Cam swap...typical labour cost?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 265
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
Cam is $450 or so, Patriot Gold springs TI retainers and keepers are $250 or so so you can do the math.
IMHO go to a shop and use their parts. That way the make their margin on the parts.......and trust me....you'll have better luck if something goes wrong if there's only one party to point a finger to. Having a shop bolt on your parts is just asking for trouble if the part fails. Who's fault was it? I think you get my drift. I've seen it go bad for folks at other shops.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 525
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver BC
I agree. I would be more than happy to drop my car off and have it professionally done. The last quote I received though was for $3000 and that was labour only. I am thus probably going to be forced to either:
1) Order the parts myself (G5X1 cam, Patriot Extreme, push rods, gasket kit) and try to find a shop that will perform the swap for a reasonable to moderately high price.
2) Buy the necessary tools, and do the swap in front of my house on the street.
The price that you quoted for the turnkey install...did that include the tune? There is no HP Tuners in my area so I would be supplying an e-mail tune.
1) Order the parts myself (G5X1 cam, Patriot Extreme, push rods, gasket kit) and try to find a shop that will perform the swap for a reasonable to moderately high price.
2) Buy the necessary tools, and do the swap in front of my house on the street.
The price that you quoted for the turnkey install...did that include the tune? There is no HP Tuners in my area so I would be supplying an e-mail tune.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 0
I agree. I would be more than happy to drop my car off and have it professionally done. The last quote I received though was for $3000 and that was labour only. I am thus probably going to be forced to either:
1) Order the parts myself (G5X1 cam, Patriot Extreme, push rods, gasket kit) and try to find a shop that will perform the swap for a reasonable to moderately high price.
2) Buy the necessary tools, and do the swap in front of my house on the street.
The price that you quoted for the turnkey install...did that include the tune? There is no HP Tuners in my area so I would be supplying an e-mail tune.
1) Order the parts myself (G5X1 cam, Patriot Extreme, push rods, gasket kit) and try to find a shop that will perform the swap for a reasonable to moderately high price.
2) Buy the necessary tools, and do the swap in front of my house on the street.
The price that you quoted for the turnkey install...did that include the tune? There is no HP Tuners in my area so I would be supplying an e-mail tune.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 995
Likes: 2
From: Virginia Beach VA
Check around
I would say $2500 all parts(custom ground cam, 921 springs & pushrods) & labor would be on the high end. Thats what I paid plus he installed a 160 stat, FAST, u/d pulley (I supplied all these parts) & tune. My tuner is well known & extremely talented.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,990
Likes: 1
From: Corpus Christi Texas
The local shop here is about the same $1500-1700....also a bit less being they have already tuned my car. Add an extra $250 if not.
Last edited by bunk22; Jun 28, 2008 at 08:28 PM.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 265
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
I agree. I would be more than happy to drop my car off and have it professionally done. The last quote I received though was for $3000 and that was labour only. I am thus probably going to be forced to either:
1) Order the parts myself (G5X1 cam, Patriot Extreme, push rods, gasket kit) and try to find a shop that will perform the swap for a reasonable to moderately high price.
2) Buy the necessary tools, and do the swap in front of my house on the street.
The price that you quoted for the turnkey install...did that include the tune? There is no HP Tuners in my area so I would be supplying an e-mail tune.
1) Order the parts myself (G5X1 cam, Patriot Extreme, push rods, gasket kit) and try to find a shop that will perform the swap for a reasonable to moderately high price.
2) Buy the necessary tools, and do the swap in front of my house on the street.
The price that you quoted for the turnkey install...did that include the tune? There is no HP Tuners in my area so I would be supplying an e-mail tune.
Yep. Come to FL, take a few days vacation on the beach in the sun, and go home with a much faster car. Call Roger at Horsepower Sales Pompano 954-984-8040 if you'd like to discuss it.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 265
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 2
From: Allentown PA
A cam can be swapped in about 5 hours. Less with 2 people working on it. The springs take a good deal of time. If a shop charges you more than 6 hours labor, go elsewhere.
There is very little "professional" knowledge needed to swap a cam. A novice can swap one just as well as a pro, it will juist take more time. Giving yourself lots of time and no deadlines is the key to doing your first cam swap. You will need a few special tools, very few. A pulley puller/installer, and a way to hold up the lifters, thats it. Your well on your way to a cam install.
How do I know this...4 years ago I swapped my first LS1 cam, it took about 12 hours, 40 cam swaps later...I can do them in 5 if I really hustle, 6 at a good pace.
There is very little "professional" knowledge needed to swap a cam. A novice can swap one just as well as a pro, it will juist take more time. Giving yourself lots of time and no deadlines is the key to doing your first cam swap. You will need a few special tools, very few. A pulley puller/installer, and a way to hold up the lifters, thats it. Your well on your way to a cam install.
How do I know this...4 years ago I swapped my first LS1 cam, it took about 12 hours, 40 cam swaps later...I can do them in 5 if I really hustle, 6 at a good pace.
8th Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Rochester ny
A cam can be swapped in about 5 hours. Less with 2 people working on it. The springs take a good deal of time. If a shop charges you more than 6 hours labor, go elsewhere.
There is very little "professional" knowledge needed to swap a cam. A novice can swap one just as well as a pro, it will juist take more time. Giving yourself lots of time and no deadlines is the key to doing your first cam swap. You will need a few special tools, very few. A pulley puller/installer, and a way to hold up the lifters, thats it. Your well on your way to a cam install.
How do I know this...4 years ago I swapped my first LS1 cam, it took about 12 hours, 40 cam swaps later...I can do them in 5 if I really hustle, 6 at a good pace.
There is very little "professional" knowledge needed to swap a cam. A novice can swap one just as well as a pro, it will juist take more time. Giving yourself lots of time and no deadlines is the key to doing your first cam swap. You will need a few special tools, very few. A pulley puller/installer, and a way to hold up the lifters, thats it. Your well on your way to a cam install.
How do I know this...4 years ago I swapped my first LS1 cam, it took about 12 hours, 40 cam swaps later...I can do them in 5 if I really hustle, 6 at a good pace.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 265
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
I think my shop charges 12 hours labor (book time) but I know the guys can get it done in about 5-6 they've done so many. But that's how mechanics make their money. 40 hours book in the bank by Wednesday is a good week.
To the OP, If you're inclined to do it yourself,
www.ls1howto.com has some great instructions.
To the OP, If you're inclined to do it yourself,
www.ls1howto.com has some great instructions.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 2
From: Allentown PA
If a shop charges 90/hr if they charge more than $540 for a cam swap, leave.
And yes, any novice can swap a cam, unless your afraid...my friend
If anyone needs help, I wrote down the directions on what to do and how to do it, I can email them. If you get stuck you can give me a call. Shops get away with ridiculous prices becasue people are afraid to do it themselves...Don't be.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,464
Likes: 326
From: Houston TX
What are you talking about? Do you think? Who cares if its a flat rate or not, if it comes out to more than 6 hours (if your smart enough to do the math) then go elsewhere...
If a shop charges 90/hr if they charge more than $540 for a cam swap, leave.
And yes, any novice can swap a cam, unless your afraid...my friend
If anyone needs help, I wrote down the directions on what to do and how to do it, I can email them. If you get stuck you can give me a call. Shops get away with ridiculous prices becasue people are afraid to do it themselves...Don't be.
If a shop charges 90/hr if they charge more than $540 for a cam swap, leave.
And yes, any novice can swap a cam, unless your afraid...my friend
If anyone needs help, I wrote down the directions on what to do and how to do it, I can email them. If you get stuck you can give me a call. Shops get away with ridiculous prices becasue people are afraid to do it themselves...Don't be.
For as simple as cam swaps are, the labor always seems over priced, even with the price of the tune included.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
I'm not saying cam swaps are hard, but I don't see how it can be done in 5 hours between the mechanical work and the tune and dyno if you're going to dyno it. You do have to have some mechanical ability and the right tools or you're going to be in for a long day. And furthermore to do the job right the heads should come off so that the pistons and heads can be cleaned, lifters checked and the cam degreed in and if all that happens then throw the 5-6 hours out the window. Bear in mind this is just my way of doing a cam install. If someone wants to do the bear minimum then by all means do it in 5 hours.
On a side note, I want to know who is getting all the parts needed for a cam swap for $790. I'm wondering if this includes the cam, gaskets, springs, pushrods if you replace them, new damper bolt and fluids. Just curious.
Ed
On a side note, I want to know who is getting all the parts needed for a cam swap for $790. I'm wondering if this includes the cam, gaskets, springs, pushrods if you replace them, new damper bolt and fluids. Just curious.
Ed