Engine Install Quote -

[charlie45]

So after contemplating for a while I figured it probably makes sense to buy an engine from a reputable shop Indy/Muscle Motors versus trying just optimize the current 440 in my 68 Charger. Yes, it will cost me quite a bit up front, but trying to cobble something together on that old 440 will probably end up costing me just as much over a few and it will be nothing up to the standard what a professional builder like Indy could put together....

What is a reasonable time estimate here for what I described?

[moparguy01]

90 hours? Holy hell. First off if it takes him 10 hours to remove an engine, well, that alone is redamndiculous. if you dont know what your doing you should be able to remove one in 5 hours EASY. Unless you REALLY have no idea what the heck your doing, then you should just not even try.

I would definately call around to other places. If you have any local race shops you may be able to check there, alot of the ones near me all do work pretty reasonable.

[cdr]

20 hours should be about right,-------------------on a stock long block the labor guide calls for 12 hours r&r 

[FC7 V code]

I have to agree with CDR after dealing with this issue not once but twice this past summer/fall. 20 hours would probably more than cover it. My Son, a couple of local kids and I were able to yank a couple motors out in about 4 hours(one out of a 70 charger and the other a 70 Challenger) this past summer and it's not like there was a licensed mechanic in our crew . 90 hours seems like it is way over the top and I'd move on from that quote in a hurry.

[johnnyseville]

Will that mechanic be using a "seeing eye dog", perhaps the dog is new to this, which would account for the extra time.

[skip68]

    I have a thread in performance section 2 years ago (can't remember the title) when Vegas Mike came up and we did my engine in 2 days....
  We pulled my motor on sat, took it to another members shop, cleaned it up, put new bearings in it, wrapped it up in plastic and came home, put it on engine stand, put new timming chain, cam, rods, ect. ect., had some beer and went to bed.  Got up the next morning, got the freshened up motor in the car and was breaking in the cam by 2pm that day.... Sunday.   I was doing burn outs in it by 3pm......    All this in about 16-17 hours total...  Even the member that had the shop up here and tools for us posted he was shocked that we had it running and driving the next day.        So, bottom line is if he knows what he's doing then 20 hours is plenty.   

[Rolling_Thunder]

I have R&Red a big block w/4-speed in approx 7 hours.

[JB400]

Dunno what your situation is, but why not buy/ borrow a cherry picker (engine hoist) and do it yourself?  As has been posted, buy some beverages and a pizza and you and another guy can have it out and back in in a day.  Heck of a lot cheaper than paying for 90 hrs worth of labor.

[skip68]

Dunno what your situation is, but why not buy/ borrow a cherry picker (engine hoist) and do it yourself?  As has been posted, buy some beverages and a pizza and you and another guy can have it out and back in in a day.  Heck of a lot cheaper than paying for 90 hrs worth of labor.

[1970Moparmann]

20 hours should be about right,-------------------on a stock long block the labor guide calls for 12 hours r&r 

I agree! 90 hours, that just blows me away.

[mhinders]

The quoted 90 hrs is ridiculous IMO.
There is a lot of mopar folks over in Germany. Have you tried to get in touch with somebody locally?
Myself I'm in Sweden but I may be able help you with a contact in Germany. PM me in that case.
Martin

[charlie45]

Point is, these guys know what they're doing and its not like this is something new to them and that they want to be on the safe side.... They have all the tools, equipment, that they could probably do it quicker than anyone else...

[1974dodgecharger]

are they gonna dyno the engine, tweek it, etc before the install?  I can see 90s hours if they plan to lick clean it too, give you some other carbs int he process, etc..

Overall they dont know what they are doing if its 90 hours. I know only person who would quote 90s hours and he was in a wheelchair and said 'it takes me 1 hour for each time to find me a tool and I need roughly 30 tools so already IM charing you 30 hours'

Btw, this is the place that gave me the quote:

http://moparshop.de/

Point is, these guys know what they're doing and its not like this is something new to them and that they want to be on the safe side.... They have all the tools, equipment, that they could probably do it quicker than anyone else...

It just infuriates me that these guys think they can get away with that. Not to mention, they are the guys that quoted me 25 hours to install headers and a full-exhaust system from TTi...

[Ghoste]

Is this the same guy that was quoting the exhaust install?

[Cooter]

Ok, why are you still going to this guy if he is too high? How do you know he isn't pricing it high to do what we here call "Blow you out the door", as he really doens't want to mess with your stuff, but WILL if he makes bank?

Obviously, you either need to 1. find someone else, or 2. Try and do as much of this yourself as possible...

I've said it before and I'll say it again....Some folks really have NO IDEA how much TIME (Meaning by the hour) it takes to "Set one up" when you come back complaining about how it "Doesn't run like you think it should".....It very well could take 90 plus hours to COMPLETELY install, and dial in your combo.

If you cannot do it yourself, get out the wallet.

[charger Downunder]

Tell him to do it and you will only pay him for the time he is working on the car no fixed rate of 90 hours. When he is ready to do your car pay a junior to watch over your car for the week to make a note of hours worked. No way it would take 90 hours.

[Dino]

Moparshop.de 

I remember them...  I'd buy the cherry picker and a few six packs if I were you.

[skip68]

Charlie, take it somewhere else.    The last thing you need is them touching your car.   Even if you negotiate on a price they may still say they ran into a problem and milk more money out of you.  It's just nuts & bolts man.   Headers can be tricky but not 25 hours worth.   This tells you 2 things about them.    Either they DON'T know what they're doing or they're trying to rip you off.   Either way it tells you one thing, YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO TOUCH YOUR CAR.  

      Maybe we've got a member close to you that could help do it on a weekend for beer & food.      

[maxwellwedge]

Run Forrest Run!

Pigs get fat......Hogs get slaughtered...

[heyoldguy]

I can get the engine out of a 75 New Port in 15 minutes with the cutting torch and forklift. Lemme do the Charger!

Whats wrong with asking, "Seems a little steep in hours. Can you explain why you feel it will be that labor intensive?"

There could be some special circumstances he might see with your Charger.

No nevermind, let's all just assume he's a crook!

[moparguy01]

I don't assume he's a crook. I assume he's incompetent.

[tan top]

 good days work ,  if i was twenty years  younger  
 now i just do a bit , have a sit down  , &   drink / food  & look what i've done , then do a bit more  

   may be as much as 20 hours max even if you not got a lift , just jack & stands , yeah headers can be a pain  , but all the stuff is new ,  also depending  if you got OEM kick down linkage & what model , you got to cut & narrow the bit that it fitted to the bellhousing pin , no idea what its called  , but  call it an hour of time  ,
 
having said days work  , would do stuff like that all ther time when i was younger  ,

but for a paying customer , i would want to double / trebble check , test everything  , as its your name , who fitted it all & set it up , the days of the internet is easy to get a black mark against your name doing crap work  

but 90 hours , 

[skip68]

Hell, you could fly one of us over to you round trip to do the swap and be cheaper and quicker.   

[Cooter]

I can get the engine out of a 75 New Port in 15 minutes with the cutting torch and forklift. Lemme do the Charger!

Whats wrong with asking, "Seems a little steep in hours. Can you explain why you feel it will be that labor intensive?"

There could be some special circumstances he might see with your Charger.

No nevermind, let's all just assume he's a crook!

[charlie45]

Hell, you could fly one of us over to you round trip to do the swap and be cheaper and quicker.    

I actually just found a mechanic near Munich (where I live) who does Mopars and he seems fair and honest... He owns a 69 Charger himself that he's in the process of restoring. He was recommended to me by a bunch of guys on the Mopar forum here in Germany...