this information would have been handy before my rebuild but I couldn’t find anything like it on the forum so I decided to post my experience.

-} Parts {-

water pump 82
coolant 10
oil filter 7
oil 2
thermostat 18
upper rad hose 18
low rad. hose 14
heater hose kit 22
4inj. Oring kit 12
8hose clamps 1
setofeng.wires 50
oil pump 120
16 valves 23
timing belt 60
16 guides 16
head bolt set 80
gasket set 280
tensioner idler 68
16 lifters 13
rod bearings 55
main bearings 58
hyd tensioner 140

-} Machining {-

teardownmotor
(clean&mag) 100
valve job 175
surface head 35
inst. 16 guides 56
pres ck head 35
bore&powerhone
block 80
deck block 55
balance motor 185
assemble motor 300
polish crank 45

R&R engine for rebuilding 19 hours 1,235.00 *ouchie* ($1000 with no turbo kit)

Doesn’t include pistons, rods, or rings. These are not ‘hook up prices’ as far as I know. I did say that I was on a tight budget and couldn’t afford the complete rebuild but the machinist was (with his extensive experience or whatever) adamant about what he felt needed replacing. I called the dealership for a price on a timing belt and they quoted me over a hundred bucks (with wholesale deduction) so some of the prices should be competitive.

Overall, the whole experience pretty much sucked. I had a car to cruise around in for a week (thanks mom) then it was off to the bus stop i went. I used the good ole San Diego Bus Transit System for about 3 weeks and it wasn’t half bad. I actually met a lot of weird people.

Payback time - The shop that i went to was a nightmare -] AUTOPOWER <- in Oceanside SD. They said that my car would be done in 7-10 working days. Boy, was i naive. This was the 1st of many flimsy promises to come. A month later and a crap load of calls from me later, they finally finished my car. I drove it home and noticed a slow but steady leak under the car. I did some investigating and found that it was cuming from the front seal. Back to the devil it went. 3 days and some mild badgering later, they fixed the leak. [br />
In the beginning I asked them if they could tap my exhaust manifold for the EGT but they were hesitant because
unadmitingly <- not a word) they were inexperienced in the matter. Eventually i convinced them that many people have done it before them so they agreed. I get my car back and the EGT was tapped into the downpipe @#(*$&#. Ok simple mistake, someone just forgot to relay the message. Bill, the guy that runs the joint said that the instructions specifically say to tap on the downpipe. He whips out the instructions that came with my EGT and carelessly flips the oil stained pages and points to what I said in the 1st place - the exhaust manifold. He said and I quote, “If the dang thing wasn’t written in Japanese…”. It was a detailed diagram for crap’s sake Billy boy!


What else did they do that wasn’t very professional?
1. Didn’t put the correct tranny fluid in
2. Missing some parts in my engine bay
3. Car is missing even after they took out my magecore wires and iridium plugs and installed a cheap substitute.
4. There are scattered small black dots on my hood that are only visible close up. It looks like someone stood 3 feet away with a can of black lacquer paint.
5. Try to keep them out of the driver seat as much as possible. If you’re like me and you just spent 800 bucks on a clutch set up then consider this a warning.


What I learned: This particular shop is very overworked. I think it is overworked because the owner has instructed the manager to say “yes, yes, yes!” Yes it can ‘probably’ be done in a couple weeks, yes we re-tapped your EGT, yes this and yes that. I think that if they stopped saying yes so much, the revenues would drop. But, who needs happy customers when your income statement is rockin. That’s the attitude that I assume they have but I will find out for certain when I contact the owner about my disgruntled position.

In the end I will pay about 5200 big ones for this rebuild including P/R/R’s. Probably a little pricy but I ‘m going to see if I can get some of that reduced in the name of unprofessionalalism ß also not a word).

I would like to hear what you guys think. So far my only course of action is to call the owner and see where he stands. I have not spoken with him yet but I do plan on getting this all sorted out.

$5200 for a rebuild? WTF? someone please tell me this is not anywhere near a usual figure for building a motor???

i was thinking maybe, maybe $3000 to build my bottom end including pistons, rods, and rings in the price. i hope this isnt what everyones paying. can you guys post your totals for me?

WIDE AWAKE
http://www.geocities.com/blue2gnt

1995 Eclipse GS - HRC Stage 2 - Retired.
2004 350z Enthusiast / 2008 Nissan Versa SL

Ladies and Gentleman start your PAPERWORK!!!! It sounds like they are going to buyback a lemon job. I have built many engines and I can't even begin to think of the probs you're going to have. Rebuilt engines leak something at first. It's almost a fact. But wrong tranny fluid. The guy doing the building should have flipped to the back of the book and at least read a sentence or two. It's simple they quoted you wrong. They call for 19 hours. I can build a short block in a couple of hours. But they never let accounted for problems. If anybody is looking to get engine work done, cruise over there be it in mom's ride or your own, and walk around the shop. Talk to the builder(s). Let them know what they're getting themselves into. EGT thing could have been easily solved by builder if he/she would have informed themselves. I know many die hard Ford and GM guys. Anytime they have to build an engine for something they're not familiar with they sit and read a little about it so they have an idea what going on. But I think your case the shop was about quantity and not quality.

Shit is all apart. Typical...

Cyan- You don't need to spend that much for a rebuild if you dont want to. Big chunk of that 5200 is pulling the engine apart and re-assembling it. I didnt have time nor the space to do any of that. I replaced a lot of things that you may not need to replace. I have about 70k and i really didn't want to worry about any of the old parts failing. I've got a buddy that has the 4g63 engine - when he blew his piston the only thing he bought was another set of stk pistons and rings. He dropped them in and is now barreling down the track. One of the coolant lines recently died so he ordered a full hose kit to replace the old ones. Crap like that might happen later is you go the cheap route.

Sounds like you're scared about blowing your engine - i understand with all the unlucky tuners on the board going kaboom. Whatever turbo kit you get, make tuning the number one priority. As long as you have the fear in the back of your head whispering to you, then you'll will use good judgement and you'll be aight.

Tip: install EGT, air fuel, boost 1ST!!!!
Don't put it off, you'll be happy you did.

damn daren.. you didn't go to the place I told you to go to. The shop that built the 7 cec AEBS motor built my engine also for half the price you paid. It's called Accurate Automotive Machine shop and have been in the business for 30 years. You should have taken my advice man. I know all the good shops here in san diego and could have gotten you hooked up the right way.

but anyway.. if you haven't gotten my messages.. I'll buy your roll cage off you .. page me up 858 493-4108

I swear I didnt spend much and haven't had any problems for the last 38K miles and a yr and a half. Only leak I had was when the original heater hose broke. R&R was (and is) only $500. $1000-1200 for R&R I dont think so. More like half. I dont know about the other stuff but I probably spent $2500 minus rods (+ $250 to prep stock rods) and headwork (stock shaved head $50). That includes $430 pistons and $130 rings and new crank. Stock bore so no boring. No bells ans whistles but its still in one piece and has never been without nitrous opr turbo.


Stan2gnt
Stan2va@aol.com
95 Talon 420A-Turbo
Former and future nitrous user

:farfrommugen:
Yes I still own a 2gnt.
Damn right I've been here longer than U
klassic_liven@yahoo.com

LAST EDITED ON 27-Jun-01 AT 00:34 AM (PST)

I know, I know - it was a judgment call. I talked to the guy over the phone and he was eager to do my car. He kinda scared me off though - he wasn't bashful about telling me what kind of cars he deals with and i was fugging impressed and everything but I just remember thinking that these guys were the real deal. I mean, they are in the business of making race ready engines. I figured, with their kind of background they could expect bigger labor charges. I was too much of a newbie at the time to ask the right questions. Ah well, chalk this one up to experience.

I moved to La Jolla and getting my email at the @home account address that you have is impossible here. Moving back to O'side this week. Ya sure I'll sell you the monkey bars. Ill give you a buzz in a couple of days.

R&R for 500 bucks? Holy GOd. These guys charged me $65 hour for this. Thats $26/hour if they took 19 hours. I have no idea how long it takes. do you?

DAMN!!! 5200!!! I don't want to pay that much!!! I am only expecting to pay...MAYBE $1500 for the work I need.

OK...I don't want to have to go through what Sleeper when through. All I need are pistons, rings, and bearings cause I spun the bearing in #4. I don't think I need any other work done. I live between Fresno and LA, so if anyone knows of a shop I can go to thats not TOO far away and is REALLY GOOD!!! I would REALLY Appreciate it!!!! Thank You.




Ball Bearing Star Stage II
"Power is nothing without control"

I use to have a White 99 GS Sport with a Star Stage II Ball Bearing T3/T4 turbo...it was fun untill....well those who remember me know Oh Ya...this is what I have now... a 99' GSX...

R&R dont know how long it takes but must be 8hrs or less for each R cause my engine has been pulled several times in one day and installed in one day too at the shop I take it to. then again they have plenty of experience with our car so I'm sure that has something to do with it.


Stan2gnt
Stan2va@aol.com
95 Talon 420A-Turbo
Former and future nitrous user

:farfrommugen:
Yes I still own a 2gnt.
Damn right I've been here longer than U
klassic_liven@yahoo.com