Machine Shop Costs, 440 Build

[PRHeads]

You do realize the heads are sold individually, right?

$967.50 x 2 = $1935

 

[WS23U1]

Almost 9grand ??
That’s Cheep……
You’ll Figure it out sooner or later …..
Speed & Horsepower Cost $$$$$$$!
And
Yes the more work YOU do the less it will
Cost …
I spent over 6 grand in the early 70’s at American Racing Engines in Elmhurst IL on
A 426 Hemi Build !
Mopar2ya!!
John

In the winter of 74 had my Hemi done. $1,200.00 Total parts, machine work and labor. And this included all new valves as mine were worn. At 6 grand I hope they gave you a bottle and a hooker. ps not headers.

 

[Kern Dog]

In the winter of 74 had my Hemi done. $1,200.00

The Winter of 1974.
F I F T Y one years ago.
I hope for your sake you understand that prices have risen a bit since then, right ?

 

[dadsbee]

The Winter of 1974.
F I F T Y one years ago.
I hope for your sake you understand that prices have risen a bit since then, right ?

LOL, I had the 383 that is still in my Bee done in 1978/79 for $300. Was a lot of coin for a kid making $1.95/hr at the time. Picking up my 4 cylinder aircraft engine on Wednesday, over 45 grand cdn for the overhaul.

 

[Some Car Guy]

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.

Wow that makes the 10k I paid in 2006 for a 3406e rebuild at the Cat house look like a trip through McDonald’s!

 

[GTXDAN]

LOL, I had the 383 that is still in my Bee done in 1978/79 for $300. Was a lot of coin for a kid making $1.95/hr at the time. Picking up my 4 cylinder aircraft engine on Wednesday, over 45 grand cdn for the overhaul.

Same here. My dad and I overhauled the 318 poly in my 65 Coronet for around $250 in 73.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Wow that makes the 10k I paid in 2006 for a 3406e rebuild at the Cat house look like a trip through McDonald’s!

Your not touching that nowadays. I dropped over 30k in a ISX last year. Cummins used to be cheap, apparently they moved up to Cat territory.
You can have mid 20k in a old N series.
Cats are getting so old now there is no way your getting your core money back.
I miss the weekend rebuilds on a N series and never miss a load.

 

[Some Car Guy]

Your not touching that nowadays. I dropped over 30k in a ISX last year. Cummins used to be cheap, apparently they moved up to Cat territory.
You can have mid 20k in a old N series.
Cats are getting so old now there is no way your getting your core money back.
I miss the weekend rebuilds on a N series and never miss a load.

wtf the n14 I had was a bread and butter deal like a 350 Chebby!

 

[WS23U1]

The Winter of 1974.
F I F T Y one years ago.
I hope for your sake you understand that prices have risen a bit since then, right ?

I was referring to the post about spending 6k in the early 70's on a rebuild. I know costs are up when they wanted my first born for a dozen of eggs.

 

[LSS&B]

Update:
Yesterday 2025-04-14, I picked up the engine from Ballos and dropped it off at Lewis Robertson's machine shop in Charles City VA. Expect 2nd estimate in 2 weeks.

 

[71 Runner]

You do realize the heads are sold individually, right?

$967.50 x 2 = $1935

When I picked up the engine they gave me the old parts back. The complete valve train components were in the crate, including rocker tubes and rockers. When we discussed the build and he talked me into not using the original heads. He said he had a set of new heads from a project during Covid that the guy lost his job and couldn’t pay his shop bill. The guy gave him the engine as payment. If I wanted to, he would throw in the new set of complete heads with roller rockers at his cost. He took me into the shop to look them over and they had never been bolted on so it was an easy choice.