Daniel Jessup (3/15/2011)
Not to belabor the issue of machine shops and my dilemma, but two more shops closer to my residence closed down. One closed down about 1 week ago, literally...I have to keep going further east of where I live...nothing but West Virginia woods and mountain sides west of where I live.
here is an e-mail from another shop located about 30 minutes away from me...
Daniel, Thanks for your inquiry as to our services!. Sorry I took so long to get back to you,
we have been very busy for over a year now. I am going to give the prices you requested and some others I thought you may need as well.
Clean block only [wash] 80.00
clean complete engine 150.00
mag. block 30.00
mag heads 20.00
bore & hone block 250.00
align bore mains 300.00
R & R cam brgs 40.00
R & R exp. plugs 25.00 [ includes oil gallery plugs]
deck the block 150.00
reface lifters - I can get it done OR get you new ones
Valve job 3 angle 250.00 both heads
surface both heads 100.00
You will need hard seats in the exh. valves [ unleaded gas] approx. 125.00
polish crankshaft 40.00
balance rot. assm. 200.00
We can get parts for pretty much anything [ we do a lot of resto. work ] . We would be happy to help you with your project. We don't cut corners or get no-name parts from
who-knows where. We specialize in doing it right!!!. I also understand many people are on a budget so we try to advise you how best to spend your money to get the results you want. We have many satisfied customers [ stock & racing ] and would be glad to add you to the list. You can call or come by M - F 7:30 - 5:00 or Sat. 8:00-12:00. We look forward to serving you soon!!. Thanks again, XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
This is more of a race shop, from what I understand. I do plan to visit their shop on Friday. Can't get over the price differences though. The Carquest shop I have been to before, and had a 312 crank ground their once, plus some light head work on another engine, etc. However, the shop has changed management again, and I have had issues with "staying on top" of things when it comes to Y block relevancy...guess everyone owns chebbies around here.
Maybe staying on top of things is to be expected in the modern era.
A question about align boring the mains - anyone know why there might be such a large difference in pricing between the two shops?
Wow, those are some steep prices! We are lucky with 6 full service shops in the Grants Pass area (pop. 40,000), plus more guys that do head work and similar tasks taking less machinery. It keeps the costs down. Balancing and crank turning is done in Eugene at a big specialty outfit. They charge $110 to turn cranks, $300 for offset ground cranks, $110 for crank balancing and do fine work. They turned a 312 crank to 292 mains for me and saved the oil slinger. That one cost $200.
The Eugene outfit has a guy that makes a weekly circuit, picking up and delivering 1-2 weeks later, at no charge. Eugene is 200 miles away.
Last year I had a shop in Carquest install hardened seats on intake and exhaust of heads, along with new guides, positive valve seals, milling of one head, setting of installed spring height, cleaning and beadblasting of heads. The charge was $100 plus a set of used 312 rods they needed for someone's T-bird.
Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.
