Why does everything end up costing me more in the end?!

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!
 
most times machime shop will sell you the parts at a good price and will sell good parts. be carefull geting cheep internent parts. coupel yeaers back i bought a 4100 diesel that was a victom of to much eather took it apart went to machine shop with everything got a bill of 2500 done all work myself spent like 2800 with new clutch i dont have a complant at all the best deal on a cheep new tractor was 20 grand mine runs great now but everytyhing cost to much i agree i priced a new 100 hp jd around 100k who can aford that thing is you will have a good tractor when finished.
 
I've used this machine shop before with good results, he can't get tractor parts (other than from the dealer) so he suggested I source them myself.

I agree, cheap parts get you a cheap fix. I just don't like getting taken to the cleaners for pieces I don't need!
 
I must have your luck, I started my repair on the 4000 and had planned on about $800 total, lots of new parts, and the Crank which was bulk of the cost.

Lets just say I have quit keeping track of receipts, because it doesn't matter anymore, well past my intended budget. I have been fixing a lot of 'farmerized' and just plain 'broken' things that I either hadn't noticed, or had just left because it worked for now. Since its apart, its time to fix them all though.

BUT once its done I shouldn't have any major issues for a while, hoping my tires last a few more seasons.
 
I have a 2000 3 cyl gas, gave $1500 for it , ended up spending $1400 at machine shop, that was with kit, 2 used radius rods cost me $150, fan belts, hoses , fuel pump, carb kit, 2 stage clutch,and a host of small parts another $800. that cheap good deal tractor has me in for $4000 plus , but it is power steering and 8 speed, never again
Boss
 
"could have just got a ford reman engine for $3800."

Sure, but look at all the "fun" you would miss! :twisted:
 
I look at it another way.
First, I now know that I have a strong engine that should not have any problems for a long time with just a little maintenance.
Second, What would is cost to replace the tractor with something of the same size?
Third, Hey - It's pushing 50 years old.
I had a 3400 and it was a great little tractor for yard work.
 
Oats that have been through the horse cost less. I paid $3500 too much for my $1500 871.

Worse thing you can do now is put cheap parts into a good block and crank. There is a difference
between an engine assembler and an engine rebuilder. I learned the hard way.
 
yeah, that's what got me into this mess. I was going to slap used pistons into re-honed cyls and be up and running for $200 or so.... Of course that would've left me with the same amount of work for a refreshed engine. Like my buddy said, "you never regret doing it right".

Oh well, like I told the wife - this will be my last tractor, it should last another 50 yrs.
 

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