• Welcome to the Checkmate Community Forums forums.

    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions, articles and access to our other FREE features.
    By joining our free community you will be able to:

    » Interact with over 10,000 Checkmate Fanatics from around the world!
    » Post topics and messages
    » Post and view photos
    » Communicate privately with other members
    » Access our extensive gallery of old Checkmate brochures located in our Media Gallery
    » Browse the various pictures in our Checkmate photo gallery

    Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact support by clicking here or by using the"contact us" link at the bottom of the page.

Engine swap price quote.

P

pmwiggins

New member
I am getting a new engine put in my 87 Senator. Its a new 350 so all my old parts will just get put on the new motor. I am wondering what everyone thinks would be a normal price quote for a marine shop to do the engine swap. How much for labor and set up.
The guy quoted me $1500. I just want to know if this is average our outrageous. Thanks.
 
Does that include the engine or is it strictly labor? Either way I believe it's high but I could be wrong. If it is only labor then I would say it's high. What is his hourly labor rate?
 
That does not include the engine. I already have an engine. That is just for labor, rebuilding the carb and tuning it again.
 
I think you could save money on the install elsewhere. Where are you located? You could probably find a cheaper install and slap a new carb on top and be ahead of the game. Someone else please chime in if I'm offbase here.
 
I would find out exactly what is being done for that price. When its being done I would have the bellows replaced on the outdrive as well as the gimbal bearing and the U-joint.
 
R&R engine in my neck of the woods is 1200-1500 bucks when swapping out accessories to bolt onto new engine and work out various kinks, etc.
 
It all depends on what you are getting for $1500. What is your mechanics hourly labor rate? How many hours does the book call for to complete the jobs? Multiply the two and don't forget to add 3% for shop supplies (rags, hand soap etc) oh yes you pay for those too.

$1500 sounds reasonable to me for a certified mechanic.
 
You need to tell us everything he is doing, and what parts and gaskets he is buying. Is your replacement engine new, is it 100% complete from oil pan to intake.
 
he will be taking my old engine out. Putting this new engine in. It has everything on it except the carb, alternator and power steering pump and flywheel. But all of these things he will take from my old motor and put on the new motor and reinstall.
He told me $1500 plus whatever parts i might end up needing along the way. the $1500 is just the labor.
 
That was right in the ballpark of a quote I got to do a swap on my last boat I wasn't fond of that price and ended up doing it myself It really isn't a difficult job to do yourself nothing like a car these motors are made to come out with ease if you have access to something to lift it out you could have it out in a couple hours
 
I've never done a swap on a boat but have friends who have. I think the hardest part would be aligning the motor properly with the gimbal housing.
 
atc250r said:
I've never done a swap on a boat but have friends who have. I think the hardest part would be aligning the motor properly with the gimbal housing.
Click to expand...
if you have the block style mounts with the threaded rod through the top they have adjuster nuts if the old motor is aligned and you dont mess with the adjuster nuts then the new motor is gonna be aligned if you are mounting on angles that is a different story but still not super difficult you just need the alignment tool and to move the motor up and down till its right
 
I have done it, its really not that bad, other then getting the motor lined up just right. I couldnt figure it out and NOBODY on this site could give me any pointers, so I took it to a Marina and spent $350.00 for them to line it all up and reinstall the outdrive.

Not to over simplify it, but once you pull the outdrive, you have to unplug the 10 pin plug, disconect the gas lines and the throttle linkage and its pretty much ready to come out. There are two bolts on the transom assembly and two nuts on the stringer mounts that about it. Biggest problem is having something tall enough to lift it out.
 
I've done several engine swaps in I/Os and it is not difficult! Just like the other members said, pull the outdrive, remove the exhaust manifiolds with risers attached (if they aren't leaking) disconnect the wiring and fuel lines, remove the top nuts on the stringer engine mounts (don't touch the adjusters) and the two bell housing to transom bolts and it's ready to come out. Find a buddy with a tow truck with a boom or most would pull it for the price of a tow, and yank it out. Some boat yards might rent you the alignment tool which is simple to use or let you use it if you take your boat there. The alignment procedure only takes about 1/2 hour, if that long. But as was said earlier this would be the time to check out the other components like the gimble bearing, drive coupler, u-joints, etc. while you have it all apart. Really not a bad job at all, especially when you're saving $1,500. I'm in the Fredericksburg area and could lend a hand (time permitting:)).
 
If I was running a shop and charging shop rate it would be in that range. Yes, you can do it yourself but if you don't have the time, know-how or the equipment to do it right then you pay what the man asks.
 
What kind of hourly rate is a boat mech. charging on average? Or do they just have a flat fee that they charge for services?
 
The shop that has been working on my stuff is @ 95 an hr I cringe every time I get the bill
 
Wasn't somebody bitching a week or so on here that their car dealer screwed them?
So if thats the rate he is being quoted at it comes back to 15.8 hours labor. I have never swaped an engine in a boat from the people I have talked to they said it wasn't too hard. I guess a few hours of labor in that quote might be dedicated to having the carb rebuilt.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top