got a Hemi....Keep it living, too many Hemis went down the drain. The worst engines I work on are Hemis that have had multiple repairs/overhauls.
My

Re: engine assembly labor [Re: dIc dOc Deity !] #1055052
08/19/11 08:58 PM
08/19/11 08:58 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,587
Great Neck,LI,new york
hemi-itis Offline
I Live Here
hemi-itis  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,587
Great Neck,LI,new york
Quote:

Quote:

Something smells FISHY,and I now HATE the smell of fish!!




I agree ....verrry FISHY-itis !










HEMI-ITIS has no cure.
My condition is fully BLOWN!!
Page 2 of 4 1 2 3 4






Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1