by "My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
Published 04/07/2017 at 15:32
by "My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
Published 04/07/2017 at 15:32
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STARS: 1
Just got a quickie quote from the machine shop. $1,000 just to get the short block done.
And don’t just say to do it myself.
That obviously seems high. There aren’t alot of quality places to go in pittsburgh because it isn’t really a car town. There aren’t any vintage junkyards, no engine specialists, nothing.
Nobody I can rely on for help has done a rebuild this far. I lack most of the tools. Failure on this project would mean I wouldn’t drive it for the next couple of years.
Overall, it just seems to make more sense to scrap the damn thing and drop a nice pontiac motor, at the tune of 6,000 I don’t have.
... I am at a bit of a loss here. Tempted to just sell the car and buy something else.
"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
04/07/2017 at 15:40, STARS: 2
Crate motor?
What’s wrong with yours, and what motor is it? Obviously you can go pretty deep down the rabbit hole, but just a run of the mill 350 crate motor should be able to be had for a grand or maybe a little more.
"sony1492" (sony1492)
04/07/2017 at 15:47, STARS: 0
Chevy big block off eBay?
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
04/07/2017 at 15:48, STARS: 0
I am in existential agony over my olds 403 because it is basically fine, but the bearings most certainly need replacing due to age and a general lack of maintenance. It has to come out to replace oil seals, the freeze plugs, the timing chain, and I got a few other things like a water pump and oil pump. I am also trying to remove the exhaust manifolds and I am breaking studs.I am starting to think I should just screw the bearings and rings and run the thing until it pukes. I would like it to last ~3 years of summer driving. The car is so decrepit I just can’t imagine the rotating assembly is ok.
I would like to keep the 403 for completely misguided reasons.
"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
04/07/2017 at 15:53, STARS: 0
What I would do:
Keep the 403 for originality’s sake, yank it and put it aside for a rainy day in the future when money and time is abundant, or until you’re ready to sell the car as ‘numbers matching’. Assuming its the original 403.
THEN, find the cheapest small block complete from carb to oil pan in the junkyard or on Craigslist and bolt that in so you can drive and enjoy it.
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
04/07/2017 at 15:54, STARS: 0
How much $ can you get for the car as-is? Sounds like a good idea to let it go and stick with something that’s easier on your finances and your sanity.
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
04/07/2017 at 15:55, STARS: 0
This: http://oppositelock.kinja.com/pay-the-machine-shop-and-do-final-assembly-yourself-i-1793008621
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
04/07/2017 at 15:56, STARS: 0
It’s just too expensive.
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
04/07/2017 at 15:58, STARS: 0
I have nowhere to put the 403 if I leave it out, living with my parents currently.
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
04/07/2017 at 16:01, STARS: 0
No idea. It was probably worth more as a running car. Probably 3gs at which point I can’t afford anything better.
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
04/07/2017 at 16:02, STARS: 0
Nowhere to put my old engine. Also problems with my hood, fitment, and the gaping hole left by the shaker.
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
04/07/2017 at 16:03, STARS: 0
Sell the car and buy something else.
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
04/07/2017 at 16:07, STARS: 0
I think I am just going to slap the thing back together and call it a day. If it spins a bearing oh well.
"sony1492" (sony1492)
04/07/2017 at 16:14, STARS: 0
I’d put it back together and sell it ASAP before the motor gives up. You might not be able to get something extraordinary for the money but you could still get something fun or reliable.
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
04/07/2017 at 16:16, STARS: 1
... I am at a bit of a loss here. Tempted to just sell the car and buy something else.
Breathe, dude. Easy with the crazy talk!
Run it as-is unless there’s something obviously wrong with it. Get a good tune on it and make sure it’s got fresh fluids, plugs, cap, rotor, etc. Maybe a quick spray-bomb rebuild if it looks tired.
"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
04/07/2017 at 16:26, STARS: 2
Tell them its a fancy new table...
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
04/07/2017 at 16:30, STARS: 0
I think that is the only solution. If it throws a rod.... Oh well. It was never going to be a correct concourse car anyway.
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
04/07/2017 at 16:33, STARS: 0
You may have mentioned it in the other thread; I know you and I went back and forth about it. But what was the reasoning for bearings? Just mileage/time/engine looks grody and uncared for?
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
04/07/2017 at 16:52, STARS: 2
$1000 sounds right for disassembly, machining and re-assembly. But don’t sell it. What is it costing you to keep it around? Nothing right? So unless there is something else you’ve got to have, park it and save.
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
04/07/2017 at 17:56, STARS: 0
You do have a daily driver, I hope!
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
04/07/2017 at 18:23, STARS: 0
Yea. this was supposed to be the “fun” car.
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
04/07/2017 at 18:25, STARS: 0
Yeah. You know what they say when you assume though. I was just hoping for something closer to 500$ so I could justify the price. I really, really don’t want to do it myself. An engine swap would be nice but it is just to prohibitive and comes with the same problems.
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
04/07/2017 at 19:31, STARS: 0
It might surprise you.
How does everything sit right now? Anything off the engine?
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
04/07/2017 at 21:01, STARS: 0
I am getting ready for the pull, everything is still attached except the motor mount bolts are out, as well as the wheel wells. Still need to buy a timing chain and a few things for the transmission.
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
04/10/2017 at 08:10, STARS: 0
Keep looking for replacement. You can put it on a stand and slowly go through it and have it ready if it does spin a bearing.
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
04/10/2017 at 18:13, STARS: 0
Would you be able to do the disassembly and assembly yourself and just have the shop check and resurface?
But for $1k they are rebuilding the whole bottom end right?
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
04/10/2017 at 18:22, STARS: 1
I’m thinking problems with matching everything back where it is supposed to go with the machine shop throwing everything around, missing tools like a dial bore gauge, piston ring compressor ect. I don’t feel comfortable doing it myself given my situation.
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
04/10/2017 at 18:33, STARS: 0
Fair enough there. I know that feeling.
Shit, I mean $1000 for a whole bottom end doesn’t sound too bad. What does that include?
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
04/10/2017 at 18:40, STARS: 0
Disassembly, cylinder home, all bearings, reassembly. I would be doing heads and accessories myself.
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
04/10/2017 at 18:41, STARS: 0
So wouldn’t include any rods, pistons, rings, or crank if necessary?
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
04/10/2017 at 18:51, STARS: 1
Rings yes. No replacement parts were mentioned, and I told him I was on a budget.
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
04/10/2017 at 19:03, STARS: 0
Ah ok. Seems like a little much tbh, but I suppose it is what it is.
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
04/11/2017 at 11:14, STARS: 1
I wouldn’t really worry about it it if it’s just because of time.