Z-32 engine rebuild

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Ron M. - 26 Apr 2005 02:30 GMT

Question for Steve T here. Based upon your experience working on Z-32s,
would you say that $3,500.00 is a good price for having a Z-32 engine
rebuilt? This price also includes replacement of the water pump, timing belt
and both PCV valves. The cylinders were just honed and not overbored because
they weren't in bad shape at all. This whole project came about due to the
valves mushrooming and not seating properly. I was afraid to just have the
top end of my engine overhauled. Too many people have said that tightening
up the top end only can cause the engine to burn oil and that the car would
start smoking and all.

In the Atlanta area would the $3,500.00 engine overhaul price be considered
low, average or high? This price included new pistons, rings, rod bearings,
main bearings, lifters, head machining, new intake and exhaust valves, all
engine seals, hoses and drive belts too. Just curious about this price for a
Z-32 Steve.

Ron M.

Reply to this Message

Steve T - 26 Apr 2005 05:48 GMT

> Question for Steve T here. Based upon your experience working on Z-32s,
> would you say that $3,500.00 is a good price for having a Z-32 engine
> rebuilt?

Very good price.

> This price also includes replacement of the water pump, timing
> belt and both PCV valves. The cylinders were just honed and not overbored
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> In the Atlanta area would the $3,500.00 engine overhaul price be
> considered low, average or high?

Low, I assume you mean they pulled and installed it as well?

> This price included new pistons, rings,
> rod bearings, main bearings, lifters, head machining, new intake and
> exhaust valves, all engine seals, hoses and drive belts too.

Are you sure they replaced the pistons if they just honed it? The factory
pistons for those cars aren't cheap. Just the lifters are ~$600 from what I
recall. If you don't mind me asking, who did it for this price and have you
gotten it back yet? How did it turn out?

Signature

Steve

http://www.atlantaracing.com

Reply to this Message

Ron M. - 27 Apr 2005 03:21 GMT

> > Question for Steve T here. Based upon your experience working on Z-32s,
> > would you say that $3,500.00 is a good price for having a Z-32 engine
> > rebuilt?
>
> Very good price.

Glad to hear this Steve!

> > This price also includes replacement of the water pump, timing
> > belt and both PCV valves. The cylinders were just honed and not overbored
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Low, I assume you mean they pulled and installed it as well?

Yes, they indeed pulled and installed it both. They did send the heads out
to a third party shop and provided me with a breakdown on what they
were billed for the head work and valves. The owner let me see the heads
when he first got them back before he started to put everything back
together.

> > This price included new pistons, rings,
> > rod bearings, main bearings, lifters, head machining, new intake and
> > exhaust valves, all engine seals, hoses and drive belts too.

> Are you sure they replaced the pistons if they just honed it? The factory
> pistons for those cars aren't cheap. Just the lifters are ~$600 from what I
> recall. If you don't mind me asking, who did it for this price and have you
> gotten it back yet? How did it turn out?

I did one typo above and the text should have read 'piston ring set' and not
'pistons, rings' as in pistons AND rings. The owner of the shop said that
he "cleaned the pistons up real well and the skirts looked good still."

Yes, I have had it back for a little over two weeks now and I am over and
beyond pleased with the way the engine runs now. The shop that did the
engine rebuild for me is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It is called
Hall's Automotive. The main two guys there are a father and son team and
they work on Z-32s on a very regular basis. In fact, they had 8 other Z-32s
in there for various repairs the day I dropped mine off. These two guys are
the real deal and Z-32s don't intimidate them one bit like they do certain
other shops that I talked to before having my engine rebuilt. I would highly
recommend this garage to anyone in the state of North Carolina that wants
a Datsun/Nissan Z car repaired. Regardless of the generation of Z that
they are interested in fixing up. The owner's son is an automotive whiz kid!
He's an awesome mechanic.

Thanks for your response Steve!

Ron M.

> --
>
> Steve
>
> http://www.atlantaracing.com

Reply to this Message

Steve T - 27 Apr 2005 05:23 GMT

> Yes, I have had it back for a little over two weeks now and I am over and
> beyond pleased with the way the engine runs now.

Great.

> The shop that did the
> engine rebuild for me is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

I'd guess the labor rate in that area is lower than in Atlanta. It's
~$70-100 a hour around here.

Signature

Steve

http://www.atlantaracing.com

Reply to this Message

Ron M. - 28 Apr 2005 03:22 GMT

> > Yes, I have had it back for a little over two weeks now and I am over and
> > beyond pleased with the way the engine runs now.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> I'd guess the labor rate in that area is lower than in Atlanta. It's
> ~$70-100 a hour around here.

Steve,

Is that price still good even though they just cleaned up the existing
pistons and replaced the rings? I have to believe that it's most likely
still considered pretty good--even for this area. Some shops around here ask
$3,000.00 just to do a valve job on those Z-32s. A local Nissan dealership
quoted a buddy of mine $900.00 just to replace his right valve cover gasket
on a '94 Z.

Take care,

Ron M.

Reply to this Message

Steve T - 28 Apr 2005 06:25 GMT

>> > Yes, I have had it back for a little over two weeks now and I am over
> and
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Is that price still good even though they just cleaned up the existing
> pistons and replaced the rings?

Yes

Signature

Steve

http://www.atlantaracing.com

Reply to this Message