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How many hours should this take

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Old Aug 12, 2010 | 12:48 AM
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Default How many hours should this take

I am trying to gauge how many hours my mechanic is going to charge me for the work on the car (2003 c5 z06).

First they are doing a motor swap complete engine just have to swap pulleys alternator and water pump

Changing radiator for a new bigger direct fit one

putting new RSI fuel system in, lines already built just installing

putting coil overs on keep in mind they already dropped the whole power train

install ams100 boost controller

Bolt on new turbos

and install headers and x pipe (rear mount turbo)

How many hours would they charge for the engine removal and then for the rest of the things. I am most interested in the engine removal time.
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Old Aug 12, 2010 | 01:34 AM
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Originally Posted by Tysonh
I am trying to gauge how many hours my mechanic is going to charge me for the work on the car (2003 c5 z06).

First they are doing a motor swap complete engine just have to swap pulleys alternator and water pump

Changing radiator for a new bigger direct fit one

putting new RSI fuel system in, lines already built just installing

putting coil overs on keep in mind they already dropped the whole power train

install ams100 boost controller

Bolt on new turbos

and install headers and x pipe (rear mount turbo)

How many hours would they charge for the engine removal and then for the rest of the things. I am most interested in the engine removal time.
Why dont you ask the guys that are actually doing the job?
What good is someones " Guess " as to what it will cost. Get the price up front... they should know what the charge will be. If you agree to open hours , they can make a 25 hour job turn into a 50 hour job. Make sure you get the price up front and dont leave it an open ended job. They should already have enough built into the job . Make sure you get it in writing because if you dont , they can keep your car until you pay them the price they want.
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Old Aug 12, 2010 | 01:53 AM
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Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
Why dont you ask the guys that are actually doing the job?
What good is someones " Guess " as to what it will cost. Get the price up front... they should know what the charge will be. If you agree to open hours , they can make a 25 hour job turn into a 50 hour job. Make sure you get the price up front and dont leave it an open ended job. They should already have enough built into the job . Make sure you get it in writing because if you dont , they can keep your car until you pay them the price they want.
This is why i ask cause they gave me hours but then they said the removal was more involved then they thought so i am just wondering what it takes so i can see if i am getting the screw or not.
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Old Aug 12, 2010 | 03:06 AM
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To pull and install the motor is at least 20 hours + probably another 20 for all of your other stuff. So probably 40 hours or so of work.
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Old Aug 12, 2010 | 09:09 AM
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they always come back and say something like that. hold them to the original quote. if this is there first vette maybe, but with what your doing prob not.
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Old Aug 12, 2010 | 09:52 AM
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Just get every single thing, in writting. That is to include every part description etc. Labor total or/Max Hrs, No verbal quotes. Specify every thing in writting. Cross the T's & Dot the i's. Good luck.
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Old Aug 12, 2010 | 10:29 AM
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Originally Posted by Tysonh
they said the removal was more involved then they thought
It sounds like you are dealing with a shop that is not familiar with this type of work, at least on a Corvette. I would find a shop with more experience.
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Old Aug 12, 2010 | 12:01 PM
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Somewhere between 50 and 100 hours of work. That is a LOT of stuff to do.

Dope
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Old Aug 12, 2010 | 12:15 PM
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i just pulled and installed my motor and supercharger on jackstands and crappy tools. It took about 8 to get it out. About 12 to get everything back in right. And all the other stuff probally gonna take less than 10 hours. i say anywhere from 30-35


Most of that stuff will be out already like raidaitor and headers when you pull motor so they just bolting those up.

i bet i could do it in under 35 hours at a shop with lift and all the tools u need.
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Old Aug 12, 2010 | 12:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Mark C5
It sounds like you are dealing with a shop that is not familiar with this type of work, at least on a Corvette. I would find a shop with more experience.
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Old Aug 12, 2010 | 12:54 PM
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The RSI system alone can be quite a few hours, if this is a late 03 the fuel tanks need to be removed which means dropping out exhaust torque tube and transaxle. I would guess that alone to be about 20 hours.

Last edited by glennd; Aug 12, 2010 at 03:38 PM.
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Old Aug 12, 2010 | 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Tysonh
This is why i ask cause they gave me hours but then they said the removal was more involved then they thought so i am just wondering what it takes so i can see if i am getting the screw or not.
As most of us are wondering, did you get the original quoted hours in writing? How many more from what they quoted are they asking? When first asking about this work did you ask if they have experience at doing this type of work on a Corvette?

Understandable things can come up that are out of the control of the repair person, but if there isn't anything really unique than they should stick with their original quote.

Keep us posted on how this all turns out for you. Best of luck.
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Old Aug 12, 2010 | 02:10 PM
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I don't see this ending good for the OP. An honest shop will never go back and ask for more hours.

Hindsight is 20/20, but why did you not come on here and ask for shop recommendations.
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Old Aug 12, 2010 | 07:06 PM
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Originally Posted by HP_Addict
I don't see this ending good for the OP. An honest shop will never go back and ask for more hours.

Hindsight is 20/20, but why did you not come on here and ask for shop recommendations.
I do have the time they told me in writhing and they are only asking for another 6 which is reasonable because they only told me 8 hours for the engine removal they arent familiar with the corvette buy he has done all my custom work on my 69 cammaro and is a great mechanic. As far as recommendations if anyone has a good place to go to in edmonton alberta canada i would love to here it so i could check it out but the guy's i am going to have lots of experience with LS engines
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Old Aug 12, 2010 | 07:32 PM
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check with Arun, he is in canada not sure where though. He knows his stuff

how many hours they quote you?
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Old Aug 12, 2010 | 11:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Tysonh
I do have the time they told me in writhing and they are only asking for another 6 which is reasonable because they only told me 8 hours for the engine removal they arent familiar with the corvette buy he has done all my custom work on my 69 cammaro and is a great mechanic. As far as recommendations if anyone has a good place to go to in edmonton alberta canada i would love to here it so i could check it out but the guy's i am going to have lots of experience with LS engines
Wait you just said "they arent familiar with the corvette" and later in the same paragraph you said "but the guy's i am going to have lots of experience with LS engines".

Which is it?

Also a 69 Camaro is A LOT different than your corvette.
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Old Aug 12, 2010 | 11:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Tysonh
As far as recommendations if anyone has a good place to go to in edmonton alberta canada i would love to here it so i could check it out
I would suggest you start a thread here to find a shop near you:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/canadian-events-97/
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Old Aug 13, 2010 | 12:49 AM
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Originally Posted by KorbenDallas
Wait you just said "they arent familiar with the corvette" and later in the same paragraph you said "but the guy's i am going to have lots of experience with LS engines".

Which is it?

Also a 69 Camaro is A LOT different than your corvette.
Ya thanks for that but i dono if u know but they do do other things with LS engines. The shop has put LS engines in 350z's and some other cars plus the owner has an s10 with a ls6 and the mechanic has a mustang with a ls2 engine so they have lots of experience with the motor. On the other hand the corvette as a car i know it has an LS engine but as the car and chassis not so much for experience, and as far as the camaro goes it has an LS7 engine in it who would of thought those motors are in things other than Vetts weard.
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Old Aug 13, 2010 | 12:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Mark C5
I would suggest you start a thread here to find a shop near you:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/canadian-events-97/
Thanks for the HELP FULL suggestion i am defiantly going to post there

Thanks
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Old Aug 13, 2010 | 01:29 AM
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Sounds like they are pretty far into this. I think it would be hard to find someone to take over a "basket case". Plus you'll need to settle up with labor and parts with your current shop and then pay another. Cost wise at this point you'd be smarter to let your present mechanics finish. From what you said they did good work on your other car. On that same note you may be paying them to learn Maybe a compromise is in order on labor. I think happy mechanics do better work so tread lightly!
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