My car is going down to this reputable engine shop with in house dyno etc, etc, They told me just labor itself to do the head , cam swap is 20 hrs, 6hrs for long tube install (they said they have to raise engine a little) about 900 for complete rebuild of heads(full port and short turn exhaust work,adjust springs to proper height etc.) This is canadian funds. Does this sound average or high? I have a cc224/236 cam and pro mag rr's to install,and moser 3:73's. Curious also how i can estimate how much rwhp this should have with a good tune? Will it be a big difference from stock...like beat a c5 material? Sorry i'm just getting excited.!!

 

They should be able to do it in 1/2 that time with a lift.....I dont know if I would trust them with my fbody. Just dont sound right.

 

Thanks ...anybody else agree? I know the owner doesn't like to rush the cars out but...@77/hr cdn!! I wish I still had my dbl. garage

 

If only one person is doing it and they are working slowly, one person COULD stretch it out to 20 hours for the whole thing, 6 hours for headers? What a load of BS.

The first time I did my heads/cam swap, it did take me the whole weekend, by myself. If they are in a shop, do this for a living, with all the tools and help they have at hand they should be able to do things quicker than that.

Ultimately I dont know why people just dont do it themselves, if they are going to complain about how much it costs, let the people making 100k a year send it to a shop

 

That seems like an excesive amount of time...even the Mitchell guide only shows 3.8 for headers/exhaust install. Someone's trying to pad the profits a little bit, I think....

 

Yeah , I'll talk to him about the headers , i know thats a bunch of duck butter. As for the heads and cam , I know he is doing it on his own(1 tech.) What about the rest of my questions anybody?

 

I can do a heads/cam and header swap by myself in less than 16hrs...it helps to have the right tools

I charge 50hr...so it would cost ya 600 if I did it...

4hrs is plently of time to do a header install, so that 6hrs is bull****...

 

So , 100% sure you dont have to lift engine a inch?

 

I'd look elsewhere and compare some prices. Maybe they'll match a better price

 

I would search around a little bit, the only thing is there aren't a whole lot of places in alberta that specialize in lt1, or ls1's. Some places would be guessing when it came to programming and etc.
Can any body give me any rough answers on my other questions as well? Thanks

 

Lift the engine for what? I never lifted the engine for headers or cam swap. I never took the hood latch off either, remove the dowel pin with a pair of vice grips and you will need only a slight angle to get the cam in. Just dont screw up the bearings doing this.

 

That combo should get you 350rwhp if the headwork and tuning is good....obviousbly thats a big difference from stock. Beat a C5?.....You could give one a good run.....add spray and you win!

Just be careful with the spray....hate to see you spend alot of money on this combo only to break a piston.....dont ask how I know

 

My example is totally different, but you may garner some info from it anyway.

My machine shop just got done with my block, heads and intake. The entire thing was cleaned, sonic tested, magnafluxed, bored and honed. Had it made to a 4 bolt setup, heads flowed, intake matched along with the heads, pistons and rods balanced, crank polished and balanced, and then everything was spun balanced. Total out the door was 1307.00.

Q

 

I just had my long tubes installed for $500 and rear gears for $250. If the heads are coming out the headers install should be twice as easy. As far as heads, that is iffy. I paid $700 for full port and vavle change that flowed 270i @ 550 and 210e @550. Of course i have a guy who does it on the side. He has many years as a mechanic, but he is good. He charged for what the job is worth, not what the book says.

Shops will rape you!

 

Thanks for the info, im going to talk to him about this labor crap. Maybe he just knows that he is good. HE is always swamped with vettes and lt1,ls1 cars.He is giving me some breaks though minor ones anyways. It pi#$es me off that I dont have the garage to rip it out anymore. I just emailed him and told him I thought 16hrs for heads,cam and 3-4 for headers since the heads will already be off should be more reasonable.Still to much i think.