Re: stag-digest V4 #74

[Koehler <koehlerb@domain.elided>]

You can buy a BRAND NEW Chev 350 complete engine less accessories for $1350 from the Chev
dealerships - I did, to replace the engine in my 83 van.

Bruce

Glenn Merrell wrote:

> Hello Larry,
>
>         Tell us what machining work you had done to the 350.  Is is a case where the
> Stag motor was more trashed than the 350?  Did the 350 need new pistons and
> boring?  Did you have the 350 crank reground and polished with a new bearing
> set?  Did you have the heads done?  Did you replace the 350 cam chain and
> gears?  There are certain things that are included on an "engine rebuild", like
> heads/valves/guides/seals, bearings, rings, wrist pins, crank, timing gears and
> chain, seals, gaskets, and the labor operations like cooking out the block and
> heads, boring/honing, milling, grinding/polishing, seating, etc.  Take two V8
> engines, do the same operations to each of them, costs are pretty much equal.
> My Stag V8 complete rebuild cost me less than $2000 ($1947) and this current
> cost included, new piston/ring/pins set, hardened crank, gsasket set, dynamic
> precision balance, bronze valve guides, all machining labor included.  With
> timing chains/gears/guides, water pump rebuild, and carb rebuild, I'll be up to
> about $2500.  But then there are the fancies like tubular SS exhaust that adds
> to my personal preference cost, not necessary for restoration.
>         I paid $49 USD per AE piston with rings and pins (£245 UKP per whole set), less
> than the cost of US motor pistons, from Rimmer Brothers. I bought the parts
> during one of Rimmers many show specials so shipping was free.  Chevy/Olds 350
> pistons are more like $75 each if you buy TRW's or Perfect Circle.  Line boring
> costs the same for a GM block as any other V8.  Most of the machine shops I know
> of list the labor cost by engine size and cylinders, not by manufacturer, unless
> they are power pack heads or hemi's.
>         If you compare apples to apples, the cost of the parts is not  really more than
> a US engine, the labor cost for the same amount and same type of work is usually
> the same, but a conversion requires custom motor mounts and custom exhaust
> connection, modifying alternator connections, custom water hose configurations
> from radiator and heater.
>         If the conversion engine is lighter or heavier, the front suspension needs to
> be custom modified to suit.  Then there is matching up the tranny to the
> driveshaft, customizing the shifter position and shifter bezel.  If the oil sump
> is too large, it needs to be modified, and don't forget transmission mounts.
> Then there is the hood modification to fit the Holly double pumper and air
> filter, unless it is fuel injected, then you need to put jumpers on all the
> computer inputs that are not used.
>         Then there is the issue of matching the instruments to the engine, temperature
> sending units are different, tacho may not read accurately, and the speedo is
> more likely wrong than right.  Many people with conversions just live with some
> of these problems.
>
>         Forgive me, but I just do not see an apple to apple comparison in a conversion
> when you add up all the incidental costs and effort of custom pieces, wiring.
> Maybe I am just blind or really stupid, missing some really basic short cut on
> cost and labor, but I think $2000 for a complete engine rebuild is a good price
> fro all I got.  Somebody has got to step me through the costs, equal for equal,
> and include costs for any custom work they had to do in order to make things fit
> right.  I've been in on several conversions, and there is always some
> modification somewhere to make it fit.
>
> In My humble Opinion, Yours for Speculation...
>
> Regards,
> Glenn  Merrell
> Triumph Stag Register USA VP
>
> "Keep Your Stag Cool, Install a NEW Composite Cowl Today"
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> http://pw1.netcom.com/~gmerrel/stagcowl001.html
>
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>
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