I've got an '89 L98 Formula, and the engine in it's getting old real quick, but I guess 135,000 miles'll do that. Since it's had a rough life, I'm thinking of getting it rebuilt in the near future before I start slapping mods on/in it. A.) Does anyone know how much a professional garage would charge just for a standard rebuild? B.) If I were to have a mechanically-inclined relative do it, how much do you think it'd run me just for the parts needed for the rebuild itself?? I've heard anywhere from $600-$700. C.) And would I need to replace the TPI gaskets (which I take are very expensive) if they're in decent shape? Thanks.

 

Or would I be better off to just say forget it and yank the engine out, tear it down to the block, and make a 377 or 383 out of it? It'd cost about the same, wouldn't it??

 

It all depends on how right you want to do it. Do you want a stout 383 or do you want something like a crate motor. If you want to put a supercharger much later on, you might consider getting a set of forged rods, crank and pistons. That could set you back 2 grand without doing anything else. What sort of block do you want? 2 bolt, 4 bolt, splayed caps, nitrided crank, what? How far can you see yourself going in the future. Add at least 50% to that because it is conservative

 

Ok I just did a nearly complete rebuild on my 86 ROC smallblock. I list all the things I had done and all this cost me about $1000-$1200 but its like Aklim said its all what YOU wanna do. The only thing I really recommend you do that I didnt is buy new pistons I wish I had but I already had .040 TRW's in it. If you dont have a Summit magazine get one it will become your bible.

*New Lunati cam and lifters $125
*Machine SHop bore honed, 3 angle valve job, heads shaved .010, Hot Tank all for a little over $300
*New Water Pump $35
*New Starter $50
*New Filters $12 ( I reccomend you dont be cheap like me and buy the K&N that mounts to you TB)
*Accel wires and header plugs $60
*Radiator Flush and check-up $35 (but I know the guy so dont count on that price)
*Roller chain and gears $70
*Gasket Set roughly $65
*New Moroso valve covers and breathers $75
*Plug Wire Threaders $25

Not to mention oil, bearings, and other essentials along with some things Im sure I left out. But you can go a completely different direction if your car is all stock I already had a .040 car with shaved heads. If you get into buying new Connecting rods and things its going to get expesive real quick it all depends on how much your willing to spend and how long your willing to wait.