Every car and truck is different. We hear guy's bragging that they can "rip an engine out in 2 hours, and have it back in again in 3-4 hours". Yeah right! We've seen these "jobs" before and two weeks later, they're still adjusting loose bolts, wobbly and crooked brackets, wires run all over the place like spaghetti and so on. You want a job like that done on YOUR car?

To do a nice job and not take a torch to everything to get it out, break bolts-off, scratch fenders & paint, and so on, it takes time. It also takes time to re-assemble everything, clean parts, glass bead and paint certain parts that you might want to re-use again so they look nice, and all of that.

A basic engine R&R job requires at least 25 hours of labor, and usually a little more like 30. At our current shop rate of $95 an hour, you are looking at at least $2,375 - $2,850 for the basic labor. Of course anytime there is custom work, fabrication, problems with rusty or old parts, exhaust modifications, tranny and/or rear-end work, etc, it adds to that time. It's really hard figure an accurate price for that kind of unforseen stuff ahead of time, so sometimes on top of a "basic" installation price, you might run into some extra "time and materials" to deal with things that you might not even have known you needed. Of course we let you know if we find something like that, and ask you what you want us to do about it before we continue. We can even take pictures of it and e-mail them to you so you can see it for yourself. This just helps document the situation better.

We always take the time to clean things and make them look nice. Another thing to consider is going a step further while the engine is out and have us de-grease and paint the engine bay so it looks nice under the hood when your new engine is installed. This usually only takes a couple of extra hours to do, plus a few cans of degreaser and paint. It's worth it if you want it to look nice when your new engine goes in. 

You'll also need to allow enough money for the new parts you're going to want to install with your new engine, such as all of the tune-up parts (plugs, wires, cap, rotor, air filter, fuel filter, oil filter, oil, tranny fluid, etc.), plus you'll most likely want to install new belts, hoses, hose clamps, fuel / heater and vacuum lines, new motor mounts, a new tranny mount, a new thermostat, new high flow water pump, new high flow fuel pump and so on. Some people even go with a new radiator, a new or upgraded exhaust system, etc. while their car is here.

Then there are custom / cool things to consider with your new install such as a new chrome alternator, a new starter, aluminum pulleys and brackets, a new aluminum radiator, new fan, custom made braided steel fuel lines and things like that. And don't forget, if you are having new headers installed, we'll need to trailer your car down to the exhaust shop to have them hook-up your old exhaust, or have a new exhaust system installed. You need to consider the extra costs involved for parts and labor to install all of that kind of stuff.

Engines that are supercharged or that have nitrous oxide systems being installed will also have more installation time to wire things-in, plumb-in new fuel lines, deal with brackets that don't want to fit right, run larger fuel lines from the tank to the engine, special throttle linkages that need to be fabricated, installing extra gauges such as a fuel pressure or blower boost gauge, etc. This stuff can add-up pretty fast, but you just invested a lot of money for a really nice engine, so you want it done right... once, and be done with it.

Many shops have NO CLUE what to do when it comes to performance engines, or when it comes time to start and run-in a new performance engine. We get calls every week from shops across the nation wanting to know what to do with the performance engine they just installed, many of which aren't even engines we built. Unfortunately, we can't spend any time with those guys. Do you want a shop like that doing YOUR engine install, or trying to fire YOUR new engine up?

We know what we are doing and we do a first rate job that's right the first time. When you are bargain hunting for a "cheap" shop to do your engine install, just remember.... as with anything, you get what you pay for!