The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Price of 235 rebuild

I pulled and disassembled my '48 235 motor.
My local machine shop is charging me $1836 for engine kit (all gaskets, new pistons, new cam, new lifters, new bearings, new timing gears, new oil pump) hone/bore cylinders, machine my rods to accept insert bearings, rebuild my head with hardened seats, assemble the bottom end.
It seems very reasonable to me, he has rebuilt a number of these 216/235 babbit motors, and answered every question I had. I am curious what others have spent?

Sounds reasonable to me too.

that sounds right. people typically are selling rebuilt ones anywhere from 2k-2500 bucks. but at least this way, you will know what has been done to your engine and not just what someone says. -DVZ

That sounds to good to be true and is
about 1/2 the cost that most rebuilds run.
A complete short block rebuild usually
runs about $2,000 to $2,500 and a complete
head rebuild $400 to $500 in most parts of
the country.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

That sounds about right for a good price on the parts alone!

extremely reasonable, assuming the work gets done correctly. I had "reasonably" priced work done only to have to get it done again. fortunately I found THE shop all the other shops farm their work out to, it is very close to my house rather than a hour and a half drive away. unfortunately it was after I had spent a considerable sum already... but now I know.

That's almost exactly what I was quoted yesterday for a full rebuild on my 1956 235 motor...

how do they deal with the babbit bearings? Do they put shells in? or do they pour new ones?====dave

looks like he is having the rods machined to accept insert bearings.


Tim

Sounds a bit low to me. I just finished a 1959 235 rebuild and spent $2300 on the long block machining and parts. I did the assembly myself on everything but the head.

That's right at what my 270 ran in '08 for the same assembly 'package'.

Has anyone used a 235 Reman engine? I see them on EBay often for around $1500 for a long block.

I am in Portland OR. 216 (1953 engine by the numbers) - I paid out the door 3500. I had a complete rebuild, The mains were insert and they bored the rods out for inserts. Redid the heads hardened seats etc, machined the manifolds to each other, balanced the flywheel and clutch assembly bored etc.

I spent $2000 and did all work myself except head machining and balancing of flywheel and crankshaft.

yeah --I see--they are using inserts. I could not imagine getting the bearings repoured and scraped by hand for that low price. Probably very few around that can repour and scrape. Good to know about the other option though! I put a 235 rebuilt motor in mine but having the original engine is even better I think as there are no modifications down the line to deal with.

These 2 sites were refereed to me. Both have Babbitt Service & sell kits.
Pauls Rod & Bearing
http://parkville.info/pauls/

Kanter Chevrolet Truck Engine Kits
http://www.kanter.com/p18-chn.html

Good luck.
Harold

I paid around 12-1500.

I just got my 248 back from the shop and mine was in the higher end of this discussion, hard to find parts for this engine and when you can find them, you pay. Thought we had stuff lined up before teardown then would get the "oh those have been discontinued" line. Did get it done though and it's back in the truck awaiating first restart. One funny thing that did show up was the rod bearings were 30 over and came in a celophane package that was obviosly old, date stamped on bearing was 1960 so they had been setting on someones shelf for over 50 years. Anyone wanting to rebuild a 248 might not want to wait too long, parts are getting scarce.

that's what my machinist said when he did my 270 in 08... I figured I'd let the next guy deal with the SBC switch though as I prefer original and rare to the alternative