To rebuild engine or not to rebuild. That is the question. See details in Tips and Tricks if you can provide some needed advice. Thanks, Myrleen Fisher aka Elvira[/b]
Myrleen if someone quoated you six to eight k run don't walk throught the yellow pages and find another shop. go to auto zone or kragen look at there rebuilds look for a shop that thats all they do is engine overhauls here in Modesto we have engine renew check with people you know someone has to have a better job done than you had, 24 are rare if it's in good shape and you like it then yes it's worth it ,if not ? good luck let us know if you find a good shop :shock:
Jim: The quotes in Salinas/Monterey have been $3000-3500 (just labor) to remove the broken engine and to install the rebuilt longblock (35 hours ). A rebuild of my core locally varies from $3500 to $5500. To install a rebuilt from Fresno source is $2500 (shorter warrantee). All of these options require a rebuildable core. The block that is in there now is stamped 440-4. No one can tell me for sure what that is, whether or not it is heavy duty for motor home. The shops I'm talking to don't want it as a core. They think it may be a car engine. That means another $500-700. I've called Kragen's and they don't have any. I'm checking places in LA and Texas on the web. If you know a better source, please let me know. This 24 footer is in good shape, except for the engine, as far as I know. A only drove it 40 miles. We topped off all fluids and headed for Santa Cruz about 1 year ago, didn't get there. It has been in that #@!!!$&## mechanic's hands since then. Now at Ron's RV in Salinas. High prices, good reputation.
elvira: the 440-4 and 440-1 engines are the most common type. they are
light duty [car-light truck] engines.
only the 440-3 is a heavy duty engine and have different heads on them.
that is why the core charge would be added if you gave them a different engine as a core.
good luck
I just put a new 360 engine in my '75 Clipper.
Do you know anyone that is retired from the military to use a base auto hobby shop someplace?
It's not THAT hard. Thought It did take me 5 days to do.
When you ask for an engine price at a parts store have them look up for a whatever year you have, B300 one ton van /w a 440.
Putting a new engine in a Van/RV is not a job you want to pay someone to do. They can't make a profit at it and do a attentive job.
But it is definitely possible to do yourself....
You have to make a rear engine craddle out of galzanized fence poles, and rig up a all-thread j-hook to hold the back of the engine up....
Then the trans slides back out of the way,
You lift the back of the engine a bit, drop the oil pan, reach in and turn
the oil pick up - up out of the way, - slide the oil pan back,
and then the engine goes out through the front.
It takes good bit of time.....
You need a cherry picker engine crane, two HD jackstands, and a transmission jack.... and I used two 6 ton floor jacks to put the '
entire front end about a foot off the garage floor.
When you pull the engine with the crane. The boom has to be tightly
closely chained to the block w/o the intake manifold on it.....
It is worth doing it yourself........ just to floor that new engine
the first time - to seat the piston rings......... Fffffff WHaaaaaaaaaaaaah
Best of Luck