What is a rebuilt 2.0 liter worth? Options

[r_towle]

Here is the deal.
I have several motors that I could build.
I am working on quite a few 356's now.

I would like to figure out if I could make a few bucks by building, testing, (leak down and compression, no dyno) and selling these motors complete.

If the value is there, I will do it.
Otherwise I will sell each item on ebay.

I am testing the waters here.
Rich

[r_towle]

As I said, I am testing the waters.
The market for these cars is still at such a low value that people do not need this service. Its interesting. This market contains several segments.
One segment cannot afford the new motor with all the new parts, but this segment also has no concept of the value of a properly built motor.

The next segment of the market can afford the new parts, but also may have the ability to build a motor with competence.

As the market for 914 matures in the next ten to fifteen years and used parts become more scarce, things will change.
As we all know a mass production motor from one of the larger firms is just that..mass produced. A single person building a motor for a particluar client has alot more care and reputation involved that goes with the motor. If you end up having a need for a rebuilt motor, get to know the builder...a small shop will always out perform a large shop just based upon people helping people.

I have found my answer. The market defined itself with the responses.

I do want to state for the people who voted 1-4k....do the math.
It cannot be done for that price. The parts alone, new parts and limited machine work is 1-2k.
The assembly time for a properly built motor, one that is balanced, measured, blueprinted, and assembled two or three times to get it perfect ranges from 30-50 hours.

So do the math guys.
The 356 crowd will provide us with the complete core motor and spend 7-10k to get it rebuilt....and the head work is cheaper than a type 4 head...This is mostly labor...and it does take longer than a type 4, but not a whole lot longer. The main difference is sourcing the parts and machine work.

I do see the 914 market following the 356 market. We are experiencing the same market conditions that the 356 market had in the 80's.

Rich

[ericread]

As I said, I am testing the waters.
The market for these cars is still at such a low value that people do not need this service. Its interesting. This market contains several segments.
One segment cannot afford the new motor with all the new parts, but this segment also has no concept of the value of a properly built motor.

The next segment of the market can afford the new parts, but also may have the ability to build a motor with competence.

As the market for 914 matures in the next ten to fifteen years and used parts become more scarce, things will change.
As we all know a mass production motor from one of the larger firms is just that..mass produced. A single person building a motor for a particluar client has alot more care and reputation involved that goes with the motor. If you end up having a need for a rebuilt motor, get to know the builder...a small shop will always out perform a large shop just based upon people helping people.

I have found my answer. The market defined itself with the responses.

I do want to state for the people who voted 1-4k....do the math.
It cannot be done for that price. The parts alone, new parts and limited machine work is 1-2k.
The assembly time for a properly built motor, one that is balanced, measured, blueprinted, and assembled two or three times to get it perfect ranges from 30-50 hours.

So do the math guys.
The 356 crowd will provide us with the complete core motor and spend 7-10k to get it rebuilt....and the head work is cheaper than a type 4 head...This is mostly labor...and it does take longer than a type 4, but not a whole lot longer. The main difference is sourcing the parts and machine work.

I do see the 914 market following the 356 market. We are experiencing the same market conditions that the 356 market had in the 80's.

Rich

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

My comments were based on about the same concerns as you have stated. The business model just doesn't support the current market pricing.

HOWEVER, you have been talking for the most part to "gear heads". Many of the people on this board substantially turn their own wrenches. The reason I was drawn to this board is to get assistance with exactly that.

It appears that your proposal is not focused on this audience. The people you may want to focus on are the hobbyests that buy a 914 to drive, and really have little interest in working on it. For them, your services are critical. But there's a gotcha with that group too. These folks are going to find a local mechanic to perform their scheduled maintenance and break/fix work. In many cases, these mechanics, qualified or not, are going to want to perform engine work as part of their service offerings. So what incentive do you have to provide your services to a mix of these groups?

I am putting away money each month so that I can buy a Raby kit next fall. I don't want a race engine. I just want a well designed engine that works efficiently (cool), get's good gas milage, and continues to work with my stock FI. Jake claims (as do many of the people whom have bought his parts kits/engines) that his engines will do all that. Am I buying an over-engineered kit? Probably. But at this point I feel I don't have much of a choice as there has been no one posting that has an alternative product in a kit form that I believe I have the ability to install. Why the kit form? Because I am a CSOB.

With the prices on out 914's beginning to rise, maybe now is the time to begin limited production/availability of your engine work/product. You will probably need to build-in an incentive for shops to do business with you, and plan only on a limited roll-out for now. Additionally, you may want to place a 1-inch ad in "Panorama" (remember, you're looking for the 914 owner that doesn't have a bunch of tech experience).

Anyway, that's my $.02.