Hey guys, i am new to any engine work, this is my first muscle car. This is the first winter and i had a knock from the main bearings, i decided to pull the engine and replace the bearings. My crank was shot, the main studs were only hand tight and came loose causing the crank to eat pieces of bearings and send them throughout the motor. It turned into more, i took the it in, this is the price break down.
$150. I got the cranked cut -.20 (was -.10 already). w/ rod/main bearings.
$40. My rods are forged to pistons, 2 were .007 off, had them machined and fixed.
$169. custom 1/16 piston rings
$43. cam bearings
$12 main gasket
$40. clean my block, jet wash, remove all grime and metal shavings, oil gulleys.
$500 assembly of the bottom, warranty on any knocks. everything balanced together, plastigaged, pulling and changing cam bearings, piston rings, the cylinder walls needed to be rehoned, and i get a piece of mind. 72 cutlass has hydrolic roller cam and has been retarded due to open 2.73, going to have 3.73 posi and was told when i get it all together bring it back and will work on the timing.

What do you think, The engine is worth the work, a lot of $$$$ in upgrades.

 

Sounds like a good deal to me.

 

That is $954 that you've spent so far on the engine. That is a fair deal. Are you going to install an aftermarket cam or aftermarket parts like a HV oil pump or deep sump oil pan?

 

Fair price for my wallet...

 

x2

 

Price sounds good BUT....
What about the reputation of the machine shop?
Did you check Better Business bureau or local clubs?
Are they familiar with the clearances on Oldsmobile's? (very different than other types)

$$$ is only one component.

 

x3

 

X 4

 

Well I am now in the process of having my 455 done and the prices seem very fair in my opinion.

Some things to think about, I had met with the guy first and I finally got around to dropping the motor off and gave him a down Payment, ( a third of the total)

He has now cleaned the block, decked it, etc basically making sure everything was square straight and true. he is boring it .030 over, new forged pistons. I asked to get the comp ratio to about 9.5

I asked to cross drill the crank ( only needed 1 or 2 holes cross drilled the rest are cross drilled.

I upgraded to H style rods ( eagle or similar) because the price to reconditioned the old rods with new arp bolts etc was more then half the price of the rods.

I also asked for the restrictors.

these things are cheaper to do now then later on..

 

Everything sounds good to me. You shoud plan on about $2200 to $2500 total with headwork, gaskets, oil/filter, plugs, wires, etc...

 

What is the main gasket, and were the rods, or the pistons .007 off? Not sure of what you mean here.
The prices are definitely ballpark here.
You did not list compression ratio, or cam...I am not usually a fan of retarding the cam, even with that gear.
I would not retard the cam, if it were mine.
Jim

 

Are you doing any work to the heads? Might be cheaper now that the engine is in pieces. btw the price sounds fair

 

I installed a cam in a 455 4° advanced even with a 2.56 gear. More grunt is just FUN .

What are the specs on the roller cam? Or are you just talking about roller rocker arms?

 

I agree, if anything advance the cam, don't retard it.

 

Hey, thanks for all the replies. The compression is 11:1 cam is mondello hydrolic roller cam. 2 of my rods were that far off, my main bearings were .007 off as well, .003 is max... My oil pressure would start cold at 60 psi and drop to about 18 psi b/c of the clearance. max is .003, they are all .0015.

The cam was retarted by previous owner. I am going to have the timing redone by him when i get the engine in the car w/ the rear end.