My Engine Overhaul

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Dec 11, 2005 | 12:11 PM

#16

44dwarf

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From: Winchendon MA

Slide hammer works fine your going to trash the old cam any as i doubt the jurnals are any good.
Find out what wiped the bearing don't just replace them.

44

Dec 22, 2005 | 06:52 PM

#17

terrypen

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From: Rainier, OR

Quote:

Originally Posted by nealjpage

Looked at the pictures. Penzoil burner??

Actually it was a recycler mostly... I could almost watch it pour out the bottom as fast as it went in.

Dec 22, 2005 | 07:02 PM

#18

terrypen

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From: Rainier, OR

Quote:

Originally Posted by 44dwarf

Slide hammer works fine your going to trash the old cam any as i doubt the jurnals are any good.
Find out what wiped the bearing don't just replace them.

44

Well, I kind of know what happened... when the little plastic teeth got into the oil pump it seized which twisted the oil pump shaft until the dist. gear broke along with the gears on the cam which forced the cam towards the front. The lifters hit the journals. All in record time too!

Dec 22, 2005 | 07:04 PM

#19

terrypen

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From: Rainier, OR

someone to hot tank in Phx AZ

Anyone know a builder in the SE Valley in the Phoenix Arizona area? I'm out in Queen Creek and have my engine disassembled and am ready to start looking at someone to hot-tank the block and intake and to do the heads.

Any idea how much this costs? It has been many years since I've had this done.

Dec 23, 2005 | 12:08 AM

#20

GregTruck

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From: Ridgeway, Virginia

I did a 390 about 5 years ago and it seems like I had around $500 in the job. I paid someone to hot tank the parts, mike the block, polish the crank, hone the cylinders, and check and replace worn valve guides/surface heads.

WARNING!! Even "professionals" these days must be watched closely for sloppy work. Just by chance I took a peak down the oil gallery that feeds the lifters and I believe the cam. What I found was sludge that blocked off ALL flow of oil. The guy simply did not take the time to use a bore brush and his hot tank to finish the job. Also the rocker shafts were completely sludged as well. They were in his hot tank as well. If I had not caught these issues my engine wouldnt have lasted a week. Hard to believe this was a reputable shop. I could tell the guy had way to many irons in the fire.

Its a shame that small business in America has been forced to focus more on profit through volume and cheap labor as opposed to the good old quality and dependabilty (remember that?) just to stay afloat. Ya dig?

Dec 23, 2005 | 09:06 AM

#21

jd_sylvia

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From: Turlock CA

I just had a 4 cylinder head ground and re-assembled and it cost me about $250. That was a good price for here in the Calif. valley. I don't know if your labor rates are better in AZ but they are terrible here in CA.
Greg I have a couple of FE heads I want to re-work maybe I should ship them to you. Shipping would still be cheaper than CA rates.

jd

Dec 24, 2005 | 12:24 AM

#22

GregTruck

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From: Ridgeway, Virginia

Don't get me wrong. I didn't have the heads re-worked like some people may do. I basically had the man clean them up, surface flattened, check springs, lap the valves, and replace worn valve guides and seals. If it aint broke, don't fix it!

Everything really is cheaper here in what used to be the industrial southeast. Now most of the jobs have disapeared. Gone, vanished. We do speak a lot more Spanish now so at least there is an educational plus. The cost of living is low probably because it HAS to be to keep places from becoming ghost towns. Which has really happened in several places. Thats the news they don't show you on CNN.

You can still buy a small house in the $20K's and today I saw gas for $1.99 gal. Its all proportional though. Most working class (?) folks think $10 hr is doing great. Actually, if I am not mistaken that is below the national poverty level of something like $24K. But hey....

Country Folks Can Survive.......

Dec 24, 2005 | 09:46 AM

#23

jd_sylvia

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From: Turlock CA

WOW Greg There is an amazing cost of living differance. In the town I live in here in CA the starting prices for homes with little to no yard and a small house 1200 SF go for about $325,000.00 They are building a new sub division next to me and those houses are starting at $500,000.00. And I do not live in the rich area. Those homes start in the 7 digit price tag. Gas has come down a bit we can find regular for $2.19 a gallon but that will not last long. I guess it is a Christmas present from the gas companies.
I think the starting rate at any automive shop in the area is about $45.00 per hour that is why I do all of my own work. I asked the local dealership what it would cost me to just have them read engine codes in my 95 and they said $70.00 min. I bought a cable and software on line for about $40.00 and now read my own codes.

I can remember the day when I could get a gallon of gas and a candy bar for a quater.

If that isn't dating myself nothing is.

jd