Shops and mechanics are also known for robbing patrons blind. The argument can be made from both sides. "You get what you pay for" is not always a valid statement. Comparing ebay parts to say... HKS? Sure, I can agree there, but labor charges and profit margins aren't a clear indicator of quality either. Turblown? Esmeril? Expensive, overstated value, overstated gains, missed delivery dates, excuses, and LOTS of complaints. Quality is reputation, not price. Price is just what you're wiling to pay.

nobody is referring to those chumps

I agree, a higher price does not always equate to better results. But quality parts (OEM seals, ianetti seals, etc), assembly balancing, and new hard parts all cost a significant amount of money and there is just no way around that unless you have some sort of serious hook up. A builders charges for labor and what their lack of ability can cost you can equal serious amounts of cash.

And you should have thrown BDC in that list, after seeing a recent very expensive rebuild he did I wouldn't trust him to port or rebuild my lawn mower.

But we all learn differently and some the hard way. A couple of friends of mine have had the pleasure of dealing with two different but both highly capable (an somewhat expensive understandably) race car fab shops to fix their Turblown kits and they are both extremely excited and relieved to receive high quality well fabricated parts that work. And sometimes if you are capable and want something done right, you have to do it yourself.

I would say that for the most part you do get what you pay for when it comes to engine builders. $10,000.00 spent on a build with Darryl Drummond gets you a top notch build that is proven on an engine dyno or spending $10,000.00 with Corky Bell would get you a top notch fully functional turbo kit. Spending as much with the likes of Turblown, BDC, Esmeril, etc. gets you a largely unusable sum of parts, an empty bank account and a sore butt hole.

Yep, I agree.

With you're examples, their reputation precedes them. Thus, they demand a premium, and I can respect their price.

do not want ...

I recently did. Ended up dumping nearly $4000 trying to get it rebuilt with a guy who claimed to have worked for rotary resurrection. After about 8 months of failure he pretty much told me to go screw myself. Anyways, I'm doing it right this time and the seals alone are costing me $1500, and its only that cheap because I had already purchased the $300+ apex seals. On top of that lapping the housings is 320 at mazdatrix or 334 at racing beat. Plus I need 2 new rotors which is another $500-650 for usable condition used rotors. plus I'm getting a deal on the labor at only $1000, so It is costing me $3500+ still. I don't see how a shop could stay in business offering rebuilds for less than the price of just the seals.

Sorry to hear that man. It happens all the time though unfortunately.

It does, you live and you learn.

Some shops bascially charges you just labor alone and re-use whatever crap that was in it. they might give you a few soft new seals but that's it.

3K for a rebuild usually means it's crap

Wanna know how much I did for my FC engine all brand new parts /w BDC doing a small street port (I know I know about BDC, but hey im sure he can port an engine, lol)0

except 2 rotors and e-shaft with Ceramic seals AND I have MMS discount? like 7 or 8K. and i did all work myself except the porting.

MSP parts cost slighty less so maybe 5-6K without ceramic seals. don't need new housing/iron ? well u don't execatly need them but honestly if u want good compression, you will need at least a pair of brand new housing. and those things ain't cheap.

Where did you get the AFE shifter for $160?? :SHOCKED:

cruise the forums for deals man. The only thing I'll be paying full price for is a set of coilovers I'm ordering tomorrow and I am even getting a slight price reduction on those after emailing the vendor.