Why do engines cost so much?

[usac7]

Had an uncle who quit Late Model racing a while back. He said the cost of engines were way out of hand and the little guy just could not compete.

That was in 1976 and the cost he was complaining about was $7,000

For giggles, I looked up on the interweb the annual rate of inflation for the US, I then started with $7,000 and multiplied it by the inflation rate for each year, I came to around $35,000 and I did it around 10 years ago when top of the line engines were $30K to $35K

$30,000 for an engine seemed really high until I did that.

[MI Dirt Fan]

Why didn't my new Ford Fusion cost what my Pinto did 25 years ago. Why is milk so expensive? Why is gas over $3 a gallon?

Why do DLM races still pay 10k to win today like they did 30 years ago while everything around them as skyrocketed in price? hmmmmm

Gas is over $3 a gallon?

[waaac77]

In the late 90s gas was around $1.00 per gallon and I could get a carton of cigs for $25-$30

[Clayton_Wetter]

In the late 90s gas was around $1.00 per gallon and I could get a carton of cigs for $25-$30

Wow, you actually made a post that was not about attacking blackford!!!!! hahahahaaaa

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

Why didn't my new Ford Fusion cost what my Pinto did 25 years ago. Why is milk so expensive? Why is gas over $3 a gallon?

Why do DLM races still pay 10k to win today like they did 30 years ago while everything around them as skyrocketed in price? hmmmmm

I don't know why milk is expensive. We have more than we can sell.

Fusion vs Pinto? A whole lot of government mandated items and lots of tech trinkets have been added.

[MI Dirt Fan]

Some places have price wars with milk. You can get a gallon for under a $1.

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

Why didn't my new Ford Fusion cost what my Pinto did 25 years ago. Why is milk so expensive? Why is gas over $3 a gallon?

Why do DLM races still pay 10k to win today like they did 30 years ago while everything around them as skyrocketed in price? hmmmmm

Purses cant increase because gate prices can't increase. It cost $10 for GA and $20 for a pit pass in 1985. No one is going to pay $23 and $46 for the same Saturday night show today. There are too many entertainment options.

[billetbirdcage]

Titanium Rods, about 5k a set. Modern crankshafts that around 42-44lbs add a lot complexity to the forgings, and machining. Plus some better materials, some of the new cranks are around 4k plus.

Castings for Blocks and Heads are cheap by comparison but there putting more time in the ports, machining and design. Its not easy to flow 450 cfm and make it have a decent power curve.

Heck some of the new Lifter designs are $1500 to 2k a set. Shaft Rockers, Belt Drives everything has been optimized.

All in a quest for less failures,but it seems lately that they have passed a threshold...

RY45:

block 6550.00
crank 4425.00
rods 2320.00
balance 610.00
lifters 2912.00

[deadringer]

A race that paid 10K 20 years ago still pays 10k today. Around here in KY they have these big 2 night shows that pay 3K the first night and 4 or 5K the next night, I just don't know how people afford to race.

[CageFaraday]

Spread Bore, Cost More. Its kinda like running on the hook, its takes an entire package to see the benefit from that, you can't just throw a shock/spring behind LR and your done. Same with Spread Bore/Wide Bore, its not the aluminum that makes them pricey, I'd say it starts with the heads. Very big valves, incredible flow capabilities but to realize the potential you need a bigger bore than the older style blocks could achieve, so special block for special heads. Now because of that special block you need a special crank too, very pricey. And on and on, lots of specific parts, all very weight conscious so these engines also are capable at living at higher RPM's, even with longer strokes. Seems like the rebuilds are much more involved as far as more parts need replacing more often and they cost more to start with, especially the crank.

So they cost more to build, they cost more to rebuild and they need rebuilding more often. Welcome to the next level...

It would overly simplistic to write off the gross escalation in cost just to inflation, it isn't.

[Kromulous]

RY45:

block 6550.00
crank 4425.00
rods 2320.00
balance 610.00
lifters 2912.00

(quote from Billet, browser wont let use the function on this board)

Block price is pretty crazy, your costs sum to about 16k. Wonder what a set of Cylinders heads and manifold come up too? 12 to 15k?

Considering the man hours to machine one of these, is there that much profit to be made here?

[Josh Bayko]

The motors are 50k because people are willing to pay that price.

[Josh Bayko]

I don't know why milk is expensive. We have more than we can sell.

Fusion vs Pinto? A whole lot of government mandated items and lots of tech trinkets have been added.

Milk prices are regulated by the government. That explains that one.

A Pinto is also a compact pile of garbage and a Fusion is a midsize sedan. A better argument would have been Pinto vs. Fiesta.

[Matt49]

I work in a highly technical field and I have made the transition in the last few years to a role that resembles what you might call a "sales engineer". In other words, I'm the really smart guy that goes with the sales guy to explain to the client's technical people why they need what we are selling.
I say all this to say, there is a saying in sales in the industry I'm in and it is this: Where there is mystery, there is margin.

Take that for what it's worth but I think the same applies to some of the big dollar engines. The sales philosophy is basically the same: you don't know what you're doing and I do, so I name the price to provide the solution you're looking for. You can pay the price or not get the solution, your decision. If you don't buy from me that's fine, I've got a line of people waiting for stuff they're already paid for.

It's basically supply and demand economic principals but in a VERY niche market. That's the best way I can explain it.

[Krooser]

Valves are Ti and $200 each. Rockers arms $1500. Takes $500,000 worth of tools to do the machine work. A Dyno is $80,000.

Headwork alone is $3000.

You have to pay the help. And utilities. And the mortgage. And.....