Over haul Estimate.

Most Cat houses have dyno's. When they are done, it will go on the dyno to check for leaks and just work it for a while. This is something most truck dealerships can't offer.

I had mine overhauled at Cat in Nashville, one reason was the dyno, another reason is that they would let me go into the shop to look and talk to the mechanic. Thats the reason I very seldom go to Rush Peterbilt in Nashville. $100 plus an hour and I can't go into the shop!!!!!!!!!!! leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

 

Ya but how much is labor that's the only thing not taxed

 

I am from Iowa and the kw dealer there in des Moines is who I would use and I worked there 10 years ago they are good and for the warranty all trucks get ran on dyno at cat so big deal there its worth a call to check and see on price kenworth mid Iowa

 

The thing about the crank and cam is they won't know till its torn down and inspected. Same with rocker arms etc. The platinum kit is the way to go, used parts under the pressure of a new engine will fail. I doubt the crank is bad if it holds good oil pressure and doesn't make any noise, but they will mic it and check new bearing clearance with plastigage. If it is bad it will blow his estimate to crap but it would any where else too. Or they could have it back together before its found, if its found. Most after overhaul failures occur due to something missed during inspection, or contamination. Yea he could short change it but what would he have? The running gear is the most important part of a truck, yes you can put more in it than its worth. You just have to drive it out of it. If he trades for a fresh overhaul with papers does he really know what he is getting?

He could spend a lot of money on a maybe she will run overhaul. Or a little more on a bolt the hood down and make money engine. If he wants coast to coast warranty then a dealer is the way to go. There are independents who can build as good or better engine, but sometimes its a long way from home. I heard an old timer say one time looking at a race horse no hoof no horse. The horse was fast when sound which wasn't often. This is kinda the same deal.

 

About what I was quoted.

 

I highly suggest having the block thoroughly inspected with you present after it is apart. Even with my insistence during a inframe and couple other head gasket installs mine was not inspected. After 5 blown head gaskets that every shop blamed on liner protrusion I yanked the motor for a out of frame rebuild...we found the block's deck was dipped in two different places causing liners and spacer plates to move under operating conditions. These dips still showed signs of factory machine marks.

Also I do not recommend a reman head. CAT has had horrible luck with reman heads lately. There is no way to tell if or how much the reman head has been milled until it is set on the block and timing gears installed. I have seen a couple heads milled so much that the timing gears were to tight to even turn. Another bad point is CAT allows something like 2 cracks per cylinder in the head and still pass inspection. TO me this is unacceptable for all the money I am spending.

Like I mentioned, I am currently having my ACERT rebuilt and am looking at a figure around $32-35K. This includes engine removal/install, IPD rebuild kit, machine work that was badly needed on the block, new head, machine pistons to drop compression, both turbos, and MicroBlue everything that moves in the engine/turbos.

 

That's a lot freaking money, I done mine last year(C-15), for 9k, (turbos not included), with 1 year warranty, freightliner, cat & cummins shops are a waste of time and money, they have no clue of what their are doing, plus they are overpriced,

 

What do you mean by "drinking oil"? Add oil every how many miles? 680k IMO is not a ton of miles unless the motor was abused. I have 636K on a Detroit 60 and only add oil at filter change 25K

 

Maybe you'll get lucky and not have to do it twice. That was always my luck with cut rate independent shops sometimes 3 was a charm. It's just a $30,000 motor it ain't going to the moon, yeah it looks close, lol.

 

I have seen CAT dealers, and truck dealers have a mix of so so techs, newbies that aint worth killin, and real good techs. They are struggling to find good help to and when they do because he is good every body tries to hire him and its hard to keep him.
I have seen the new guy really mess a customer rig up, and the experianced stand there and watch it not say a word.
I know of some really good independents, and that I wouldn't let work on my mail box. I know a few really good mechanics with their own shop but won't spend the money for expensive diagnostic equipment, makes them not so sharp.
I have overhauled a lot of motors in my life very few have come back. Took a long time to find and hire guys to work in my shop like me that take pride in there work. That being said if we are not familiar with it its a no charge can't help you. I'm not wasting your money to learn. Most think mechanic work is simple any body can do it. There are parts of it that are an art, I blend old school proven methods with new technology. When my shop is done with an engine, we put florescent leak die in the engine before the 3 hour test drive to make sure it doesn't leak or swap with fuel or coolant. We also have a smoke machine to test fr leaks in the breather and intake system before it leaves. I wont take an overhaul that I don't personally insect the block, some have waited a week or more extra for us to do theirs so we must be doing something right. The name on the door is not worth the cost of the paint they used if the employees and owner don't have pride. You may get a good job this round and a crap the next.
My advise is find you a good mechanic you like dealer or independent and request him to do your work. If he knows he will probably have to work on it again he may do things different.