Engine build timeline
 

I am having an engine built. I am wondering what a reasonable amount of time is a engine rebuild. Big block , nothing fancy.

A lot depends on how backed up the machine shop is, availability of parts and how many engines are in front of you. Actual assembly can be done in a few days.

Yup, and if the Murphy’s stop by with Snowball .

Where you located Smokey

Parts availability is one of the biggest issues right now. Some companies are still having issues with inventory, but are catching up slowly. I know one set of my pistons took over a month to arrive after ordering, as were the valves that were ordered at the same time. Luckily Eddie does his own machine work so that was one we didn't have to rely on someone else to do.

I am in south Florida.. parts are in and have been. I dropped my engine off in December.. for the last 4 weeks I have been told I would be receiving pictures but so far nothing. I am on the west side of the state and the shop is on the east side. I am not going to call anyone out. That’s not my intent. I would like to go boating and am getting to the point where I am wondering if swallowing the 10 grand I have in parts plus my original engine and ordering an engine from mercury , to save myself from further grief. It’s not like I am made out of money but I am certainly losing patience.

I believe I would make time and drive over to get a first person look at it myself. That's my personal opinion on that. I'm sure others would do the same as well.

Should have been built and in the boat by now .

FYI, Is Eddie (Eddie Young) if so he does not do his own machining, sends it out to a shop about an hour away, and they are very busy as well

This shop is all in house machine work , etc...

Man that sucks. I have to agree with everyone above. I would have to go to the machine shop or send someone by there. I hate to say it but it holds true. Sometimes you gotta be an A hole to get sh it done. I watched a close friend of mine (locksmith) put the nice guy on the back burner to get rid of the A hole wearing him out about finishing his stuff. I personally hate being that guy but sometimes you just have to.... Good luck and keep us posted. I also hate being jerked around. Look me in the eye and tell me the truth. Not what you think I want to hear....

Yeah , very true. And I understand the COVID deal. Hell , I had it last month ! I still managed to work and get stuff completed. I very well may end up getting to the point of simply picking up what I paid for and selling it for 25 cents on the dollar and ordering an engine.

Make sure you have new engine in hand before you do that.

Sale of boats at all time highs and states like Texas that had once in lifetime deep freezes this winter broke lots of engines causing even more demand.

Get it in writing I have a clown going on 2 years now every excuse in the book! Or like others say buy new !

Had a guy jerking me around for a while. I was very understanding. Finally had enough and told him, I'm coming to pick up the parts I paid for. Guess what got done after that conversation?

I'm not that guy, but it's true. The squeaky wheel gets the oil.

Well , I attempted to take a look at progress today however no one was available to show me my parts. I talked to a person who worked there and he didn’t have knowledge of which was mine. The owner was on the dyno and couldn’t help me out. 4 hour round trip and I wish , in hindsight, I wouldn’t have bothered. I am thinking this thread is gonna get moved over to the beware section soon.

So you drove there, and nobody was able to assist you on finding your order?

Did you have time to wait? You pay any money yet?
4 hour round trip and I'd be waiting and retrieving any of my stuff and find some other shop at this point.

Thats BS right there. If the front man didnt know whats going on, get someone who does...while I wait.

I'm going on 5 weeks since I dropped everything but bearings, rings and pistons off. The machinist sent pictures yesterday
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...c1dad54e03.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...7bcebca158.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...791b0711f1.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...240b104648.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...94c0c4423e.jpg

Sounds par for the course in S. FL

Very Common that's why :angry-smiley-038: I have 4 motors 2 new in boat and 2 rebuilt over kill but do you blame us after seeing stories like this?:whistle:

Situations like this are a mess. I'd be concerned regarding the level of quality work the builder does, he's stalled and now he'll have an attitude.

Not sure who this builder is but I know one that has told me they have a years worth of work on the books. I don't condone the no call backs etc but it is crazy how busy everything is. You should try to get a electrician, house painter, re-modeler or any trades place to even call back. I have even had a couple give me quotes, say they were going to start then nothing.

My buddy said he is so busy he will not answer the phone or texts, seems like you should at least leave on your phone a message saying that but no one seems to. Not to try and go to far off the rails but I think part of it is NO ONE hardly goes into these fields anymore.

Wrong 2 busy to talk to a guy give him update get your stuff back! I'd be in court already!:signs069:

Yes, I'm guessing the owner and builder didn't discuss a build/complete schedule.
I've tried for the past 18 months to hire a builder to expand a small bedroom and bath into a larger area and zero call backs. So I put that on hold and decided to have a slab patio replaced with pavers, no call backs. Seems everyone wants the big new construction work.

I never had a problem with these guys ask for John 1-800-runsnew

Sounds like your getting the shaft.
Collect your things and go elsewhere

I know this doesn’t help much on this build, but Innovation Marine in Sarasota is taking on outside work in their machine shop. They don’t mess around.

Rebuild time
 

I just had an engine done and the shop had to order all the parts they did all the boring and finishing and it took two weeks from start to finish. There is something funny going on with your shop, they overextended their capabilities, or lost employees all big problems for them but that should not turn into your problem! Their lack of total communication would be my biggest worry/problem! Good luck!

I've been in your shoes but with a Hayabusa engine (when I was young) I spent 5 hours one way and then spent two nights in a hotel because I damn sure wasn't going away! Your 4 hour trip was worth every minute you spent and it told you almost everything you need to know. If you don't have red flags waving in front of your eyes you never will. I would suggest you get on the phone tell the builder you want to schedule 30 minutes of his time ( and not 4 weeks down the road make the appointment with him for the next week) and want to see and discuss progress of your engines, take pictures of your engines and parts and discuss a delivery deadline. If you have a boat and the money to rebuild engines then your old enough to smell bull**** so be prepared.

If you delivered the engines I would be prepared to take them from his shop the day you show up, take your, truck. engine stands, straps, pallets, boxes whatever you need to take ALL your stuff back home. I took my engine from the builder and blew a whole season of racing it was worth every minute.

Best wishes

Mine has been at machine shop prison for 8 months. Hard to get calls back. Last time I was told it is almost ready for the dyno.
Hopefully it will be done soon.

The icing on the cake is when you get the call to bring some part you dropped off with the blocks six months ago.