Rebuild Shop Cost

[[ion] C2]

Damn guys. Been talkin with Auto Addictions (local shop that's been fixing my bumper every time it gets wrecked, and installing my wideband and such) about rebuilding the spare engine I have with the parts I have laying around, and he says it's $850 for JUST the engine swap. Pulling one engine out, putting another in. Not including disassembling the engine and installing new parts. He says it'll probably be double that price.

Ridiculous! Motiv Race and Speed Industry (more local shops) said they'd do it all, build and install (I THINK, most likely it's just for the build.. :/ then install will rape. Unless I do it myself with a few friends..) for $750-800. I know AnderbrA got all of his parts installed for $700. Unfortunately the one I was going to take it to, Motiv Race (high quality, low prices, great guy) is moving out to Minnesota or something at the moment. Speed Industry is known to be expensive, and he said it'd be like 6-8 hours minimum. Minimums are just that. Heh.

Or I could rebuild it myself with my 12 friends, and possibly poorly do it. NOT GOOD.

There's still a few other shops I haven't talked to, Street Legal Customs or Monkey Wrench Racing. I gotta see if SOMEONE can do this shit for under a grand. :(

[alerored04]

Honestly removing the engine is much much easier than you think. I did my own short block swap when mine blew. I really was guessing most of the time taking it apart. Just use lables and a camera and you will be fine. I would pull it myself and then let someone else build it as I am not comfortable with tight tolerance that a rebuild requires.

[[ion] C2]

I know that's the point, they said their basic engine SWAPS start at $1,000. To pull and put. I was like "That much?" And he's like "Yep. That's not even talkin about disassembling and rebuilding it."

I'm probably going to find a shop to build it (likely $700ish) then I'll swap it with the army of about 12 friends I have willing to help.

[zzyzzx]

The numbers you quote sound cheap to me. In fact they sound really cheap. For comparison purposes, about 6-7 years ago, I paid $4000 to have a rebuilt Jasper engine put into my 1995 Escort.

:eek:

[[ion] C2]

Yeah but Jasper's so overpriced it's hilarious. Like my dad paying $2100 to replace the head gaskets and coilpacks on the 3400 for the Pontiac Montana. You can pay out the ass without knowing you're getting raped. I'm looking for a fair price. $1000 to put a fully ready to run engine into a car is SO OVERPRICED it's not even funny. It's sickening. Rebuilding and swapping isn't hard. I could do it all myself, but I don't really have the time.

[[ion] C2]

Ha, got a call back from Auto Addictions. They say if I bring them just the block (bottom end) cleaned and stripped, they'll install the rotating assembly (pistons/rings/bearings/rods/balance shafts) for $750. I find that to be SUPER STEEP considering the others would rebuild the entire thing for $750.

[01silveralero]

its expensive because tranverse engine swaps are slightly harder than rwd engine swaps. for example my neighbors mustang's engine we are able to get it in or out in 15 min. i told of this before we were able to get an engine out of a junkyard in the morning, remove the engine out of the car and replace it in the same day before it was close to dark. swapping isnt really hard. rebuilding when u have to be exact with the tolerances should be left to a shop.

[[ion] C2]

Why would RWD engines have less wiring and crap holding them in? That's the main issue. The LD9 can be pulled out no problem, even without removing the hood. It's all about finding the transmission -> engine bolts. After that, as long as you label everything, should be a piece of cake. Guy at my work swapped out the LD9 in his Cavalier, says it was pretty simple. I'll employ his help when it comes to actually swapping the engine.

I just want a shop that will get it all ready for me to bolt on the accessories and supercharger from my current engine, and drop into the bay. Talking to Speed Industry right now (a while back said he estimated 6-8 hours work, so I'm guessing $700 ish) We'll see. I'm hopin I can get this thing done soon, and without too much money loss.

[Redog]

RWD cars don't have less wiring, unless it's an old motor with no PCM or ECU.

A FWD car usually has to be pulled out from the bottom and with the engine sitting on top of the tranny, etc, etc, but FWD cars have been out since about 1980 so it's not like it's "new" anymore.

My mech told me that he could get me a new (or remanfactored) 3400 long block, direct from GM for $1100, and put on all my top end stuff (including a new cam :D) and put in back in the car. Total cost would be $2500. Personally, I don't think that's bad.

He's probably do it like the Delta's tranny. He's use the job as "filler" He could have rebuilt the tranny in one day, but it took him 3 weeks, because he only did it when the shop was slow. I received a reduced labor rate becasue of that ;)

[01silveralero]

C2;371807']Why would RWD engines have less wiring and crap holding them in? That's the main issue. The LD9 can be pulled out no problem, even without removing the hood. It's all about finding the transmission -> engine bolts. After that, as long as you label everything, should be a piece of cake. Guy at my work swapped out the LD9 in his Cavalier, says it was pretty simple. I'll employ his help when it comes to actually swapping the engine.

I just want a shop that will get it all ready for me to bolt on the accessories and supercharger from my current engine, and drop into the bay. Talking to Speed Industry right now (a while back said he estimated 6-8 hours work, so I'm guessing $700 ish) We'll see. I'm hopin I can get this thing done soon, and without too much money loss.

lets see well you don't have to drop the transmission down to get the engine free. its usually 6 bolts around the bell housing drop out starter get out the torque converter bolts disconnect headers from exhaust disconnect any oil pressure and other sensors, throttle cables off carb/throttle body, bolts through chain lift and remove engine.

on our transverse swap you have bolts behind the engine where u will have be under the car to get at them. transmission will have to be dropped out along with cv axle to get enough room.
transverse is usually much easier to remove by dropping out the cradle with the engine still attached.
there is about equal amount of work to both types but there is much less room to work with on transverse installs/removals which make it harder on tool selection.

[[ion] C2]

No, the transmission does not need to be taken out.. it sounds to me like RWD is the same as FWD besides the accessibility of the bolts that hold the trans to the engine.

[Redog]

Some FWD cars, but it's very few, don't need the tranny dropped with the motor.

I can see all the bolts on my LA1, so I'm willing to bet the bolts on your LD9 are easily seen.

Rent air tools ;)

[01silveralero]

C2;371817']No, the transmission does not need to be taken out.. it sounds to me like RWD is the same as FWD besides the accessibility of the bolts that hold the trans to the engine.

u also have far more mounts to deal with also

[01silveralero]

Some FWD cars, but it's very few, don't need the tranny dropped with the motor.

I can see all the bolts on my LA1, so I'm willing to bet the bolts on your LD9 are easily seen.

Rent air tools ;)

both transverse removals and installs i did, the transmission was dropped to the side. first was a saturn, second was a neon.

[[ion] C2]

u also have far more mounts to deal with also
2 is a lot? upper and lower.

I'm willing to bet the bolts on your LD9 are easily seen.

Rent air tools ;)
They are, DOHC_tuner got his out the top, guy at my work got his out the top no problem, even in a Cavalier (with less engine bay room). I have allllll of the tools you could possibly need. My friend's built engines before and has worked on cars for a long time. Got the stand, engine lift, and all necessary tools.

[Redog]

^^ Ah, you are set :cool:

Engine swapping is the only thing I've done that's fun and a PIA at the same time

[alerojack]

i paid a local shop 450 to swap my blown motor out for a new one. just one mech did the work with no lift. dropped off on a tuesday morning, picked it up weds evening. even hooked up oil pressure gauge for me.

[spyhunter]

it doesn't take 12 guys to do your car.

For my head to be ported n polished and rebuilt cost me around $700-800.

For my bottom end to be completely cleaned up and put back together w/ all new parts balanced etc cost me about $700.

I don't know how much an install would go, but if I was working on someone's LD9 I would charge them $35 an hour.

[GA_turbo]

Bring your car to minnesota ill have it all done in one day and back on the road the same day for 800, thats pull motor out build new motor, shave the head and clean it, check it for cracks and stuff, clean and paint block and clean engine bay. Do you have all the parts already then im guessing.

Remember performance cost money, got to pay to play.

[[ion] C2]

yeah if i could come to MN i'd definitely do it, i have every single part one would need.

ya these guys charge like $85/hr and they said porting would be 10-12 hrs if i wanted the head ported LOL

[JOEY GLADSTONE]

lol its more expensive then you think, ive spent SO much money for glassing my door panels already

[alerored04]

If you road tripped it to MN I would be willing to help as well. Too bad it's not really an option for you.

[[ion] C2]

It's a 10 hour drive. I *could* do it, I'd have to drive the Alero and have my friend drive his truck carrying the spare engine, lol. But I'd have to find a way to get off work or skip school when that starts up, for a few days. But yeah it's really not a good idea.

Meh. I'm awaiting a response from Speed Industry, hopefully they say around $700 for building, then I'll swap it in with some friends.

I just got a deal on some gunmetal Motegi FF7s with tires too.. meh.. need money.. temptations..

[zzyzzx]

The $4000 price I quoted included things like $2500 just for the rebuilt Jasper engine, towing, a "kit" including all new belts, hoses, a thermostat, all new filters, all new tune up parts, etc. Then I had to pay for all new fluids too. Plus sales tax, nusiance fees, and clost to $1000 in labor. It all really adds up. For some reason the smaller the engine, the more expensive it seems to be. Either that or the fact that the engine was only used in Escorts for 6 years might have something to do with it. And older GM V8 rebuilt from Jasper or something more commonly rebuilt would have been at least a little cheaper.

[alerored04]

$700 is not that bad for a rebuild, plus nothing beats the satisfaction of doing the majority of the work yourself. I would do it that way. You just have to ask yourself where the priorities are at? Wheels or an engine built for boost? Not a tough call when you look at it that way.

[Cliff8928]

It's not that hard to R&R an engine, just make sure you pay attention to where everything goes, have an engine hoist, some jack stands and maybe a furniture dolly. I wouldn't have more than 1 person help, things would just get to be a mess.

[Redog]

^^ Yeah 12 guys under 1 "N" body hood, you'll get in each other's way/on each other's nerves.

I never pulled the Alero's engine, only the Delta's. But I do know that the "N" body's engine comes out the top, not the bottom ;)

LIke Cliff said, it shouldn't be too hard. If I was closer, I'd swing by on a Saturday and help do it. 3 guys are the most you should have ;)

[[ion] C2]

Well hopefully Speed Industry tells me between $700-900 for it all, I'm not going to have just the bottom end done.. for $750. -_-

[Cliff8928]

While I've never done it on the Alero, I've done enough engine/trans swaps on other J / L / N cars. Not that tough.

[dtldiaspora]

i pulled the engine on my 3.4 it took at most 45 mins to pull, its not really that hard, we pulled the engine and trans at the same time

[JOEY GLADSTONE]

lol just took me 45 mins to change my belt

[dtldiaspora]

lol it took me that long to change my belt the first tiem i did it when i didnt know everything that was involved in it.

[[ion] C2]

takes me 30 seconds to change my belt, but the 2.4L is far easier

[spyhunter]

C2;371851']yeah if i could come to MN i'd definitely do it, i have every single part one would need.

ya these guys charge like $85/hr and they said porting would be 10-12 hrs if i wanted the head ported LOL

Don't LOL that, he's more right then you think. I waited two weeks for my head to be done.

[spyhunter]

By myself it takes about half a day to pull the car into the garage and have the motor out a few hours and some cursing later.

[01silveralero]

have the motor out a few hours and some cursing later.

if u dont curse u shouldn't be working on ur or any cars

[kwhauck]

just have them do the build and then do the swap yourself, it's not that hard.....

[[ion] C2]

yup that's the plan.. gotta find a place that'll do it relatively cheap

[kwhauck]

cheap, fast, reliable, choose 2.......

seriously, find a shop that you know does great work and pay them what they want, don't cheap out, you'll regret it in the long run if you do.......

[[ion] C2]

$750 for just the rotating assembly installed i think is kinda high

i choose cheap and reliable, they can take 2 months if they like

[[ion] C2]

Sweet, got a response from Speed Industry:

700-900 seems adequate - that's 8.75 to 11.25 hours at my rate. That won't include installation into the car.

Told him "Understood. Will let you know when I'll swing by with the engine. :)"

wewt!