I have been reading through some post about very bad experances with having "bob's auto shop" or whatever replace the engine in a Q45, to save some cash. Should you just go on and take it too the dealer in this case? Does anyone know about how much they may charge?

I think I was quoted $4000 with me providing the parts.

a good mechaniccan do the job , i got mine back and it is great now, there are some companies that import and install the motors cutting out the middle mansearch the web

Swapping a properly prepared JDM is easy it takes an experienced tech 8-10 REAL hours. TCS and ACTUS adds an hour or two.

The preparation of the JDM engine is the time consumming part:

Chain guidesWater pumpIdler pullies and belts3 radiator hoses and connecting pipenew plugs and valve cover resealsnew front and real main seals40 plenum hoses and knock sensors/harness and injector testing cleaning/replacement.Cleaning plenum and runners and egr. New runner gaskets

Depending upon what is deemed bad these parts can cost more than the engine..........$1000-$1700

The above takes 14-16 hours.

We charge 25-27 [$2000] hours plus parts and the engine.

If youn want us [me] to go to various engine suppliers to pick the best one we find ---------that's another $75 per hour portal to portal......say $150-$250 to just look at the ATL choices and review any of their paper work.

Hopefully you see $1500 for an engine $1500 for new parts and $2,000 labor is $5,000.

It all depends on what the JDM engine looks like and how renewed you want it.

just out of curiousity....why does your engine need replacement to begin with? too many miles? poor prior maintenance?

rsiwicki wrote:just out of curiousity....why does your engine need replacement to begin with? too many miles? poor prior maintenance?

It has 180,000 ish on it, and it is steaming from the exhaust and losing watter, but not driping. So it seems to me that the head gasket is leaking. With 180,000 on it I was thinking about just replacing the engine rather than just doing the head gasket. But for $5,000 I may just do the head gasket after all....

Never seen a head gasket failure that wasn't caused by overheating. Is there a knock sensor code [goes hand in hand].

Changing the head gaskets [both] with the engine in the car will take cost 20 hours [$1,500 at independent] [$2000-$2,500 at dealers] plus parts.

If the gaskets have failed you will need to rehabilitate the heads from the over heat add $500 -$800 each. Plus any milling straightening required!

Why we just swap motors rather than rebuild........interior labor [heads] is very expensive and difficult to get right.

Seems like used heads are available and fairly cheap. I just sold a couple sets for $100 per set that were in excellent condition.

Thats like half the value of the car, poop.