Machine Work $$$ ???

[skids72]

Just got the bill from the machinest and, well, it was considerably more than I had anticipated. What do you think?

Bore/Hone $245
Deck $130
align hone $185
machine/install 2 lifter bushings $185
install/align cam bearings $53
balance rotating assy $180

And other odds and ends like magnaflux, assembling pistons/rods, etc. Grand total was $1238 for the machine work. I was expecting something on the order of ~$600 without the lifter bushings. Am I that out of touch?

-Chris

[Dave Severson]

Seems reasonable to me. Just got a block bailed out last week, bill was about $1,000.00 with no work on the lifter bores.... Nothing is cheap anymore.....

[skids72]

Thanks, Dave, for the sanity check... I guess when you figure the price of gas was $1.50/gal not so long ago....

[Itoldyouso]

It is slightly more than my local guy charges, but he is an oldtime machinist, and maybe has not continued to increase his prices over the years. He charges about $ 20-25 per cylinder to bore, $ 45 for hot tank, $ 125 for line bore, etc.

But I used another shop to do my 394 Olds (had heard good things about this guy) and the tab was about $ 1200 for the operations you mentioned, so you are in line.

Ain't building cars FUN?????????????

Don

[Matt167]

I paid $250 to have 6 cylinders bored, $54 to have 6 pistions and rods switched to new pistions. also decked the block .025. done with Napa.

[HWORRELL]

Sounds about right to me... My guy gets $40 a hole....... Luckily I send him enough business that when I pick up my personal stuff he usually hands me his decals instead of an invoice.

[pat mccarthy]

send the work to me

[skids72]

send the work to me

Wish I had when you offered before... live and learn

-Chris

[C9x]

I'm curious why the "align/hone" was done?

Imo, not necessary in the great majority of cases.

[pat mccarthy]

I'm curious why the "align/hone" was done?

Imo, not necessary in the great majority of cases.

well i bet that if the LINE HONE machine is in there shop they line hone. if you need it or not. you have to pay for them machines some how have to keep the sunnen man happy

[erik erikson]

I'm curious why the "align/hone" was done?

Imo, not necessary in the great majority of cases.

On every single race engine or hi-performance street engine I build it will get a line hone.
Brand new Brodix,Dart,World,etc. need a small amount of line honing.

[kitz]

Now Pat for love of the Irish, no, I am not calling you a liar. For outside diameters such as measuring cranks and pins if you use a calibrated micrometer with a tenths vernier then you can resolve 2 tenths. For inside diameters you will need an ID micrometer (3 lobe type) with a tenths vernier, calibrated using its doughnut standard, and then you can resolve 2 tenths. If you are using a telescoping gage or simple ID mic as most shops do you are not going to routinely and accurately resolve 2 tenths. You could also use a dial bore gage with tenths resolution if you have the appropriate gage to set it up with.

When you align hone you can use your ID mics to verify the diameters but you cannot easily and accurately measure that the centers of each bore in the line are within 2 tenths of each other. As an experienced machinist though you know if it was set-up right it is as good as it can be.

And Pat you are at the top of a very short list for me the next time I need an engine built.

Kitz

[nitrowarrior]

Chris wanna share who it is......I'm not gonna bad mouth.....I know Denver metro and surrounding ares very well and was just curious.

[skids72]

Chris wanna share who it is......I'm not gonna bad mouth.....I know Denver metro and surrounding ares very well and was just curious.

Work was done at Ridge Reamer in Arvada... I understand his prices have been steadily climbing over the past few months...

[nitrowarrior]

Ya mean dem 'chines ain't free......not to mention payroll, quarterlies, workman's comp, over head and on and on. I feel for these guys stuck paying the man. I do believe from what I've seen, some prices for certain jobs are inflated and could have been bundled to give a come back customer a break....oh well......everybody's jumping into the pricing pool.