what did you pay for motor assembly?

NCMystic · Mar 8, 2011

So I've been shopping around with engine builders in NC and the best deal I've found so far is Piedmont Motor sports. They said if i brought in every nut and bolt i wanted put into the car it would be between $3,800-4,500 to put it all together and tune it.

Can i realistically get my motor put together and tuned for less than that at any sort of a reputable shop? i sort of wanted a builder with an in house dyno just in case something let go on the dyno there wouldn't be finger pointing between the builder and the tuner.

What did you guys pay for assembly? they said at above the tune would be around 300-400, seemed reasonable

short rundown on what i am referencing having done:
pulling motor
decking block and heads
cylinders bored and honed
flow through cooling mod on 01 cobra C heads
spark plug extensions
bronze valve guides installed
forged rotating assembly installed
blower, vacuum and intercooler systems installed
all the other little nick nacks that need to be put on for the swap that i don't feel like listing. you get the idea, nothing too crazy here

blown98gt · Mar 12, 2011

i have about $3000 in my motor, 4.6 bored/stroked to 5.0 full asembly, that had to do machine work to get my 8 bolt crank to fit, um had my pi heads ported and a few other things.. i installed my blower myself, but my tune and all cost about 1,500 total, so i am up atleast $4500 with my motor installed and tuned..

white95 · Mar 12, 2011

Well, I paid the machine shop 1600$ to prep by block, balance my rotating assembly and assemble my short block. I'm essentially paying a shop $3,500 for assembling my long block, removing the old engine, putting in the new one, making it run and a tune. (plus a cobra r hood, injectors, roller rockers, and whatever else needed) I said essentially because I'm trading my foxbody for said work and I was selling it for 3,500.

Win · Mar 12, 2011

Dang you guys have it bad around there. Prepping a block around here is no where near that expensive. I'll pull up my numbers on what they said they would charge. It was so much less. It was also from reputable shops with proven track records.

NCMystic · Mar 12, 2011

if you would be willing to disclose the shop name Win i would be willing to take my car out to VA. i can finish collecting the parts i need on a part per week basis but this big build ticket numbers i'm getting back from nc shops are killing me. at least i have a little time to port my blower now :headbang:

white95 · Mar 12, 2011

Win said:
Dang you guys have it bad around there. Prepping a block around here is no where near that expensive. I'll pull up my numbers on what they said they would charge. It was so much less. It was also from reputable shops with proven track records.

Well, I started with a raw 351 SVO block that required lots of machining beyond the normal block prep!!

Win · Mar 13, 2011

I think The Head shop was one of them. Ask jason (vermillion) he has done more searching then me.

duff daddy · Mar 13, 2011

Dont compare engine builders by price, do it on quality and experience.

NCMystic · Mar 13, 2011

it's certainly being factored in duff. that's why I'm not finding a local guy in his back yard garage and comparison shopping between pro builders with in house dynos

white95 · Mar 13, 2011

^good idea

duff daddy · Mar 13, 2011

NC_Mystic said:
it's certainly being factored in duff. that's why I'm not finding a local guy in his back yard garage and comparison shopping between pro builders with in house dynos

If you want the best shortblock assembly and you dont mind paying for it call John T at Modular Performance,tell him Duffy from Misifts sent you and he will let you know whats up. He builds the best modulars out there.

blown98gt · Mar 13, 2011

Modual Depot did most of my work, and i was 100% happy with them. they are a very reputable shop with a lot of great cars running around. They are in Ohio/Kentucky border, and i can't say enough great things

http://www.modulardepot.com/

NCMystic · Mar 13, 2011

i'm mainly looking at getting it build in NC, SC, VA, or TN. i will have to be towed in and don't want to tow all the way to ohio border.

Win · Mar 13, 2011

Duff Daddy said:
Dont compare engine builders by price, do it on quality and experience.

I agree also but the people i am talking about are proven engine builders around here.

venom · Mar 13, 2011

Go by reputation not distance. I made that mistake once and paid for it by having to do it a 2nd time.

NCMystic · Mar 13, 2011

Win said:
Dang you guys have it bad around there. Prepping a block around here is no where near that expensive. I'll pull up my numbers on what they said they would charge. It was so much less. It was also from reputable shops with proven track records.

win, what was the shop name you went to? did they have an in house dyno?

Win · Mar 16, 2011

The dyno shop around here was Dynotuned Performance. The motor builds usually will go with The Head shop. There is also a shop a couple people have used and i personally talked with him about a motor when i first went there. Shop is called Rick's Car Care.

NCMystic · Mar 16, 2011

Thanks Win, i'll be giving them a call

vermilion · Mar 24, 2011

the head shop did the porting on my modular heads. the owner os more of a pushrods guru. he also got my block decked through another shop hes personal friends with. i paid another shop to assemble and that shop is reputable around here. they said everything was top notch. all 3 looked over each's work. i had full confidence. ill do more work with any of those 3 shops for my 66.