Thread: 390 rebuild??$$$$$

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I really would love to rebuild the 390 engine in my t-bird but after shopping around why is it so much cheaper to just by a rebuilt 390 already done from a good shop? I have gotten prices on total rebuilt 390's for about 1,300.00 all the way to 1,500.00. after crunching numbers on what i need to do to my original engine i am well above these estimates without a warranty that some of these shops include. is my thinking all wrong or should i get the rebuilt and save some big cash. i really would like to just use my engine and learn some more about the car but this doesn't all add up to me......why?

We see this all the time, especially with SBC, and even brand new engines going cheap, like the Goodwrench crate engines.

Here might be one reason. The production shops buy the rebuild parts a lot cheaper than you can across the counter. Another factor is that maybe the ones you are seeing at those prices are not using top name brand bearings, rings, pistons, etc., as you would in your own rebuild.

Rebuilt engines are dicey, even from top name rebuilders. At our Marina, we refuse to install any rebuilt engine, regardless of who did it, and we won't even rebuild them ourselves. First reason is that 10-20 % of all rebuilt engines fail, right out of the box. That isn't a number I made up, I worked for a large retail chain and we tracked those numbers, and they are factual. Second reason is, the rebuilder generally will not pay the labor the 2nd time, but will only give you a replacement engine. Customers usually can't accept paying the labor twice, so guess who eats that one?

Finally, the term "rebuilt" can mean anything from a rering/ rebearing job to a "remanufacturing" of the engine, wherein every component is either rebuilt or replaced within that engine. Depending on the skill level of the technician who put your engine together, you can also either get a good one or not.

I am like you, I enjoy rebuilding my own engines, and trust myself to try to do the work correctly. But I always hold my breath for the first few hours until I am sure I don't hear that scary "knock, knock, knock" coming from the block. You also have to get a machine shop you can trust, and check all the parts you get back. They screw up too.

Don

I just finished rebuilding/ modifying my 390 (from my '66 t-bird), so I know where you're coming from.
First off, the FE series isn't the cheapest in parts. Next in line are indeed the parts used. Quality parts will cost plenty of money for the good old "dinosaur"!

My personal, first time experience with my engine; it had been rebuild already...(back in the eighties as I found out, when I tore it apart)...
two different types of heads were slammed on, 30 overbore and rather worn out, so I had to go 60...8 to 1 CR rough cast slugs were put in...connection rods were of 3 different castings (but equal in strength though), some new gaskets and some liquid gasket was used...calling the whole thing a "power-pak"

To be honest, this kind of a rebuild is not the kind I would have spend my money on!
Can I do it better myself? I really don't know! However, you select every part you use after a more or less educated comparison of the available offers you get. (and asking around a lot!)
Then there's the matter of "being in control". Some want to be on top of things, whenever they are selecting any bit that might be used for their project. Others just like the thought that "more experienced" people are in control. You don't have to make the mistakes, they already made, so naturally, they will make all the right choices for you! (do they now? so when did they learn from mistakes made, surely not on customers' engines, did they?)

The build itself is ofcourse without warranty...but I have to say I liked working on it, creating something new and clean, from something old and greasy.

Like Don said,when it's time to fire up your newly build motor, it's the moment of truth! I too did hold my breath and cranked it over the first time this week. Heart pounding...Yes I was nervous!...but it fired up really nicely and ran strong for 30 minutes. I'll get back to you on reliability in a about a thousand miles, okay?

well thanks guys and I am glad to say I really would like the engine I have. It might ad up to be a little more on the money side but I will learn so much and I am sure it will feel so good to hear that baby purrrr again and to know I did it. I am looking foreward to getting my hands greasy and yes my knuckles even a little bloody. I have a mechanic buddy to help me out, and This should be a good time. here's to all the engine builders out there, i salute you and cheers!

If your doing a stock rebuild you should be able to do it yourself with some help from your bud. Machine work and a rebuild kit should come in under that $1500 for a rebuild. I'll agree to what others said on the different factory rebuilds out there. They mix and match and use what they have. Your stuff should be in pretty good shape hopefully plus if it's the original engine you want to keep it anyway. 64 used the lowriser heads. Most of todays rebuilds you find come with C8-H or D2-AA heads. Some of these might not have the vertcial exhaust pattern you need. They could be drilled and tapped tho. But that's another thing to think of also and potential headaches. There are many people that can help you along the way. I'm still learning new tricks all the time. Take your time and plan a nice build in advance that suits your budget. We can help you spend it....LOL

G.