Engine replacement recommendations? (Denver, Colorado Springs: legal, shops, manufactured)

[justin342]

Does anyone know a reputable auto shop in the area (or Denver even) that would handle engine replacement on a vehicle without charging an arm and a leg for labor? After talking to a few people in other cities who have had similar work performed it seems like the rates at the shops here that I've contacted so far run about $1000 more just for labor.

Are auto repairs just relatively much more expensive here in Colorado Springs or am I contacting the wrong shops? I've tried corporate run places and independent shops. Any recommendations?

[TCHP]

Unfortunately, there is no inexpensive way around this. Replacing an engine is easily a two day job for someone who knows what they are doing and with experience on the specific vehicle. At a lowball shop rate of $50 an hour, your looking at $800 for just labor at the lowest end of the low end. For a generic shop, that could easily translate into a week or more. Throw shop supplies, misc component, sensor, and consumable replacement parts for the new unit, and its isn't difficult to exceed a couple of grand for the install, which doesn't include the $1000-5000 for the engine its self.

There are cheaper ways around this, but then you are dealing with questionable rebuilds, unknown install practices, unlicensed mechanics, and no warranty.

Unfortunately, many cars have become a replaceable consumable like so much else these days.

[Runemaster]

Here's a graphic on national averages for auto repair labor:

http://www.mechaniconduty.com/mapgraphic_email.pdf (*not sure how old this is)

Not knowing what vehicle you have, it's hard to know the book-time on the repair, but most engine swaps these days are bare minimum 10 hours, plus evac& recharge of the AC system, fluid fills and other steps that are necessary to perform when swapping out engines.

Expecting anyone to do quality work in a reputable shop that offers Master Certified Technicians using modern equipment and offering a decent warranty for $50 is outdated thinking. I've been repairing vehicles since the late 90s and never once worked in a shop where the labor rate was under $65 and every place I've seen has been over $95 since the early 21st century. The ones that are under that I wouldn't let change my oil, much less do the single most major repair possible. (Granted, there are always exceptions and some Mom&Pop shops still have low enough overhead to offer cheap labor, but they're a dying breed, unfortunately).

If you're going to shell out thousands to have an engine replaced, it may not be a good idea to start cutting corners to save yourself 10-20%, because in the end, you get what you pay for more so in auto repair than anything else.

You're going to have several choices on the engine side: a new long block, a remanufactured long block, a used engine or in some cases a rebuild done on-site.

The warranties for these will vary, but most major manufacturers (i.e. GM, Ford, Honda, Jasper, etc) offer 3 year/100,000 mile warranties on the engine itself if installed at a reputable shop. Most salvage yards will offer 6 months/6,000 miles on a used engine for an additional fee and some up to 12/12 for a larger fee.

So, you can save money on the part side much easier than the labor if you want to hedge your bet against the future. Having a cut-rate mechanic install your engine is asking for all sorts of issues in the future, unless you happen to find a retired master tech who does it on the side, but then you still forego any real warranty or legal recourse if things go south.

Sadly, like TCHP wisely stated, cars are becoming more replaceable than repairable in this day & age.