Do It Yourself Or Pay A Pro?

[Henry Schmidt]

Supertec has just finished the most recent project.

1970 911T

We can't take credit for how beautiful this car is but we can take credit for the engine.

Completely rebuilt 74 2.7 RS spec engine
90 mm x 70.4 8.5 to 1 comp. Mahle
Solex cams
36 mm ports
Original Zenith carbs rebuilt and rejetted for 2.7
Sacks Sport clutch
Sonic clean engine cooler
Custom built distributor
Install Carrera front cooler (customer supplied)
Under $9,000 before tax.
( He kept his original engine.)
Less than 30 days without his car and he went flying on the weekends instead of building an engine.

To top it off we'll be delivering the car from my shop in Fallbrook to him in Camarillo.
I'm not certain driving this cool little car 150 (miles) on a Sunday morning is doing him a favor.

[J P Stein]

Never ask a CSOB a question like that
4-5 years ago I did all that stuff & more for half of that price. Had to part out my old engine to be able to say that tho.

[Henry Schmidt]

Originally posted by J P Stein
4-5 years ago I did all that stuff & more for half of that price.

I would love to see that $4500 build sheet.

We did $2000 worth of machine work and $1800 worth of Ps & Cs.

That doesn't leave much room unless you skipped something.

[J P Stein]

[i]
That doesn't leave much room unless you skipped something. [/B]

Of course you don't like the answer...then dispariage my efforts. You're not the first "professional" to do both.


Machine work on the case was done at Dan Hall's here in Portland, decked, squared, drag hone , grind, polish & mag the crank install case savers. He also resurfaces rockers for 4 bucks each.....keeps em' square too....oops, 48 bucks. 480+48.
850 heads at EBS
1000 for new 9.7:1 Shasta pistons.
650 for a rebuild kit (expendables)
300 for 1 NOS Solex cam & one "retouched" by Web cam...centeroilers.
800 for IDAs & PMO manifolds
100 bucks for weber kits
500 for 2.7 L long block that had been rebuilt 9 years prior then sat of a shelf.
220 for new chain boxes.
300 for new Fluidyne cooler
165 for newTroutman thermo
280 for new oil lines & fittings
250 for new fuel lines & fittings.
220 for 24 new Divilar studs(full thread & coated)

- 700 for IDTs & manifolds
-1100 for old 2.4 long block in bits.
- 500 for in spec RS pistons.

You do the math. This is all off the top of my head so I may have missed something. Stuff not listed came off my old 2.4L.

The engine still runs just fine thanks and leads a very hard life. I realize that you don't have time to look around for deals, but we DIY guys do.

[David]

If you enjoy working on cars and their engines it's not about how quick the project is done. On the other hand, if I had sent my engine to you I would done by now. 16 months and counting, but the engine's been built for several months.

[Jeff Alton]

Toot toot............

[2.7RACER]

Gentlemen,
I just did the math. Henry replaced the clutch, JP did not. Henry supplied new cylinders, JP used his old ones. Henry supplied new cams, JP refurbished his old ones. JP found a old 2.7 case on a shelf, Henry rebuilt the case.
JP made a few decisions to use used but good parts. Henry as a commercial builder does not have that luxury. How many good used $500 cases are laying around? Not enough for a commercial rebuilder.
From JP's numbers his parts cost $5635. Henry has an estimated $5750 in parts and machine work.
If you figure 40 hours for a rebuild, Henry charged about $80 hour. A reasonable hourly rate in So.Cal.
If JP put in new cylinders and a new clutch his cost goes to over $7,000. That leaves JP about $2000 for his labor and other costs.
Tell us how many hours you worked to do your job. Then tell us what the rent and utilities are for your garage, plus tools, supplies, etc.
Don't get me wrong, I do my own work because I'm retired and this is my hobby. There is a great deal of satisfaction from doing it yourself.
We DIY'rs also have the luxury of deciding what used parts to use. Henry is in the business, and good practice often requires the use of new versus good used.
Of course you could go to Motor Meister where they re-use parts.
It is obvious to me that Henry does top quality work at a reasonable price for those of us that choose to not do the work or are unable/unwilling.

[COLDBASS]

Originally posted by 2.7RACER
Gentlemen,
I just did the math. Henry replaced the clutch, JP did not. Henry supplied new cylinders, JP used his old ones. Henry supplied new cams, JP refurbished his old ones. JP found a old 2.7 case on a shelf, Henry rebuilt the case.
JP made a few decisions to use used but good parts. Henry as a commercial builder does not have that luxury. How many good used $500 cases are laying around? Not enough for a commercial rebuilder.
From JP's numbers his parts cost $5635. Henry has an estimated $5750 in parts and machine work.
If you figure 40 hours for a rebuild, Henry charged about $80 hour. A reasonable hourly rate in So.Cal.
If JP put in new cylinders and a new clutch his cost goes to over $7,000. That leaves JP about $2000 for his labor and other costs.
Tell us how many hours you worked to do your job. Then tell us what the rent and utilities are for your garage, plus tools, supplies, etc.
Don't get me wrong, I do my own work because I'm retired and this is my hobby. There is a great deal of satisfaction from doing it yourself.
We DIY'rs also have the luxury of deciding what used parts to use. Henry is in the business, and good practice often requires the use of new versus good used.
Of course you could go to Motor Meister where they re-use parts.
It is obvious to me that Henry does top quality work at a reasonable price for those of us that choose to not do the work or are unable/unwilling.

I concur. $9k aint a bad deal for motor from a reputable builder.
I've more than that on...uh, nevemind..

Kudos to JP for his efforts, not all of us possess his skills to even attempt what he did. His pics show a beautiful motor...

[Henry Schmidt]

Originally posted by J P Stein
Of course you don't like the answer...then dispariage my efforts. You're not the first "professional" to do both.

DON'T PUT WORDS IN MY MOUTH, I DIDN'T DISPARIAGE YOUR EFFORTS. IN FACT IT LOOKS LIKE YOU DID A GREAT JOB.
I was only pointing out that perhaps we did somethings that you didn't.

Rebuilt alternator
Rebuilt recurved distributor
ARP rod bolts
Supertec head stud
Rebuilt rockers (new bushing, resurfaced, new all adjusters)
Recondition cam towers (clean & resurfaced)
Cam feed restricters
Resurface valve cover
Up graded oil pump (3.0)
Balance engine
Sonic clean and pressure test engine oil cooler
Port manifolds
New breather hoses
Sonic clean oil tank
Wrightwood Racing gasket set (Viton seals)
The list goes on and on.

$ 8,778 ALL IN and he kept his original engine !!!!

[ErVikingo]

Henry,

Have you ever thought of moving to Florida ????????

Sounds great to me.

Juan

[JeremyD]

Originally posted by ErVikingo
Henry,

Have you ever thought of moving to Florida ????????

Sounds great to me.

Juan

No kidding -

[Henry Schmidt]

The last time I checked, Danza/ DHL was still shipping from Florida

Thank you guys for the invite.

[Wayne 962]

Not interested in pissing contests... closing this thread...

-Wayne