Topic: Answer honestly.. what would you pay for a chromed engine?

[ElCheapo]

I am working out a biz relationship with a local chromer. What I am asking, is if the cylinder head and jugs were done in black wrinkle finish and everything else (cases included) was done in the lovely chrome (like the super hard, super durable Harley chrome) what would you pay for it? Keep in mind this would be a fresh motor. These would also come in big bore set ups.

I would pay about $1200 for a chromed motor that was absolutely perfect internally. You know plug and play....And I would have to say it MUST be the Cat's MEOW to say the least..... Plug her in and do a cross country after the first valve adjust.

[3 sticks]

Way more than I would be able to afford, thats for sure 

Sorry for the unproductive input.

[eldar]

You would never get anything like that for 1200. I figure cats meow would be bored out with head work and a hot cam and all that. Cant even take one of our engines and do that for 1200 WITHOUT chrome. I suppose if some company cast their own engines and tooled everything, then you might scrape by on 1200 but then there is still the break in period anyways.

I would not want chrome like that though. Too much polishing and too much weight.

[Uncle Ernie]

If you have a new, relatively stock (OK- Mikunis are a good idea) 400 for $1200, I'll take it!

Sans chrome, please. Sorry.

[ElCheapo]

Well I was figured the motor would be all dolled up like I said plus a first level bore job with stock cam, this would be like a "stage 1". Then a "stage 2" with a some head work, a bore out, and a hot cam. I figure the biggest we would go is 895...........

Chrome weight gain??? Really there is not much weught gain for chrome. And if you can rinse it with a hose and then dry it off then it will stay looking trick. Much easier to clean than that damn aluminum...

[Tim.]

I'd seriously consider it, if my existing engine were crap.  However, I'm not sure you could do it for $1200.  A complete rebuild, including new rings, honing, new gaskets, valve job etc. etc. would eat up money pretty darn quick, not to mention the fancy finish work.

I think for a minimum engine top end tear down and rebuild you'd be looking at 3-4 hours labour minimum, along with $30 per hole for honing, $30 per hole for new rings, $80 worth of gaskets/seals, a couple more hours cleaning/lapping valves, another hour for timing/tappets etc...

So, let's say 7 hours labour at $60 / hr. = $420 + $120 honing + $120 rings + $80 gaskets = $740 and that would be the bare minimum I'd say.  More if you're talking new points/condensors etc.  Then of course there's the finishing/chrome etc. meaning more new parts (I'd expect all stainless allan head bolts etc. for the new chrome covers).

Maybe could be done for a slim margin, as an add-on to an existing business where all the skills and equipment are already in place.

I presume there are no carbs in this plan?

[ElCheapo]

I'd seriously consider it, if my existing engine were crap.  However, I'm not sure you could do it for $1200.  A complete rebuild, including new rings, honing, new gaskets, valve job etc. etc. would eat up money pretty darn quick, not to mention the fancy finish work.

I think for a minimum engine top end tear down and rebuild you'd be looking at 3-4 hours labour minimum, along with $30 per hole for honing, $30 per hole for new rings, $80 worth of gaskets/seals, a couple more hours cleaning/lapping valves, another hour for timing/tappets etc...

So, let's say 7 hours labour at $60 / hr. = $420 + $120 honing + $120 rings + $80 gaskets = $740 and that would be the bare minimum I'd say.  More if you're talking new points/condensors etc.  Then of course there's the finishing/chrome etc. meaning more new parts (I'd expect all stainless allan head bolts etc. for the new chrome covers).

Maybe could be done for a slim margin, as an add-on to an existing business where all the skills and equipment are already in place.

I presume there are no carbs in this plan?

Thanks for this incredible amount of input. All of this sounds very good. I am just trying to come up with a legitimate price schedule for doing this whole thing and seeing if it is worth it. Now if I did include the carbs which would have already been run for 1 mile of break in time to make sure they will work as set, then I think the 1,200 might be more like it.

This would be a guaranteed perfect run once installed. This would be complete with charging system and starter. Pull the exhaust, pull the carbs and then the motor and back again and she runs like NEW.  What do you think? Naturally there would be cores, otherwise I would run out of motors so to speak.

[kghost]

I think your missing the boat there with the electrics Elcheapo

I don't think you wanna let the electric geinie out of the bottle.

I can imagine the E-mails and Phone calls......my starter doesn't work! My alternator doesn't! Most likely after someone dicks up the install or has crappy wiring/electricals to begin with......

1200 is gonna be a little cheap if you include new bearings and Rocker arms. Both of which are a good idea on a fresh engine.

Not to mention cam chain, Primary chain, Clutch plates.

What about crank turning, polishing etc?

The cost gets steep quick.

[ElCheapo]

I do see the point of the electrics. Nice addition, but you are right some guy dicks up his wiring and blames the malfunction on me. 

[mrbreeze]

Couldn't have said it better than Kghost!!!!! It's the same way with cars too.  The more detailed you get,the more it costs in parts AND labor!If you go through the trouble of pulling a 750 motor to fix this...........You might as well fix THAT while you are there plus other missle anus items!!! I personally wouldn't want anything chromed on the motor though.Maybe I have just always seen crappy wok done but most chrome over aluminum that I've seen peels too easily.

[Terry in Australia]

Geez, there are so many parts on a SOHC4 that you can chrome when you think about it, (cam covers, alternator covers, clutch covers,sprocket covers etc) then of course the rest of the bike, like fuel tanks, oil tanks, swing-arms, shock bodies, fork lowers, triple trees, frames, engine mounts, axles battery box, not to mention fenders, levers, gauge bodies etc.

I really don't think a chrome engine exchange is viable though, most of the above parts and labour estimates are about half what a shop will really want, using premium priced genuine parts, and not just Ebay bargain prices, and add the cost of the chrome, and we're really getting into Harley territory.

Why not just start with "El Cheapo's Home of Krome" exchange service Tom, and leave that expensive and time consuming (read: low profit margin) mechanical work for some other pigeon? Just my humble opinion, as always.............  

[Lumbee]

...as of today there are two houses that will do 750 motors...Cycle Exchange in Winconsin, and Wayne and Sons in Ill. I beleive.  Kens prices start at 2500 for what you call a stage 1 rebuild.  Basically I think thats a "back to stock" engine. With new journol bearings, valve guides ect,ect.  I think the high end for a hopped up motor is around 5 grand, and I'm don't think that includes any chrome.  I think wayne and sons is about the same (though there are questions abou their quality).  Bottom line, you won't make a dime doing anything for $1200.  A fair price for a "back to stock" new motor with no chrome would be 2-4 grand...I think you'd need to throw some kind of warrenty in there too.  As far as the chrome goes, the chopper guys are gonna be your market for that.

If you really want to know what a motor like this is REALLY worth there is an easy way to find out.  Ebay...the biggest market out there...any items true value can be found on Ebay.  Built this motor, and chrome it out.  Start the bidding at the cost of parts only (no labor) and don't set a reserve.  When its over, you'll know what its worth...

[Uncle Ernie]

I'm not so sure about that.  Ebay, like any auction, is full of inconsistancies. One day something will go cheap, another week it goes through the roof.  Often times I think things go too low, actually.  On the other hand, seems about a month or 2 ago a 400 went for over $4500!!! It sure didn't look any better than mine.

[cafehonda]

Treatment for chrome would reduce surface area, which in an aircooled engine is counterproductive. I believe I read somewhere that chrome plate is infrared reflective on both sides, so chroming not only reduces surface area but reflects heat back into the case. I would prefer to have any motor carborundum blasted to INCREASE surface area. But I'm more into go than show. How would one machine the chrome off of the cases mating surfaces to ensure a oil-tight seal without creating a place for pealing to start? Also, deck the cases and now its align- bore time. That's more money in labor. A chrome case sounds like it would look cool but be way too much of a pain in the posterior. Just my two cents.

[DME]

It would look cool to begin with. But chroming aluminium is one very hard task as it very easily starts to peel.
Lots of chromed valvecovers from the seventies and eighties floating around and the all look more or less ratty.
Aluminium can always be polished, but chrome.... nah, I wouldn´t have it.

If I wanted a shiny engine I would buckle down and polish the cases.... Good thing for me that I like the look of the painted cases!

Cheers
Daniel

[dusterdude]

daniel,i will agree,aluminum is hard to chrome,but i`d bet you a dollar to a doughnut that the chroming done then wasnt triple plated.probably just two plated.

[DME]

daniel,i will agree,aluminum is hard to chrome,but i`d bet you a dollar to a doughnut that the chroming done then wasnt triple plated.probably just two plated.

Guess you´re right ´bout that.

I don´t know much about the actual process of chroming, just that it´s harder to make it durable on alu than steel.
I assumed that "the old chroming" was as good or better than "the new stuff", due to harder regulations in use of chemicals etc...
Seems to be like that with all other kinds of coatings...

Give it a go and see what happens, would look great on a chopper!

Cheers
Daniel

Cheers

[comcrx]

as a person that is having his first, second, third, etc.... bout with polishing the aluminum on his engine, I say bring it on. this polishing is a pain the pooper man

[cbjunkie]

call me a rebel - you guys obsessed with shiny objects crack me up...you remind me of monkeys at the zoo fawning over a piece of tin foil...

   

[dusterdude]

damn junkie,good think im not in that group.

[Terry in Australia]

call me a rebel - you guys obsessed with shiny objects crack me up...you remind me of monkeys at the zoo fighting over a piece of tin foil...

   

Hey CBJ, I love that avatar!

[cbjunkie]

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/ghostrider/

Hey CBJ, I love that avatar! Grin

yeah, well it just confirms all your hopes and dreams of me being a "flamer", Terry... 

[Uncle Ernie]

@nd that on the aatar AND the shinie (shiney?) stuff. It would totally take over the bike visually.  How about nickle plating? It's a little softer looking.

[cbjunkie]

oooh - are you talking about that nickel powdercoat that OhioCafeRacer used? yess - use that...

[Lumbee]

Hey CBJ, I love that avatar

...Terry must not have saw your avitar proclaiming the greatness of Carpy and his cafes...now THAT was an avitar...