LS1/LS6 rebuild ballpark...

[pajeff02]

That works. Someday I will build up an engine for our car.

[Whamhammer]

I should be getting the first estimate any day now. I am getting somewhat nervous because I looked at new Mustangs and Camaros, and I determined that both have even less back seat and trunk space, than i have now. I hope I don't get priced into oblivion!

[Whamhammer]

I should be getting the first estimate any day now. I am getting somewhat nervous because I looked at new Mustangs and Camaros, and I determined that both have even less back seat and trunk space, than i have now. I hope I don't get priced into oblivion!

So I got my first ballpark. Targeting 400-425 RWHP, not a full rebuild, but working off the idea that the engines bottom end may be fine, around $8,500, centered around a Trick Flow Head and Cam 485 BHP set (list was $3,700.00). They suggest upgrading the LS6 intake that the car has (wasn’t in the price). About 25 hours labor. I am thinking the tuning is included.

If the bearings need replacing or the bore is scuffed up, that is additional. They were saying most peppy LS rebuilds are about 10k.

Any comments? (Yes, I already know... 7 5/8 kaboom!)

I am thinking that the Trick Flow set is a bit pricey. The car has 219k miles, vast majority are highway, with synthetic oil changes every 3-4k miles.

Realistic? Not so?

[SMWS6TA]

damn I'm so glad I built mine myself......

l would confirm that's parts, labor, turning, fluids etc....

Any limited warranty?

[Whamhammer]

damn I'm so glad I built mine myself......

l would confirm that's parts, labor, turning, fluids etc....

Any limited warranty?

I hear you, those are certainly questions I intend to confirm. Orignally, they wanted to push me towards a GM LS3 crate and adapter harness for about 11k. That kind of sticker shocked me, not sure if its the best answer.

I am thinking of seeing what a dedicated machine shop might charge for a rebuild with performance upgrades.

[SMWS6TA]

who you get a quote from?

[Whamhammer]

who you get a quote from?

A local high performance shop, they pretty much do everything. The they do regular car maintenance but specialize with high performance applications and custom built race cars (like ones that aren't based off of road cars).

They have internal machining facilities but I don’t think it has the volume of a dedicated machine shop.

My thought is that while a “rebuild” is labor intensive; would a bottom end rebuild, with a performance head/cam/tune be almost as expensive as buying a LS3 525 GM Crate motor, presuming that the block/crank/sleeves are still workable?

I know the Trick Flow set is a bit pricey, even though it comes with the gasket set, rockers, pushrods is it really giving the performance value that a lower priced head/cam option and supporting galvetrain and gasketing isnt?

[SMWS6TA]

Some other things to ask/consider...


All that is if they don't find anything with the crank and pistons correct?

Who's ordering the parts?

I ask because a shop will always mark up the parts some. Usually 25% and that is after shipping.


Will the shop do the work if you provide the parts like heads, cam, bearings, gaskets kit, etc?

This is an area where you could shave some money in possibly getting a package deal from Tick and TS&P, sometimes Summit.



I think I'll make you cry when I list my parts (Understand this was in 2013-14.

K1 Forged Crank $950
DSS Forged Pistons $400
SCAT Forged Rods $350
ARP 2000 Rod Bolts $180
Polluter Stg3 Cam $380
King Main Bearings $99
243 Used Heads $500
King Rod Bearings $80
LS7 Lifters $100
LS2 Timing Chain $45
Compcams Pushrods $150
Gaskets, ARP bolts and other seals $ 300

LQ4 Block $250 - Hydrolocked, so it worked in my favor


Machine shop costs for bore cyl to 4.005", assemble heads, and blueprint parts (check specs of rods, cam, heads, crank etc) $400.


Now Trick flow heads will add quite a bit to my costs. But at the moment I'm not in a place I can start doing Phase II of my engine build.

[SMWS6TA]

Also forgot a Melling 10296 Oil Pump $130

[Whamhammer]

Some other things to ask/consider...


All that is if they don't find anything with the crank and pistons correct?

Who's ordering the parts?

I ask because a shop will always mark up the parts some. Usually 25% and that is after shipping.


Will the shop do the work if you provide the parts like heads, cam, bearings, gaskets kit, etc?

This is an area where you could shave some money in possibly getting a package deal from Tick and TS&P, sometimes Summit.



I think I'll make you cry when I list my parts (Understand this was in 2013-14.

K1 Forged Crank $950
DSS Forged Pistons $400
SCAT Forged Rods $350
ARP 2000 Rod Bolts $180
Polluter Stg3 Cam $380
King Main Bearings $99
243 Used Heads $500
King Rod Bearings $80
LS7 Lifters $100
LS2 Timing Chain $45
Compcams Pushrods $150
Gaskets, ARP bolts and other seals $ 300

LQ4 Block $250 - Hydrolocked, so it worked in my favor


Machine shop costs for bore cyl to 4.005", assemble heads, and blueprint parts (check specs of rods, cam, heads, crank etc) $400.


Now Trick flow heads will add quite a bit to my costs. But at the moment I'm not in a place I can start doing Phase II of my engine build.

Correct, that is if they find that the crank/bearings and pistons/sleeves are good.

I know in the past that they have wanted to order the parts, I really havent breached that issue with them on this; the price that I put together was a combination of their labor hours against their labor rate and the retail price of the part from the website they linked. I threw an extra couple of hundred dollars to cover incidentals.

My mind is still somewhat blown at the ballpark, and I know that the price wont likely come down.

The engine runs fine (at least in my opinion), I would figure that if there was something that needed a new crank or bore work, I would have some signs of it, with the way the engine would run, am I right?

Back, ten or so years ago, I was in a better position to figure fair and reasonable.

This is the best time for me to get the work done, and they are willing to go step by step with me, first doing the oil leak of all the gaskets and seals, and determining the condition of everything, but 8-ish K is alot for not having it totally rebuilt, even with a 420 RWHP build; at least thats what my sticker shock is telling me.

Im thinking a good set of well machiner 243s might do as well, for about a grand less?

Just feel caught in the headlights.

[SMWS6TA]

it can be overwhelming. IMHO in these times ppl have been raising their prices so they can survive across the board.