Realistically, What would $3k-3.5k get me on a rebuild?

[87blackroxi]

I live in an apartment and can't really do much for work on my car plus I've never rebuilt one myself. So My question is with my christmas bonus I want to have a shop rebuild my engine and possibly "beef" it up a little. My bonus should be about $3000-3500 so that's for the most part what I will have to work with. Possible more depending on what I spend on christmas.
So I am asking what I can expect to get for that $$$. I was thinking a rebuild and have a cam put in. I will still be driving this as a daily driver a couple days a week switching off with my Saturn (ya, I know a saturn) so I don't want a monster on the road, just something a little meaner with an occasional trip to the track.
I am open for other options but am unsure what that kind of funds can get me. A 383 stroker?
Thanks

 

[tigmaned]

go to a GM dealer and get prices on a new motor, and a 3 year, 36K warrenty too boot. all of them i think start with more horse power then our early C4's 240 range HP. i think 280hp motor is still less then $2000? and thats one choice they sell, and some places sell the same new GM motors for less, check the net and hot rod mags too.

 

[Dave L.]

ZZ4 $$

GM# 24502609 ZZ4 about $3850
GM performance engines come with a 1 year warranty

 

[87blackroxi]

I kind of wanted to stay away from the crate motor due to costs.
GM# 24502609 ZZ4 about $3850 and then i would have to figure in a shop installing it. I wouldn't be able to afford it.
So Back to the rebuild idea. What could be done with $3000-3500 figuring on a shop doing all the work?

 

[Dakota kid]

You could alway do what the Junkie does and leave your parts in the House.

 

[tigmaned]

sorry about the zz4, i was thinking about a 280 HP motor i saw? but there are others GM sells and even a one years warrenty for the performance motor is better then most shops will give. maybe i saw that motor in jeg's web page??

 

[aboatguy]

I think they are trying to tell you to not expect much of a performance increase at a good shop for that kind of money. You might get a quicky rebuild for that price.
Get an estimate for the work and multiply it by two and you may be in the ball park. The "OH BUY the ways" always cause project cost escalation! (I know its oh by the way, but on a corvette OH BUY the way seems more appropriate"
I have been doing all of my own work with the exception of alignments for more than twenty years. Most of the projects on my C4 have been 2K to 2.5K and I have not done my heads or cam yet. I figure that I am going to need about 4K for that project, (1.7K for the head and cam package w/shipping $300 for the auxillary parts times 2 for the oh buy the ways) So if I had 3.5K and had to go to a shop I would wait until I had around 5 to 7K unless something was wrong with my car.

JMO

MIke

 

[Edmond]

Can the girlfriend work more so you can spend more on the car? :L:L:L As you can tell, not only am I not married, I don't even have a GF! :L:L:L

I think that $3500 can get you a lot. My neighbor is a big fan of buying motors with less miles, updating the cam and putting them in. I think the big issue here is that you won't be doing the work yourself so labor takes a huge chunk out of your budget.

I'm thinking that if I get bored this weekend, I'm going to pop the intake, heads and exhaust off my car. Take that work for instance, a mechanic would probably charge $60 an hour to do that. If you did the work yourself, that money would go much further.

I think you could have that motor rebuilt with a bigger cam and still have some left over. Do you have any buddies that could at least help you pull the motor?

 

[gmjunkie]

You could alway do what the Junkie does and leave your parts in the House.

Just because I have a Radial Aircraft engine on my kitchen table. Luke that don't mean I keep all my part's in the house!! otfl junk!!

 

[aboatguy]

Just because I have a Radial Aircraft engine on my kitchen table. Luke that don't mean I keep all my part's in the house!! otfl junk!!

Thats nothing I used to assemble Pan Heads on the wife's dining room table and once I color sanded my tanks in the bath tube. (The tub was a pale red for about a year)


However, I still say that your not getting much done in the way of performance work for 3.5K at a shop. I am going to spend about that just on porting, a cam and the anxillary parts with no labor costs for the removal or install. Shoot it cost me about 2K for headers, highflow cats and some welding to complete my exhaust and I did the header install and cut the old system to save costs.

 

[87blackroxi]

Can the girlfriend work more so you can spend more on the car? :L:L:L As you can tell, not only am I not married, I don't even have a GF! :L:L:L

I think that $3500 can get you a lot. My neighbor is a big fan of buying motors with less miles, updating the cam and putting them in. I think the big issue here is that you won't be doing the work yourself so labor takes a huge chunk out of your budget.

I'm thinking that if I get bored this weekend, I'm going to pop the intake, heads and exhaust off my car. Take that work for instance, a mechanic would probably charge $60 an hour to do that. If you did the work yourself, that money would go much further.

I think you could have that motor rebuilt with a bigger cam and still have some left over. Do you have any buddies that could at least help you pull the motor?

Well,
The woman starts her internship in 1 month so money will be tight for her, unless I make her work the streets on weekends:ugh .
But I have been asking around and nobody has the room or the knowledge to help out. Hint Hint. anyone in Fl that wants a job?

 

[Edmond]

Any chance of picking up a weekend job or a seasonal job? I think that little bit will make a big difference.

PS. I'm not trying to run you into the ground! :L

 

[aboatguy]

You could always talk to the local shops and see what they can do for you. If I had to go to a shop I would wait until I had some more money. Nothing sucks as bad as the mechanic owning your car because you did not have enough cash and he gets a mechanic's lien!

 

[Moonunit 451]

You're gonna need a good, friend or a lot more money. A 383 is out of the question.

How many miles are on your car? There's lots of stuff you could do with the money if you have a reliable foundation, but taking the motor out and increasing the performance substantially isn't one of them. Paying some one else labor is a killer.

 

[Larry's Yellow Rdstr]

87blackroxi,
Get a current Jegs catalog. There are at least three engines/short blocks available that would work within your budget(with a little luck)
1) Chevy 350 with GM warranty -290 HP.....$1629.99
Same long block with carb and intake.....$2210.99
2) Chevy 350 truck engine.........................$1799.99
3) Chevy ZZ4 short block (my choice).........$2039.00

You really need more $$. Prices don't include shipping or installation. I would contact a local small shop and talk with a mechanic about weekend work. He might be willing to do the removal/ install for a flat rate. You would need carefull and detailed planning to coordinate everything and everybody together with ALL the proper parts at the same time. It can be done.

 

[MBDiagMan]

In the case of a rebuild there is NEVER any way to know for sure what will have to be done without first disassembling, inspecting and measuring.

What is wrong with the engine requiring a rebuild?

Have a great day,

 

[JEFNLSA]

What is wrong with the engine requiring a rebuild?

Yeah, if I remember correctly that motor (as is) got you into the low 14's.
Maybe you can add a torque converter and some gears w/ the money.

On a side note, over time you could save up and get a stroker put together or, accumulate the parts you want for your motor and have all the work done (the way you want it) at one time.

In the interim, you can look for a good mechanic in your area who is willing to do all the work you need for a price you can live with.

Just my .02...

Cya,
Jeff

 

[Jack]

I live in an apartment and can't really do much for work on my car plus I've never rebuilt one myself. So My question is with my christmas bonus I want to have a shop rebuild my engine and possibly "beef" it up a little. My bonus should be about $3000-3500 so that's for the most part what I will have to work with. Possible more depending on what I spend on christmas.
So I am asking what I can expect to get for that $$$. I was thinking a rebuild and have a cam put in. I will still be driving this as a daily driver a couple days a week switching off with my Saturn (ya, I know a saturn) so I don't want a monster on the road, just something a little meaner with an occasional trip to the track.
I am open for other options but am unsure what that kind of funds can get me. A 383 stroker?
Thanks

I have an sbc400 (OE 4.125" bore x 3.75" stroke) core motor that I can build for you ... it'll bolt right in. For $2500 outright I can build you a reliable SHORT block with cam that'll work w/ your electronic fuel injection. 400 Crank freshly turned & polished. 400 Block freshly bored & honed. 5.7" rods freshly resized. NEW parts: freeze plugs, pistons, rings, cam, hydraulic flat tappet lifters, rod bolts, rod-main-cam bearings, oil pump, timing chain set.

You reuse your efi-intake manifold, distributor, oil pan & heads ... no need to "port" heads. If your heads are not cracked, your local auto machine shop can rebuild them ("service" them) & install Z28 springs & drill the 400 steam holes ... should be no more than $250/PAIR. You'll need new gaskets for heads, intake & oil pan ... about $75-$110.

This'll make lotsa of torque and 350-375 efi-friendly hp ... & do it reliably. 50% deposit; remainder due upon pick up. You arrange to pick up short block from SC near I-95 & I-20.

EMAIL if serious.
JACK:gap

 

[Hardlight]

You have to pay shipping but Diabolical Dave in Columbia MO has a deal where he will overhaul you Vette engine at cost.

http://www.diabolicalperformance.com/index.html

 

[Greg Gore]

Rebuild or Swap for Performance??

Why not consider a good used LT-1 or LT-4?? The LT-1 is 300 HP and the LT-4 is under rated at 330. If you found a good low mileage LT-1 you might still have enough left over to pay for the swap. You will easily exceed that price trying to rebuild and get equal performance out of your L-98.