[frodin1]

Hey guys, I'm getting ready to run my stuff down to the local machine shop and here's what I have going on. I have a mid 70's 010 4 bolt main 350, still stock cut. I also have a set of 906 Vortec heads "still stock as well". I'm just wondering what I should expect cost wise for machine work? I need to have them go through everything "heads and block" and get it ready to rebuild. I was shooting for a .30 over bore, and nothing over stock on lift for the top end. Unless I'm otherwise told not too? I planned on a Edelbrock, or PP, spread bore manifold with a Quadrajet carb. Just enough to have fun yet keep the fuel mileage good. I was actually pointed this direction by someone on here, and this is my first American build project. Up till now I've done nothing but bug motors. So I'm kind of relying on Hotrodders.com experience to get me through this. I just don't want to get taken advantage of by the shop. So a heads up on costs "roughly" would be a great help.
Second question, about these heads. Is there anything wrong with reusing the stock valves on these? Assuming there's nothing wrong with them? The motor had 156K? The valves are pretty costly, and I would like to keep the costs down as much as possible. I should mention as well, the heads and block have been completely torn down, and cleaned. Please let me know, thanks guys!

[lizardking7750]

For a 3 angle valve job, hot tanked, new springs, retainers, screw in studs, and guide plates. I had $450 in my heads. The springs were high performance ones though that could handle a higher lift.
Also on the valves, I reused my stock ones. They flow great with the heads and unless your gonna do some extensive porting its kind of pointless to get bigger valves or even new ones.

[airboat]

I think new stainless valves is the cheapest insurance you can get. New parts are less than labor cleaning and grinding..

[frodin1]

I was kind of wondering about the cost having the valves re-ground or even cleaned up? I can easily assemble the heads myself. I don't think I'm going to be changing the lift or have any post grinding work done. Which from what I hear is an absolutely necessary step if your going with a higher lift. I did see that Summit now sells the tool to cut them down yourself, but I'm not sure what's really involved with that? I'm not even sure I would need more lift than what it's at now. This is for the street basically and just having fun. Not racing.
Lizardking: Did you purchase everything through your machine shop, or did you buy it and assemble it yourself?
What am I looking at cost wise for the block work? I've never had a V8 machined before, so I don't even know what needs to be done, besides boring and honing?

[cjoform]

Frodin1,


Prices obviously will very but I know your asking for a rough estimate. I just had an engine block bored .030 over and honed for moly rings. That cost $125. I had my crank cut .010/.010 that cost $80. To have my pistons and rods pressed together cost me $50. To have the block and crank, hot tanked and magnafluxed ran $70. Installing cam bearings was $20. Prices would have been a touch less if I got parts from my machine shop but I still made out cheaper overall by going elsewhere for parts. Hope that helps you out some.