"fair" prices for engine/trans swaps etc...

[mkiiSupraMan18]

Recently I've been doing quite a few engine swaps in cars, and pretty much have it down to a science. Basically, I'm just curious what i should be charging... Whats fair to me AND the "customer"? The last two that i have done, as far as engine/trans go, was $200 trans swap *auto trans included*, and $400 + engine/parts for an engine swap. I know the trans swap was way (maybe even waayy) cheap, but working one day a week, I don't want to throw something like $500 out there and then have them find somewhere else. $400 for an engine swap seems like a good deal for both me and the "customer" though.

The trans I did in one night (if you don't include the auto shifter not shifting *even out of the car it took everything I had to push the button in*), and an engine (provided I have all the parts and someone to help get the engine/trans in/out) I can do in 2 evenings (maybe.... 6-7 hours of "work"). I'd also like to add that I change any/all seals/gaskets that they want for free while the engine is out...

OK, this post is long enough... What I'm wanting to know is how much should I be charging for Transmission swaps (from now on I will pull engine/trans together because it's faster/easier imo) and how much to charge for engine swaps.

Everything is automatically doubled for Nissan 300z's from now on... and I thought the mkIII engine bay was tight! :nono: *bored at work, btw*

*edit*
also, what about pricing for things like timing belts and stupid stuff like that?

 

[Satan]

For timing belts etc... always go by the hours that the book tells you...

FWIW: AAMco charges about $625 to pull and install a tranny (applied as a credit for overall repais tho)... but that's a rip off too.

I was gonna have the Engine Lab in Tampa rebuild my 7M awhile back... They charge about $900 to remove/replace the engine.

I would assume that you could call a few other shops in your area and get a good idea of what your competitor's charge and base your quotes on what you can do and still make a reasonable profit... that is why you're in the business, right. If it's not profitable, then it's probably not worth doing. Good luck!

 

[mkiiSupraMan18]

I'm not really looking into making it into a business, yet...
It's mostly for spending/Supra money (my last paycheck from the hospital was around $55 for 2 weeks (full time student as well))... So I'm not really... I don't even know how to say it... It's not something that I need to turn a huge profit on, because if i wasn't out in the garage making money, i'd be sitting in front of my computer playing games or something. That being said, I don't want to go out and spend a few evening making $100 when I COULD have made $500, and still been fair to everyone. Most of the money I use to rebuild/repair my own Supras or buy cars to fix up/resale. An awesome business with HUGE profit potential, but I just don't have the time/resources to do it, dropping out of school isn't an option either, because in a year I'll be out making $20+/hr taking X-rays, and I'd be stupid not to finish that.

But the places you menioned charged (imo) ridiculous amounts to do the work, and I guess they can because they are certified and have a good, or decent, history with prev customers. I, on the otherhand, am just a 21 year old trying to give people a good deal so next time they have a problem, or their buddy does, or someone wants to know where to take their car, they remember my name. Sorry about the long posts, I've just been doing a lot of... we'll call it soul-searching, and have considered going back to school after I finish this gig next June to go back and get ASE certified, saving some cash, finding some other people who know what they are doing, and set up some sort of Supra shop somewhere. Anyway, thanks for the input.

*edit*

I was gonna have the Engine Lab in Tampa rebuild my 7M awhile back... They charge about $900 to remove/replace the engine.

Is that considered fair? Because that seems REALLY steep to me. If I pulled in $600 for an engine swap, I would think I had ripped someone off really bad.

 

[Push]

Never work on 300zxs....... You will have to pull the motor to fix almost anything If your ever interested in helping me out with a 7mgte swap in my other Cressida let me know...... I just wished you lived closer. I think we met before a long time ago at Chic2k4 at Sound Performance. Always loved your mk2

 

[mkiiSupraMan18]

^ I thought you were from WI?
But that's exactly what I mean... "If you lived closer"... ugh. Damn the mid-west.

But as far as the swap goes, I'd be interested. As bad as this sounds, I'd always be willing to do a swap when someone else is footing the bill. :naughty:

 

[suprahero]

I would pay $600.00 for an engine swap in a heartbeat. I have two friends of mine that own transmission shops. They charge that much just to pull a tranny. I bet you they would charge 800 to 900 for a tranny swap, and people pay it. They both have huge houses and all kind of toys because of it.

 

[mkiiSupraMan18]

^maybe I'm too nice about it then?

BTW, i would be willing to say that in the past 5-6 years i have done well over 20+ engine swaps EASY, and maybe... 10 trans swaps, not all Supras (probably 80% or better). And have yet to have a serious problem (engine falling out, or what have you :icon_bigg ). I must say that I really enjoy my time in the garage (except for cleaning it)... something about engines calms me down

Did I mention I'm super bored at work?

Since I learned the art of harness pulling (through the firewall) engine swaps are cake, me and my buddy did a complete swap in well under 4 hours of work time (pulling it out of one car, and dropping it into another) but it was on a mkII, we had to take time to eat and swap out the cars

 

[Tanya]

Too nice here as well. We figure if we have the knowledge, the tools, and the time, and we're pretty good on cash, there's no need to charge shop prices... or even close to it.

Replaced pads and calipers on a Bonneville yesterday = $25, but usually that kind of job is a case of beer for the hubby, lol.

 

[Maroon88]

Figure out about how long it takes and and multiply it out by a labor rate. Most shops charge $75-$100 per hour, your hourly cost is about $60 for the engine swap which is a pretty good price. If you are happy eith what you get for doing it and people are happy to pay what you charge then you have the price right.

BTW, if you thought the Supra engin bay was tight, you should see my 92 4Runner. The TSRM says to remove the heads WITH the exhaust manifolds in place. I look foreward to working on the Supra after this.

 

[mkiiSupraMan18]

^ That's why I love my mkII, you can get to everything from the top of the car. It's also possible to change starters. :icon_bigg mkIII starters are the biggest PITAs I have ever had the misfortune of dealing with. 3pm! almost time to go home!

 

[Satan]

Ya know what...?!?!? I enjoy it too, which is why I have an MKIII ;-) Sometimes I just gotta get in da garage to unwind.... pulled a quite a few all-nighters too.

I had a friend of mine get out of the Air Force... he chose mechanics as "retraining." He spent $20K in tools and was in debt to the Snap-On tool truck guy. Worked for Ford, Mazda, and a few others... still under $20 an hour with different certs.

I got out of the USMC a year later than him and started at $35K a year... still using my CompUSA ~$11 toolkit, working on PCs and network (not including the silly-@$$ sidejobs). Few years/promotions later..$60K+... 7 years later.. ~$90K ($34+ an hour).... oh, and awesome benefits all the way. Guess what he still makes...

Do what you love and the $$ will come.... If ya love cars and do ppl right, you will always have repeat business and do good for yourself.

Werd of mouth is the best advertsement... If U aren't worth it, or are ripping ppl off... your wallet will eventually reflect.

Keep it up!

 

[supra90turbo]

Coming from a family owned business background, I learned a lot from my father about running a successful business.
One thing I learned is: If you ask yourself if you charged too little, they'll come back. As long as you're making money, the business will reward you. If you decide that it really isn't enough, change what you charge. Rates go up. There's no secret there. If anyone complains, tell them to get quotes for the same job. They'll be surprised at how cheap you are. If you do a good job, and have minimal to no comebacks, then your business will boom.

FWIW my boss works on Subaru's and generally charges $600 to remove/replace engine.
But that includes Timing belt, water pump, idler pulleys, front crank seal, rear main seal, cam seals, throwout bearing, and valve cover seals.

 

[americanjebus]

i've been charging about $20/hour for bit work like fuel pumps and brake jobs

as far as engine swaps, doesnt matter how easy it is for you, its your time and its hard work. i figure go to a local shop, ask how much they will do it for, and take of about 30-45%

 

[mkiiSupraMan18]

^ My time isn't worth much, IMO... 'Cuz like I said, I could be just sitting inside playing Gran Turismo or out somewhere spending money I don't have. :icon_bigg

 

[SupraMario]

Are we talkin about swaping out one engine of the same type, or going from one engine to a totally different engine?