The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop How long is your rebuild taking?

A bad 235 block and a busy machine shop have dragged my 235 rebuild out since MLK day.

Question for the group:

How long has your rebuild taken?

Chip

This is the way to look at it. How many blocks do you think that machine shop does? Let's say it's one per day. How many days since MLK day? Do you think there were that many people waiting in line or are they screwing with you?

You might just have to take it somewhere else.

When I dropped my engine at the machine shop, he told me it would take a month. That included dis-assembling the entire motor, doing all the machine work and re-assembly including installing the head, the side cover, vibration damper, bell housing, and the oil pan.

One month later he called and said it was done.

I had a shop keep my block and head for four months. So I decided no more Mr Nice Guy, these guys were just jerking me around. I demanded my engine back and paid them for what they had done. Started over with another shop after getting clear with them about my expectations. It was an unfortunate, stressful, and costly experience all around, but I learned that many (not all) machine shops will only respect a customer who gets in their face and demands prompt service. Once they start putting you off and making excuses, don't cut them any slack, demand your work back and take it elsewhere. The longer it goes on, the less important your job is to them, because you let them get away with it once and they figure they have you by the short hairs.

If possible, avoid big shops with a lot of commercial accounts. Your work will sit while these jobs go out the door. You are much better off with a small Mom & Pop operation, where the machinist is also the shop manager and sales department. So at least if he turns out to be a lying swine, he can't point the finger at somebody else.

It can get bad--a guy I know has a 49 Dodge that has been in the shop for six years on an engine rebuild. Recently he got a bill for $7k--I think the shop will get to keep the truck.

I haven't seen my block since takaing it into the machine shop in February....one rod had been replaced so when they tried to balance it--problem. I finally found a source in WA. Guy name Buffalo. Super. Rods balanced. Now find I have a cracked cap.

Would be coming unglued except for the fact that money has been tight for a couple of months.

Mine went to the shop in mid-November. Came back in March, then my mechanic took about two months to give it any priority because I needed it back for an event. Back on the road at the end of May.

Two weeks later we discover no oil to the rocker assembly. So it's back to my mechanic, it needs to come out of the truck and go back to the machine shop.

My opinion is that the shops know that these jobs are hobby related. In other words they're going to put a priority on vehicles that are daily transportation for their customers.

I also believe that the shops don't really like to do this type of work. I have heard every excuse under the sun as to why my vehicle sits while other come in and go out.

I am not in a position to do my own work, so I really have no choice, except to either be patient or find another hobby. If I really get in their face, I think they'll just refuse to do the work. So if I lose my patience I'm really making the decision to abandon the project, which I don't want to do.

The ironic thing is that when my truck was just a stock good ole truck, I drove it enjoyably for ten years. When I decided to soup it up I thought I would get a bunch more enjoyment out of it. Fact is I've lost most of the enjoyment to a bunch of frustration. It was a whole lot more fun when it ran reliably.

Sorry for the long sob story. I suppose in the scheme of things it ain't that big a deal.

The shops just don't assign a high priority to these old engines.

I call the shop this past friday, and this is the conversation.

"Hey Robert, this is Robert. You got to the old chevy motor yet?" (Yes, same name)
"I've got it vatted, but haven't checked it yet. Been working on junk for other people."
"What kind of junk?"
"Mostly heads'n stuff"
"Worse than the stuff I brought you?"
"Not that bad."

What does that tell you? At least he'll work on it. Two local shops didn't want to fool with it.

Short history of a '54 Chevy:
Bought car in 1990. Did a ring job.
Drove until 1996 when #6 piston broke in half.
Louisiana shop rebuilt engine, did a bad job.
Rebuilt it myself 1997, crank failure
Rebuilt it again, ran from 1997 to 2001. Crank failure.

Nov '01: Bring the '54 block to shop 1. They tell me to get a V8.

Call shop 2. They are nasty over the phone, make it obvious they don't want to fool with it.

Dec '01: Bring block to shop 3. They bore the block, install cam brngs and freeze plugs. I get it home and realize that the #1 main cap is cracked. 200 bucks plus parts down drain.

Jan '02: Bring block to shop 4. Says block is shot. Bring him cap from other engine. It won't work. Looks for another block for 3 months.

July '02: Brought him a '60 235 two weeks ago.

But Geoff is right, the fear is that if you press 'em, they'll say to come get your crap.

Chip

I am really sorry to hear all the bad luck people have had and I dont mean to make anyone feel worse, but I have been very pleased with my shop. I took the engine in the middle of May and I will have it back next week. Now they had to do a full rebuild, new valves, valve seals, mill the head, bore the block, new cam, turn the crank, etc, etc, etc, they even stiched the block due to a small crack that had been JB Weld'd by the previous owner and then they found all the parts for me in the mean time. This shop may be out of the ordinary in the fact that they do a great job and without much delay. They came very highly recommended and I am paying for all their experience and quality.

This shop had at least 50 blocks in the place when I dropped my 270 off. They do mostly classic car engine rebuils and quite a bit of speed stuff. Anyway, I thought that 8 - 10 weeks was a long time to take care of this but now I reallize that I am getting a pretty good deal.

The shop is Parts Stop in Bethalto, IL if anyone is interested. Again they are a very knowledgable shop and extremely freindly. I would recommend them to anyone.

Tom

The way I was looking at it is this. How much is a rebuild? $2K maybe? How much would be parts? At least half? That only leaves $1k for labor, so eventhough your block takes 8 weeks to get done, people are only working on it for $1k worth of labor or less. That is what, couple of days?

A $4K rebuilt, 4 days of labor?

I must live in machineship heaven here because the last time I had "the works" done to a block I got it back in about two weeks.

You would think that most shops has several guys doing different things at once and months for a rebuild seems very long to me.

Mine went in with the word that it would be done in two weeks (machining only). The owner got sick, and since I wasn't buying my parts from him (a requirement here) I finally got my block and head back after two months. I quit calling him, and started paying him a visit every week. After he got tired of seeing me (I was kind, but forceful) my block was finished.

When I rebuilt my brothers engine.I had the block bored,all new valves and seats,the heads redone completely,he even balanced it and also had the block sent off to have it allign-bored to make it all trueed up.I had the flywheel resurfaced as well.I had everything back in less than a week.
.
Oh!!! it only cost me $890.00 for all machine work and new valve-seats and stainless valves.
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It pays to research the shop and their work as well as their customer satisfaction.

I have had my motor at the machine shop since April. It is still not ready. I keep gettin excuses. Either the parts have not arrived or they were the wrong parts.

What are you guys taking your engines to a Machine Shop to be rebuilt for? Take the your engine to a Mechanic. He will "Job" out any machine work that needs done and will get it done sooner then you can. Two weeks is tops for an engine rebuild with a reputable mechanic. Most parts I can order and recieve them the next day, special order usually takes three days. I know, I live in the "backwoods" and we are slow but what you guys are saying is insane. The prices you are stating are deplorable also. My wife is rebuilding a Corvette 55 235 for her 55 1st and all of the machine work and parts won't break $1,400, that is with the boring and all new parts. We have to save for the money for the work and parts so it is going to be a while before she starts assembling her engine. Just took her head in to have work done on it and the machinist (I didn't know who to go to in this new area) left out the inner valve springs and took a week to do what he did do, needless to say I won't be using him again, I'll drive an hour and a half to the machinist I have used for centuries- Jon- in Coos Bay, Oregon. Going to a Machinist to have him rebuild your engine is akin to going to a Proctologist for a sore throat. Surely the Proctologist is a Doctor but he is going to get to your throat the long way-LOL. Shucks, Rebuild your engine yourself. there are Bolters on here that I have walked through rebuilding there engine and they did it in less time that what you fellows are talking about. I just did a bunch of work on a friends 67 **** , engine rebuild(which it turned out I didn't even know the year of and had some problems getting the correct parts and even had to make a few), brake job, new steering wheel and adjust and align steering,fabricate a rear bumper to fit on it, replace clutch, and rewiring. this all cost him under $1,800 and I had it done in less than a month and a half. I didn't work on it every day because I had to many other things to do and he didn't need it quickly. I could have had the entire ball-a-wax done in a week and a half or two weeks. Luke came over and helped me on some of the stuff that is easier with two people. So, find a Machinist that you can communicate with and will do the work on time- ask when it will be done, if it is to long a time find another-or tell him you need it in five days. You're not asking somebody to cast the block and head and forge the pistons- so they should perform the services you want. It is your money and you will do what you wish but- get a dollars worth of service for your dollar. After all you are paying them. Remember- It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease-.

Uhhh, I am building the engine myself. All I want is:
Block bored, decked, cam brg & freezeplug install
rotating assy balanced
pistons pressed on rods
new crank gear and pilot bushing installed
polish rear seal area
tap front cap for 3/8 x 16 bolts
head checked out
new cam gear pressed on cam

Does this take 7 months? It does here!

Around here, mechanic is the word used for the shop that screws up late-model cars. I wouldn't dream of bringing a classic to ANY car shop in the state of Mississippi. You find me a good classic car shop in MS and I will pay you 200 dollars cash!!!!!!! :mad: :mad:

It took a local shop over a year to admit that they couldn't fix the tranny in my 1996 Dakota pickup!!! What do y'all think they'd do to an earlier model car?

BWASAAAAAAAAA *screams*

Chip

Hey Chip,
When ever your out and about and yah see a nice old ride catch that guy and ask him. Most owners love to talk about their ride, I do it all the time only met a few [censored]hole$. Ask car clubs in your area. How about a speed way park go down to the pits. 200 bucks nah a few ICE COLD sixes works wonders but they HAVE to be COLD!!! Yep I've been jacked around alot of times too.
Adios, Kip

The local machine shop takes about 2-3 weeks to do full machining, boring,deck milling,crank grinding, size rods,replace valve seats and guides.I buy all the new parts from him and do my own assembly, but I always have the shop press in the cam bearings.(remember, this shop did Rick's engine, the Stovebolt horror). There are a few possibly better shops for serious work but they are more expensive and a 2 month wait. Best time is just after Christmas, not much work for them at that time of year.Like Oly says ,around 1400 bucks for parts and machining.
Makes no sense to take so long, you get paid when you complete it not before.A month ago I sent a vintage BSA cycle head to a well recomended "specialist" in Maryland.I just called to ask for a progress report,he didn't even remember the head then said "OH yes,I'm working on it." Even through the phone I could smell the BS.Maybe he is from Mississippi.