The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Rebuild cost of 261 question

So I've been thinking about grabbing a 261 to start working on to replace my 235 down the line. Haven't found much locally so I expanded my search a bit. Found this one on cl and nearly choked when I noticed the $7400.00! Asking price. Would a rebuild come close to this? I'm unaware of the cost so that's why I'm asking. That seems an aweful lot in spite of what's been done but perhaps these engines really do cost this kind of money to redo these days. So anyone that has rebuilt one please chime in.

Www.craigslist.com

You'd do better on Ebay. $2,000-3,000 or so

That one is WAAAAAYYYY overpriced, with a bunch of totally inappropriate accessories for anything but a trailer queen show truck. A good-quality stock rebuild on a 261 will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,000.00/1,500.00 in parts, plus machine work. If you can do some of the assembly and installation yourself, that $7,400.00 price tag will build you one primary engine and a couple of spares, not that you'd ever need another one!
Jerry

Read the guys last name, says a lot.

The gear drive one the carbs is kind of nice looking, but I think like Jerry said"Trailer Queen."
You could easily built one for $2000.00. I think I had about $1,200.00 in mine when I built it 10 yrs. ago. I had all the machine work done and I assembled the engine myself, 6yrs on the road, lots of happy miles and no mechanical problems.

Well that's good to hear! Thought that crazy money and would have put the idea of a 261 out the window if that's what it was gonna take. I'll keep looking then and thanks!

Seems to me mine was just under 2 grand and that's with the machine shop doing it all.

Mine was just a little over 2 grand to rebuild, the engine was $100 to buy.

Yeah that guy is looking for a sucker. I agree with the others, $1500 to $3000 with you doing the rebuild.

Hey Joshm i'm sending you a PM.

I added all the goodies replaced almost everything except the crank and rods on my 235 plus chromed it out. I think with the upgrades and machine work it was around 3,500.00 to 4,000.00.

Here is a couple of place to call and maybe they already have one done.

235 and 261 Engines and Buildable Cores
Brian Johnson
480-788-5374
[email protected]

Patrick’s Antique Cars & Trucks
P.O. Box 10648
Casa Grande, AZ 85130
(520) 836-1117
Fax: (520) 836-1104
www.patricksantiquecars.com

Langdon's Stove Engine Parts
47950 Robin St.
Utica, MI 48317-2461
586-739-9601
Fax: 586-739-9601
www.stoveboltengine.com

I say if you can do it yourself its worth the savings.

For something like a 261 I would not go through a typical Chevy specific vendor. Their prices seem to be WAY out of line. I'd talk to the local shop and have them price a kit, or go through a FLAPs and order what you need.

Plus when you say rebuild, that means different things to different people. I saved a lot on my 235 overhaul by keeping parts that were still in service limits, whereas others may simply replace everything that rotates or reciprocates. For example, my rocker assembly didn't need rebuilt.. I cleaned and inspected. It was still serviceable. But did replace lifter/cam/valve guides and valves.

I was able to keep my entire 235 rebuild to just at $1500 (and that included boring to .020 over).

Check local junk yards, Look at your area farms for old trucks, Since your looking for a back up engine, you have the time to search. You may come up with a low mileage farm truck that you can part out and recoup some money. Good things come to those who wait. Just my 2 cents, Mike.