Re: Alternate Stag Engines

[Glenn Merrell <gmerrel@domain.elided>]

Hello Kevin and All:
    It is important to differenciate between a job done wholly by a
garage and that done by the hobbiest.
Just the facts:

Example #1:
My rebuild:
Heads:  $ 427.00  New guides, Skimming 0.005, shop labor
Engine: $1358.00  New pistons, pin bushings, bearings, hardened crank,
shop labor
gasket sets: $100.00
Carb kits:  $48.00
Pirahana Ignition: $90

TOTAL  $2023.00, my own remove and install labor
Typical garage remove, rebuild, reinstall, costs run about $5000.00

Any conversion, to install the engine without tearing it down, unless of
course it is in a car you have been driving personally, is a gamble,
plainly, an unknown.

Some typical costs of conversions I know of:


Example #2:
Rover 3.5:

Engine from SD1:  $600 purchase
rebuild of engine:  $2700
Rimmers Conversion kit $400  Misc parts like motor mounts, trans
brackets, engine brackets
modified exhaust:  $550  tubulars with some custom pipe work possible
shortened drive shaft:  $150  manditory
blown out diff        $700
Axle replacement    $600

Total:  $5700.00, not yet complete


Example #3
Buick 6cyl

Engine purchase:  $800.00 installed without rebuild, now trash after
5000 miles.
modified exhaust:  $300.00
modified shifter     $200.00 (looks like crap)
custom motor & Trasnmission  mounts $150
Driveshaft bolted right up, no mods to diff or axles

Total:  $1450.00, plus the engine now needs rebuild at $1500.00
estimated cost, $2950.00.
This car is for sale for $3000, with new paint, good interrior.  Every
potential buyer has turned it up because it has been converted.

Example #4

Engine:  Corvette 327, owner spent over $8000 for installation, hood was
chopped for a rear cowl scoop, frame modified for engine mounts,
Automatic transmission shifter linkage tunnel modified, custom exhaust,
radiator moved forward chop of front clip.  Engine was not rebuilt when
installed, needs rebuild at +$3000.

Car worth:  asking price $1200.00

Example #5

Engine:  CHevy 350 w/ automatic
engine bay very heavily modified
custom exhaust
custom mountings
custom hood
custom radiator
custom suspension, diff, axles

Recently sold for $5500.00

The point is, there is maybe one conversion that has been engineered
with parts manufactured for a "bolt in" conversion, that is the Rover
3.5 litre, conversion kit buy Rimmer Brothers.  From personal knowledge,
you will spend $3000 to $5000 to do the conversion if you buy a rebuilt
engine, buy required bolt on all the conversion parts.  If you do a
conversion with another engine, you need to consider:

engine rebuild costs of an unknown engine
engine mounting
transmission mounting
shifter location, function and appearance, possibly additional linkages
drive shaft modification
diff modification/replacement
axle replacements
exhaust modification in engine compartment
exhaust modification for a catalitic converter if a newer engine
making the ECU function properly if new or fuel injected engine,
including wiring changes

If you have access to a good engine, workshop, welder, metal saw, and
have the tallent, I would not hesitate to do a conversion either.

What concerns me are the number of inquirys that come in from people
that may not be mechanically inclined needing to rely on their local
garage to perform the conversion or rebuild.  Unless you have $5000.00
reserved for the job, I would not even consider it, rebuild or
conversion.  If you have the resources to do the conversion or rebuild
yourself, you will save dollars spent only because you are using your
own labor.

So, when it comes to the decision to rebuild vs. convert, it really
depends on your ability, and how much money you want to put into the
car, what end product you want, originality vs a customized job.  If I
had my preference, I'd slap in a brand new Ford SHO 302 fuel injected w/
5 speed and jag rear and axles, all four wheel disk brakes, rebuilt and
lowered suspension, 15" 60 series tires, etc.  Then, who would buy it?
It would be a custom car just for me, and maybe one other person who
will buy it at 1/2 the dollars that I put into it.  A custom car is a
custom car built to your own preference. a restoration is just that...a
restored vehicle as the manufacturer made it.  A restored car retains
its value as a collectors item to a wider range of parties.

Ism't it great to have a choice???  Just my humble opinion....and
choice.

Regards,
Glenn  Merrell

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