I can't understand why everyone thinks it's so much more expensive to rebuild a small-displacement Chevy V-8. The parts cost is virtually the same as for a 350. I would venture to guess I can buy every part I need to rehab a 283 within a couple of hours, right here in Nashville, and they won't cost me over $600.00. If you're paying over $2000.00, parts AND labor to get a 283 or a 327 rebuilt, bring along a big jar of vaseline, and hope the mechanic kisses you, too! It's a shame to get screwed and not get kissed!
Jerry
Jerry, there is such a wide range that I've seen in costs to rebuild engines that I've had a 283 that I built for $800, to a 427 big block Chevy that I built for $10,000. Much of it depends on how exactly you are building it. And more than a fair share depends on what your machinist charges you; as I've seen a broad difference there too. If you go to a machine shop that does good work, has a good reputation, but charges a lot for stuff, then yes, it could cost you a couple of grand just for the machine work. But if you find someone that has converted his garage into a machine shop, has low overhead as a result, and does very good work, then you can get the machine work done for under a grand.
It also depends on if you use stock parts or if you're gonna upgrade. For example, $600 for a forged crank, $500 for a set of forged 4340 H-beam connecting rods, and $800 for forged pistons with coatings applied, you're already looking at almost 2 grand just for parts, not including the rebuild kit. And if you're applying nitrous or any kind of forced induction, you better pony-up, if you want that motor to last.
And then you've got heads. A good set of heads could run you anywhere from about $800 if you get an Aussie pair, to $1500 for a nice set of Brodix Track 1's or something comparable.
Then are you gonna do EFI? Because that can run a few grand just for that.
All of a sudden, you're pondering whether a crate motor at 6 or 7 grand would be preferable to the strong little small block that will cost you about the same to build doing it yourself.
Either way, if you want to play, you better be willing to pay.
THAT'S what costs so much to build a small block...
It depends on how you're gonna build it and how much you're willing to spend. It's not a matter of vaseline, it's a matter of the goal of your motor.
