I stopped by the shop today to get a quote for my engine build. I did not believe the quote until I saw the paperwork. I got quoted over $12,000 thats only labor so I have to get my own parts . Anyways, I am shopping around shops to get some price quotes.

 

Damn!!!! The more quotes the better...but stick with reputable shops who have VQ knowledge. I would not get someone to do it just because they were the cheapest. Sometimes quality costs...but it doesn't hurt to ask around.

 

holy hell!!! and to think that SGP is only $7500 for a kick *** longblock, and that includes parts

 

That is exactly wut I am saying! That is too much for my blood, I will most likely not get it done there. They said that they havent done much 350Z's thats why. They specialize in the 300ZX. Oh well I guess I will be shopping around. What is the price range that I should be looking for? Here is a list of what I will be doing:

Pauter Rods
Arias 8.6:1 .020 overbore pistons
ARP Head and Main Studs
RC 550cc or 650cc injecors?
AAM Fuel Return System with fuel rails and FPR
Walbro 255 (if you dont already have one)
JWT cams and springs
clutch

 

you should buy the long block from sgp and do your own motor swap!

 

If I buy that, it would be ready to drop in right? Its like having another motor just waiting to get installed?

 

Z-car garage is that kind of shop, in terms of charging by how big a job seems, and not by how long it actually takes. I have met them, and they appeared to be experienced and knowledgeable, but when the quoted be 20hrs of labor to take out the right side turbo manifold and repair the weld (and put it back in), I instantly knew... To me, there are two kinds of shops, those that charge honest labor even for top notch work (mostly seem to be hardcore, not-so-well-known shops, example TechnoSquare's Howard and Richey), and the other kind that would just look at the job and say to themselves "ok, how big a job does this seem??? Swapping a motor out... $3000 seems good", and people who don't know better fall for it. Now if you know what's really involved, it is NEVER EVER $3000 worth of labor to swap an engine in and out... (it takes about 2 hrs to do it IF you know what you are doing, I've seen it with my own eyes several times). If I had a lift I could have done it with some help, but of course it would take ME much longer than 2 hours.

One thing that I do want to say, is that if a shop does provide written warranty of their work, than yes, it is expected to be at a premium, and it's up to the buyer to decide if they want to pay it.

 

the quote had the machine shop charge of 6800 and all the other labor charges to around 6400.

 

Oh man, now I remembered something... I actually did talk to them about my engine...I remember they were saying something like "they are just now getting into the 350z cars," and he quoted me $9,x00 for the engine + parts.

If you knew exactly what goes on at hte shop,it should really be about 1/10 of that for boring, honing and even some very light head work, unless thye put hte engine together as well. Bore/hone costs about $300 or so (using a tq plate). Of course there is more work than that to build the engine. So I think his quote includes building the entire engine, and than for Zcar garage to install that engine into the car for $6400. Incredible...

 

nope just the machine shop alone is 6400 and the 6800 for putting everything together. And yes you are right about him just getting into the 350Z. They specialize in the 300ZX for sure. And they dont want to do the SGP package since they wont be making much money out of it.

 

Contact SPEEDLAB in ALbuquerque, NM..they just built Ernie's car (going deep) and mine...they do awesome work...
call and get a quote: ask for Brody: 505-830-0944
Discuss shipping your motor to them via freight...it may be MUCH more cost effective for you!

TODD

 

wow I didn't know that included labor and everything... SGP is a steal

 

Ya I am most likely going with the SGP package for the $6000 longblock.

 

when I hit 60k miles I was thinking about deciding to sell the car or doing a major build up... I had looked at SGP before but its hard to predict what prices will be like a year or two from now so I havn't given it much thought. But at those prices looks like you can get a pretty amazing FI set up for less than 15k...

 

Hmmm thats interesting. Just getting into 350z's huh. Let us know what SP quotes on all that work. Since all boosted motors will eventually go that way. By the way the zcar does great work and Im sure he covered the "worst case scenario with you". I'd like to see what a low compr engine felt like to decide when I should go that route. But not before i turn my boost up a lil after summer. Good luck

 

I think a few people are getting confused with just the engine being worked on and the actual swap...

SGP's package includes all the parts including the engine itself and all the labor associated with honing it, porting it, balancing, etc... and putting the engine together. I dont think that price includes taking out your engine and putting the new one back in.

As the engine... as long as you have a 350z youself... it will have all the parts you need to do a swap. You are going to have to keep all the pully's, brackets, wires, accessories, its a mess.... from your engine. You shouldnt need to buy anything else in that situation.

And hey... anyone does the swap themselves... let me know... ill do what i can to help.

 

damn... i missed a lot of words in my last post... i need to read it before i send it