If I bring them the cam, all the gaskets and the new timing chain set, what will they charge me for the labor?
I know how to change a cam, but I don't have to time to do it, I'm in college and have a tight schedule.

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1987 Chevy Camaro IROC-Z
L98 TPI 350 (5.7L)
TH 700R-4 Transmission with 2.77:1 Rear End

Current Mods: Edelbrock TES 1 5/8" Headers, Hooker 3" Aerochamber Cat-Back System, Performance Resource Chip with 160* Thermostat, Accel Ignition Coil, Cap, Rotor, 8.8mm Wires, K&N Filters, JET TPI Air Foil, All Free Mods, Falken ZIEX Z-Rated Tires.

Best ET : 14.32 @ 97.7mph
(corrected for elevation)

Soon to come: LT4 HOT Cam, Air Flow Research 190cc Heads, 2800 RPM Stall Converter and SLP 3.70 Rear End Gears.

 

Dan,
I was looking at getting a gm crate 350 motor.I talked to slatten automotive on N. College Ave. here in town about installing a hotter cam and degreeing it for me.I was told $100 labor,it might be a little higher for you since you have a new timing chain.I've asked around town and those guys have a very good rep.Dave the owner races cars at Bandimere down in denver and seemed strait forward when I spoke him.Hope this helps.

 

well...the question is how long will it take to install a cam. most shops have a standard labor rate. most i know of in Los Angeles charge about $65 an hour

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Rick
90 Camaro RS 305 TBI
400 small block, Hooker 1 3/4 super comp long tubes, Random Tech Cat, Hooker aero chamber cat back on the way!!
TH700-R4 with Trans-Go shift kit
MacEwen Motorsports White Gauge Overlays
K&N Filter Charger (wooohooo)
GTS Headlight and Taillight covers
5% Limo Tint all around
Classic White Chevy Bowtie sticker on rear window
www.geocities.com/esvalenz

Man if my camaro were a rice-rocket all those mods would give me what...easily 50-60 hp!!!

 

If you find someone who will put in a cam while the engine is in the car for $100, I would be very, very wary. This is a job that takes several hours since it requires removal of the intake system, water pump, and oil pan, to say nothing of adjusting the valve train after the cam is back in and putting all the removed stuff back together. Just degreeing in the cam should cost more that $100 if done right. The price you were quoted, milehigh, most likely was if they are changing the cam before installing the crate engine, and was probably low since they were getting a bunch of money from you anyway for installing the engine.

Changing the timing set adds about 5 minutes to the job (the crank pulley is the only part of the timing set that isn't removed in a straight cam change).

Dan, go ahead and take recommendations on shops to do the job, but call them yourself or go in person to get their estimate for the job.

A cam change is the kind of job most guys do themselves because of the labor cost of having a shop do it. Degreeing in the cam is the only part that could be considered above and beyond simple wrenching.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R. 2.73 unlimited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LB9 w/ZZ3 cam, TBD heads, exhaust, paint, etc.).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. 0.030 over 396, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" headers, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & shift kit, 3.08 10-bolt, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1 @ 5800' Bandimere. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.

 

Because of the TPI intake, it is VERY EXPENSIVE to have a shop do it for you. If you are going to have a shop do it for you, then you might as well save up somemore pennies and have them swap the intake at the same time. The additional labor will not be that much more to swap the intake while you are having them do the cam.

I do agree with shopping around. January to February is traditionally the slow period for many repair shops. You should be able find many good local repair shops that would be half the labor charge of GM during that period.

 

OOPS!
Sorry ,my bad.You are right five7kid.I did forget to mention that was for installation with the motor out of the car!Wasn't trying to mislead anyone,just wasn't thinking!LOL!

 

The estimated time for this on AllData was around 10 hours. Considering that a good shop charges about $50 an hour, that's around $500. You'd do better to just set aside a weekend and do it yourself. Besides, Xmas break is right around the corner.

 

Well, I have some time off now, and I found out I don't have to work, so I guess I am just going to be doing it in my garage myself.

------------------
1987 Chevy Camaro IROC-Z
L98 TPI 350 (5.7L)
TH 700R-4 Transmission with 2.77:1 Rear End

Current Mods: Edelbrock TES 1 5/8" Headers, Hooker 3" Aerochamber Cat-Back System, Performance Resource Chip with 160* Thermostat, Accel Ignition Coil, Cap, Rotor, 8.8mm Wires, K&N Filters, JET TPI Air Foil, All Free Mods, Falken ZIEX Z-Rated Tires.

Best ET : 14.32 @ 97.7mph
(corrected for elevation)

Soon to come: LT4 HOT Cam, Air Flow Research 190cc Heads, 2800 RPM Stall Converter and SLP 3.70 Rear End Gears.

 

i paid $2200 for a garage to put in my slp cam tpis intake and runners plus new timing chain and new lifters(i know i could of used the old ones)that added $250 more and they also put in new valves seals. my radiator had to be removed and they also put on a new water pump. they bill was about $800 over what i expected. it took 5 days.

i asked them a month ago to do my heads and they refused saying they lost money on my cam install and my headers that i put on two months prior.

if anyone is in the cincinnati area and wants to put some afr heads on my car let me know. i differant garage gave me an estimate of $770. what do you think guys.