[tr709]

I'm trying to figure out the budget to do some motor work this winter and wanted to know if anyone good give me a ballpark number for the cost of Removing and Replacing my engine in a 67 Firebird. Thanks!

[MrPushrod]

What all do you want to do?
Rebuild?
How much hp do you wanna make?

[chiphead]

Total rebuild with quality parts? $4,000, easy.

[tr709]

Sorry, I should have been clearer. I just need to know how much a shop will charge just to remove and then re-install once the machine shop is done. I have a fairly good idea of what I need to do (Thanks to what I have learned here!) but have no idea what just the R&R costs. Thanks!

[chiphead]

$65 an hour times how long it takes. Likely several hundred dollars. The real trick is a shop that knows what the hell they're doing, and won't beat the car up in the process.

Most guys here do it ourselves. But if you've gotta get a shop to do it, choose carefully. Good work is worth lots of money.

[getmygoat]

Its probably about $1200.. but I'd recommend doing it yourself.. You can buy a hoist for about $159... then you know its done right and you get all your parts back.

[TheMonkey]

tr709-

i also suggest giving it a go by yourself. you can buy a new or used hoist (check craigs list - always one avail), and sell it when you are done. i was surprised how easy it was. although, i'm still in the removed phased, still need to do the &R part, maybe my opinion will change.

[carcrazy]

I would also recommend doing doing it yourself. On most cars its not too difficult. If you don't want to buy a hoist you can usually rent one. Although I usually do it myself, its not a bad idea to have a helper. Take the money you would save and put it back into the car!

[A455GTO]

Originally Posted by carcrazy

I would also recommend doing doing it yourself. On most cars its not too difficult.

I agree, and what better way to get to know everything about your car? Also you have the satisfaction of doing it yourself.

A shop will charge you for every little thing, you can do it much cheaper. It may just take a bit longer.

If you don't have much experience, try to find someone to guide/assist you. If you get stuck on something, post a question in the appropriate section here, and I'm sure someone will have the answer to your question.

I have fond memories of the first time I R & R'ed a engine and trans. Man am I getting old, that was 20+ years ago! I just removed my GTO's original engine by myself several weeks ago. I am going to store it and build something stout to put in it's place for a while.

Good luck, Gary

[Hawk397]

My engine rebuilder charges $500 for a basic R&R.

[tr709]

I may try if I had a buddy to help out, other wise I think I would get in over my head. A local shop quoted me close to $2000! Yikes!

[Hawk397]

Find a better shop! For $2K I'll fly down and do it for ya! I can't see any reason it would be over $750.

[tr709]

Sure thing hawk, come on down. Hey my wife is from Mich, does that help?

[wrench]

I run a repair buisiness out of my garage at home on Weekends. I would do it for $500. How much do you think the tow from Texas to CT will be?

[Jeff Walker]

Originally Posted by tr709

I may try if I had a buddy to help out, other wise I think I would get in over my head. A local shop quoted me close to $2000! Yikes!

What all does that quote include?? I just looked in my flat rate guide. It only goes back to 74, so I looked under a Ventura which is comparable to your car for R&R'ing an engine. The time it allows is under 12 hrs.

[tr709]

The quote was for 20-25 hrs @ $80 per hour, so I took the high side.

[MrPushrod]

Your firebird is an easy pull. Your car has alot of room and nothing is hard to reach. I can pull my motor out and have it on the ground in 45 minutes by
myself. You'll appreciate it more if you do it yourself. Then you can put the
money into something else instead of having someone else pull it...........
Sack up! do it. Get a buddy on a saturday and you two pull it out yourselves.
Then on monday you can tell us all how easy it really was.
Your car is really easy to work on, just apply yourself. Myself and another
PY member pulled his motor and trans out a month ago, had a great time, and
it didn't cost us any $$$. Here is some motovation pics. Sack up and work on your car.

[Thumpin455_GTO]

It does help to drain the water from the block, the oil from the pan and if pulling the trans too, drain it and plug the output shaft so it doesnt drip everywhere.

Otherwise its very simple, 6 bolts on the trans 9/16 head, two on the mounts 5/8 head, 12 bolts for the exhuast 9/16 for stock 7/16 for headers, remove the fan 4 bolts 1/2, pull the radiator, 4 bolts and the cooler lines, disconnect the wiring or simply remove the alternator and lay it on the fenderwell, pull the power steering pump and AC if it has it, then attach a bolt in opposite heads and lift. Make sure you dont have anything still connected, like the ground strap on the firewall..

easy as pie. Actually making a pie is a bit tougher.

[MrPushrod]

I think you've spelled it out for him, he has to do it now, or be called a
woman for the rest of his days on PY forums.

[pggto]

20 to 25 hours, that NUTS! Is the motor your putting in a running motor or will it be started for the first time? I have R&R'ed a motor before that was ready to run in 2 1/2 hours with a lift and another good mechanic in a 78 Cutlass. Of coarse we weren't putting in a detailed show motor, we up graded the car from a 260 to a 350, and everything was the same. Are you making any drastic changes from one motor to another as far as exhaust goes? I would find another shop, or maybe pay some from the board to do it.