So what did this RS500 Cosworth actually cost to build?

We have a job for the Bob Dove Motorsport boys that leaves the setup something to be desired, also we finish the RS500 engine build, customer is really happy but what did it really cost to build?

[@sandythompson4256]

For the work involved a very fair price

[@markjefferies2005]

My V6 essex rebuild was 5K NZD. Pistons / rods / crank were perfect. I had to supply a new cam. They supplied a metal timing gear a light hone - everything else was just time for cleaning and reassembly with expected new parts like bearings etc. Your UK prices sound bloody good to me.

[@djwarren5081]

I think that your hourly rate is very reasonable. Especially considering the high quality work.

[@johnmclean4911]

It would be great to hear from some of your customers who have had their engines done. The before and after if they have noticed a difference in performance and how they are running now. 😊

[@smartautomotive]

i think that's a very fair price for cosy and your honestly to what has been done

[@howardosborne8647]

I always used to fit that half circle neoprene seal between the Mini gearbox and main cap before installing the timing chain backplate and use a little Wellseal compound at both ends of the seal.....never had one leak.

[@Jason-zh7wo]

Great price for the customer considoring you are a specialist, as long as your company is making a good profit back from it 👍👍

[@yarrdayarrdayarrda]

I love it when you're delicately machining something and as you come to the end of your cut someone makes a noise that makes you think it's about to come flying out of the jig.

[@twostrokecharlie]

Fair price for a lot of knowledge and specialist application

[@fredflintstone8048]

Lee was referring to the depth of cut in Inches, and the left and right cutting in MM. Loved it.. Wonder how many viewers were having a hissifit. Doing this kind of work using a CNC machine would take a lot longer. First you have to write the program, then you should do a dry run to make sure the machine is going to do what you expect it to do. Then you have to set up the part on the machine setting the references. Personally I see going to CNC machines to make more sense if you're doing production runs of work. It's where the time investment for setting up to make parts pays off in the long run. You also have to make money to pay for those machines as well because they cost a king's ransom, and they require more maintenance and expertise to be able to maintain as they age.

[@howardosborne8647]

The well known 'Metrimperial' system of measurement......none better😂

[@laser-sj]

The YB is such a pretty and well laid out design. 😎

[@DerekWalsh-l4i]

So, well under 7k for that Cosworth rebuild. Seems very reasonable to me.

[@eliotmansfield]

Depends what it needs - mine that was done on this channel cost more due required parts, mates was similar also done with them. So have a healthy budget ready.

[@brucegardener7955]

Very much enjoy the content. I did my apprenticeship in a little garage in Barnet (North London in 60's) working on "A" series engines and gearboxes. Morris 1000, Allegro, mini, Austin 1100 etc. A trip back in time for me seeing you working on the same engines. When are you going to show some of your engines first start after fitting. Maybe you could get some footage of Isaac's cars first start. Keep up the good work.

[@stigg333]

Great video, loved the machining and your price for that engine seem good for the amount of work you done on it and it does look very nice!!

[@audreyleithes2994]

On the A series fit the front seal onto the engine & The gasket to the engine first the oil pick up O ring onto the gearbox then guide it down onto gearbox.

[@onenuttybuddy]

The sprocket manufacturing department in the company I retired from has been in business over 100 years. In the department there is place where all of jigs are stored from the beginning. There are hundreds and hundreds of jigs in the room. Jigs are a necessary part of machining in a manufacturing plant. Most of the jobs in the plant were onesie and twosome jobs, thus all of the jigs need over the decades of work. Jigs are the birth of the saying, "keep it simply stupid". Right on with this jig. As long as it achieves the desired outcome, then it is spot on!!! Alan from NC, USA

[@dalejones3862]

Old machines are sometimes the best they are more reliable

[@danielcires1515]

I paid $ 4500 for machining and parts for my 1936 Ford Flathead V8 and I put it back together by myself so not a bad price

[@richardhintonracing]

I would like to see more Rover K series content as the owner of a GTM Libra 1.8 Rover K series. They gained a bad reputation for head gasket failure . Ultra light weight engine and in a 700kgs mk 1 Elise a very lively powerplant . Multi layer steel gaskets and steel head dowels plus a remote thermostat a close eye on any coolant leaks because they have a small coolant capacity even a water level sensor on the header tank for early warning of a leak and now they have great reliability. So yes hope you will do a few more in great detail with all the mods etc .

[@Ben-Dixey]

Still got the hood strings despite a lot of people warning they will get caught in machinery which one day they will. Your decision, Its just a really bad example to set.

[@andyboat7404]

You only get one fright and i grantee they will be gone

[@Ben-Dixey]

@@andyboat7404 I'm not sure with Lee, it might take a few near misses for it to sink in. Imagine the strings getting caught in that big fly cutter on the skimming mill, your head would be pulled into the cutter before you knew what was going on. I just hope Isaac chooses not wear them.

[@ouroborosirvington]

They look cool and comfortable well worth the risk.

[@davidnorton5887]

That'll be the best video so far. Lol.

[@AndrewNeilBaird]

One of our safety videos when doing the apprenticeship in the Post Office workshop in 1982 was a man with dreadlocks who got them tangled up in a stand drill and couldn't hit the red button fast enough. Basically he was scalped , his skin and flesh ripped from his head , leaving bare bone like Kojak 😂😂 Also , the man who thought his leg strength would be enough to overcome the spring of an air brake actuator while the apprentice undid the casing nut , his pelvis was shattered and his femur bones driven into his torso , looked like a cartoon character who had been pounded by a giant . Obviously both men died . It was a sacking on the spot if you were caught wearing a tie, scarf or any toggle for a hood when working. Also dismissal if you pointed and discharged the blow gun at anyone . Another safety video showed a man who had had one pressed against his chest and 150psi discharged , he had a big booby bubble , which they assured would be septic from the compressor bacteria 🦠 . 🎉 Fun and games .

[@CubeCyclone]

Good honest money for a specialist !

[@vincenthardman7691]

Fascinating and the cost sounds reasonable for the amount of work put into the engines. Thank you for sharing.

[@iainball2023]

Cheap really mate, I see more than 40 hrs labour there I think.. If you don't already, have a good look at logging the time spent by each person on each process. You might surprise your self. I know I did . I also appreciate that when your set up and very familiar with an engine, you can get through them much faster, but that should be mostly beneficial to you ! Not saying fleece the customer, but charge for the knowledge and experience 😉

[@carguyuk7525]

I can see why you are popular for engine builds.

[@martinstone3656]

Love "The Heath Robinson" set up on the milling machine, not heard that for a while :)

[@stevefuller1779]

Prices very good, in my business I get a lot of people who moan about the labour etc. and I'm often pushed to go cheaper because I do not know the going rate for the bigger/official companies, people think because I work alone I'll work for next to nothing but this helps me to be a bit firmer on my pricing.

[@davidpickard9393]

When Halfords were in Boutport street they used to have rebuilt engines in stock for less than a £100.Showing my age now.

[@richardhartley7094]

Prices very reasonable indeed👍

[@rogerfenton5210]

Remember when a friend had a Mexico, the guy at the ford dealership would do the exact same thing from a Capri , his knowledge saved a lot of money , keeping the DNA of the car sometimes means a lot

[@Airgunfunrich]

Cnc is great for production runs. For one offs manual machines are better imho. My brother and I made some prototype parts for underwater sensors for oil exploration, I could (and him) make the part on the manual machine in about the same time as he could write the program for the cnc (which I can’t)

[@derekcoyle2934]

.fair price for good job nice to see not everyone is out to rip you off

[@mchristr]

A while back I looked into having a Cosworth YB shipped stateside but the price (I think it was about $20k) was prohibitive. I can just imagine what it is now. I guess that's why people swap on a Volvo 16v head, or live with a ported iron 2v.

[@ataxpayer723]

SUGGESTION: Increase your prices every two months by a small amount, say 5 Pounds per hour, perhaps on the first day of every 2nd month. All new quotes and invoices that go out after those dates are charged at the new rates. We did this with a Wedding video company in San Diego. Soon he was charging 50% more, and thought that he only had to work for half the amount of time, however his bookings remained the same, You can use the extra income to pay for a part time admin person, or to give yourself a half day per week off work for your "personal wellbeing time". Another option is to add an additional one hour of time to each job as a line item on your invoices called "Experience" or "Pondering & Problem Solving"

[@JeffPower-dv3zl]

Very Reasonable Thanks 😊

[@chunk057]

Great video guys I think your prices are very good you could put them up if I had a engine that needed work I would come to you your dedication is brilliant keep it up Guys 👍

[@jamesdowling706]

Be care with the idler gear end float as there's more than one size of the gasket for the back plate other wise it rattles

[@audreyleithes2994]

I always wonder if they bolt the clutch housing on the gearbox to check idler end float & the primary gear end float before fitting engine onto the gearbox ?

[@audreyleithes2994]

Seams to me if you charge 40 hours then charge for each machine job you are charging them twice surely it doesnt take 40 hours to strip clean & rebuild a engine.

[@chimpinainteasy819]

@@audreyleithes2994 i dont think thats how it works but either way; using a machine costs money on top of the hourly rate. electric, oil, maintenance tool bits etc

[@mercedesmaintenance.6339]

Sounds fair. Metric motors in LA Southern California charges around 10k for a straight 6 m130 mercedes engine. 45k for the m100 V8.

[@MikeHally-w6x]

HI Isaac, re that crank seal on the A Series, I used to invert the gearbox and drop it onto the upside-down short engine, not drop the engine onto the gearbox, much easier I think!

[@adrianrigby1933]

The bill is less than i thought, for the amount of experience going into this. A very fair price. £80.00 an hour for a life times experience and knowledge? A fair deal to my mind.

[@TheBlibo]

Hi I like your method of holding the piston down I used a plate similar to yours but with a hole under the piston and a hook over the pin with a nut on the other side of the mounting plate to pull the piston down but hey ho you do what works for you at that time.

[@ianedwards9136]

I think that is a very resemble price for that engine, Think you could go to100 an hour and still be competitive , but if you still making good money and are happy at your current rate then all good.

[@koenvandijk7245]

Oh man what a horrible fixture with the thin plate in the vice.. A couple of nice v jaws in the vice in stead of the hard smooth jaws and you’re golden! Lower to the vice is a more sturdy workholding. I will email you a drawing for what to get!

[@gavrumney2242]

Or just use a adjustable angle plate

[@iannorfolk3288]

Takes longer to program CNC that do the work on small batch. What about getting a 3 jaw chuck to hold the piston in that jig?

[@Land2020-w6w]

Lee, the labour rate is cheap considering the dealerships on average are 110 pounds per. You and boys are doing specialist work so customers can expect specialist rate per hour. More than fair.

[@minigpracing3068]

I was going to say he needs to charge more.

[@stevefairbanks835]

I’d pay that for a proper build rather than chance it with some other shisters lash up. So good value to me

[@yellowperil1977]

Fit the gearbox to the engine with the block updide down

[@STANLIZ4]

Very fair prices! Hope they are commercially realistic for you! Guessed £7000 min cost.

[@StreetSoldierUK]

Looks like the XR3i sunburst red

[@jcos55chev19]

On the A series, would it be beneficial to temporally use long tapered studs on the bottom of the engine when lowering the engine to mate with the gear box?

[@Justsaying12347]

40 hrs is very reasonable, I've spent that on a head.

[@tangoengineering]

The price is great if you have to ask for an exact price before you even start work then they can't afford it

[@bobuncle8704]

Just based on your hourly rate, that’s a great deal. I know shops charging much more.

[@TheBlibo]

Why do people want an open deck block? It might be OK if you aren't concerned about longevity but it make sense to register the liner from the block deck rather than the base of the liner

[@koford]

Pulled up the currency calculator.. wasn't as crazy as I thought, of course it's money. This engine gonna last long time hopefully and drive it as it was new.

[@TonyRule]

Presumably you DTI'd the existing valve recess to get the right angle in the carrier, but how did you get the cutter central to the 1.7mm either side central? Based on the outside diameter of the crown i.e. v-block on the cutter then placing the piston against the same?

[@Ben-Dixey]

All done by eye, barum engines is all about speed not accuracy. Whatever works is his motto, doesn't matter if it doesn't work long term because there is no warranty offered.

[@SharonD369]

You get what you pay for, if you want perfection then you pay for it 👌

[@struanwardrope2918]

When are we getting to see John grinding crankshafts ?

[@sumkunt0r]

Nah milling rules! turners are axially challenged. 😉 To be fair lee making tooling to hold each piston considering the vast amount of different bore sizes would be expensive. I do think the plate that is held in the vice is a bit thin but then if it starts vibrating you know you are pushing it too hard.

[@davidholloway14]

Fair price

[@regiondeltas]

40 hours at £80+VAT. That's a bargain for that level of engineering and work. I expected it to be a lot more

[@295walk]

Pillar box red

[@shaunstoll4913]

If you want perfection, you have to pay , that's life, you have to pay. Nothing cheap today , get what you pay for.

[@jamesdowling706]

Hi its James Dowling Somehow my comment about the A series engines idler gear end float has turned into a comment about a cossie going by You tube! Wasn't me that made the comment about Cosworth Ok

[@miked6505]

why do you machine the pistons with the ringa fitted

[@dannycrooks8462]

Not too bad on price i was spending near 3k on my stockcar engines 15 years ago when i was racing

[@paultucker2027]

Why not mount a 3 jaw lathe chuck on the mill for holding pistons? Got a cheap Chinese one for holding round items, works well.

[@mikehipperson]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

[@Google_Is_Evil]

To be fair, these modern engines have much tighter manufacturing tolerances so replacing a part without balancing and sizing it is likely to work just fine in a "road use" application.

[@adriancoppola3729]

Not according to the measurements Lee is taking on these new parts.

[@paulappleyard5832]

Re fixtures. What about a CNC honing and boring? Pretty much set and forget these days massive time saver and you can put far more work through. Must be a few things in your shop where an investment on the boring repetitive stuff that doesn't require skills will save you time and money. These kind of investments seem massive but if you do the maths could probably save you big in the long run.

[@gezdipz5425]

Good price 👍🏻

[@user-no4wi2ym5d]

hi so what happend to the kit you where so say coming from the guy in the states ? ?

[@richardpoulter2146]

I reckon you could get your face just a little bit closer to that piston while whipping that cutting bit across the top of it😮😂

[@sarran1955]

Hello, at 20:15 John is coughing up a storm, after 45 years in the metal industry I now have bad lungs but under control with medication. Look after yourself mate....from another John Cordialement,

[@ChrisJones555.]

Not bad pricing considering all the work you do. Engine porn at it finest!!!

[@70sAirForceBrat]

At current corrosion rate your labor rate would work out to $4019.60 US dollars for your 40 hours of labor.

[@timpike9754]

Costs what it Costs let them go else where if your confident, we are!

[@stuwilsonrallying]

Why no timing covers on the RS500 motor? My pet hate is not using timing covers, nothing to stop something getting in

[@darrencarwardine3230]

Whn I was racing the cosworth engine we ust to leave them off.... Yes it stops stuff getting in... But if it does get in it won't get caught in side and cause even more damage

[@alanlucas2886]

not bad tho with the prices i enjoy is video thanks

[@MrJustus152]

£80 an hour is a bargain. A Ford dealer near me in the states is $220.00 an hour.

[@ataxpayer723]

80 Pounds per hour is about US$100 per hour.

[@laurencehastings7473]

Honestly it's not for us to comment on your pricing. It's your business and you know how much you need to charge to cover all of your costs and still, hopefully. make enough profit to ensure the validity of your business concept. 5 G is a lot of money but not in relation to the value of the car. we are talking about a performance engine with small tolerances and many stress factors. You have an hourly rate for labour, little to no influence over the price of replacemant parts and presumably fixed rates for machining processes. No doubt it wouldn't make much sense to have this work done on a common or garden engine because as you so rightly stated, the price would inevetably be similar to a Cosi and that is completely logical.

[@robertelmes1981]

the cars value. =100K, rebuilt balanced beautifully presented Engine=5K, that’s 5% overall, seems a bit on the cheap side, I don’t know your Business just my opinion

[@70sAirForceBrat]

Wow! Total cost $7,285.41 in United States Dollar.

[@MrHugaKuga]

@17:40 someone having a tooth done?

[@trevorberry-jf7gv]

I was thinking at least a grand more! You didn't note the cleaner in your break down, was that in with the parts?

[@The_BenboBaggins]

Vermillion?

[@JeffPower-dv3zl]

You cant put a price on your Engineering Skills Thanks 😊

[@RickLovejoy-w4j]

Love an engine dressed out . engine porn is what we call it

[@Justsaying12347]

Sorry, still laughing at the hood strings haters, but if they do get caught promise these people you'll film it then at least it will serve as a warning to others. I wont mention i built engines in trainers and shorts, so get a brown work smock lol.

[@howardosborne8647]

The forum 'Elf & Safety' inspectorate🤣

[@ronniemattix]

To cheap!

[@Deppel57]

£80 an hour? A basic job in any garage in leafy Surrey is at least £95 an hour. Incredibly cheap -no mark up on parts?