I am seriously thinking about replacing the engine as a practical solution to the problem I've been experiencing for the past two years (low-speed knocking/white smoke from tailpipe), and would like to know how much I should be ready to pay.

For those who actucally replaced their VQ30DEs, how much did you pay for labor?

 

Ive heard anywhere from $600 to $1200 for labor...I would plan on about $1K for labor, $500 or $600 for the engine, and a coupole hundred for misc...so plan on $2,000 done the right way and not half a**

-matt

 

hasei talk to tilley99

 

500 bux for the engine, do the work yourself.

 

$0.00....Nothing...zip....zilch....nada...did the work my self

 

I wish I had proper skills and tools to do it myself, this should be an interesting project.....tavarish and nupe500, did you guys have an engine hoist then?

 

You will definatley either need an engine hoist or a lift...I say get or rent a hoist and go to town...pep boys sells hoist for $100-200 or so...not bad

 

What can be hard about replacing a motor, it just bolts right in doesn't it?

 

But you also need to remove/re-install all the harnessses, tubes, drive shafts and transmission, don't you?

 

Is the knocking heard more on the top? or bottom?

You might just have a bad head. A lot easier and less expensive than changing the motor.

Plus depending where you get your motor (junkyard) it might be in as bad or worse shape than yours.

Since you are already prepared to get rid of your motor, just pull the heads on your own motor and get them looked at. I'm guessing your valve guides and seals have gone bad causing oil to leak into the cylinder chamber.

 

how long did it take for those who did the work yourselves? that/s true talent that i would really like to learn one day.

 

i got a little bit of a price break since i work at a junkyard but mines in the shop geting done right now, new motors got 17k miles on it and labor cost is around 600....if you go to a decent junkyard they should warranty it, i know ours are for 99 days which is more then enough time to tell if your motors bad or not...check out car-parts.com or let me know and i can get you a price, i think the next lowest miles motor is 24k or so from an i30

--Dan

 

Thanks for the replies guys

 

15 hours total time spent the rain slowed us down a little.

 

find someone around your town that might be able to help you.

 

Dittos to Paredline's comments. You might not need to do the whole engine, sounds like a cracked head or failed head gasket. In either case it might be advantageous to just rework your original motor (shouldn't require removal of the block for that kind of work) instead of getting a new one.

Either way, good luck.

 

i payed $700 for the motor i just got put in. was a '96 engine with 30k miles on it. install was $650. I would have done the job myself also but it is my only vehicle and i didnt have the time to do it myself with work at the time. forsure doit urself if u have the place to do it, the right tools, and at least an idea what the hell your doing. or maybe some friend that do. In the long run after u finish it and fire up that engine you will get a great amount of satisfaction knowing that YOU are the one that just did that work. If you are just Joe Schmo off the street that doesnt know his A$$ from a hole in the ground tho, id get the work done by a proffesional.

 

I was being a little sarcastic there.

If you are a little mechanically inclined you shouldn't have a problem with it, there is a long list of things that are involved in replacing a motor but you just have to dig in and get it done. It's a good idea to have proper tools of course: basic sockets, wrenches, jacks, jack stands, engine hoist and accessories, air tools are a plus. Like the other guys said, maybe it's not necessary to replace the whole motor, you may be able to just bring it to a shop to have it diagnosed or something too.