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.

 

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.

 

Yeah but I got 23 year old parts on my old 305, you think it's worth putting them on a new 350?

 

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.

 

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.

 

Mostly a bunch of money buying non-CC parts that you already have the CC version of.

 

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.

 

 

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

 

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.

 

So if I do it with my friends would a week sound like a good estimate to finish the job?

 

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.

 

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.

 

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!

 

<p>That makes me feel better. How did you go about it? Did you have help and/or a special place to do it? My drive way is sloped so I'd have to do it on the side of my house on the street. Is that going to make things too difficult?

 

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.