afkevin_20

i just replaced a intake manifold gasket today, and its stall running wierd. after i was done, i started it up and smoke was just coming out the exhaust. one of the Sgt's in my shop said it was either an intake manifold gasket or head gasket. now after changing the intake manifold gasket he said its definitly the head gasket. Were gonna take it to a shop tomorrow and get a price quote for a rebuild of the motor. Does anyone have any input about how much it will cost. It is also overheating quickly too. it gets up to the red in like 5 minutes. Here is a general idea of I was thinkin for the rebuild.

bored .30 over.
a high performance cam
lifers
.30 over pistons
rods
new distributor
new injectors

any suggestions that i missed?
thanks

badmts

If you are planning to hand over keys and pick up car next week it will be $5000.00 dollars give or take -I am not just pulling a number out of the air either,this is 30 hrs flat rate @75.00 per and a low dollar Jasper/Warehouse type longblock.Bonestock maybe a cam but certainly little elese in the way of go fast goodies.Being in the USAF I am going to assume there is a HOBBY SHOP on base with instructors,lifts and access to TAX FREE parts delivered to you by a local NAPA type parts house with connections to a decent machine shop.As for part numbers and "HOW IS THIS DONE?" I am the LAST one you want to ask BUT for car repair industry questions I AM THE MAN as I do this (SERVICE ADVISOR) at a 19 bay shop (FIRESTONE) on McCHORD AFB no less!If you have another car and want to do it yourself this is an option-park the 94 and start on a rebuild project of a craigslist builder ($300-$600) .030 over PAW piston kit and local machine shop,send heads to (forgive me) that LE1 guy and you and the SGT that you mentioned earlier long block that baby at the HOBBY SHOP.I would bet a warmed over 355 with nice heads,cam and other fun stuff could be had for 3500 or less .I am figuring engine ,machine work and bay rental

afkevin_20

5000 for a rebuild???

95Blackhawk

I was also of the same mindset as you. I did the rebuild myself and it cost $5K. Why? Because once you get in there, you start saying "while I have the engine out I will XXX". It is smart thinking but expensive.

$5K for a shop to do it and you will get a rebuild. However, I would not consider it a rebuild I would want. If you can, do it yourself.

dangalla

mine was a good bit more than that and i did everything myself

NovaTodd

If you shop around for your parts, you can do a really nice rebuild for $3500 and learn how to do it at the same time. For that price, you will have to do most of the work yourself.
My recommendation for right now is to use whatever resources you have available to pull the heads, get them surfaced and maybe a valve job while you are at it, and put new head gaskets on it. THEN find a used short block to rebuild while you have something to drive.
Summit has a gasket kit for about half of what I was able to find it for anywhere else, a set of new head bolts, and a little machine work and you are good to go. Then build the solid roller stroker motor (396 here I come)