What is the Best rebuild kit?

[1963chevyc20]

I am at that stage on my truck. Rebuilding the motor.I need to know what the best rebuild kit is for it, where to find It and about how much $$$. It has a 283 v8 with a 3pm the tree. May upgrade to a 4 on the floor thanks for the help!!

[66Submarine]

Northern auto has good prices on rebuild kits. http://www.northernautoparts.com/part/ek-ek0951

Base price is $310 for the master kit; things like moly rings and brass freeze plugs are well worth the little bit of extra money IMO.

[truckdude239]

Northern auto parts

[ka_jd7and1]

enginekits.com

Brick n mortar store is Powerhouse, in my hometown.

[Gumby]

was just looking the other night, ebay kits starts at $299.99 shipped and goes up in price to as much as you want to spend.......

[GASoline71]

I always go to my local machine shop where I have my work done and get kits from him. They may be a tad more in the price department. But if something is screwed up in the kit, I can huck it back on his counter and get a replacement the same day. Instead of dealing with some cat in India selling parts through a 3rd party vendor from some website.

Gary

[66Submarine]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

I always go to my local machine shop where I have my work done and get kits from him. They may be a tad more in the price department. But if something is screwed up in the kit, I can huck it back on his counter and get a replacement the same day. Instead of dealing with some cat in India selling parts through a 3rd party vendor from some website.

Gary

Uhh...you know Northern is based in Iowa and has been around for decades, right?

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by 66Submarine

Uhh...you know Northern is based in Iowa and has been around for decades, right?

Just a generalization in that post of mine from earlier. Point being... I live in Washington State, and if I order from Northern and the piston rings I receive are the wrong size... it doesn't matter if they are based in the USA. They are based multiple states away from me. Might as well be on the moon. I will have to send them back and wait 10 days to 2 weeks for the round trip via UPS.

Now if I go down to the local machine shop here and yak with Ed and tell him he gave me the wrong size rings... he reaches under the counter and hands me a new set of the correct size. Plus I get to bench race with him and drink a cup of free coffee. The way it should be.

Gary

[truckster]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

Now if I go down to the local machine shop here and yak with Ed and tell him he gave me the wrong size rings... he reaches under the counter and hands me a new set of the correct size. Plus I get to bench race with him and drink a cup of free coffee. The way it should be.

Gary

There's a lot to be said for keeping the local guy in business, and it's not just sentimental. That's if he's competent and honest. He probably knows a lot more than I do, and he can tell me when I'm headed in the wrong direction with a build, or how to make it just a little better.

I happen to be good friends with a guy like that who owns a machine shop, and I'm glad he's there.

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by truckster

There's a lot to be said for keeping the local guy in business, and it's not just sentimental. That's if he's competent and honest. He probably knows a lot more than I do, and he can tell me when I'm headed in the wrong direction with a build, or how to make it just a little better.

I happen to be good friends with a guy like that who owns a machine shop, and I'm glad he's there.

Yup... befiend your local machinist. When you walk in the door he knows you by name, and remembers what he sold you, and even the project you're working on. Saves a lot of headaches.

I've know our local machinst going on 24 years. Sucky part is, now he's retiring and there is no one that's gonna take his place. Sad day to see him close up shop in the next year.

Gary

[Gumby]

Though I would research long/short block prices.

It may be cheaper once you factor in everything that will need done and bought to do it your self + time.

[slowcpe]

I bought a basic rebuild kit from Summit for one of my Mustangs a few years ago. Came with all name brand rings, bearings and gaskets. Wasn't too bad priced for all what I got and it held up well.

[Gumby]

Finding someone you can trust is hard, more so finding someone willing to still learn.

Why my motorcycle forum is always jumping.

Dealers and shops will not open a book or research a bike to learn. 90% of them will not even take a Virago in for repair as they can't do it. They could if they didn't think they knew it all.