Cost of Rebuilding the 1275 Engine for Barn Sprite 5

Today I add up the costs for the 1275cc A-Series engine that is going into Barn Sprite #5.
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This Week With Cars - Episode 0404
#austinhealey #barnfind #classiccars

[@janforward8784]

Yes please do the engine rebuild, I would love to see it.

[@mythrusthelema]

More please. Yes on rebuild.

[@johnvender]

Yes to the assembly of the 1275.

[@sonofrancobollo]

Would love to see the Engine Assembly

[@youngmuttley]

Yes please, I would love to see you rebuild the 1275 motor. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@markmurphy3578]

The rebuild would be great to see. There’s always something new to see and learn from!

[@brentonmanser7350]

yes never get tired of watching engine rebuilds

[@BoonesMountain]

ABSOLUTELY 💯 Do a video on the 1275 rebuild!!! Thanks Steve! Love this channel!

[@stephenhenion8304]

A "1275" really produces the power you need for a Proper Bugeye!! Great video, Steve

[@stephenricketts7764]

I Think it is the same here in the UK with regards to costs. You might hear people say 'well back in the day I paid. . . ' but what they seem to forget is the cost of labour. The other thing of course, here there are fewer people who are capable of doing such work. Anyway it would be nice to see you rebuild this engine as we have followed the revival of these Sprites it would be great to see the progress even if you 'timelapse' some of it. 👍👍

[@ianrenshaw6653]

Yes, please show the rebuild. Always something new to see on each rebuild:)

[@jlwilliams]

Thanks for this very useful reveal! I'm always watching car videos where some guy says blithely, “It didn’t need much, just new floors and an engine rebuild”… and I always wonder, “Yeah, but HOW MUCH in actual grickles?” It's fun to daydream about finding a dusty-but-sound old car in a shed somewhere, buying it cheap, and getting it going again - but this is a valuable wake-up call that doing a decent job of just the basics is going to cost multiple thousands, and that's a prohibitive amount of money for a lot of us. Looks as if my old-car tinkering is going to have to remain vicarious, so YES, I definitely want to see a video of you assembling all these parts into a working engine!

[@paulhall170]

That's what I was trying to say, yes......

[@daveshongkongchinachannel]

Definitely would love to see the assembly. Thanks for going through the costs. Information like this would be very useful for anyone considering a similar project.

[@alfredomorles-miralles684]

Yes to rebuild

[@88SC]

Absolutely would like to see the engine assembly.

[@craigwiest772]

Every time I watch one of your videos I learn something or relearn. The rule of $5000 dollars; each major segment of an average rebuild will cost a multiple of $5000.

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

Thats a pretty good rule.

[@emma.j.nation]

I wonder how long that’ll hold true - have you seen the price of a paint job, these days?

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

If you are paying for a paint job it will cost $10-15k and up to $50k if you need a lot of rust and body repair before it can be painted.

[@frglee]

I've seen several 'A' series engines rebuilt here on YT, including one from a young Sri Lankan guy in fast motion. But I find it a fascinating and surprisingly relaxing thing to watch, so yes, I'd enjoy seeing you do it again. Don't forget showing the test run after!

[@robertmorin1454]

Love the way you have explained things like the costs ! Well done! 👍🇨🇦

[@batterymakermarkii2654]

Absolutely on the rebuild

[@keithkrause3386]

Yes, it would be great to see the assembly video😊

[@chipperkeithmgb]

You have some lovely English cars

[@glinleyt]

Of course we want to see the reassembly! 😊😊😊

[@bobmanzi7712]

Great stuff thanks

[@milliewilkie1969]

yes lets see rebuilds

[@scottdieckgraefe5657]

Yes, please video the assembly!

[@radweld]

100% yes to the rebuild

[@stewartbrass]

Yes, I'd like to watch the re-assembly.

[@Al-os2cg]

Let’s see more please

[@heckmacbuff]

Well yes, of course we want to see the rebuild!!

[@johna1160]

There's obviously more to the story of the cracked head. Shop failed to catch it initially, so time and new parts were put into it before crack was eventually discovered. If it had been found during initial inspection (magnaflux?), head would've simply been tossed. Arguably, shop was at fault here, but I'm guessing Steve ate the huge up-charge to maintain a good relationship with one of the few surviving machine shops in his area. Appreciated this short, informative episode very much.

[@LawrenceCamera]

Yes yes yes.. would love to see you assemble this engine

[@dougbecker5880]

I like that you do what interests you and we get to experience it. I would like to see the engine and car build. I am curious whey you went with this engine. what are your plans for this car? the best part of your channel is the honesty. you don't edit out mistakes or failures and you are always upfront. your skills are very impressive.

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

This car is going to be a driven often so it is getting some upgrades and the 948 engine I built for is now in the pink sprite (Barn Sprite 6) to get that one on the road quicker.

[@magnusmcqueen4046]

Yes please, would like to see the engine assembly too 👍

[@mattwilliams5529]

Hell yes to the assembly video

[@paulhall170]

Outstandingly informative, Steve!! You'd have to have a reason to spend that much money on just the engine of one of those red Sprites; I'd guess that you could spend many multiples of that amount to do all the rest of the work that car requires.... But, yes, let's see the rebuild, please!

[@eggybreadplease]

Very useful insight into costs for parts 👍

[@christopherjgibson]

Would love to see the assembly again

[@ogribiker8535]

Thank you for being open and honest. Yes to the rebuild 👍👍

[@johnlockhart5889]

Would love to see the rebuild video.

[@scottdieckgraefe5657]

Yes, assembly video please!

[@mitchd949]

So much for LBC's being the "affordable classic." I did a complete nut-and-bolt restoration of a '72 MGB GT between 2011-2012. I imagine it would be a lot more expensive today. I still have the car and drive it several times a week.

[@julianwinn4502]

Yes, please video the rebuild.

[@bradfordeaton6558]

I would like to see the reassembly, please.

[@michaelmadsen4741]

Yes please. I would very much like to see you working on the engine

[@bladerunner6282]

i had some machine work done on my '61 MGA 1600 engine in about 1971. IIRC, it involved taking 10 thousandths off the head, a valve job that included two new seats, knurling the valve guides, pressing in the cam bearings and balancing the main parts of the drive line (the crank pulley, the crank, the connecting rods, the pistons, the flywheel and the clutch. total cost, labor only? $45. yep! forty-five dollars. @Wheathie's Machine Shop just south of Columbus Ohio. fast forward to 2024. ...just got my 1967 3.4l jaguar mk2 engine and trans back from the rebuilder. i won't go through everything that was done but i will give you the total price...$25000. 00...uh...ya. :(

[@cabrini00]

The assembly would be interesting for me.

[@Derf1313]

Ouch... My mind must be old! Seems like we could get the big box of parts, & some machining, without taking out a loan! Crazy, considering all! Thanx !

[@anthonybrau7399]

Absolutely would like to see you assemble the engine.

[@vinyl_soul]

Steve, yes please film engine rebuild

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

Yes, Very much so. I would like to see another assembly video. I have loads of Mini engine parts and most have rusted. I'm wondering whether blocks and heads can be saved. tHanks for the videos

[@davidnelson6893]

Yes for sure Peace out

[@SilverFlint247]

Yes on rebuild

[@tomk4199]

Of course I'd love to see that rebuild! I'd be fine if your channel was nothing but work on the Sprites and other British cars!

[@NohoNE83]

Sure to rebuild!

[@graemecatty9921]

Yes please.

[@grayfool]

It's been a very long time since I rebuilt an A series. The last one was my 1275GT Mini engine back in the mid eighties. I cant remember the actual cost but it was only a few hundred pounds in the UK. I think I might look at a pre built engine now.

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

The prebuilt engines for sale in the US go from $7k for a 1275 to $10.5 for a built up 1380. Nobody here is building up the 948s anymore as far as I know because the blocks are getting hard to find.

[@grayfool]

@@ThisWeekWithCars That's nearly twice the cost of those in the UK. Wow!

[@MrBillsmith60]

Yes

[@pashvinderpalqqqq]

Please do a video on the rebuild

[@ronpalmer1371]

Hi, are the parts from the UK ? 👍🏻

[@michaelruckel1711]

Steve- please upload a rebuild video!

[@johngrunder836]

I’d like to see the assembly please

[@sbhd3465]

Steve - can you comment on the cost of the repair to the head crack? I'm not familiar with what this involves but it must be an intricate process that results in that high price.

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

It’s a cast iron head so it has to be heated up very hot and welded while hot to not damage it further. Then because you got it so hot the metal might have moved a bit so everything has the checked ground and remachined.

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

Finding someone who even does this work is getting very hard as nobody is replacing the old guys who did it. Who dreams of having a job sitting next to a red hot oven and welding parts in it all day. With most heads and blocks going aluminum these days there is also less need for this service.

[@andrewsnoozy]

we don't do for the cost, we do it for the love.

[@bugeye23]

Please do a video on the engine rebuild! I am about to do a rebuild on my 1275 soon. The only difference is I will be putting in a 276 degree camshaft. Any other parts you recommend? Hardened valve seats etc.??? I am trying to make a list of any parts that can be upgraded in an attempt to have a worry and trouble free engine. Thanks

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

Hardened valves seats are the only way you have been able to get them for the last thirty or more years so if the head is or will be rebuilt it would have them by default. The silicone gasket and spin on filter are going to help keep the oil drips to a minimum.

[@bugeye23]

@@ThisWeekWithCars Appreciate it! Also, would you consider keeping one of the barn Sprites and doing a complete restoration on it? Maybe turning it into a race car?

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

You must have missed some videos, Sprite 6 is now becoming a pink race car, Sprite 5 is restored and waiting the engine, Sprite 1 I will always keep and you sill see it soon getting some "correct looking" upgrades, Sprite 3 is waiting on parts and then will be up for sale. I am trying to keep a playlist for each car so someone can see the progress of each. www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekWithCars/playlists

[@bugeye23]

@@ThisWeekWithCars Looks like I have some binge watching to do then. I’ll do some catching up!

[@Simon-ry1lw]

Engine rebuild video please 👍

[@sophiaraptishales1460]

Hi, yes please to an engine rebuild.

[@madsteve9]

Will you be upgrading with a Shorrock or Eaton Supercharger ?

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

Already done that kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJ-tf6CifNl0q8k

[@lesklower7281]

No wonder so many old British cars are scrapped in Australia and classic British cars aren't worth that much in Australia because of reconditioning the engine and on classic British cars you need to do it a lot

[@davidra7527]

Please show the rebuild

[@chrishoward8473]

I was wondering what happened to that engine

[@richs7362]

Price gougeing by the manufacturers and supplyers, got to keep the $ profit$ up!

[@michaelwcarpenter5824]

Can you put a 1275 head on a 948?

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

Not without a lot of hassle.

[@jimm9776]

I bet you could do something different with the editing! Not all of us have seen all your videos... i came in with the Junkyard Digs 280 :-p

[@MrDunky48]

That’s a lot of money suggesting that the value of the car after completely restoring it will more than cover those costs? Presumably you are not just doing it for the love of it and you will not just store the car with a virtually new engine?

[@jimbyrne9071]

Please show assembly

[@jacquikowalewsky7691]

Why source a good cylinder head instead of welding and re-machining? Would this have been even more expensive?

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

I could have bought several other heads but the risk of them also being cracked seemed like a waste of money. Cracked heads on the A and B series engines are very common and you should not be surprised if the head you bought is also cracked.

[@danbeardshear1356]

not solid lifters ?

[@ncdave4]

Show the build...

[@dennisbranam3847]

I would like to see the assembly please.