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Re: What should I charge to completely rebuild an engine ?
[Re: Fat_Mike]
#1481978
08/09/13 11:37 AM
08/09/13 11:37 AM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 10
Kyle, Tx
joeblow
OP
member
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OP
member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 10
Kyle, Tx
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That's a fair assumption..lol Sorry for the lack of detail. I've actually rebuilt about 20 motors over the last 30yrs, and 17 of those have been Mopars, everything from a 225/6 to a 426 Hemi. I know it isn't as many as a professional builder, but I do a good job with no complaints so far. I do pretty much stock standards, nothing much more than that as the cars that I've restored have just been to stock specs as well. Usually I'm rebuilding these engines for either my own cars, or into something I'm selling, and this is the first time I've had someone ask me to do theirs. He knows my work, and He said that he loves the fact that I'm very detail oriented in my work, and settle for nothing less than perfect. Anyway, He wanted to know what I would charge him over and above the cost of the Parts to do his 440-6 pack motor for his '70 GTX.
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Re: What should I charge to completely rebuild an engine ?
[Re: fireeng]
#1481982
08/09/13 01:45 PM
08/09/13 01:45 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 318
Beans Cove Pa
Bumbalawski
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 318
Beans Cove Pa
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Quote:
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Enough so you can afford to do it again should something goes wrong ?
This is the very reason you pay through the nose at shops. The tranny builders I know charge three times the actually cost of the rebuild, some even more. When they get it right the first time, lots of money from your pocket to theirs. Many buy remanufactured units with warranties, so if something goes wrong, the only cost is fluids and labor to the shop. Once again, the customer loses. Most engine builders (shops) do the same.
The waiver idea is the best if you are trying to be fair with pricing. But have it notarized.
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Re: What should I charge to completely rebuild an engine ?
[Re: Paul_Fancsali]
#1481983
08/09/13 01:50 PM
08/09/13 01:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,942
U.S.S.A.
JohnRR
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,942
U.S.S.A.
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Quote:
Everybody is your buddy until something goes wrong.
Especially when you do stuff that you aren't getting paid for.
Quote:
Get a written waiver and charge him for the hours put in to do it
That right there should be enough to scare off anyone with a minimal brain cell count from asking you to do something 
OP as long as you don't have an issue with being the WARRANTY STATION for a paying job then charge what you feel your time is worth.
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Re: What should I charge to completely rebuild an engine ?
[Re: Paul_Fancsali]
#1481985
08/09/13 04:26 PM
08/09/13 04:26 PM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 18,880
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RSNOMO
Moparts Torchbearer
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Moparts Torchbearer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 18,880
-
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Quote:
Everybody is your buddy until something goes wrong.
Glad those days are behind me...
You touch it-you own it...
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Re: What should I charge to completely rebuild an engine ?
[Re: JohnRR]
#1481986
08/09/13 04:50 PM
08/09/13 04:50 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,941
WI
Dcuda69
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,941
WI
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Quote:
Enough so you can afford to do it again should something goes wrong ?
This^^^ Is this a numbers matching engine for the GTX?? Who is responsible should there be a catastrophic failure in this engine (be it an assembly or part failure)? Remember poop occurs so CYA!!  
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Re: What should I charge to completely rebuild an engine ?
[Re: plum340demon]
#1481988
08/09/13 05:54 PM
08/09/13 05:54 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,942
U.S.S.A.
JohnRR
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,942
U.S.S.A.
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Quote:
I just worked on a friends 440.Took it to a local machine shop for the block,crank & head work.They asked me if i was putting it together,i said yes.They said they would build it complete for $200 bucks labor and give it a 2year 24k warranty.No Brainer
exactly , The shop here I think charges a little more and would stand behind the work, but not the parts since they were provided by me. The cam started to go away 6 minutes into break in. I'm glad it happened on his run in stand and not with it bolted in the car. Only cost me some time .
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Re: What should I charge to completely rebuild an engine ?
[Re: JohnRR]
#1481989
08/10/13 07:26 AM
08/10/13 07:26 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,063
Niles , Ohio
therocks
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
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oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,063
Niles , Ohio
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A mechanics live is full of fun.Had a guy come in for an alingment.Guy doing it noticed the WP leaking.Wrote it on the order.Guy comes back and accuses him of putting a hole in his pump.Its cast iron but he punched a hole in it.You cant win.After 30 years I have a ton of stories.No way would I touch a rebuild for anyone.Ive done them on my motors but the last 3 I had done my machinist did.It was almost too cheap for me to spend the time doing the short block.Plus hes probally one of the best in the state.Rocky
Chrysler Firepower
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Re: What should I charge to completely rebuild an engine ?
[Re: therocks]
#1481990
08/10/13 09:07 AM
08/10/13 09:07 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 926
MICHIGAN
BB65Barracuda
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 926
MICHIGAN
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Once you build it, even if it runs great, You own it! Later on if your buddy ever has any issues he will hold you responsible. Clutch is slipping, must be when you installed the motor!  Have a vibration in the front end, must be from when you installed the motor! My wife's a pain in the a$$, Must be from when you installed the motor. You get where I'm coming from. Go drive your car and let him have someone with a shop put up with the headaches. its not worth the few hundred bucks he will grudgingly give you because you are buddy's and he figures you shouldn't charge him in the first place.
1957 Power wagon wm300 original 10.000 mile truck, 1964 dodge Polara Convertible numbers matching
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Re: What should I charge to completely rebuild an engine ?
[Re: therocks]
#1481991
08/10/13 09:31 AM
08/10/13 09:31 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
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$1000. Start to finish including install/breakin & YOU do want to do the breakin as that is critical & alot of people mess that up. What Rock said it's amazing the complaints that people will come up with that are unrelated. did a WP once on a chebby van & later he was asking about the ex rattling in the rear started to act up & was wondering if I goofed something up on it & he was serious about it, nice but serious & he believed they were related. You must CYA at all times in many ways.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: What should I charge to completely rebuild an engine ?
[Re: joeblow]
#1481992
08/10/13 05:08 PM
08/10/13 05:08 PM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,399
Aurora, Colorado
451Mopar
master
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master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,399
Aurora, Colorado
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Are you just assembling the engine, or doing all the machine work too? Are you using cut-to-fit piston rings? Do you have to chamfer the bearing for an aftermarket crank? How many parts are being re-used and need to be cleaned and detailed before installing them? Are you doing the engine install and break-in, and do is it a flat tappet cam with dual valve springs where you break-in with singles then install the inner springs? Are you checking the valve spring pressures and install heights where you may need to cut the seats or add shims? Way too many variables / options to give a price without knowing the specifics. Stock engine usually go back together pretty easy, but strokers, and engines using aftermarket parts usually don't go together without having to rework, clearance, fit, or modify something.
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Re: What should I charge to completely rebuild an engine ?
[Re: 451Mopar]
#1481993
08/10/13 08:39 PM
08/10/13 08:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,063
Niles , Ohio
therocks
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
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oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,063
Niles , Ohio
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Dont forget checking the deck,balance,does the crank need turned,cylinders bored and or honed at the minimum.Changing rod bolts as they are probally 40 years old etc.The list goes on and on.Rocky
Chrysler Firepower
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Re: What should I charge to completely rebuild an engine ?
[Re: 451Mopar]
#1481994
08/10/13 11:30 PM
08/10/13 11:30 PM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,899
MYRTLE BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA
ek3
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,899
MYRTLE BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA
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Quote:
Are you just assembling the engine, or doing all the machine work too? Are you using cut-to-fit piston rings? Do you have to chamfer the bearing for an aftermarket crank? How many parts are being re-used and need to be cleaned and detailed before installing them? Are you doing the engine install and break-in, and do is it a flat tappet cam with dual valve springs where you break-in with singles then install the inner springs? Are you checking the valve spring pressures and install heights where you may need to cut the seats or add shims? Way too many variables / options to give a price without knowing the specifics. Stock engine usually go back together pretty easy, but strokers, and engines using aftermarket parts usually don't go together without having to rework, clearance, fit, or modify something.
 IF it's -all- stock parts cleaned and ready to assemble, $500 assembly labor only. local speed shop does it with no warranty.[.] your heads ready to bolt on, your parts machined and ready to assemble. problem is , when someone does not know what to order [parts wise]to rebuild the engine and the parts are wrong , the shop is screwed. big PIA. if you order the parts and have to confirm that they will fit and work properly , add that time in as well. 
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