Hot Rods How long is it reasonable to wait for an engine build?

Since the beginning of Covid, we have had 3 machine shops close here in our area. That leaves 2 functioning shops to serve what 5 shops used to serve.

A year ago, one of the two shops wouldn't even let you drop off a motor. He said he was out of space to put one, and over a year out before he could even get to it. He also said some very common parts were already back ordered for more then 6 months at that time. I can't imaging its gotten much better.

My BIL ordered a motor from one of the large chain motor rebuilders, They told him that fairly normal motor was 4 months out on a shipping date when he ordered it. It actually took nearly 5 months before he got it. He is happy he got it, it works great.

 

Do they do all work in house, or do they have to farm some out?

My machine shop (that closed early this year due to several factors) could do everything (including porting) but had to farm out crankshafts. The bigger machine shop they used was first come first serve.
If they didn't have work much work my machine shop had the crank back within the week, if the bigger shop had a ton of work, you waited.

As mentioned Covid raised hell with their business even during the summer of last year there were parts they couldn't get.

Another issue is labor or more accurately a lack thereof. My machine shop was a father and son, the father died and there was too much work for a one-man shop, but couldn't afford to hire someone.

He ended up shutting the shop down and went to work for a large general machine shop with government contracts.

I also do my own assembly.

 

Machining is a gradually dying art. I would wager that the vast majority of teenagers could not tell you what a machinist is, let alone aspire to a career as one.

 

Well, crap, I couldn't have told you when I was a teenager.

Ben

 

Agreed. We spent 2 generations telling our kids to aspire to a white collar job, so that's what they did. Here's the fallout. I am encouraged to learn that the technical college near my home town of Dubuque just started new classes in welding and electrical repair. Hopefully other schools can respond, but the initial outlay for Industrial Ed is staggering.

 

They would just tell you they are not interested and to take your engine somewhere else. I worked in a race engine shop as a machinist for over 15 years. During racing season they would tell you it could take 6 months or longer(no guarantee on timeline)to get your engine machined and assembled. In the off season it was generally about 6 weeks.

 

Lots of guys pointing out excellent business opportunities, and all folks can do is bitch and moan that they aren't taking advantage of them

 

Crankshaft grinding done in less than one week. Shop 20 miles away. Valve job and boring . S Shop next door. 2-3 days service. If in a hurry I can assemble a flat head short block in less than one week.. My helper engine builder Dave doing extra block cleaning. My helper engine builder Rich doing ring fitting.

 

RIGHT ON, Jim.LOL

All one need do is listen. Pretty soon the old " finger pointing out and three pointing back " becomes apparent.

Ben

 

The reality is doing small one of jobs like most of us want done is an extremely small market, of course shops are going to take care of their big customers first, before the guy that brings one engine every ten years and bitches the price went up each time.

As Jim said, people should tool up some machine shops and service our market, let us know how it goes.

 

we hear stories about all these shops closing, what happens to the equipment and inventory?

 

I have a good friend that has a machine shop. He is one of the local hot rod guys but hasn’t really had any hot rods of his own in years. Anyway, most of his business anymore is farm equipment stuff, but he still fits in hot rod stuff for guys when he can. I know he has turned around several block preps and valve jobs for me fairly quick. But, that isn’t what keeps him in business anymore. Now that I think about it, my son was just talking about having his own shop. Wondering if my buddy would want any help…. I’m sure he is considering getting out of the business at some point soon and has no one to take it over.

 

My Flathead went to my builder 2 weeks ago. Mildly hot build. He told me 3 months. Machine shop time will be 4-6 weeks. I first talked with him in June and he wasn’t ready for it yet. So a total of 6 months from first discussion to finished engine (including break in). I’m OK with it since I have a bunch of other stuff to do anyway.

 

I know an old dude with lots of machining equipment who would love to have somebody work with/for him. Pretty sure all his stuff will be sold at auction when he’s gone.

 

I have a Blueprint Chevy 350. Part number BP350CTC. I’ve been driving it for four months and put 6000 miles on it. I’m super happy with it. Zero complaints.

 

Not easy, money, plus competent folks that know what they are doing.

 

Now THAT is what I was looking for. First hand experience. May I ask what HP you went with?

Ben

 

Where in Iowa is the old dude’s shop?
Dan

 

It is advertised as 341 horsepower. The dyno sheet they sent me for my engine shows 355 horsepower.

 

Apparently the sarcasm didn’t come through in text. It would be a losing business model to cater to the small crowd that want top quality, cheap machine work on obsolete engines immediately.

 

I was shopping around for my last build and was running into the same issues. The machine shops I've used in the past where either closed or swamped with work, then by the time I was pricing everything out figured blue print engines crate motor is the way to go. Great warranty, dyno ran, I would have to look for the exact model but 350 Chevy ended up being 406 real dyno HP, little over $5K carb to pan delivered. I think they are a little more now though. About a 5 month wait, 2k miles on it and so far so good.

 

Impressive horsepower. A driver sure does not need more, IMO. My daily is 180 in a 19++ Buick and will spin the wheels too easily.

Ben

 

The main reason several of the machine shops around me have closed is that, in general, engines have gotten so much better. The last several daily vehicles I've had had anywhere from 240,000 to 312,000 miles on them when I gave up on them, and the only reason I did was they had suffered too many Northeast winters full of salt brine. All of the engines still ran well, with minimal or no oil consumption. When modern engines don't need to be rebuilt, machine shops have to try to survive on building race engines or the few 50-90 year old engines that show up.

 

I bought my Blueprint engine from Summit. They had it in stock. It arrived at my house in under a week.

 

The long wait times seem to be pretty common, if I had to have an engine rebuilt I'm not sure who I'd even take it to. I know one guy who is really good but is retired, he'll take on a few jobs here and there but I doubt I'd be his top priority, and I'd have to take any timeline he'd give me and be happy with it if I was to try to convince him to work on one of my cars.

The same is true with any work getting done on old cars. Bodywork, mechanics, upholstery. I've never been the best mechanic but I'm really trying to learn now that a couple of good friends of mine have died, they were my go-to guys.

 

https://www.stevemorrisengines.com/engines/sml-3-500-hp

 

It really boils down to the old cliche Do you want it Fast, Cheap or Good. Pick two. Even though it may not be "cheap" in terms of the amount of money outlaid it is probably cheap from the shops point of view in terms of getting the other two done when there are others paying more in the long run than guys doing a single engine once in a blue moon.

 

Got a buddy that is waiting on a 292 chevy from a shop right now. They've had it 2 years. He had a brand new crank he paid $450 for but wanted something extra done to it. They trashed it a couple of months ago and called him telling him to get another one. He said they were trying to find a junkyard one but can't, so they called him so he could get another.
I daily drive my hotrod. My engine is getting tired. My next one will be a crate because I won't want the car down that long.

 

I'd start searching for someone within a 50+/- mile radius of your home that has some Hemi experience. Go talk with them and notice how well (or not) their shop is organized. It doesn't have to be perfect, but reasonably organized and not engines stacked everywhere awaiting work.....still enough work on hand to know others use him. Ask how long he will take to do the work if you go reclaim your engine. The guy you are dealing with has already demonstrated that he is not reliable. Contact him and tell him that you are coming to pick your engine up in two weeks. If he has the work done at that time, you will pay him for what he has done. If not, you plan to pick the engine up anyway and take it with you. Then if he wants your money, he will get it done. If he has way too much work already and doesn't care if you come get it, he is just going to continue stringing you along. I would also mention that you hope you can give him a good recommendation on the internet, but its up to him now to either do the job he promised or you will have to move on. Being nice is always the first choice, but sometimes you have to be firm about the fact that its time for him to do what he promised to do......no more excuses.

 

Agreed. This is, sadly, another case of someone making promises with no intent, or ability, to keep them and unable or unwilling to keep communication channels open. Life is short and you don't need this. Pick up your engine and move on. Good luck.