TomP

I finally picked up a gas bottle for my mig welder today! I bought a 60 cubic foot bottle, with a C25 mix (75% argon, 25% CO2), for $150. The bottle was $127, and it was 23 to fill. I also picked up a 12.5 pound spool of welding wire (L56) for $22, and the adapter so I can use the larger spool ($3). (My welder, as it is, could just take a 2 pound spool.) Now I've got to put the GMAW (gas) conversion kit into my welder, and try some welding!

I also stopped by the machine shop that was two doors down, and asked about prices... To get my spare set of heads hot-tanked (cleaned) and magnafluxed (checks for cracks) is $70. That's not too bad; maybe on the next paycheck, I'll drop those heads off. Then I could port 'em! If I want them to do a valve job on the heads, it's an additional $140. (cough)

I also asked about engine machining, and shoulda brought a pen in, but here's approximate prices (from what i remember). To get the 2.8 block hot tanked/magnafluxed/cam bearings & freeze plugs installed is $140. For boring/honing the block, it's $140. For grinding down/polishing the crank, it's $170. For polishing the rods, it's $200! (Ouch! New rods are $17 each!) Sure, polishing would make 'em stronger, but I think the stock rod strength will be good enough for me. So just for machine work alone, it'll cost $280.

Northern Auto Parts sells refurbished crankshafts for the 2.8, and I think they're $70, with a core charge. Problem is, I could get a crank that's been undercut to the minimum! I'd like to avoid that; but it's a helluvalot cheaper than $140. Haha, maybe I'll luck out, and won't need the crank ground- but I doubt it. I doubt a junkyard motor has had the oil changed regularly!

I didn't even ask about the price of a rebuild kit!! I'd like a master kit without the camshaft... so I'd need rod & main bearings, pistons, pins, rings, gaskets. (The machine shop would take care of cam bearings & freeze plugs). Oh, damn, I forgot to ask about the price for pressing a rod onto a piston. I hear I can do it using my oven, but I think I'd rather have the shop take care of that.

So; I'm re-thinking my summer plans. I might ditch the front suspension rebuild, and just do new struts. I might also throw a junkyard transmission in, and save mine for a rebuild. I've still got to fix the 3.73/posi/disc axle (the posi blew), and, I want to paint the car. Why was I so lazy the past three summers??? Dammit.

Project: 85 2.8 bird

they'll charge an aditional 140 for the valve job
most I've been qouted to get either my poncho heads or the 2.8 heads done is $150, including the hot tanking & valve job. they're double dippiing ya man.

experiment more w/the welder & sheet metal. Make a custom intake to flow stupid big numbers. patent it, go in cahoots w/ camaro hunter d, I mean c, on the headers, do up CAI for camaro & firebirds & sell the package.

MDv6man

Try [url/]http:www.accuratepower.com[url/]. I had work done on my 83 head and my wife's Geo metro. They really do nice work and their website has prices posted on them

TomP

Well, it's a shop that's gotten high praise in the area... and like I said, I didn't write down prices; the only concrete thing I can remember is $70 for the hottank/magnaflux. But if the prices seem high, I'll definately look elsewhere. I don't need the best performance shop doing my machinework for a 2.8 V6... a normal shop will be fine. Thanks for the website, MDV6Man, that shop's definately a possibility. They're probably only 3 hours away.... I'd do that drive for some good work.

WaynesRS

I wish I knew how to weld , Im scared now after that big explosion at school !

MDv6man

If you do take the drive down, email me or look me up

Johnny Ray

I ask myself that every summer Tom!