gears
Member
So I'm rebuilding a non-runner I "got a deal" on. 1968 3400 gas. Complete, cranked (no compression) - I'm into it for $1700....
Machine shop says $100 for block work - so I pull it, tear it down (dropped #3 ex valve and trashed the piston) take it and the crank and rods to the shop.
He calls me a week and a half later, it's going to need .040 over to clean up the cyls - the crank (who's bearings looked fine) will get inspected tomorrow and he'll call me with that info.
Another week goes by, he calls yesterday - everything is done, come pick it up, total is $501.50
What The Heck!? So rather than argue with a guy over the phone, I go to pick it up. Bore/hone was $105 like we'd discussed, the pressure washed block I dropped off cost me $65 for him to tank to clean it. He sent the crank to a specialty shop and it cost me $265 to have it magnafluxed, ground and polished...... "yeah, I guess I should've called you about having the crank done"
Fine, so now I find on EnginekingDOTc0m there's a Major Overhaul kit for the motor for $552.50 Best deal I can find (dealer wants $1100 for the kit, off brand kit is $8-900). So I contact the web guy, seems nice enough. He says he needs my engine casting # to ensure I get the right parts. No problem, C5MN.
He calls me back and says it's going to be $665.50 because "you need the rod bolts...they're old and fatigued and you don't want the rod coming through the block" What happened to the 552!? He says "it says "starting at 552"" I don't see where it says "Starting at 552", wife doesn't see where it says "starting at"
Closest thing is when you go to the 158 gas you see "Starting at $529.50" for the in-frame kit and Major Overhaul adds $23 more.
Do I shut up and pay the man or do I pretend I'm someone else and just buy the thing through the website for the $552 with free shipping? It'd be $780 from here.....
I started this figuring I had $700 to spend on rebuilding the engine, now I'll be up to $1100 (minimum)and it still needs tires!
Machine shop says $100 for block work - so I pull it, tear it down (dropped #3 ex valve and trashed the piston) take it and the crank and rods to the shop.
He calls me a week and a half later, it's going to need .040 over to clean up the cyls - the crank (who's bearings looked fine) will get inspected tomorrow and he'll call me with that info.
Another week goes by, he calls yesterday - everything is done, come pick it up, total is $501.50
What The Heck!? So rather than argue with a guy over the phone, I go to pick it up. Bore/hone was $105 like we'd discussed, the pressure washed block I dropped off cost me $65 for him to tank to clean it. He sent the crank to a specialty shop and it cost me $265 to have it magnafluxed, ground and polished...... "yeah, I guess I should've called you about having the crank done"
Fine, so now I find on EnginekingDOTc0m there's a Major Overhaul kit for the motor for $552.50 Best deal I can find (dealer wants $1100 for the kit, off brand kit is $8-900). So I contact the web guy, seems nice enough. He says he needs my engine casting # to ensure I get the right parts. No problem, C5MN.
He calls me back and says it's going to be $665.50 because "you need the rod bolts...they're old and fatigued and you don't want the rod coming through the block" What happened to the 552!? He says "it says "starting at 552"" I don't see where it says "Starting at 552", wife doesn't see where it says "starting at"
Closest thing is when you go to the 158 gas you see "Starting at $529.50" for the in-frame kit and Major Overhaul adds $23 more.
Do I shut up and pay the man or do I pretend I'm someone else and just buy the thing through the website for the $552 with free shipping? It'd be $780 from here.....
I started this figuring I had $700 to spend on rebuilding the engine, now I'll be up to $1100 (minimum)and it still needs tires!