What does it ususally run to have a new engine put in?

Thanks!

 

What year? What size? Where do you live?

 

I am just wondering a ballpark range to pay a mechanic. If I had the engine...how much would the labor cost?

 

yup. ya gotta give more info, or everybody would just be guessing.

 

I guess OP is talking about direct swap. Isn't it a few hundred dollers if it's C3 ?

 

A few hundred dollars is what? $300-$400 at an hourly shop rate oh $50/hr that would allow for 6 - 8 hrs. I strongly beleive to disconnect, remove and reinstall an engine with all the accessory drices, ac, etc i take at least twice that time. And the when it is out you will find Gremlins taht must be dealt with. For one if you pull the motor it is time to yank the radiator, etc.

 

As a ballpark for good work, I'd figure 2 full days' labor at the going shop rate. So about 16 hours at around $80/hour, which puts you in the $1,300 range. I think a quick swap can be done in a single day, but fact is that you always run into little things that slow the job down. Any good shop knows that, and they'll pad the estimate slightly.

If you want the real number, just check the flat rate manual. Any public library has the flat rate book that all the shops use.

 

Lars is right on the money. Expect to pay $1,500 minimum for carbured engine swap. More if headers, a/c or full emmisions equipped. Any fabrication and mods. to the new engine are extra. Basic tuning is included. The flat rate is a guide, a good starting point. It does not account for rusted bolts, cleaning and painting of brackets, etc. G/L

 

The amount of time and money really depends on who is doing the work, so you have to look at your options.

In most big cities there are companies which only do engine swaps...companies which have to deal with customers with blown engines such as tow truck drivers are your best source for a referal as well as junk yards...this specialized industry is booming due to the desire for import cars like Hondas to have the more powerfull japanese engines swapped into their cars. They will pull the old one and install a new one in about 4 hours with 4 underpaid employees on the job and charge only $500. Quality will be quick and dirty, so you will need to check the work yourself or hire a better mechanic to check everything. You can offer them some cash incentives to double check their work or spend more time increase likelyhood that it gets done right. They don't expect to have you as a customer, so they aren't as personal about their business.

You could just use your local mechanic in the local auto shop, but with only 1 or 2 non-specialized employees it may take a couple of days and would cost in the neighborhood of $1500 like Lars said. Benefit is that if anything went wrong they will be there to fix it, and they would more likely take the necessary time to get it done right the first time to ensure repeat business.

You could also do it yourself...it's not that difficult. You can rent a cherry picker (engine hoist) from your local auto parts store for like $20 a week or something like that. The engine has two engine mount bolt, 5 bell housing bolts, possibly 5 flex plate bolts if it's an automatic, misc. wires lines and hoses, fan, fan belts and pulleys, possible shroud extension. There's nothing technical to know except torque amount on re-installation. The cost is the cheapest and you can make sure the job gets done to your satisfaction.

The last option is to take the car to a corvette only shop...and hope they aren't trying to support any bad habits...hmmm...I appear to have a bad opinion of corvette only shops so you may have to ask someone else about them to get another opinion.

 

I just had motor and transmission swap done on my car. I went with the crate GM 350 HO. Its pretty much a bolt in replacement. Its a small part of a major restoration so I had a very good shop do the work. It set me back about a thousand dollars in labor and took about a day.

 

Shade tree $500
Real shop $1000+

 

What shop do you know w/an hourly rate of $50. ?? Do they do the work in the 7-11 parking lot or do they follow you home........

 

Just an example based on hourly rates and time expended.

 

Agree on the $1500 figure. Cost me $500 to have one done in a Nova 20 years ago.

Now here I would do it:
Hoist - 2 days rental at $50/day = $100. You can also buy one for about $150.
Beer - $20
Pizza - $20

Find a couple of forum members near you and throw an engine swap party. You can get it done in a weekend, learn some new skills, and save a ton of cash.

 

you would be best off just doing it your self. good luck