For $5k, Chevy Will Let You Assemble Your Corvette Z06’s Engine Yourself (2015)
When I did the rebuild [1] of my 1987 Land Rover Defender 110, I did it through a shop that ran a special program where owners could rebuild&#x2F;repower their Defenders under the tutelage of the shop owner.  In fact, the build was so dependent on my labor that I, as the customer, had to sign a contract that I would complete my part of the bargain in a timely manner or else I would have to pay him his hourly rate to complete it for me.<p>It turned out to be an amazing experience.  I stripped the truck down to a bare frame and built a brand-new rolling chassis [2] with new motor [3], transmission, transfer case, and suspension.  I moved the old body over onto the new chassis, which gave it a sort of retro look with proper period-correct gear but the reliability of all-new parts.  The shop owner was there to direct me what to start on next, to answer questions when I got stuck, and to help me lift the really heavy things, but for the most part, I wrenched alone.<p>Over eight weekends of work, I went from knowing how to do only the most basic of maintenance (oil changes, etc.) to being quite confident that I could do another project just like this entirely on my own.  The cost was about the same as paying someone else to do the work but I can be confident that everything was done right--every bolt torqued correctly, every dirty thing cleaned, every broken thing replaced.  I take my truck out to the desert for multi-week camping trips and the experience gave me much-needed confidence in my ability, my tools, and my gear.<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.flickr.com&#x2F;photos&#x2F;defender90&#x2F;albums&#x2F;72157640704807135" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.flickr.com&#x2F;photos&#x2F;defender90&#x2F;albums&#x2F;721576407048...</a><p>[2] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.flickr.com&#x2F;photos&#x2F;defender90&#x2F;13052224614&#x2F;in&#x2F;album-72157640704807135&#x2F;lightbox&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.flickr.com&#x2F;photos&#x2F;defender90&#x2F;13052224614&#x2F;in&#x2F;albu...</a><p>[3] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.flickr.com&#x2F;photos&#x2F;defender90&#x2F;12399960314&#x2F;in&#x2F;album-72157640704807135&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.flickr.com&#x2F;photos&#x2F;defender90&#x2F;12399960314&#x2F;in&#x2F;albu...</a>