Hey guys, I'm hoping those of you who have experience building up an LT1 can help me out here.

My 396 LT1 shortblock was finished today, and the bill was a bit (well, a LOT) more than what I expected and I just wanted to know whether these prices are similar to what any of you payed for.

It's not that I don't trust my mechanic, it's just that, like I said, the final bill really caught me off guard.

Keep in mind, these are in CANADIAN prices. The final price is in both Canadian and US dollars...

Install Billet 4 bolt splayed caps $289
Align bore block $350
Align hone mains $175
Square decks $160
Install cam bearings $51
Bore and hone block D/P $360
ARP main stud kit $83
Clevitte cam bearings $48
Core plug 's $28

Clearancing Block (5 hours) $425
Assemble bottom end (4 hours) $340

-------------------------------------

$2300 Canadian + tax

$1868 USA + tax


Does that seem reasonable to you? Is that similar to what you paid?

I really need to know. I'm starting to get a bit nervous here

I know speed cost's money, but I never knew building up a motor would end up costing so much .... and I'm barely half way there....

 

Never had an LT1 built...

...but considering that my headers cost a grand, my Corsa catback cost $700... that's $1700 for just exhaust bolt-ons. A built block for $100 more???

...I'm not experienced with it, but sounds totally reasonable to me.

 

Sound reasonable to me too. Heck, thats a pretty good deal if you ask me.

 

I paid Almost that exact same amount for my block to get worked. The only difference is that my bill also came with a crank adapter, gasket set, a bolt kit, oil pickup tube, and oil pump.

EDIT: Not to mention quite a bit of work in the heads and some balancing.

 

I find it strange that different forums are giving me different answers.

Some forums I've posted this question in, every person that responded told me I was screwed. On other forums, the typical response is that what I was charged was pretty much spot on.

The only explanation I can come up with is that priceing/ and labour cost for building up a motor vary A LOT from one shop to another.

Still sounds a bit high to me though ...

 

Well I think its fair price labor was included right?

 

Wait, if I'm reading this correctly that was $1,868 to machine and assemble the thing and didn't include the cost of the block, crank, rods, slugs, cam, ect., right?

 

That seems pretty high to me. First thing I would have questioned would be the install on the cam berrings should be included in assembally. And Asembally should not have taken that long, or at least not been that much $$. I think I paid my guy $150 for assembally no matter how long it took. It also kinda looks like he charged you twice for honing/boring the block. Unless this machine shop is all CNC stuff I think you got overcharged. But I am in KC not Canada so I don't know what stuff costs up there.

 

I just re-read your post and that IS alot of money on assembly. You should have asked for a quote before they started the labor.

 

I kinda think you got the shaft. 350 bucks to align bore a block??? I was thinking more like 150..... yet I've never had one done... had em checked before and they all turned out good. I did have a block bored and honed with plate, had it vatted and supposed to have been blasted before the other stuff, and had some heads checked and milled a little and I think I paid 410 for all that. This was a pretty reputable shop that builds lots of engines for offshore generators etc. They even have their own in house type of foundary where they pour cylinder heads. But even then I wasn't very happy with the work that was done, there were rust spots in the block etc.

Josh S.

 

thats a killer deal if it INCLUDED ALL THE PARTS, but i think its a bit on the highside for just machining work/assembly work. did he balance all your rotating assembly?

 

Mine was $2000.00 with the block worked, Eagle stroker kit, and Fel-Pro gaskets.

 

Hell, I've spent that much stroking a Harley Davidson Engine to 93 inches.

Sleep easy.

Bob

 

That does seem kinda high, for example it shouldnt be more than about 250$ to install the rotatating assembly, thats the going price I have seen down here.

 

came with the parts too diddnt it! thats the whole problem with this guy's situation, his DIDDNT.