<VV> Engine building

[Sethracer at aol.com]

In a message dated 7/6/2011 11:11:52 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
mmccrae6 at cox.net writes:

No one  seems to comprehend the cost of restoration these days. Just the 
engine  alone can go $6,000 if you do it right. Right means complete head  
overhauls with guides and seats, magged and turned crank, new forged  
pistons, rings , bearings, resized and balanced rods, new cam, new cam  
gears, new pushrods and lifters, bored and honed cylinders, all new  
gaskets 
and seals (viton), powder coated parts,....on and on....go on look  up the 
prices....they scare me and I build the engines. After this you can  start 
on 
the rest of the car.

Mike McCrae

Mike - I understand - But some of what you mentioned is beyond  
"restoration". I think the trade calls it "Restification" - Sort of Restore and  
Modification. And that is certainly your right to do this. That said, a new  motor 
of the equivalent complexity to the Corvair would be about $5000. We,  
however, are working within the confines of the original motor, so, while some  
things are easily available - used heads - they require work you would not 
need  to do on new parts, new seats and guides. The dollars do add up. Having 
the  20-20 hindsight of 50 years, we also know where to spend the little 
extra to do  the most good.    

 


Seth Emerson

C's the Day! -  Corvair, Camaro, Corvette
San Jose, CA