How much work to pull/replace motor?

[rsm688]

Okay guys, well I met a lady near me (just a chance encounter, saw my H3 and ended up telling me about hers) who had the head go out in her 06 H3 with 163k miles on it. She was quoted $4200 to repair it (some auto repair people should be murdered). Considering she still owes $7k on it and just spent $2k on a new radiator, tires, starter, etc, shes pretty screwed with the amount of money that will be spent considering the blue book on it is $7800.

Well... I found a really nice low mileage motor for a pretty good price. I'm considering swapping it into my H3, and swapping my great running motor with 95k into her H3. Who here is pulled/swapped the motor in an H3 before? How much work/time is involved? Any special tools needed other than an engine lift?

What about just installing a new/rebuilt head? I've never swapped the head on anything other than motorcycles and an old chevy 350 before, so not sure what all is involved with it.


Thanks,
Spencer

 

[06 H3]

So far it's not bad....just a lot of unplugging wires draining stuff and then hoisting the motor

 

[Renagade132]

Why don't you take her truck to a few places and see what they quote YOU, see if it's way different then what they quoted her.

 

[Cyouincourt007]

Why don't you take her truck to a few places and see what they quote YOU, see if it's way different then what they quoted her.

Thats a good idea renegade! Things always cost more when my wife gos and all types of extra crap she doesn't need gets pitched lol until she calls me and I say no just what you went for...but the guy says I need to do this and that.....no,no no ouishhhh
put at end to that by me going etc

 

[CaseyS]

I had never done it before and I had an engine on the ground in 13 hours of labor.

Also for what it is worth I spent $3000 on a head swap at an independent shop. This was with 180k on the engine.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

wait... you're complaining at the amount that shops are charging, but you have no idea how much work is involved?

sorry, you'll not get help from me.

 

[Mr_Rich]

Pulling an engine is a lot of work; not difficult*, just a lot of work. Depending on the vehicle you could start at nine in the morning and have the engine out before lunch or it could take you until the next day. With the newer vehicles I got a bunch of little paper tags with a string and tagged important connectors because it's impossible to remember where all those connectors went when it's time to put things back together. Mark the tag with some kind of waterproof marker also.

*Vans and 4th gen Firebirds and Camaros are difficult. I've done both. I'm adding that disclaimer...

 

[cgalpha08]

wait... you're complaining at the amount that shops are charging, but you have no idea how much work is involved?

sorry, you'll not get help from me.

Or you could explain how much work is involved.

 

[chaos254]

According to all data, time is 22.2 hours to remove the engine. That is to remove the engine, swap everything over to new engine and reinstall. Add in the cost of the engine and any misc items. Becomes very expensive real quick