Thanks Nightc1, you really couldn't pay a guy like me a bigger complimentnightc1 wrote:I have nothing of value to add, but wanted to post that I read through the whole thread today. WOW.
I'm amazed that the end result was a working engine. Not that I know anything about ripping engines out and replacing them (other than reading threads here)... I just think it's amazing to see it go all back together and actually work. It seems like you are really close to having lola running great.
I guess the end result is to look back and figure out what you paid for everything (outside of time). In fact I'm curious about how much you spent.
Anyway thanks for the thread and the subsequent updates. An extra thanks for the pics and the little video... that was cool to see. Keep the updates coming in.
I had guestimated about what I had "invested" in this project, but never sat down to actually figure it. Since you asked I put together a spread sheet to try and figure it out. I had guessed somewhere between $1300 and $1400, and I wasn't too far off.
I have a fairly well equipped shop/garage, for mechanic work anyway. Pretty much the only thing I don’t have is a welder, but I do have plans to remedy that. I have a very good air compressor, and associated air tools i.e. impact, air ratchet, etc. I wouldn’t attempt this with out them. I already had an “adequate” cherry picker/engine hoist, it’s not great but it was free. A full tool box of wrenches, ratchets, sockets, extensions, torque wrench, specialty pliers, etc. Even with all of those tools I still had to purchase some Torx sockets, and I bought good ones, all that I had were twisted, broke, or the wrong size. I bought some Allen/Hex sockets too, would have been near impossible with just Allen wrenches. I bought another set of metric combo wrenches, seems a previous roommate may have moved out with a few. There were a few misc. tools like another pair of vice grips, and a power brake bleeder that I bought just for convenience.
There was a big expense in a radiator that was complete human error, though with the age and mileage of the car it was likely a wise choice to replace it anyway. I bought new brake lines, they were old and worn so they need replaced, I could have attempted to reuse them, which wouldn’t have been wise, and they gave me such a fit trying to take them off to drop the engine that I just cut them, so I defiantly needed new ones. I did cheap out on gaskets, and used Permetex on a lot of stuff; I bought new exhaust manifold gaskets though. Further cheapskate antics were buying heater hose at Lowe’s by the foot and cutting it to fit, yes I buy automotive parts at the hardware store.
There were a few other goof ups, Autozone sold me the wrong O-ring/gasket with my thermostat, too big/thick, which caused my thermostat housing to crack when attempting to torque it down. I had to buy 2 coolant reservoir caps, the first one I bought was abducted by aliens or something.
One thing that got expensive quick was fluids. All new fluids at once, add up quick. I bought oil, trans. fluid, brake fluid, coolant, and some additives like Royal Purple’s Purple Ice, Seafoam, and Marvel Mystery Oil. I went through 2 bottles of blue Loctite, there are a lot of fasteners. Miscellaneous stuff was hose clamps, nuts/bolts, etc. Finally the most important cost was the beer and food I used to entice a few friends to help me with some of the tedious stuff, and things you need 3 hands for.
So it all breaks down like this:
Engine-------------------$370.00 (This is with ~$90 shipping, a smoking deal)
Radiator-----------------$140.00 (Again, I broke it during engine removal)
Timing Belt Kit----------$200.00
Water Pump-------------$34.00
Thermostat--------------$7.00
Thermostat Housing----$20.00 (Broke thanks to Autozone’s Counter Monkeys)
Gaskets------------------$10.00
Heater Hose-------------$10.00 (About 6’ from Lowe’s)
Coolant Reservoir-------$39.00
Coolant Res. Cap--------$12.00 (This is the price of 2)
Front Brake Lines-------$20.00
Aux. Trans Cooler-------$37.00 (Was a quick fix to get the car moved with a patch on the radiator, but I decided to keep it)
Tools----------------------$100.00
Fluids---------------------$118.00
Loctite--------------------$15.00
Food/Beer----------------$40.00 (Shiner Bock For The Win!)
Miscellaneous------------$35.00
Total-----------------------$1,207.00
I wasn’t too far off. I recouped about $40 dollars by recycling my old engine block, sold as “dirty aluminum.”
So there you have it, I have spent about half of the cars KBB Private Party Value to bring it back to life. I’m not sure how economical my decision was, but I think I made a C in Micro Economics anyway, so what do I know.
- Lee






