I am trying to decide the most cost effective way to start a 427 (4.125 x4.00) build. Through on of this site's vendors, I have priced a new GM re-sleeved short block. I have also priced the same new GM, fully machined, re-sleeved block and the exact same fully balanced rotating assemble (bearings included) separately through the same company. The short block is $1700. more!! vs buying the block and rotating assembly separately. I dont see where there are any additional parts with the short bock.
I get that there is labor involved, but $1700 worth? The cost of block prep and balancing was also figured into the cost of the individual parts as a separate line item.

I plan to contact the vendor for clarification but I wanted some independent input.

Thanks!

 

Assembly labor, including mockup, teardown, reassembly, etc.

 

Adding bearings, rings and entirely machining, balancing, and assembling my shortblock by the same vendor that is providing the parts would have been $2100 more than what I paid just for the block, crank, rods, and pistons. That labor isn't free.

 

I get all that... but all of the rings, bearings, machining, balancing was included in the price of the rotating assembly and block. Should just be assembly. I just thought $1700 for only assembly seemed way high... but what do I know...

 

FWIW - I was quoted $3,500 for labor & machine work to build a long block from a very reputable builder last year. So $1,500 to $1,700 labor for the short block seems roughly on the mark for an experienced shop with an excellent reputation.

 

OK... Thanks for the replies...

 

I was quoted $2800 to install my heads on a short block that I am having built. I would have needed lifters, and gaskets. This was under the assumption that I would be able to reuse my pushrods.

 

There’s a lot more to this than just bolting stuff together...a whole lot more. Mock-up, setup, checking clearances, cutting rings, cleaning, re-cleaning, final cleaning, etc.
Takes many hours to get bearings right. Takes a few more to get the rings right. Crank gets set in and torqued at least 5 times. And then on top of the huge amount of man hours, there’s the liability of selling the shortblock as an assembly, which means to the top shops that there’s some sort of warranty. If something goes south, they have to tear it all apart and repair/replace what’s hurt, often for free...then do it all over again. Yeah...$1700 is very reasonable.

 

$2800 for just installing the heads? Run from them

 

No it's not if its being done right.

Now if they are doing it in an afternoon with plastigauge....then yeah it's a little high...

 

Skilled labor isn't cheap...cheap labor isn't skilled...