Average cost to pay a shop to install an engine

Hello all. After months of waiting, I finally am ready to have my 455 installed into my 67 GS. I’ve been speaking with several local shops to see if they can do it and costs. I have gotten quotes between $3k-5k. Does this souls about right?

thanks for feedback.

 

If you can’t do it, contact the local vo-tech and see if they’d be willing to use it as a learning experience. They’d be overseen by the staff of the school, and you’d even be able to be directly involved if you wanted.

 

Installing a functioning motor has to be one of the simpler tasks and should be able to be done by a complete noob over 2 weekends. Heck, when I was 14 I bought a junk yard motor to put into my junk yard Pinto. It's just bolts. Now, if they were assembling the engine and installing, I could kinda see those prices.

If you don't have the tools, and plan on having an old car, you need the tools. If you don't have the garage, well, a tent is better than laying in the mud, but, I've done both.

 

Probably in the ballpark with today's shop rates. Others have made some good suggestions. Is the motor been started and broke in yet ? Is the exhaust in place and ready to go? Is it currently a running driving car? All these items may effect the price you pay. If you were near me, I would offer to save you some money.

 

for that price .. Need more info..

My car 67 sky automatic non-air 6 hour max and I work slow. AC car well that was a different story that motor was tight.

 

It would be cheaper to fly one of the Buick boys in to Miami, buy all the tools necessary, and then do it yourselves instead of paying a shop what they are asking.

 

I did mine myself. First time I ever pulled & installed a motor. Couple hours to pull, few more than that to reinstall. Longer to install just due to finagling the motor around, I had motor mounts in wrong block holes, & getting the motor mounts aligned with the frame mounts.

So removing all bolts, prepping the motor to be pulled, & installed I’d say a weekend two at the very most.

Total cost? Maybe $50-$100. Just for the engine hoist rental. If I can do it I’m sure you should be able to do it!

Kyle

 

Seems pretty high. Has the car had a 455 or other BBB in it? Is there an engine in it now or is it a drop in? It takes me about 3 hours to pull and about the same to install the engine in my 71.. where are you located?

 

Guys FWIW 64-67s are tighter that 68-72. Add AC and power brakes.

My 67 AC PB car had the front clip removed when I got the car. If I had to do it again Id pull the body off the frame .

Maybe someone with a 67 gs 400 could show pics of how tight it is.

 

Bring that up to my shop in West Palm. $1200 max and maybe two days out of your life.

 

I have pulled a buick 350 by myself in less than an 8 hour work day. I have installed one, all but exhaust with a buddy in a couple hours... i would think anything more than $1000 is way too much!

 

Learning experience??? Guinea pig is more like it. No thanks.

Do it yourself, it will make you appreciate the pros who can do the job, and you won't be able to blame them for any issues or how much they charge. Lots of variables. I wouldn't even give you an estimate.

I would tell you that it would start at a grand, and probably, will go up exponentially from there. Mind you, it would be done right. Gotta remember, if yer car is tying up a guys shop cause you need to source parts, yer gonna get charged for that time. Every broken/stripped, cross threaded bolt/screw/fastener is costing you money at the shop rate. We're not cooking a cheeseburger here.

I would plan on expecting to spend 5k. If less, you're ahead of the game. If more, well, be prepared.

 

Car is engineless. It had the original 400 in it. Now it’s empty. No ac. Does have power disc brakes. Exhaust aside from headers are on the car. Matter of popping engine in. I do have tools and garage. Just never done an engine install. After the engine investment don’t want to risk installing it. Engine was built by Scottys engine in Tampa. He ran it and tuned it. Not sure for how long though.

 

Then do it for this guy for, let's say, 6 hrs labor at 90 bucks and hour, $540. Dude, I would jump on that deal! 540 and it isn't even barely afternoon.

 

Well that makes it easier. If you have the bolts and accessories organized I'd say 8 hours to install and run. Even at 120 an hour it should be less than a grand in labor.

5k is out of this world. Bring a wooden spoon with you.

 

All the bolts are gone! Harness/hoses are hanging, along with the accessories.

"matter of popping engine in", and "never done an install" I gotta love it.

 

67 big block and headers equal an added three to four hours of misery

 

Are the bolts gone or are you making that up? Do you honestly think hooking up 2 heater hoses, 2 radiator hoses and the fuel lines will add 40 hours labor? And a harness with <12 wires is impossible to figure out? Is that another 20 hours labor?


OP- organize all the hardware and accessories. Provide all the extras- hoses belts etc, and bring everything it needs on the first trip. If everything is laid out and organized it should be a breeze for anyone. If you drop all the bolts off in a coffee can you'll be adding time to the install. Again this should be an 8 hour job, maybe 10 at the most if the headers suck that bad. 3-5k is way past nuts.

 

I still agree with the above..

However, I see you are in Miami and shop rates might be higher than where i live but even is it took them extra long say 16 hours at $120 an hour that's still $1,920..
Is anyone close by and help hgiljr out? I'm sure a lot of us have stories similar as mine....I pulled my first motor (72 Skylark Custom 350) at age 16 with a cable come-along hanging from my mom's garage rafters. I installed it a few weeks later in a '76 Camaro... yeah i wasn't worried about scratching paint and i had most of the bolts. . But if you have everything laid out and labeled a shop that has the right tools and a lift should be able to it in a day I would think. You only need to rent an engine hoist (probably $75-$100), have a good floor jack and a $150 set of Craftsmen SAE tools. IF you think it though and have a plan you can get the bulk of it done in a day... grab a buddy, buy him a pizza and a 12 pack when you're done..