Quote Originally Posted by hannibal8 View Post
Been over a decade since I messed with rebuilding engines - you have many choices. Used engines around here can be had for under $1000. Older ones are harder to find of course and updating has benefits but also pitfalls of getting everything to bolt up.

There used to be engine rebuilders in most towns, associated with bigger parts stores. Getting your motor rebuilt to stock by them (or use your choice of cam, etc) wasn't expensive and came with a guarantee. they'd hot tank and check for cracks, paint the engine, etc. I found them to be better than (cheaper) crate motors and not as much money.

If you want speed then a crate is often the cheapest way to go, certainly the easiest.

You can rebuild what you have if you want. If you don't have mechanical issues it's not expensive to get a bearing/ring/gasket kit, hone the cylinders. You can do the heads (have them checked!). If you suspect issues then it may be worth having the block checked and decked. If you stay pretty stock (crank, rods, etc) it's gonna be pretty inexpensive and very very satisfying to know you rebuilt your engine. Old motors are easy compared to today's alum/plastic/bolt stretching overhead cam motors.
I wouldn't have a problem rebuilding an engine if I completely understood every little thing on an engine and what tolerances and every thing needed to be to work the way I wanted. Not to mention a shop big enough to do the work and the tools to properly machine the engines. After the minimal work I have put into the engine in this truck and found out its long term problems that existed before I purchased the truck make me want to have an engine built or purchase a turnkey crate. Just to alleviate any problems that I have now with the truck.

Finding out what I have about the engine pretty much solidified rebuilding the truck from the ground up just to make it what I want it to be. I am thinking a whole new chassis from Roadster Shop | Custom Chassis, Performance Hot Rods & Muscle Cars. Its going to have a huge price tag but in the end will make my truck ride like I've always dreamed of it riding.

As far as local shops in AK rebuilding engines are super inflated because of "shipping cost" and from every one I've known that has had their vehicle worked on has been ripped off up here or they leave bolts loose just so the common person will take their vehicle back to get charged another exorbitant large sum of money.