| [GMCnet] Cost of an engine R&R-short summary [message #277205] |
Sat, 02 May 2015 20:41 |
glwgmc
Messages: 1014
Registered: June 2004
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There have been several forum requests, and I have received a number of off line requests, for estimates on the cost of engine R&R for our coaches. There is no easy one answer other than to call the GMC specialists and ask them directly as prices can differ wildly, and for good reasons. Based on my experience with recently replacing the engines in both our coaches I can offer the following observations that my be helpful.
As a good estimate, it will take somewhere between 25 and 35 hours to do a normal R&R once everything is at hand. The cost per hour you are charged is largely a function of where the mechanic is located and what kind of a facility they have. If they are working out of their home in a relatively rural area the hourly charge might be as low as $40. If they are in a major metro area, have a large facility or are located in a business hostile state, the hourly charge could be $150 or more. So, that is why there is such a wide range in the cost to do the R&R which, using these time and hourly cost estimates, could be as low as 25 hours at $40 = $1000 to as high as 35 hours at $150 = $5250 plus the cost of the engine and any other things you want to do or replace at the same time.
Lapsed time from the time you drop off your coach until you get it back will also vary all over the place. It could be as little as four to six days or it could be two or more months so plan that into your selection as well.
On the Royale engine Jim and Judy Hupy brought a trolly from their place outside of Salem, OR, down to Kerby, OR, (200+ miles each way) at the same time Ken Henderson was visiting. Jim and Ken wanted to see what caused the failure of that engine so we all dove in (mostly them) and had the engine out in an afternoon. I did all the cleaning, painting and moving of parts from the old engine to the new long block and then I paid a very busy, very competent local mechanic $1000 (about twice his normal hourly charge) to entice him to come to my place on a weekend to do the reinstall and run in. The coach was already set up on blocks with all the interior protection and trolly in place and I had already done all the running around to source parts and get the coach ready to roll the engine in and bolt it up. While he was willing to do this, his wife was not a happy camper about him giving up a good part of the weekend to do it and i doubt if he could get permission to do it again! Lapsed time from the the day the engine came out to the day it was back running was about three weeks.
The R&R in the Clasco was done at Jim Hupy’s place and the cost was about $2500 including him supplying some of the new items. I wanted everything new that moved or had touched oil or water even though the old engine was still a strong runner when he started. I sourced many of the items including the remanufactured engine and had them drop shipped to him while he sourced the remaining new items locally himself. I used cloth painter’s tarps and puzzle style anti-fatigue mats to sew a complete set of interior protection pieces that we took along with the coach when we dropped it off. Sharon and I then drove up to Salem once the old engine was out and the new radiator back in so I could help (probably more likely be in the way) with the cleaning and painting, the reinstallation and the initial run in. Lapsed time was about six weeks as I recall partially because it took place over a holiday period.
In both cases I used remanufactured long blocks from S&J Engines in Spokane, WA, which cost about $2000 each including shipping after return of the rebuildable core. Hope all this helps answer the many R&R cost questions.
Jerry
78 Royale
77/94 Clasco
Jerry Work
The Dovetail Joint
Fine furniture designed and hand crafted in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building in historic Kerby, OR
glwork@mac.com
http://jerrywork.com
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Jerry & Sharon Work
78 Royale
Kerby, OR
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