Ballpark Machine Shops Costs

[Monkeywrench]

Well I've been doing a lot of reading thanks to your guys suggestions of the best books on BB buildups and I'm almost ready to head off ot the machine shop (almost being a very relative term)

So does anyone have some ballpark ideas of what machine shop should charge so I can judge who is giving me a good deal.

What I need done:

I have a block that has supposedly been hot tanked and bored 0.030 over. It has a small amount of surface rust on it so it needs to be checked (for bore size and deck flatness) and needs to be cleaned up again.

I was also going to have them install the cam bearings and freeze plugs.

I do not yet have pistons or rings. Are they going to need them before they check /rebore to check the clearances?

I have a crank that has been stamped 0.010 so I assumed it's been turned too. Would I best off giving them the crank and have them assemble the crank and bearings into the block to check clearances? I have heard align boring is overkill for a street BB.


I have a set of open 118cc chamber, 256/114cc ports heads that already have the valves and springs installed. On the bottom they have a tin bit of scale and surface rust. Can they be cleaned with the values in or do I need to remove them?

After I get back a block with a crank installed I think I can take it from there.

So what do you guys think a ballpark price would be for each step?

Thanks for the info. I'll definitely be back with more questions.

[Paranoid]

Here's what my shop would charge.
Degrease & inspect: $45-$75
Rebore & hone: $16.00/cyl
Install cam bearings: $27.50
Cam Bearings: $25
Install Freeze plugs: $15
Freeze Plugs: $15
Magnaflux block(for cracks): $125


I also had them:
Resurface the block: $125 engine had blown a head gasket.
Align hone mains: $125 --another while I'm at it.
Torque & check mains: $25.00

So I spent about $660 just on the block prep. Then there's the crank, which was ground & polished ($110). But it sounds like you already had that done.

Oh and don't forget the balancing of the rotating assembly($200), pin fitting the pistons($16ea) removing & replacing pistons($6.95ea), reconditioning the rods($14ea). So, (gulp) I have about $1256 in total machine shop charges but everything is new or resurfaced & balanced.

All I need to do now is assemble the engine. I already have two jobs so I can finance this project! You can checkout my rebuild page Here

[Paranoid]

You won't need this right now, but I ran accross this "start-up proceedure" post on another forum...I thought it was good.

BB Startup Proceedure

[JonM]

This is not a Hi-jack...But 1970 Stringray...RatFink? ...Dating yourself...LOL

[Paranoid]

Yeah, I loved those customs by Big Daddy Roth.

[Monkeywrench]

Thanks for the info Len.

I would assume he had it magnafluxed when he had it tanked and bored but you never know. I'll see if I still have his # and find out.

Nice detail on the website. I can tell I'll be coming back to ask you more questions...

BTW I like the Rat Fink avatar too..