Pontiac Grand Prix Forums : Grandprix

Ron Vogel · #1 02-09-2008, 12:27 PM

That's what my wife is alowing me to have to build my motor!

So, that's a new block and heads, all machined.
Fabricated headers, all new bolts and gaskets, new TQ converter.

Thnik it can be done? lol

Trannyman95 · #2 02-09-2008, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by Ron Vogel

That's what my wife is alowing me to have to build my motor!

So, that's a new block and heads, all machined.
Fabricated headers, all new bolts and gaskets, new TQ converter.

Thnik it can be done? lol

No sweat Ron, no sweat! The engine in my cutlass has less $$ than that in the engine and non intercooled ran 12.20s with room left over. I just rebuilt an L67 engine for a friend and all parts and machine work were around $700 with stock pistons and honing the block to clean it up. Now fabricated headers and a converter may throw a wrench into your available funds, but tubing is not that expensive and Im sure you are doing all of this yourself. When you cut out the labor cost of everything then you should be fine.

Ron Vogel · #3 02-09-2008, 01:15 PM

Well, I have $110 into header parts right now. Ordered some things last night. I did 6 combination bends with 1 5/8" tubing, and the flanges themselves for $40. I may make my own merges to save money, but the ball/socket flanges will cost a little, as well as the coating.

I'm looking to offest the cost by selling my coated s&s that are currently on the car. Seemed to make sense to do the headers first, since I have the block and heads to do mock up.

I am having the rotating assembly balanced, the block decked and squared, the heads milled down, new guides and valve job. I need to find a decent shop that's reasonable. I don't want to go to the cheapest place and end up with a 40K mile boat anchor down the road.

If you know a decent machine shop that's reasonable I'm open to suggesstions.

19SE92 · #4 02-09-2008, 01:53 PM

No idea but good luck Ron keep us posted and post lots of pics please.

David99GTP · #5 02-09-2008, 05:27 PM

900 is a good start. My wife let me start with headlights and tires LOL, been down hill ever since. I need a self help group to join now ha ha

19SE92 · #6 02-09-2008, 05:34 PM

Lol

Trannyman95 · #7 02-10-2008, 12:21 AM

Not sure what to tell you on the machine shop Ron, especially over your way. I have one that I use but there are things im not 100% crazy about, though they are very thorough and use a Serdi valve seat/grinding machine which most smaller shops dont have and makes near perfect seats and cuts the exact same on every seat. I used to work at a machine shop and did everything I could there, including balancing as they had a really nice balancer machine and I calibrated it a few times to make sure it was working right as sometimes idiots would get their hands on it and I dont trust anyone around equipment like that, especially when I had to use it for customers race engines and they want what they paid for. Its a tough call and I know where you are coming from on where to go, I feel no matter how nice the equipment is the machine work only is as good as the guy doing the work and its not hard to have something just a hair out of spec and not be told about it. It really amazed me that 4 out of the last 5 cranks i had at the machine shop I now use told me that there were cracks in them! These were all good running engines for the most part and the bearing surfaces were not bad and really only needed a polish job, but I will have them magnafluxed to be 100% on them. They even showed me the cracks as they use dye and a large UV light to detect them. The machine work really does add up quick though but doing all the labor yourself really helps out with the bill.