The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop How much to rebuild 216?

Ive got a fully restored '53 3100 that needs a complete engine rebuild. Can anyone give me a rough, ballpark estimate of what this is going to cost?

Thanks

ps. We didnt go through the motor when we restored the truck. We have never gotten it to run correct, even after 4 or 5 mechanics tinkered with it. My solution: a complete rebuild of the engine and tranny to ensure that it will last for another 20 years

Roughly three thousand for complete rebuild, i.e., short block and complete head work.
DG

The cylinder head is new and completely rebuilt. Im just curious as to what a mechanic would charge to pull the motor, reubild the block (and inspect the head for cracks) and drop the motor back in.
I figure the tranny wont cost much to re-build since its only the size of a football and not as complex as the engine

It all depends on what is good and what is bad. You need to take the engine apart to determine that. The head and block will need magnifluxed. one of those may be cracked and causing a vacuum leak and that may be the problem. Your camshaft, lifters, and pushrods may need replaced. If I were doing this for a completely restored truck, I'd replace as much as possible within my budget. If all you have to do is take it apart, clean everything, and put it back together with new bearings, gaskets,the cost of having the block and head magnefluxed and cleaned, new valves, and crank turned, then you might be looking at $2000. If you are taking it apart and putting it back together. Then you can start adding costs of things needing replaced, and the cost of labor if you are paying someone.

I don't have an engine puller or enough garage space to do it, so I'll need a mechanic. I've found one close to my house that is good with antique motors and he assured me that he knows old 6's well and can do anything in his shop that it will need.

Is it the original engine? If it is and that is important to you the $3000 estimate is what you would pay around here. If it is not what about a good running replacement 216? It is not unusual to find a good running one here for less than $500 and that is complete often with a transmission.

you can rent engine hoists from most autoparts stores.

Another thing that probably will need doing is the rod work. Usually the babbitt will be worn and the most common method for repair is to machine the rods to take insert bearings.

.... and the rocker arm assembly and and and and....and so it goes. A friend of mine recently(this past summer) had a machine shop rebuild his 235. LOTS of new stuff. The total bill was just short of $3000.
It just depends on exactly what it needs and just how much machine work. Do it once and do it right or do as someone suggested and buy you a nice running engine and pay someone 3-400 to change them and get it running. Then just go pick it up and drive it home!!

Yep its the original engine and the trucks only got 77,xxx on it. Thats not really that important, we just want to drive our shiny old truck!
I figure I could get te 216 redone and reinstalled for 3 grand. It runs well -sometimes-, gets full compression, and has a brand new cylinder head on it. We just cannot figure out what makes it run funny sometimes (runs rich, spits and sputters)
Weve had 3 carbs, 3 fuel pumps, 2 distributors, new fuel lines, advance, 2 cylinder heads, im sure there's more too, and its just not right.

my guess is the carbs you have had are junk. unless the compression is crap, which you claim is good, the only two other things you need for the engine to run is spark and fuel. I assume that since you state the engine runs rich, then sputters, spark is ok, that leaves fuel being the issue.

Scott

My guess would be a vacuum leak. Replace the intake gasket, and use silicoln

Fuel tank was cleaned and sealed when we restored the truck. We cleaned the fuel lines, put on a little filter which is clean, and tuned up the rebuilt carb we got from Jim Carter. I suppose it could be vaccum leak.
I'm just ready to get this darn truck fixed; its way too nice and too much fun to drive to just let it sit in the garage.

i think you just need to tune on it.
spray carb cleaner at all of the usual vac leak spots this will help you find any leaks.
once you have no leaks look up stovebolt engine company .com. get you a holly webber
carb kit and an hei dizzy and you will be loving life. and you can keep all of the old parts in case some later owner likes a rough running truck.