2.7 Rebuild - What’s a realistic amount of hours and cost?

[Alexandphoto]

Hi all!

Sadly the 2.7 in my 1976 911S has pulled studs and is now up for a rebuild. I wasn’t prepared for this to happen so soon, so unfortunately it looks like it will sit for a bit.

Part of that is because of the quotes I’ve been getting to fix. I’ve received two estimates in the $50k+ AUD (33usd) basket, one around $30k AUD, and then today one from a referral only shop (small/retired vibe) where they estimated labour at $9-10k and parts on top (if barrels, pistons, chain and pump could be reused, he estimated $12k total. Otherwise worst case $25k).

All of these quotes were to put case savers in, split the case, machine the heads etc.

I’ve seen the estimate from our host site is 50 hours and $2,500 to $6,000 DIY, (ie labour on top) but I’ve often found the prices are outdated.


Could anybody here please share their experiences with rebuilding these motors and the costs associated? These wide swing in estimates from $12-60k AUD make me nervous about it all….

[Dpmulvan]

Hard to say without knowing what your motor looks like, lots of variables. Lots of variables with shops as well. 50k is ridiculous in my opinion you could buy a nice running 911 for that price.

[MrBonus]

$50,000 sounds like a "I don't have the time nor do I want to do this" quote.

[theiceman]

over on Rennlist they are talking about the same thing and apparently 30-35K USD is the going rate to completely rebuild an engine these days. Although expensive , looking at the insert and line boring that magnesium case may need, that price might not be out of line...

[ADDvanced]

I've always heard 20k unless you're doing weird stuff.

[Dpmulvan]

Originally Posted by theiceman

over on Rennlist they are talking about the same thing and apparently 30-35K USD is the going rate to completely rebuild an engine these days. Although expensive , looking at the insert and line boring that magnesium case may need, that price might not be out of line...

Line boring isn’t voodoo and inserts aren’t that much to drive up the price. It’s called inflation and the cost of doing business, not to mention they want us all riding electric bikes and spying on our comrades.

[yelcab1]

$50,000 Aussie dollars is entirely appropriate for a total rebuild of a magnesium case engine. A lot of machining work and expensive parts are needed for the job, and long lead times are the norm. Back when these cars were sold for $10,000, no mechanic would quote $10k for an engine rebuild because no one would pay it. These cars are now much more expensive and the rebuild prices, although high, are more tolerable.

[Flat6pac]

Time to start looking at a running 3.0/3.2 to install
Bruce

[MrBonus]

I didn't realize $50,000 AUS is roughly $33,000 USD. I'm not sure if that conversion rate means anything to parts availability and shop competency on a penal colony island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean vs. US prices.

[2.7RS]

At 33k usd I would expect all new parts. Or upgraded.

oil pump
pistons and jugs
crank
cams
12 valves
rockers
all hardware
all bearings with #8

Plus all consumables, machine work and labor

[yelcab1]

What we in the US don't realize if cars like Porsche and Ferraris cost 2x more in Australia than they do in the US. So repairs also cost more.

[theiceman]

Originally Posted by Dpmulvan

Line boring isn’t voodoo and inserts aren’t that much to drive up the price. It’s called inflation and the cost of doing business, not to mention they want us all riding electric bikes and spying on our comrades.

my point is labour is expensive and anyone who has had machine work done knows how expensive it can be. Its not voodoo but its setup costs an labour on top of head work and refurbishing rods et all.

[theiceman]

Originally Posted by yelcab1

$50,000 Aussie dollars is entirely appropriate for a total rebuild of a magnesium case engine. A lot of machining work and expensive parts are needed for the job, and long lead times are the norm. Back when these cars were sold for $10,000, no mechanic would quote $10k for an engine rebuild because no one would pay it. These cars are now much more expensive and the rebuild prices, although high, are more tolerable.

totally agree

[theiceman]

Originally Posted by MrBonus

I didn't realize $50,000 AUS is roughly $33,000 USD. I'm not sure if that conversion rate means anything to parts availability and shop competency on a penal colony island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean vs. US prices.

nice shade there .. just keep in mind the US is just a colony too. with the highest incarcerations numbers in the world. ...and we are talking today ..

[proporsche]

well, to do engine rebuild is 60 hours, always has been.
Then you take in how does the shop charge per hour to do this job...,At the machine shop ,what the valve job will cost you..after measuring all the pistons and cylinders you might not even need to replace them..it depends on the miles-km and wear....after, you get your parts...or is it nowaday the shop supply them?
I do not make any surcharge on parts what ever it costs me the clients pays...

BTW how many km-miles is on your engine?

Ivan

[Rosco_NZ]

If it’s never been rebuilt then I think you should assume everything needs doing. And it adds up ..

[Alexandphoto]

Thanks all for the responses. Appreciate the different perspectives on it, very contentious topic. Agree that $50k sounds very excessive, but even with those prices there’s a wait list which I presume is part of the reason the cost is so high.

It was previously rebuilt in the 90s around 20-30k miles ago, but in light of this issue I suspect it wasn’t done too well or hasn’t been well taken care of along the way.

Engine has 170k miles on it so has definitely lived a long life!

[fanaudical]

Ollie's in AZ still publishes prices on their website.

You can price parts here at Pelican.

EBS Racing offers some rebuild kits.

That should get you in the ballpark for comparison.

[targa72e]

the major contributor to price is labor. (yours or someone elses). The more you can do yourself the less expensive. If you are in mind set of wanting to drop off your car and then pick it up x months later all done and sorted that will be the top end of your pricing. If you can pull the motor and deliver to be rebuilt and then re-install that's next level. If you are willing to drop the motor, disassemble and send off to specialist for needed machine work price is lower still.
If you are mechanically inclined and can disassemble your motor, farm out the work you can't do and then tackle the reassembly that will be the least expensive. Over the years for me I have moved down the list to the point that I machined the surface on my last set of heads in my garage after buying a lathe. Over time I have saved a lot of money and enjoy a lot of satisfaction for doing it myself. Not for everyone.

john

[Alan L]

Ivan's estimate of 60 hrs is in the ball park. For me it would be longer (double) - but I don't know what I am doing and have to re learn each time. They are labour intensive engines - no getting away from that.
So factor your shop hrly rate and that will give you a clue. Then there are parts which are an unknown til you pull it apart - but at that mileage you may be lucky with the bottom end. How long is your piece of string while you are in there? You could possibly get away with just a top end build and studs. But no one can tell from behind their computer screen.
Alan