engine rebuild costs

[68Tom]

Hi--

I have a '68 442 with the original 400 engine--numbers matching block & carb--that I'm looking to get rebuilt. Maintaining a stock-like output and parts, what should I expect to pay for this?

Now, I'm sure the region I'm in will dictate a slightly higher cost (Northeast--CT, NY, etc), but a ballpark figure would be nice. I was told somewhere between $3500-4500. All the machining will be done in-house at the place that quoted me.

Also, I've been looking at the price of rebuild kits ($1000-1200). How is the quality of parts in these? And if you had a place to recommend, which would you use?

Thanks

[442Harv]

Depending on what you need done, but I live in Nor Cal, just put together a 455 about a year ago, and I had about $2000-2500,for machine work and parts, and I put it together. A 400 will cost more than a 455. Mine was cleaned and checked, bored, and two cylinders sleeved, head job, no new valves or springs, just ground valves, turn crank and balance engine,and decked the block, new cam , pistons bearings oil pump gaskets

[68conv455]

Tom....I feel your pain (from new haven, ct area). I bought a 455 core for rebuild and was shocked at the 3000 - 4000 price range people wanted (top to bottom). I ended up buying a second (good running low milage 455) to drop in as-is for about 1G.
I also respect your desire to keep it numbers matching. I'd do the same. Sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and write the check.

[The_Jeremiah]

I just rebuilt my olds 350, doing all the machine work myself and getting a 10 percent discount on most of my parts, i spent around 1500. I still have a carb to buy, so really, around 1850 or so.

[59-59-59]

This should get you mad - I recently completed a 394 Olds and I got to thinking...for the same price I spent to rebuild this, I COULD OF GOTTEN 3 350 CHEVROLETS DELIVERED BRAND NEW TO MY DOORSTEP WITH A 3 YEAR WARRANTY. And now I am looking for another 394 project - I have problems, or maybe a sickness

[J-(Chicago)]

59-59-59, have you ever gotten parts from egge.com?
I'm thinking about doing my Mercury flathead, and was wondering if their stuff was really nice.

[59-59-59]

Funny that you mention Egge, because I was thinking of ordering some stuff out of their catalog. I got sent a catalog from Egge and to my surprise they dont even have the balls to list prices! I went with a place in Texas called Terrill Machine, which advertizes in Hemmings, WITH their prices listed. The only things I needed were the piston/ring set, timing set and bearing set - practicaly everything else I needed I have NOS. I was very happy with them, and have been a repeat customer. Egge did have a variety of new Edelbrock and Navarro intakes and heads for the flatheads, along with different piston sets with crazy oversizes like +0.080 with varied compression ratios.

[Oldsfan]

I just ordered everything from Terrill for my 394. Should arrive today. I was impressed with them. The fellow I talked to really seemed to know about 394s. He knew about the different compression ratios and cam usage. He knew all of that without me having to prompt him. Friendly, too. I thought about Egge. You know what they say - if you have to ask how much, you can't afford it.

Paul

[68Tom]

Thanks guys. How about the rebuild kit? Are they good? Any better than the other?

[442Harv]

Most kits are just the parts. Not sure what the kit contains, but the Olds are usally not like a Chevy, with block and cranks. What does the kit have you are looking at?