I need some help finding how much it would cost to swap another VQ30DE into my 97 I30. Anyone know what I can expect to pay in labor?

Thanks, Dan

 

U finally bit the bullet huh Big D lol.

Up here in MASS, my mech wd have charged me no more than 500 bucks for 2 days worth of labor. Prolly less. He charged me 300 bucks labor for replacing tranny early last yr.

 

Here in NY... I'm estimating around 400 for labor...

 

you guys are posting some VERY low labor costs compared to mine which i just got the call that is was done this morning. just for labor, it was $1000 and he kept it for about 6 weeks i would say. he only charged me $400 for the engine though which was a 99 with 59k miles but it included a warranty

 

swapping the same engine in that came out isn't that difficult. just a lot of sensors and unbolting accessories and stuff like that. I think between $400-500 would be pretty fair. You also might be able to find a competent .orger near by to do it for you for cheaper

 

So glad I do my own work. I've saved a $hitload of money. You are probably looking at around $650 for labor.

 

Thanks a lot guys for the input. NObody answered from the Houston area, but I think the average looks like $500. I had a quote for ~$1200 for labor, and I found an engine on my own for $450 with about 98K on it. Anyone else please feel free to chime in.

Cashoit,
I have no choice. When I got the cylinder head in and set the timing, it started and ran beautifully for all of about 10 seconds. Then it cut off, started again, cut off for good. I tried to turn the crank and it wont go clockwise past a certain point. My experience from last time tells me that's a surefire sign my valves are dead. Not sure how I did it, but I think something came loose after starting the engine and the timing came out. It sucks, but I learned a lot at least. Now though I can't risk spending another weekend on it because I like my wife a lot, and I'm pretty sure she would leave or kill me if I made another mistake lol.

Thanks again, Dan

 

Bring it to Indiana...I'll do it for tree-fiddy!

 

i'm sure there are a few guys on here around your area who would be willing to do it for you for a descent price.

 

SOOOOOO youve got experience with vq30 timing but your not going 3.5???????

 

Not opposed completely, but I never really got to enjoy my 3.0 before I killed it lol. When I get a my car back running, I'll let the heat die down and then I'm gonna do something with a VK45DE.

EDIT:BTW, why does my experience with 3.0 timing suggest I would want to go 3.5? Excuse the ignorance... I just picked up my first ratchet in Nov'09.

 

the common way to do a 3.5 swap is to transfer all of the 3.0 timing equipment onto the 3.5 engine. so youve got that part out of the way, thats my biggest fear (i lost a dek already trying to put in cams lol)

 

If you know how to set 3.0 timing you can do a 3.5 swap. Lots of people are scared to atempt it because of this. If I were you I'd stop everything and return the 3.0 and get a 3.5. Prep it yourself then take it to the shop to drop it in. Most fun Ive had with a car.

 

Yea, but he WASNT successful tho.

Im not sure if u guys have been following Daniel's threads but he has been tryin to get this car running for MONTHS. I was there suggesting ideas when he first starting posting, so i kno his frustration. I think it all started with an oil leak. SUCKS


Yo man, yur wife is already super understanding lol. U put in alotta manhrs in for that car.

1200 bucks is a lot for an engine swap. And 6 wks is a hella long time. My mech shop is only one guy, and he swap an engine in 2 days. Somethin with them seems jive to me man.

If i was u i wd ask around to my friends and see if anyone knows a good mech.

Im very confident in my mech so i wd jus let him do it and i KNOW he give me a good price to do it. U tryin to find someone cheap and competent and thats hard to do.

EDIT:

Honestly tho, i know my mech is cheap. Someone else in the same area prolly charge me double that.

 

Hey now, I was successful 1 out of 3 times lol… but I don’t like them odds.

 

that means u batting .333 average. if this was baseball u be an all-star lol


Seriously tho D,

I say look around for a good mech to do the swap. It shd take 2-3 days tops to swap.

At least u know the sensors all good hehe.

Bent valves too much to fix.

sorry to hear about the whip man.

 

Yeah that’s the plan. I actually heard from an orger in Spring who has swapped a 3.5 in to his max. So hopefully we can work something out.

 

looking for a mechanic to do a engine swap on a a 97 Maxima, live in Antioch, CA.

 

Cali is 1200 to 1500 which is highway robbery and they need the car for a week. Get dirty know your car and do it yourself, I am getting ready to swap mine out for a 3.5.

 

damnnnnn 1500$ damnnn im trying to get a full swap and my bros fam looking into putting a 3.7 infiniti engine and 6mt! i hope he can but i guess i can settle for a 3.5 full swap too

 

I need to swap my engine as well .... Just found a a big hole in my block where last owner used jbweld to seal it and now its leaking ..... All engines around me where around 1500

 

Dude. There are engines here in Ontario for 650 with 30-60k on them, and come with a 90 day warranty, and labor isn't that much of a problem. I would help you out, since I'm gonna be swapping in a new engine within the next year, on my own, and helping fellow orgers is a must within the MAX family! : All you need is somebody with a cherry picker or engine hoist.

 

Do swaps usually come with a new wiring harness? I've got a misfire I can't figure out, and about the only part I haven't replaced is the main wiring which costs around $900; so, I figure just get a new motor. I would happily drive to just about anywhere to find a good deal or low milage motor. I have a 1997 GLE. I was thinking about the 01 motor. If I'm reading right its a cake swap with a little more HP. Help me someone, please!

 

^^^^^

Have you tested the current to see if the harness is sending out the signal back to the coilpacks, injectors, ignition condensor, etc?

 

I have been doing the silly thing of just throwing parts at it.
I need to have diagnostics done.
After reading more on this site, I'm guessing it is an aftermarket coil pack. I have only replaced one from O'Rileys about two years ago.
So, I hope that is my problem.
No luck at the junkyards yet. I PMed Maxima Joe with my fingers crossed for some OEM coil packs.

 

Make sure when u swap out motors u.change ur muffler bearing aswell

 

Is that the same thing as blinker fluid?
or..http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/atta...1&d=1308849971

 

I'm pretty happy for the moment.
I took off and cleaned my TB and IAC, swapped out all coil packs with used OEM, new NGK plugs, and BWD injectors in 5/6--I have a stripped screw on one--cleaned my MAF.
Reset the codes and no bucking, stalling, ect.
I did have some oil on one plug.
I'm at 180,000-so I'm sure that's to be expected.
Either way it runs great.
I think I have a small exhaust leak, but I went crazy and ordered a warpspeed y-pipe and hi-flow cat to complete my exhaust.
Already have a catback pacesetter.
Everything is getting expensive fast, so I don't think I am going to do anything else for a while after that.

Here is my test drive, 1st-2nd, and a little bit of 3rd..lol:
http://youtu.be/I-yQNO135-g

I'll do a better video for sure. That was on impulse..