TheSamba.com :: View topic - Is $2400 too much to have an engine rebuilt?

Thu Jul 24, 2008 3:50 pm

This sound crazy to me, but maybe I was expecting allot less. I took my engine(type 4 out of a 1976 westy) in to have it torn down and it came back at $2400. Can't I buy a brand new one for that much. Is there benefit to keeping the original stuff? Is the price right? Should I have went home and put on ratty cloths before I dropped it off? It sounds like the engine needs
everything. Pistons, Cams etc.

Thu Jul 24, 2008 3:56 pm

I paid about that much in 1996 to have extensive work done including a cylinder head and other stuff to the engine. Might be about right. I guess it depends where you go.

Thu Jul 24, 2008 5:10 pm

A complete overhaul can be as much as $4000.00 includes parts/labor. Remember these are not T-1 motors everything about them is different.

Thu Jul 24, 2008 5:13 pm

You'll be lucky if it runs good for that fee!

Did you do the R&R?

If not, just be happy every day it runs...and that gas is only $4.00 a gallon.

peace

Thu Jul 24, 2008 6:46 pm

Why not do it yourself?

If it's already broken, whats the worst that could happen, break it more? And even if you do, considering it paying for at-home automotive classes. ;)

Seriously, that's about right for a rebuilt, I'm planning a diesel-electric conversion when the motor crap out as it'll cost about $1k more.

Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:42 pm

just a long block, $2000.00

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=626037

sounds like you got a deal.

Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:52 pm

I came in just over $2k, but i sourced and provided every part. And yes, i mean every part. Not one bolt, piece of tin, cam, lifter, crank, piston/cyl., head, valve, whatever did not arrive except thru me. I did about everything i could possibly do except put it together. That i trusted to a guy i found that had years of experience w/ VW's and type4 engines. His labor cost was abit over 1/2 of the price above. But that's included in the price.

i took my time (much to his chagrin) and picked his brain, made a nuisance of myself with questions, read everything i could here and elsewhere on what was needed and bought it. Every part passed his inspection first. He was happy with the results and just as happy to be rid of me in the long run. Sort of like here sometimes.

That was one year ago this month (give or take a month of getting it all together, towing the bus over, awaiting parts, etc.). I was in no hurry, and wouldn't accept less than i wanted. Afterall, i controlled the $. He got his end of the bargain up front in a down payment (bit less than 1/2 labor) and payment completed before i drove away.

so, no, that doesn't sound unreasonable. But you should do your homework and know what is going to be made w/ your money. Especially if you plan to maintain it yourself.

dp

Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:17 pm

Sounds CHEAP..... What does "rebuilt" mean to the mechanic?

Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:11 am

Normally, I would do it myself, but the twins are on the way and I am out of time. The shop is very reputable from what I hear and the price really is only including the bottom half. It is another 1100 to rebuild the hearter boxes and injection and the rest of the top half. Thanks for the replies.

Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:00 am

I bought some pretty good used heaterboxes from here for reasonable money ~$150 for the pair.

http://www.interstateusedparts.com/

Other places would be http://www.bustedbus.com/ or http://www.thebusco.com/

I don't know what injection stuff you need, but test what you have to be sure they are out of spec before you buy new stuff.

Sat Jul 26, 2008 12:37 pm

Hard to find anyone around here to rebuild those motors at all. Dunno, that sounds like a good starting point $$ wise.