The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Cost on rebuilding a 216

Stopped by a machine shop today located next to Napa Auto here in Washington. I asked how much they would charge to rebuild my 216 engine. They told me $3500 to completely rebuild it with updated parts to function with today’s gas. Is that a rip off? Seems a bit pricey to me.

Thats about right ,does the price include machining the rods to insert bearings new al. pistons?It should for that price.

Pete

Just had one done this fall here in the Chitown suburbs, that sounds about right. Had it bored, alum pistons, rods machined for inserts, new timing gears, new seats, valves and guides. Should run about $3,000 give or take a few hundred if they're doing all the stuff like Pete mentioned.
Price will vary from reigon to reigon. I'd ask around abit before I made a decision. Contact some of the car clubs in your area and see who they use.
DG
Mornin' Peter.

Good Mourning , Denny

Pete

Grnchev54, Pete and Denny are right on. Shop around before giving anyone your money and be SURE that they write down on the work order what they are to do. A friend of mine had the "good ole boy quote" and when he picked his engine up the bill was $3800. After a few words the price came down some but it would have been nice to have it, and the guarantee, in writing. Anyone that has been in business but not willing to do that... then you should run or you will have some surprises.(just my opinion)



Good morning Pete and Denny

Good Mourning,Alvin

Pete

BUONGIORNO Peter, and a howdy to you Alvin, he's probably sleeping in late Pete, you know how tired out an old timer gets watching the grandkids.
I think our “new guy” bailed on us guys, but just in case he’s still out there, I might add.
On that engine rebuild, something has been bothering me about the "rebuild it with updated parts to function with today’s gas" part of that. The only update that I know of for today’s gas might be installing hard valve seats when they do the head work. This has been discussed quite a few times here and on other sites. Many believe that this is unnecessary unless the engine is going to be subject to quite severe operating conditions or if the seats were badly burned. I tend to agree with that and wouldn’t have the seats replaced unless I had damage to the original seats in the head.
Other than that I can’t think of anything else that would need to be done any differently than it was 50 years ago on an engine rebuild. Even back in the day, if it were re-bored they would have fit alum pistons and chrome rings.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I believe it is how much of the 'guts' is he going to save. A few years back I had a 1955 235 rebuilt for under $1400. I drove it for those years and it got me to OK City and back with 16 mpg.

Maybe, the 216 costs more because of the babbits. And if they are machined.

My friend had his 1940 216 rebuilt at a top shop. When they went to rebore, they ended up with rust holes in the cylinders. They had to sleeve it. I am guessing that your price does not include sleeves.

i had a 1946 216 completely rebuilt a few years ago, machined for insert bearings and etc for 2400.00. the kick in the pants is i ended up putting a 350 in it, so there it sits

Grnchev52. The machine shop I use is in Lakewood (a few miles west of you off the 516). Its Bud Machine on Lakewood Ave. talk to him about a rebuild of a 216. He dose good work. Rob

Unable to edit my post. Its hiwy 512 not 516 Rob

Vouch for Bud's machine shop, have had many engines built by him in the last 40 years. Not only can he build an engine, but he is one heck of a nice guy too.

If you consider the cost to R&R the engine, assuming you're not doing it yourself, you can add another grand or so. I had the front sheetmetal pulled on my '38 and ended up paying more for the rebuild than a new crate motor would have cost. I'm not complaining. I went into the project with my eyes open. I'm just making the point that it's not cheap.

If you consider the cost to R&R the engine, assuming you're not doing it yourself, you can add another grand or so. I had the front sheetmetal pulled on my '38 and ended up paying more for the rebuild than a new crate motor would have cost. I'm not complaining. I went into the project with my eyes open. I'm just making the point that it's not cheap.

I had all the work done by PER in Portland, OR. It came out at 3500.00 including the change to insert beraings, lead free valve system, machining the manifolds. Really happy. knowledgable about the older engines. Had lots of advice on whats not in the new oils you need consider. Oh yeah its a 216.

I can see the 3K number as realistic. My 270 was $2400 for parts and machine work from Schedlers in Fresno in 09. No extra babbit retrofits involved.

I would talk to a couple of machine shops in your. You may be able to save some cash if you do some of the work and/or shop around and supply your own parts. A few of the machine shops I talked to did not mind if I supplied the parts. Some of the installation I will do myself which will save me some cash. I wanted to learn how to do it so I have a friend helping me with the install.