Who can swap an engine inNJ?

[Cuse99]

I'm looking for a shop that can and will swap motors for my El Camino. I have a shop locally and the techs are really great but the owner is questionable. Not a bad guy but doesn't seam to want to do this job anymore. He was gungho when he first started working on the car, but now lost some of that loving feeling. I'm guessing its just to time consuming and not profitable.

Before I contact him again I'm looking for alternative options. I've called a few shops but I can't find anyone who swaps motors. Plan is to get an Chevy crate motor, some other new parts, serpentine system all new. Then swap some of my existing parts like the carb and A/C stuff when the motors are out. Thanks in advance.

 

[83StreetMachine]

I think it really depends on where you are located, what your time frame is, and what your budget is.

So that being said, where are you located?, what's your time frame and budget?

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

The thing is you have an old carbed car. I am assuming you are having an SBC swap done? Most shops are not trained, skilled, or equipped to work on old carbed cars and many modern techs do not evrn want to know how carbs work. Most professionals only want to work on OBD2 EFI stuff. This is further compounded if you are retaining the CCC system which requires some special tools and training the shop owner likely does not want to invest in.

Is there a reason you can't swap the engine yourself? When it comes to old stuff you pretty much need to do your own work as many modern professionals are clueless around old tech.

 

[Cuse99]

I think it really depends on where you are located, what your time frame is, and what your budget is.

So that being said, where are you located?, what's your time frame and budget?

If I can find a Tech I can trust, my location won't matter. I'm in Central NJ but I'll travel 2 hours in any direction to get this done. The closer the better but its not the first criteria.
My budget it what the job costs. If I buy the most of the major pieces, as stated above, I'll let the tech pick up the extra hoses, gaskets, clamps, etc. Time frame is as soon as possible. So that means 1 week is great, but if it takes 3 months then so be it. My biggest concern is an honest, capable tech.
Just to be clear, the guys I have been working with are both of those, but I think they would rather do brakes, tires and other quick stuff. Business decisions.

 

[Cuse99]

The thing is you have an old carbed car. I am assuming you are having an SBC swap done? Most shops are not trained, skilled, or equipped to work on old carbed cars and many modern techs do not evrn want to know how carbs work. Most professionals only want to work on OBD2 EFI stuff. This is further compounded if you are retaining the CCC system which requires some special tools and training the shop owner likely does not want to invest in.

Is there a reason you can't swap the engine yourself? When it comes to old stuff you pretty much need to do your own work as many modern professionals are clueless around old tech.

I'm going to resentful disagree wit you. In my experience there are still so many people, mechanics techs ant automotive enthusiasts that the knowledge for working with a non computer base carb is readily available. But if you can make crazy money on brakes, oil changes, tire rotations and the quick fixes, why would you swap a motor? Swapping a motor is not a typical everyday service for most shops. Actually I understand.

 

[Cuse99]

Is there a reason you can't swap the engine yourself? When it comes to old stuff you pretty much need to do your own work as many modern professionals are clueless around old tech.

I don't have the tools, shop, skills or knowledge. I know this because 20 years ago my best friend helped my swap a motor for a 1979 Malibu. We did it in my driveway, but he did all the work and had all the knowledge and tools

I'M at a time of my life where i don't want to be a mechanic. Or build my own car or ...... I just want to drive my car. I think I've earned it. My '84 El Camino is a really good base. I need a new motor and trans. Its not for me to do that job. I suck at it.

 

[buick7332]

I don't have the tools, shop, skills or knowledge. I know this because 20 years ago my best friend helped my swap a motor for a 1979 Malibu. We did it in my driveway, but he did all the work and had all the knowledge and tools

I'M at a time of my life where i don't want to be a mechanic. Or build my own car or ...... I just want to drive my car. I think I've earned it. My '84 El Camino is a really good base. I need a new motor and trans. Its not for me to do that job. I suck at it.

You probably would be better off buying a turn key 84 ElCamino. I bet it would be cheaper than paying someone to build one

 

[08Malibu]

Central Jersey you should be able to find someone to do your motor swap. There’s certainly more shops down there than yo in north Jersey.

 

[ck80]

I've called a few shops but I can't find anyone who swaps motors. Plan is to get an Chevy crate motor, some other new parts, serpentine system all new. Then swap some of my existing parts like the carb and A/C stuff when the motors are out. Thanks in advance.

I'll be honest, I still think you need to pick your exact parts, maybe even order most/all of them, and have an exact build plan in place.

A couple things going on here (together with others ill get to below) are many shops dont want someone coming in and doing self help work on site (insurance/liability), and are fearful of someone who may change the parts/project partway through.

Also, by using your own parts, many shops don't want that work either- they buy from their wholesaler of choice and markup parts for the customer. You're cutting out their profit. Labor charges often pays the bills - wages, overhead, etc, but parts markup gives profit. Would you want to work to break even and have no money to take home? Why should a shop?

But if you can make crazy money on brakes, oil changes, tire rotations and the quick fixes, why would you swap a motor?

An hour labor is an hour labor, same either way. You make the same money either way. The real difference maker is, as said above, parts markup leading to profit. If they provide enough of the parts to make the difference the equation is different.

But what you're asking to do it tie up lot space, bay/lift space, and tech time on a low to no profit project because they don't get parts markup.

I don't have the tools, shop, skills or knowledge. I know this because 20 years ago my best friend helped my swap a motor for a 1979 Malibu. We did it in my driveway, but he did all the work and had all the knowledge and tools

And many MANY of the techs you find these days, and shops for that matter, don't have that either. They don't teach it anymore, so you're looking for either a tech into old carbureted vehicles, or someone who's been around a long time. Not as easy to find as you think.

They don't store old manuals. They don't keep old service tools. So on so forth.

Young techs are trained to plug something expensive into a car that spits out what it thinks the problem is, then change out that part. Making sure something made of a mix of new and old parts is running correctly and safely, and almost learning on the job what needs to be done where... it's not worth the headaches.

I bet if you picked a few of those same shops, called back pretending to be someone else, and said you had a 2012 accord that had the engine blow, could they find you a motor and install it for you the answer would be different- they'd get parts markup, work on something familiar, and that their diagnostic tools tell them how to fix and get running right.

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

I'll be honest, I still think you need to pick your exact parts, maybe even order most/all of them, and have an exact build plan in place.

A couple things going on here (together with others ill get to below) are many shops dont want someone coming in and doing self help work on site (insurance/liability), and are fearful of someone who may change the parts/project partway through.

Also, by using your own parts, many shops don't want that work either- they buy from their wholesaler of choice and markup parts for the customer. You're cutting out their profit. Labor charges often pays the bills - wages, overhead, etc, but parts markup gives profit. Would you want to work to break even and have no money to take home? Why should a shop?

An hour labor is an hour labor, same either way. You make the same money either way. The real difference maker is, as said above, parts markup leading to profit. If they provide enough of the parts to make the difference the equation is different.

But what you're asking to do it tie up lot space, bay/lift space, and tech time on a low to no profit project because they don't get parts markup.


And many MANY of the techs you find these days, and shops for that matter, don't have that either. They don't teach it anymore, so you're looking for either a tech into old carbureted vehicles, or someone who's been around a long time. Not as easy to find as you think.

They don't store old manuals. They don't keep old service tools. So on so forth.

Young techs are trained to plug something expensive into a car that spits out what it thinks the problem is, then change out that part. Making sure something made of a mix of new and old parts is running correctly and safely, and almost learning on the job what needs to be done where... it's not worth the headaches.

I bet if you picked a few of those same shops, called back pretending to be someone else, and said you had a 2012 accord that had the engine blow, could they find you a motor and install it for you the answer would be different- they'd get parts markup, work on something familiar, and that their diagnostic tools tell them how to fix and get running right.

Agreed, and it is further compounded for G bodies as most US versions have early computer controlled that was tacked onto carburetors which would further confuse anymore not familiar with it. There are few good Qjet rebuilders for instance. Just to work on the CCC would require special tools that are discontinued and must be acquired used or custom fabricated. These include analog dwell meter, OBD1 scanner with GM adaptor, E4ME tool set, E4ME gauge set, etc. Not to mention researching and studying proper procedures and specs from old repair manuals and training videos. Then there are the shenanigans many part manufacturers are pulling such as consolidating part applications, making replacement parts to improper specs, and sub par quality parts. For example nobody makes replacement 3 port mechanical fuel pumps that put out the proper fuel pressure, all of them are too high and require retrofitting in a pressure regulator. Someone not in the know can easily miss this. Most reman Qjets are garbage and not anywhere near original factory correct specs and that incorrect spec PCV valves can cause lean fuel mixtures, etc. There are a lot of pitfalls to be aware of that young techs many not be aware of. Some of these issues can't be found in repair books, but online sources such as web pages and forums.

Many shops may only want to use parts from their suppliers regardless if they are correct. They also are likely to want to replace factory parts with aftermarket to increase their profit margins. Like for example, its common for shops to want to and push hard to replace factory Qjets with aftermarket carbs, sometimes even mandating it.

Some replacement parts can't even be sourced from local bulk suppliers but from specialized niche sources or even junkyards, Craigslist, forums, etc.

In short, working on old stuff which is a small niche market requires extensive investing in outdated and obsolete resources and assets which business wise is retarded, unless their business plan is to specialize in said niche market.

Engine swaps are not easy, but neither is dealing with "fauxfessionals" blowing air which NJ is full of. I did my engine swap myself and not entirely by choice either, I just could not find anybody in NJ that I could trust and this was back in 2007 and its worse now. Even good professionals will likely only do things their way, not yours or factory correct.