I finally picked up a gas bottle for my mig welder today! I bought a 60 cubic foot bottle, with a C25 mix (75% argon, 25% CO2), for $150. The bottle was $127, and it was 23 to fill. I also picked up a 12.5 pound spool of welding wire (L56) for $22, and the adapter so I can use the larger spool ($3). (My welder, as it is, could just take a 2 pound spool.) Now I've got to put the GMAW (gas) conversion kit into my welder, and try some welding!

I also stopped by the machine shop that was two doors down, and asked about prices... To get my spare set of heads hot-tanked (cleaned) and magnafluxed (checks for cracks) is $70. That's not too bad; maybe on the next paycheck, I'll drop those heads off. Then I could port 'em! If I want them to do a valve job on the heads, it's an additional $140. (cough)

I also asked about engine machining, and shoulda brought a pen in, but here's approximate prices (from what i remember). To get the 2.8 block hot tanked/magnafluxed/cam bearings & freeze plugs installed is $140. For boring/honing the block, it's $140. For grinding down/polishing the crank, it's $170. For polishing the rods, it's $200! (Ouch! New rods are $17 each!) Sure, polishing would make 'em stronger, but I think the stock rod strength will be good enough for me. So just for machine work alone, it'll cost $280.

Northern Auto Parts sells refurbished crankshafts for the 2.8, and I think they're $70, with a core charge. Problem is, I could get a crank that's been undercut to the minimum! I'd like to avoid that; but it's a helluvalot cheaper than $140. Haha, maybe I'll luck out, and won't need the crank ground- but I doubt it. I doubt a junkyard motor has had the oil changed regularly!

I didn't even ask about the price of a rebuild kit!! I'd like a master kit without the camshaft... so I'd need rod & main bearings, pistons, pins, rings, gaskets. (The machine shop would take care of cam bearings & freeze plugs). Oh, damn, I forgot to ask about the price for pressing a rod onto a piston. I hear I can do it using my oven, but I think I'd rather have the shop take care of that.

So; I'm re-thinking my summer plans. I might ditch the front suspension rebuild, and just do new struts. I might also throw a junkyard transmission in, and save mine for a rebuild. I've still got to fix the 3.73/posi/disc axle (the posi blew), and, I want to paint the car. Why was I so lazy the past three summers??? Dammit.

 

they'll charge an aditional 140 for the valve job
most I've been qouted to get either my poncho heads or the 2.8 heads done is $150, including the hot tanking & valve job. they're double dippiing ya man.

experiment more w/the welder & sheet metal. Make a custom intake to flow stupid big numbers. patent it, go in cahoots w/ camaro hunter d, I mean c, on the headers, do up CAI for camaro & firebirds & sell the package.

 

Try [url/]http:www.accuratepower.com[url/]. I had work done on my 83 head and my wife's Geo metro. They really do nice work and their website has prices posted on them

 

Well, it's a shop that's gotten high praise in the area... and like I said, I didn't write down prices; the only concrete thing I can remember is $70 for the hottank/magnaflux. But if the prices seem high, I'll definately look elsewhere. I don't need the best performance shop doing my machinework for a 2.8 V6... a normal shop will be fine. Thanks for the website, MDV6Man, that shop's definately a possibility. They're probably only 3 hours away.... I'd do that drive for some good work.

 

I wish I knew how to weld , Im scared now after that big explosion at school !

 

If you do take the drive down, email me or look me up

 

I ask myself that every summer Tom!