Guy looking for an engine builder near Southern California- Jack Vines?

[Bob Andrews]

There’s a guy by the name of Spencer Straub in the Studebaker Addicts International Facebook page that’s looking to get a 259 rebuilt. He was quoted $9500 and feels that is too high. Sounds awfully high to me as well. Go look him up if you are in this business or want to make a recommendation. My recommendation was Jack Vines.

[PackardV8]

Thanks for the recommendation. That's what he gets for going on Facebook. We're around $3500-$4,000 for a complete rebuild with all new parts. Just know we have so many who want us to do their engines, we're backed up six to eight months.

jack vines

[plee4139]

Three years ago I had a catastrophic engine failure owing to cooling system issues. The bill came to about $9500 because even after the engine was done it still overheated and those repairs added to the price. It also took five months. Sadly, the engine only had about 15,000 miles on the previous rebuild. I still don't know completely why this happened as I maintained it conscienciously.

[Bob Andrews]

Thanks for the recommendation. That's what he gets for going on Facebook. We're around $3500-$4,000 for a complete rebuild with all new parts. Just know we have so many who want us to do their engines, we're backed up six to eight months.

jack vines

Facebook is where most people are nowadays. A lot of people do not care for this forum.

As relates to this guy, Facebook is what’s saving him. He didn’t get that quote from anybody on Facebook, he went to an engine shop and got it. Facebook is what’s helping him not pay $9500. So once again, Facebook proves to be a great resource.

[Hallabutt]

Bob speaks the truth when he says, "Facebook is where most people are nowadays. A lot of people do not care for this forum." For an old timer like me Facebook is more then a bit chaotic. Having to wade through the morass of misinformation and half truths, keeps me laughing. Many of mistakes either go unchecked and corrections that are made often get overwhelmed by shear volume of useless dribble. Pictures abound. For me it's like picking up the newspaper, going to the comics, but after fifteen minutes having to come back to real news. With no archival library it's a one time, real time glimpse into reality, only to be forgotten two weeks later. Like any tool it has it's limitations, expecting too much is a mistake. Just my take on it, and nobody should that any personal umbrage.

The flip side is the connection Facebook makes with younger people. It's what they grew up with, and it's maybe the one place that they are willing to interface with establishment. Ignoring reality is best way to get left behind. It's not a perfect world so everyone needs to adjust accordingly.

Bill

[64V19816]

10 grand to rebuild. Studebaker lark motor. This is why the hobby is dying and worn cars are not getting worked on.

[Commander Eddie]

10 grand to rebuild. Studebaker lark motor. This is why the hobby is dying and worn cars are not getting worked on.

That quote amount is an outlier and does not reflect the average cost of rebuilding a Studebaker engine. The highest I have been quoted was $6,000, and that was for some extra work not normally done on a rebuild. $3,500 to $4,000 is average. And there are a number of young people discovering Studebakers. Jake, on this Forum, is an example. There are several young people right here in the small town of Newberg/Dundee who own Studebakers and love them. The hobby is not dead yet and looks to me like it will survive just fine.

[Bud]

I spoke with Spencer this morning about his engine. I know him personally as he is a neighbor. He has little knowledge of anything Studebaker and as a result has to trust someone else to do his repairs. I would have rebuilt his engine for him, but I'm in the process of packing all of my tools because I'm having a house built in Kingman, AZ and will be out of the area in the not too distant future. The price Spencer was quoted includes the R&R of the engine and other parts that will be necessary to do a good rebuild. It is also possible that the shop he went to would rather not deal with an old Studebaker engine so they quoted a really high price. Bud

[JoeHall]

Three years ago I had a catastrophic engine failure owing to cooling system issues. The bill came to about $9500 because even after the engine was done it still overheated and those repairs added to the price. It also took five months. Sadly, the engine only had about 15,000 miles on the previous rebuild. I still don't know completely why this happened as I maintained it conscienciously.

I recall you posting here back then about that fiasco. Sounded like you were ripped off, coming and going, then back round again. Glad you finally got it all settled, but it sounded like you paid dearly.

[PackardV8]

The price Spencer was quoted includes the R&R of the engine and other parts that will be necessary to do a good rebuild.

Agree, Bud. We regularly get inquiries wanting a turnkey price. They want to bring us a non-running or poorly running old car and want the cost for getting back a completely rebuilt and tuned ready-to-drive car. For that, the $9,500 estimate begins to make sense.

Even though there are those who would pay for the full R&R service, we're a machine shop and only work with stripped long blocks.

It is also possible that the shop he went to would rather not deal with an old Studebaker engine so they quoted a really high price. Bud

For true. The local firefighter's union wanted to restore a 1935 American Lafrance fire truck. No shop in town would even consider the V12 engine rebuild, as there are no parts available. A retired firefighter who was also one of my best Studebaker friends called in a favor and asked my help.

My engine shop partner tried his best to chase off the project. We'd never seen one of those old V12s, so there was quite a learning curve and we didn't make a profit on our work, but it helped a friend and got a priceless local heritage piece going again. My good friend Larry Percy passed away a few months after we got it running. He's standing beside his monument.



jack vines

[Bud]

From what I have heard about Spencer's engine is that it has low oil pressure and an internal engine knock which leads me to believe that either a rod or main bearing has failed probably hurting the crankshaft. The engine is in a 61 Lark wagon so most likely there is no oil filter or a partial flow filter installed. I haven't seen the car or heard the engine personally so the information I have is second hand at best. I do know the owner of the shop where Spencer took his car so In my travels I'll stop by and get the story firsthand and report back. Bud

[Mike Van Veghten]

With no disrespect to Jack and the shop he uses, there are a few "higher end" shops that would be up in the $6500+ range.
When I say, higher end, they don't work in +/-.001", they work in +/- .0003" to .0004" as an average. And closer tolerances in the valve guides.

If I didn't do my own engines, and or live closer to Jack, I would not hesitate to go to Jack for an engine rebuild.
Just be complete and honest about what you will be doing with the engine/car. If it's a hot rod, tell him so, if you will be spending time at the drag strip, tell him so, if it's weekend cruiser, tell him that too.

Mike

[Bud]

I spoke with the owner of the shop that quoted the 9K price. The engine has a bad rod knock among other problems which is why the high quote for the job. The engine is a stock 259 and would be rebuilt to stock specs. The engine would not be rebuilt in house but would be sent out to a machine shop for the rebuild and I believe that the machine shop has quoted a high price for the job. Anyway Spencer is stuck between a rock and a hard spot as there is only one shop in the area that will work on Studebakers other than the one that quoted 9Kand their reputation isn't the best. Bud

[fastjohnll]

Why not contact the guy with a running 289 in Mesa AZ, on anther thread further down, "232 to 289 swap questions" and see if something can be worked out.

[Bud]

That is exactly what I advised to Spencer. Find a good running used engine and have that installed instead of having his engine rebuilt . I also advised Spencer to post here about his problems as someone here should be able to help him out. Bud