Machine Shop Costs, 440 Build

[BSB67]

Comparing to the OP’s quote…..
Add:
Roller cam
Roller lifters
Roller rockers
Pushrods
Recondition heads(with parts suitable for roller cam)
Timing set
Oil pump
Assembly

I agree it doesn’t seem like folks are comparing apples to apples.

 

[LSS&B]

I agree it doesn’t seem like folks are comparing apples to apples.

It's hard to drop 9 grand without a second estimate. I can't do it.
I'll publish what the second shop says, hope by end of coming week.

 

[PRHeads]

Depending on exactly which components were used, and what was done to the heads, that “add on” list easily comprises $5000+ worth of charges.

 

[BSB67]

Sure. But others that seem to have strong opinions that your first estimate is very high, l simply have my doubts without seeing a side by side service/parts comparison with a recent job.

 

[cap67]

WOW!! Had my 383 done: turn crank 10/10 , hone,bore 30. Install cam bearings, freeze plugs, hot tank block.recon rods, add sleeve to 1 cyl. Install piolt bushing crank. Dist shaft bushing. Assemble short block. $ 1,600. Found him from fellow mopar people. He's in his eightys. Doing it for 50+ years. I guess I'm lucky.

 

[cap67]

WOW!! Had my 383 done: turn crank 10/10 , hone,bore 30. Install cam bearings, freeze plugs, hot tank block.recon rods, add sleeve to 1 cyl. Install piolt bushing crank. Dist shaft bushing. Assemble short block. $ 1,600. Found him from fellow mopar people. He's in his eightys. Doing it for 50+ years. I guess I'm lucky.

PS. I did have pistons, push rods intake , carb, dist fuel pump oil pump etc. I did by new cam, lifters, rings, bearings, rod bolts t.c. kit, gasket kit etc. Add $1,000 +
But I did shop around for deal. E bay, swap meets, craigs list etc. Shop around try and few different shops . It's is Very expensive these days for engine work. I guess I got lucky. Also It took him a good 6 months to finish.

 

[Kern Dog]

What shop did you use ?

I've been a customer of this machinist that used to be part owner of a shop in West Sacramento. He often does machine work at the shop but then brings the stuff home to finish it up.
The shop itself looks somewhat unprofessional. If a new customer were to go there to get a feel for the place, I would expect him to be UNimpressed and look elsewhere. I have dealt with the machinist for over 25 years and have never had an issue with any work that he has done. I am doing three LA series engines here right now machined by him...

Send me a PM if you want his contact info.

 

[DeltaV]

Flat tappets have 70% fail rate

Seriously???

 

[super-bee_ski]

I have $8,500 in this:
Awesome engine...Best of everything...Of course, that is the great NHRA Mopar builder Dale Reed....and I am selling this for $9K BEST 440 max wedge out there.

 

[Kern Dog]

I'll admit that the prices that I have paid to my guy are lower than average. He isn't the type of guy that wears a lab coat while working in a sterile UNION environment where everything is spotless, ALL Cal-OSHA rules are strictly enforced, etc. Rick is a professional much like I was when I built houses. He knows his stuff, does a great job but isn't greedy about the rates he charges.

 

[68BabyBlue]

PS. I did have pistons, push rods intake , carb, dist fuel pump oil pump etc. I did by new cam, lifters, rings, bearings, rod bolts t.c. kit, gasket kit etc. Add $1,000 +
But I did shop around for deal. E bay, swap meets, craigs list etc. Shop around try and few different shops . It's is Very expensive these days for engine work. I guess I got lucky. Also It took him a good 6 months to finish.

Not an apples to apples comparison, but shown to illustrate how inflation has impacted the cost of an engine rebuild. During the 1.3 million miles I ran the C15 CAT in my Peterbilt, I had the engine rebuilt three times, by two authorized CAT shops, block milled each time. First one in 2009 was $15,000. Got lucky with a $6000 warranty credit for head removal and two cylinder liners and pistons, blew six months before warranty expiration. Second one in 2014 was $19,500, and the final job in 2019 was $29,500. Freight rates weren't keeping up with the overhaul costs, made the decision to retire in 2022 pretty easy.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

No way I would dump $240+ rod bolts into a set of LY rods. You can buy better rods for not a lot more than that and be made of better material and have zero time on them.

 

[GTXDAN]

Another way to go would be if he had them do everything to the block and assemble the engine the labor would be $1684
He furnished the parts I would use :
440 Source 415 stroker kit and Stealth heads $4100
Listed Comp cam & lifters and Harland Sharp roller rockers $2062
Timing chain listed, cam bearings & gasket set $261
This would be all new internal parts, better heads & rockers for a total of $8107
Around $800 less with a better engine. Probable some shipping costs to add, but still no price for line bore and push rods.

 

[71 Runner]

I know it’s not the exact question that was asked but this is my resent cost. I pulled out my 340/727 and changing to a 440/505/TKX 6spd. All I had was a 71 440 date coded block that had a stock bore. It started out as a complete stock engine in 3 crates and the only thing worth savaging (per the engine shop) was the block. Everything else was new parts. When it was finished, I picked up a running engine.