How long does it take to swap engines?
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Car: 1982 Trans Am
Engine: 350 4BBL
Transmission: 4 Speed Manual
Axle/Gears: 3.23
How long does it take to swap engines?
Ok, the time has come. I'm going with the 350 engine I found here at jegs. Im going to have a mechanic do it for me since I don't have the experiance and I don't want one of my friends screwing it up. <p>So my question is this: How many hours does it take (a professional mechanic) to do an engine swap? I'm just curious so I can figure out the cost at $75 an hour. Also I'd love to hear your opinons about the extra stuff (like the carb and intake) that comes with the optional engine kit.
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Time:
8 to 12 hours, most likely. Get quotes, that's the only way to know for sure. You're going to have to find a shop to do the job, find out what they're going to charge while you're at it.
Extra stuff of the optional engine:
Forget it, use what you've got. Less time on the mechanic's clock, what you've got is just as good or better.
8 to 12 hours, most likely. Get quotes, that's the only way to know for sure. You're going to have to find a shop to do the job, find out what they're going to charge while you're at it.
Extra stuff of the optional engine:
Forget it, use what you've got. Less time on the mechanic's clock, what you've got is just as good or better.
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Car: 1982 Trans Am
Engine: 350 4BBL
Transmission: 4 Speed Manual
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Yeah but I got 23 year old parts on my old 305, you think it's worth putting them on a new 350?
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Yes.
Rebuild the carb if necessary. Distributor may need module, coil, but that's small potatoes compared what you'd lose going non-CC.
Intake manifold will be fine as long as the cooling system has seen decent maintenance.
Chrome valve covers are a zero-benefit cost.
Rebuild the carb if necessary. Distributor may need module, coil, but that's small potatoes compared what you'd lose going non-CC.
Intake manifold will be fine as long as the cooling system has seen decent maintenance.
Chrome valve covers are a zero-benefit cost.
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Car: 1982 Trans Am
Engine: 350 4BBL
Transmission: 4 Speed Manual
Axle/Gears: 3.23
True, but the main reason that I'm doing this swap is because my engine seized up (I think it blew a head gasket) and now the oil is white. So I'm guessing that there's been a good set of damage done the the engine. What would I lose going non-cc? I thought it didn't really make a difference.
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Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Originally posted by Tripper511
What would I lose going non-cc?
What would I lose going non-cc?
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Car: 85' Z28
Engine: 383 roller
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: Ford 9" 3.70
Why are you gonna take it to a mechanic? Do you realize your paying almost $1000 in labour alone if they quote you 12 hours? They also mark up any misc. parts needed liek 300%. Not cutting you up, just trying to point something out. You mentioned some friends, maybe call them over and have them do it. From your profile, your simply swapping from a carbed 305 to a carbed 350, its as easy as cake. Go rent an engine hoist, get a 24, and spend a weekend doing it. Nothing better then having a heavier wallet, and knowing that you did it. Just think that you could spend that extra grand, and get some better heads or something.
Last edited by 85z28guy; 08-01-2005 at 06:22 PM.
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Car: GTA
Engine: 383 HSR
Transmission: TH-700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42
I never removed and installed an engine before... it has taken me a long time and is a learning process, but nothing is more satisfying than doing it ALL by yourself, and learning everything. Saving the money is just a bonus. Besides, if you do it yourself you will know beyond a doubt if someone took a shortcut with the quality my
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Car: 88 Camaro
Engine: 305TBI
Transmission: Stock
Axle/Gears: 3.42?
I agree.
Swap it your self.
I swaped my first motor out of necessity when I was 16. I had never fixed or worked on a car before. I didn't even have the right tools! I spent more time returning the tools I borrowed and rented than I did swaping the motor. If you don't need to drive it right away, and don't mind making a few mistakes. Go for it. Get a repair manual for your ride. The pictures can be worth it alone. Get a friend or two and a few cold ones and have fun.
Hint
; be sure to get some scotch tape! Mark all the wires, tubes and hoses you disconnect so you can match them back up. If you have a digital camera take tons of pictures. This will help you figure out were everything goes when you put it back together.
What is the worst that could happen? You get the motor in and can't make it run. I bet a quick tow and an hour or two in the shop to make it run would still be cheaper than a 12 hour engine swap.
Swap it your self.
I swaped my first motor out of necessity when I was 16. I had never fixed or worked on a car before. I didn't even have the right tools! I spent more time returning the tools I borrowed and rented than I did swaping the motor. If you don't need to drive it right away, and don't mind making a few mistakes. Go for it. Get a repair manual for your ride. The pictures can be worth it alone. Get a friend or two and a few cold ones and have fun.
Hint
; be sure to get some scotch tape! Mark all the wires, tubes and hoses you disconnect so you can match them back up. If you have a digital camera take tons of pictures. This will help you figure out were everything goes when you put it back together.
What is the worst that could happen? You get the motor in and can't make it run. I bet a quick tow and an hour or two in the shop to make it run would still be cheaper than a 12 hour engine swap.
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Car: 1982 Trans Am
Engine: 350 4BBL
Transmission: 4 Speed Manual
Axle/Gears: 3.23
So if I do it with my friends would a week sound like a good estimate to finish the job?
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Take pictures before and during disassembly, label everything you disconnect, collect fasteners is labeled cans or baggies. A weekend and a week of evenings should cover it.
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Car: 88 firebird under construction
Engine: 350 with trick flow everything
Transmission: th350
If you take it to a shop i can tell you they will charge you time and materials since its an engine swap and not an engine replacement. Engine swaps arnt covered in book time.
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Car: 85' Z28
Engine: 383 roller
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: Ford 9" 3.70
I just removed a 350 from a donor car, removed my old 305, and put it in the 350 over the weekend. This was my firsty time swapping, and not just removing an engine. I also had wiring on top of it because I went from tpi to carb. Go for it!
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Car: 1982 Trans Am
Engine: 350 4BBL
Transmission: 4 Speed Manual
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Originally posted by 85z28guy
I just removed a 350 from a donor car, removed my old 305, and put it in the 350 over the weekend. This was my firsty time swapping, and not just removing an engine. I also had wiring on top of it because I went from tpi to carb. Go for it!
I just removed a 350 from a donor car, removed my old 305, and put it in the 350 over the weekend. This was my firsty time swapping, and not just removing an engine. I also had wiring on top of it because I went from tpi to carb. Go for it!
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Car: GTA
Engine: 383 HSR
Transmission: TH-700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42
305 to 350 isnt a very difficult swap. You already have the springs, you already have the motor mounts (so you dont have to bend brake lines) you have all the hoses and etc. You have it made. The easy part is taking the engine out, putting it back in is the longer part of the job. Take pics as you go. the wiring wont be bad if its a carb to a carb. carb to FI will be quite involved and also vise versa. I went from a V6 to V8 so I had the pain and pleasure to upgrade more than just an engine.
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