Why does a 308 engine rebuild cost so much?

I had a friend that pulled his chevy 350 and took it to a local machine shop for rebuild (complete long block). I think it was only about $1k-$2k.

Now Ive heard prices on a 308 rebuild and I think they are around $20k. This seems pretty high to me. What is the reason for this? I understand that parts are probably quite a bit more than a chevy 350. Plus sleeves are needed for the 308. But I would not expect 10x the price. Is it just that there are only a few qualified rebuilders in the country?

thanks,
Aaron

 

Let it begin .....

 

Apples and oranges.

The machine shop is set up for small-block Chevys and has all the special tools and experience to get it done quickly. A Ferrari engine will require different tools and setups to do it right. It will take longer and will cost a lot more. A lot of shops either won't do it or it goes in the back room until they "have time".

Chevy parts (including a practically unlimited aftermarket) are available everywhere at competitive prices.

OEM Ferrari parts are available from few sources. The price is the price. Very limited aftermarket, still expensive.

 

Fortunately, many modern US engines now have multi overhead cam set ups, so more shops are gearing up to properly machine heads etc. That will reduce the price some, however the F'tax on parts will remain. You might better compare pricing with say an Audi/BMW/MEB....

 

+1

 

Simple answer in one word.

Parts.

 

Hey, not to be too off-topic here but when are you pulling your motor? It's about due isn't it? Join the club, it's fun

 

Yup, what Birdman said. Parts. I've just been through a complete QV rebuild (which cost quite a bit more than $20K), and parts are far and away the price driver.

 

Hmm...

pistons - $1500
sleeves - $1500 ???
valves - $30 x 32 = $1000 ???
bearings - $1000 ???

These seem like over estimates to me. What other high dollar parts are there? This adds up to $5k, so lets through in misc budget of $3k more for parts. That leaves $12k for labor.

At $100 an hour that makes 120 hours to tear down and rebuild. Does it take that long to do? Perhaps I am under estimating cost of parts still?

thanks,
Aaron

 

Sorry Birdman . . . had to go there.

 

It is what it is.

 

It's not parts when you "know" a certain "something" ... so who wants to know the biggest secret in the Ferrari motor rebuilding industry?


Cheers

 

You're absolutely right!!! Do the homework. For instance, complete set of rings cost me $200. It goes from there.... As has been revealed on Fchat, once you get the "Ferrari" off the box, the prices drop like a rock.

 

absolutely ... but that doesn't account for all of it ... there are other stratospheric savings to be had .



cheers

 

You have to compare apples to apples. What some people call an engine rebuild is just the engine block and heads. When you do one of these, you almost always end up replacing clutches, water pumps, carb rebuilds or new fuel injectors, spark plug wires, distributor caps, oil pumps, hoses, sensors, and a bunch of other stuff. Once you start digging, you'll find all kinds of stuff that doesn't make sense to put back in with the engine out.

I'm pretty sure the guy talking about a rebuild on a long block Chevy at 1 grand isn't talking about everything listed above.

Also, the specific damage to the engine may require more work. If a crank is damaged from a spun bearing or the motor threw a rod or it dropped a valve and broke the stem, it's a lot more serious than a broken oil ring.

So, be careful of prices you've heard tossed out. You have to make sure you look at the what was done and not just call it "an engine rebuild".

That being said, machining and labor are not nearly as much as parts. And yes, you can use some aftermarket parts but you'd be shocked how many owners actually want the parts out of yellow boxes -- and will pay for the difference. Call them nuts if you want but it's their baby and they will do what they want to make it all better.

 

If you DIY, spend $5K for everything...


...to get a shop to do it, give your first-born...


...if you don't have a kid, put a small-block FORD crate motor in it (FERRARI...POWERED BY FORD)

 

I believe there was one gentleman on this board that discovered after some searching that a set of rings from some Toyota worked for these engines...ViperDriver?

 

Uh I can't believe nobody else has put their hand up to say.....I do....I do....I wanna know!!!

 

Here are my real numbers-

pistons - $1600
sleeves - $3200 (good luck finding the Nikasil sleeves, it wasn't easy)
valves/guides - $3600
bearings - $1100 (just main/rod bearings. I've got another $1500 in other various bearings)

So just on those items we're at $8400, and that's only a small section of the parts list.

That's about right.

 

sell as a parts car or for racing ...if you dont want all the headaches
a friend just spend $18,000 for removing & rebuilding the gear box & head job (valves) job
on a 1984 euro 308 (timing belt broke)

 

Throw in valve guides, a complete gasket and seal kit....and all the other "while you're in there" parts and the parts alone will be ar least $15K. Engine rebuild labor, plus the time to pull and re-install will be at least 120 hours. Figure $5K minimum for quality machine work (QV valve guides typically have to be machined out, if you have any interest in saving the heads) ...and then guess just how many surprises you'll find in the motor. $30K if you're lucky on a QV, $35K with a few surprises...and with major issues, $40K+ becomes a quick reality. Studs, hardware and stripped holes further drive the price upwards...Then lets talk about the sheer time it takes to get 30 years of caked on oil, grease and grime off of the aluminum. If you're willing to invest then time money and trust to have someone rebuild your engine, do you really want it to look like a turd?

When it's all said and done, you end up with this. (And a whole lot of cosmetic work was done by the owner!)
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care to share?

 

OK,
I am using Hundai Rings on my JE pistons.
Cost that same as Toyota, cost the same as Crower.

So I save $ 40.00

JE Pistons & Hundai Rings = 1900
NASCAR CroMoly Sleeves = 1200
Bearings = 800
New Custom steel flywheel = 1000
Gasket kit = 1000
Head Gaskets = 400
Injectors = 100
Aluminum Front Pulley = 550
Aluminum Cam Cogs = 1100
Port and match intakes (removal required, rusted on tight.) = 1500
Balance and Blueprint Labor (Long Block) = 5000
Misc. = 1000

Total = $ 15,550.00 .........!!!!!!!!!

Yep, buy the motor, get the whole Car for free..
( and, in my case,, I get California ARB "Grey Market Car," paperwork. rare)

see
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=154964

Edwardo

 

you can get about $20-25,000 for this euro as is. dump it immediately not worth fixing
or part it out then get something with the extra cash you were going to spend to fix it
& buy another ferrari with no issues,put it up for sale & see what it will bring @ first
then you would know for sure what you will need to do......dump this ferrari dump it

 

sweet - thats the best looking $30,ooo 308 ive seen on here for sale - i will offer 31k

you have the books ?