I was planning on getting a new engine installed in my 68 f100 360cid. I called one place near me... They gave me an estimate for 2,300 for a new engine and install. I was wondering If i should just get mine rebuilt. What are the price comparisons. I would get a shop to do it for me. What do they do exactly when they rebuild a engine like mine. How much would it run for a shop to rebuild my engine. My engine now has a 2bbl carb with headers and 190,000 miles on it. Please help me make a decision, im only 17 and i want to make the right choice. You guys are pretyy much my only source for info on what to do, cus i dont know if these shops are ripping me off.

Thanks.

 

Do you or have you considered letting a High School with an Automotives program Re-Build and engine for you?

When I went to school I rebuilt 4-5 engine in each year.
P.S. I only spent 3 years in High school before I graduated*
I had to get this in before the Flames got going.

Dennis

Oh....Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving Up MY Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"






78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 14-Jan-02 AT 09:26 PM (EST)]We really have nothing like that. Could u help me out with the first post. I really need everyones help and opinion. I dont want to regret doing one of the other or waste a bunch of money.

 

Basically,The cost effectiveness is depended on:

Who does the re-build.(professional)
Warranty
Quality of parts used for the re-build.
Downtime taken/loss of use to re-build
Is the engine you now own ,Re-buildable
Giving up your engine core.

A Crate engine has been done from factory with good warranty.
More expensive though.
Long Block obviously more expensive than a short Block to purchase.

These are just a few things to think about.

That's a shame you don't have a high school with an auto shop in your area.

Dennis

Oh....Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving Up MY Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"






78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 14-Jan-02 AT 09:52 PM (EST)]Jasper Engines & Trans. ever heard of them? its another local place so i'm not sure, but they have a good size factory, engines are good as new for about 1000 bucks stock, they also have a preformance dept. that will let you put anything on it you want just tell them. but i'm sure it doesnt come without a price . i also think that they will ship out anywhere. My mom bought a C*evy V-6 and has 255 grand on it, still kickin, i thought it was pretty impressive for a C*evy. anyways just thought i'd let u know.


Note: saw millions post and forgot to add in, they also will buy your old engine back but i think that the price is based on demand for the engine.

 

Yea, i have heard of jasper. I live in virginia beach. I have a friend that put a jasper in his cutlass a while back.

 

That "new" engine they gave you a quote for, is not new. It is rebuilt. If you trust these guys, and know you are getting a good motor that you will get lots of miles from, go for it. Parts houses sell rebuilt motors too(Not a good idea)
Another route is a used motor. These can be had for next to nothing, or waay overpriced. The average cost of a used motor where I live is about $350. Either way you decide to go there are risks involved(for instance, you dont know what's in the motor or how it was put together-new or used) There are other risks if you rebuild it yourself too(if you put something in the wrong way, torque a bolt wrong....)
If your motor still runs okay right now (no smoking, rod knocks etc.)then just drive it. Who cares if it won't do a smokey burnout to impress all of your friends. Chances are that if it still will, you will break something not broken yet. Drive it till it dies. If the truck just runs funny, try to fix what is wrong with it. Maybe all it needs is the carb rebuilt, or a valve job, who knows. Might be a simple problem like a bad vacuum line, or the timing is off.

Rebuilding a motor can cost a just a little if you do the BARE minimum, and take lots of shortcuts(like closing your eyes, hitting it with a pressure washer, throwing bearings and rings at it, a tube of RTV and boom, done). You can get cheap gaskets, bearings and rings for around $120 if you do your shopping If you do decide to do it the right(er) way, Kits start around $200, all the way to the $900+ range. Look for the PAW ad in car craft or hot rod magazine(the 2 page yellow ad). Their kit prices are competivley priced. Depending on what is no good in the motor, you can buy kits that suit your needs. It is cheaper sometimes to get a new parts in a kit, than it is to have your old stuff reconditioned. These prices do not include the machining that will be required either (decking the block, re-con the rods, boreing it over, valve job etc etc.) This will start at about $800. if you do decide to get another motor instead of rebuilding yours, do yourself a favor and get a 390 (bigger stroke, more cubes).

What a machine shop will do all depends on what you want, and how much you want to spend. I wouldnt be suprised if they quoted you anything less than $2000 for them to hand you all of the parts ready for you to assemble. Anyhoo, hope this helps

Tony

'74 F250, 460 "beater"
'73 F250, 360 "Midnight auto"
'77 F250, 4x4, 351M, "flamer" (awaiting L&L headers for 460 swap)

 

My engine has a blow by really bad. It smokes a lot out of the engine...tried to fix it.. needs a rebuild. Yea i have that add for PAW but the add i have is in Petersons 4x4 offroad magazine. I was gunna order some valve covers from them cus there prices are so low, but someone said there crappy on FTE. I see all there rebuild kits on there page, your right about 250$ to a 1,000. HOw do these PAW prices for rebuild kits compare to others. What other rebuild kits are there, like brands, where can i find other sites or magazines that sell a rebuild kit for my 360.

Thanks for your hlep

 

CRJ,
Look for the name brands you can trust.
1. Federal Mogul
2. Perfect Circle
3. FelPro
If you buy a rebuild kit then you'll have to find a good machine shop. This is the toughest part. Ask your friends, ask your neighbors, ask your neighbors friends or just ask a hot rodder. Go to your local track and ask ten people. Take the most common answer or watch for who wins the race and ask them.
You've got alot to learn and you should expect to spend a bit more due to the fact its your first motor and you will make mistakes.
Good Luck, Have Fun,
Kingfisher

 

I'm in a completely different part of the country, but went through the same questions as you about six years ago. A friend and I pulled the engine (360) and trans (C6) out of my 74 F100, took them apart, and I had two local companies do the rebuilds. Dyn-A-Tech did the engine (block was cracked outside, so I had them find another block, was only $100 extra), and I had it built as a 390 (crank being the only difference). Aside from a minor exhaust manifold leak (typical of the class), that engine will pull me up a verticle wall. Well done for under $1000 total. Trans was $450 with new everything, including TC, and a mild shift kit from Aamco. This truck is my daily driver, and I trust it implicitly. I'm starting on a new truck project, and plan on using the same companies for the rebuilds on this one. Ford crate engines run about $2200 here, and that the only comparison I've made. Heard too many horror stories about long blocks from parts stores.

My advice, for what it's worth, look around locally. Ask anyone who might have had a new engine. Ask at the parts store if they know a local engine builder. The place I used mainly does race engines, and has a stable of cars they have built and race with excellent results.

Good luck on your project.

Matt

 

so u got your engine rebuilt and trannmission rebuilt for under a 1,000? If so i think thats a great deal.

 

Actually, engine was just under $1000, trans was just under $500. Being in college at the time, I thought it was a good bargin, even if it only lasted 5 years. Still going strong, even with embarassingly admitted mediocre maintainance practices. If you have the patience to look and ask, you can probably find a similar bargin.

Mah

 

>My engine has a blow by really bad. It smokes a lot out of
>the engine...tried to fix it.. needs a rebuild. Yea i have
>that add for PAW but the add i have is in Petersons 4x4
>offroad magazine. I was gunna order some valve covers from
>them cus there prices are so low, but someone said there
>crappy on FTE. I see all there rebuild kits on there page,
>your right about 250$ to a 1,000. HOw do these PAW prices
>for rebuild kits compare to others. What other rebuild kits
>are there, like brands, where can i find other sites or
>magazines that sell a rebuild kit for my 360.
>
>Thanks for your hlep


PAW prices are very competitive. When I ordered my pistons, rings, bearings for my mustang rebuild I found a cheaper price on the pistons through summit, but they beat that price when I told them. Check you local machine shop and see what they have laying around. Alot of people drop off engines for work then never are heard from again. My brother got a 390 w/c-6 fresh rebuilt, with a 280 cam, forged pistons from a machine shop for 300. We were looking into getting his Inline 6 rebuilt for his 67 stang at the time. Needless to say this was a better route. That car was an absolute monster when we were finished.
If you go w/ a completed engine already stick with the better companies, Jasper, Grooms, Recon (ok, they do most of the auto parts stores motors i.e. the zone, advanced auto.) And if you aren't doing the install go to a recommend shop that deals with them. That way if you have any warranty issues they are easier to take care of.


Chris

79 F-150 Lariat: Long-bed, 2wd, 460 (intake, headers, cam, early heads), C-6 (shift kit)
79 Mustang: 460 swap under way, balanced rotating assembly, forged pistons, truck rods, c-8 heads ported, Lunati solid lifter cam, more stuff...
98 Chevy Silverado ext. cab 4x4 (work truck)
95 Lexus SC300 (wife's baby)