skibum
Well-Known Member
As a guy who has been involved with at least 10 car engine rebuilds over the course of my life, I sit here reading about $5K+ engine overhauls wondering why the heck they are so expensive.
Once the engine is stripped down to the short block and heads is there any reason why an automotive machine shop couldn't do the necessary work? I assume that the basics are the same, hot tank to clean, shot peen & magnafux the connecting rods, grind, polish, and balance the crankshaft, hone the cylinders, align bore and press in new cam bearings, etc.. Heads generally just need the springs checked, valves lapped (or replaced), new valve guides, and hot tank to clean.
All of the machine work mentioned above usually runs in the ballpark of $300-$400 if you take the heads & short block to them.
The replaceable items inside of the engine like rings, crank bearings, cam bearings, valve guides, gaskets, oil pump, etc. usually run another $200-$300. This assumes that they did not need to bore the cylinders larger due to wear, in which case you need new pistons, or if valves or springs need to be replaced you can add a couple more hundred.
My last 3 engine rebuilds cost about $800 - $1000 in machine work and parts. The 496 Magnum in my boat is basically a GM truck engine. If I ever need a rebuild, I figure that I could do it for about $1300-$1500 once I got it out of the boat.
Has anyone on here ever rebuilt their own boat engine using an automotive machine shop?
Thanks,
Michael
Once the engine is stripped down to the short block and heads is there any reason why an automotive machine shop couldn't do the necessary work? I assume that the basics are the same, hot tank to clean, shot peen & magnafux the connecting rods, grind, polish, and balance the crankshaft, hone the cylinders, align bore and press in new cam bearings, etc.. Heads generally just need the springs checked, valves lapped (or replaced), new valve guides, and hot tank to clean.
All of the machine work mentioned above usually runs in the ballpark of $300-$400 if you take the heads & short block to them.
The replaceable items inside of the engine like rings, crank bearings, cam bearings, valve guides, gaskets, oil pump, etc. usually run another $200-$300. This assumes that they did not need to bore the cylinders larger due to wear, in which case you need new pistons, or if valves or springs need to be replaced you can add a couple more hundred.
My last 3 engine rebuilds cost about $800 - $1000 in machine work and parts. The 496 Magnum in my boat is basically a GM truck engine. If I ever need a rebuild, I figure that I could do it for about $1300-$1500 once I got it out of the boat.
Has anyone on here ever rebuilt their own boat engine using an automotive machine shop?
Thanks,
Michael