Quote:
Originally posted by PKRWUD
I used to quote $500 for engine swaps, and always came away underpaid. The customer never has all the parts, or refuses to buy a new water pump because the old one is only six months old, but because it's been sitting dry for 4 weeks, the seals have cracked, and I get to swap the water pump after everything is done, while he says "oh, you were right".
I won't even consider an engine swap for less than $1000, and I'm cheap. I do include dialing it in. When I'm finished, the customer will drive their vehicle home.
A 1970 Tempest or LeMans, or what ever it was he's looking at is pretty routine, but you'r going to have to rebuild the front suspension too. The springs are different between the 6 and the 8, and as long as you're in there, it's silly not to do the bushings (probably will crumble as you take the a-arms out anyway). Then there's the tranny crossmember, and whichever shifter he's going to want you to install. You'll need to measure and locate a driveshaft, and hope that there isn't too much welding involved with the new rearend. The brake lines should line up fine, but you know he's going to need disks up front, and the '70 6'ers had 4w drums, without a power booster, which means new brake lines anyway.
Then, you have to ask yourself; how many miles are on this 400 from a donor goat? Is it complete? You wouldn't install a points ignition, would you? Of course not, so start checking the local yards for a Pontiac HEI. The carb is going to need a rebuild, too. The p/s will be different, and the radiator will be too small. The shocks are going to suck, too.
Then there's the exhaust.
Bro, if you want to do that for $800, God bless you.
I'm too big of a prick, and my time and tools are worth more than that. Hell, I still need to come up with another $200 for a reverse power bleeder!!!
Take care,
~Chris
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YOU ARE RIGHT! but all he wanted was the drivetrain dropped in. he never mentioned anything else. i quoted him just to put a motor, tranny and rearend in with little modifications if needed. now any ADDITIONAL time like the brake conversion, brackets and cables for the tranny and anything else is extra. if he didnt have the right parts or didnt have all of them, then this would take time and of course more dough.
i should have explained myself better. i would do it for $800 bucks still, just bolting it in and modifying it to work. I would definitaly would tell him up front what ways he could go and what he could also do. all he asked was a fair price for just installing it! so i dont think $800 is too little just to put in the drivetrain with the correct parts given.
also just to let you know, not all 6's came with drums!