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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Headswap Labor Costs?

  • Thread starter Thread starter stimmler
  • Start date Start date Aug 3, 2004
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stimmler

Founding Member
Mar 21, 2002
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Japan
Aug 3, 2004
#1
  • Aug 3, 2004
  • #1
I contacted Kennedy's dynotune in NY and they quoted 28hrs at $75 an hour ($2100 +tax) I will need cams installed, headers, xpipe, and headswap. What has everyone else seen? I was expecting about $700 total.
 

4.6_02_Black_GT

Founding Member
Jul 26, 2002
622
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Charlotte NC
Aug 3, 2004
#2
  • Aug 3, 2004
  • #2
Local Ford dealer is doing my head swap.

Labor cost ONLY..... $900 ..not too bad for Ford prices.

If $2100 is labor....for just the head swap....that would be way too high.

..The head they are installing for me are Ford OEM 2004 head..fully assembled, not sure if they are adding any assembley time for your components..i.e are you playing them to put your new cam into the heads or swap springs etc??
 

XtorT'r

New Member
Jun 11, 2003
381
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Minnesota, YAAA
Aug 3, 2004
#3
  • Aug 3, 2004
  • #3
2100 OMFG thats close to the price you would expect to pay for a good ported set of heads assembled. at least thats what I seem to see.
at that price, forget the heads and get a vortec.
 

NiteRydaGT

New Member
Feb 28, 2004
295
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Long Island, NY
Aug 3, 2004
#4
  • Aug 3, 2004
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I paid $1500 at a local Mustang shop. I felt it was fair and I wanted to make sure it was done right the first time.
 
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54life

New Member
Jul 24, 2003
392
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Cali currently at Ft. Rucker AL
Aug 3, 2004
#5
  • Aug 3, 2004
  • #5
whatever you do do not pay 2100 that is entirely too much. 1500 is reasonable but I wouldn't pay it. Find a buddy and give him $500 and a case of beer.
 
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turbokid

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Feb 7, 2004
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Aug 3, 2004
#6
  • Aug 3, 2004
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chicane quoted me around 1200-1500....
i thought dat was fu**in expensive...

but i guess its better to pay the extra money and get the install done right the first tym.. DUNT BE A PENNY PINCHER WEN IT COMES TO YOUR MUSTANG!!! =]
 
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stimmler

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Mar 21, 2002
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Aug 3, 2004
#7
  • Aug 3, 2004
  • #7
I will need the cams installed also but the new springs are already installed. I don't think that price included the dynotune.
 

fstnfuriusgirl

Banned
May 3, 2003
33
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Maryland
Aug 3, 2004
#8
  • Aug 3, 2004
  • #8
<----rysred96gt

i was in the same boat as you before. shop raised the price on my last minute so i did the whole swap myself. then u can save urself the money and get other goodies
 

XtorT'r

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Jun 11, 2003
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Minnesota, YAAA
Aug 3, 2004
#9
  • Aug 3, 2004
  • #9
fstnfuriusgirl said:
<----rysred96gt

i was in the same boat as you before. shop raised the price on my last minute so i did the whole swap myself. then u can save urself the money and get other goodies
Click to expand...

Thats what I would do.. even if I end up breaking it
 
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stimmler

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Mar 21, 2002
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Aug 4, 2004
#10
  • Aug 4, 2004
  • #10
I don't have enough time to do it myself, and I've never done engine work before. I was going to have it done while I was away on active duty.
 
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stimmler

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Mar 21, 2002
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Aug 4, 2004
#11
  • Aug 4, 2004
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SR 97 GT said:
I paid $1500 at a local Mustang shop. I felt it was fair and I wanted to make sure it was done right the first time.
Click to expand...

How much hp did you pick up with your setup with VT cams? I was leaning toward comp cams XE270's. Did you get a dynotune? I emailed Kennedy's again and the 2100 price did not include the dynotune. He wants another 700 for that.
 
9

98SteedaStang

Member
Dec 11, 2002
382
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Chicago Suburbs
Aug 4, 2004
#12
  • Aug 4, 2004
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I paid $900. The shop that did mine had never done them before, but everything turned out fine.
 

Ryan's 02 GT

New Member
Jul 26, 2004
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Fayetteville, NC
Aug 4, 2004
#13
  • Aug 4, 2004
  • #13
STIMMLER... If you're in the Army at Drum they might have an autocraft shop there. If they do go there and do what you can with there help. If you get to a point you can nolong do have the car towed to the mech. Atleast try to save some$$$. Just my .02 good luck
 

NiteRydaGT

New Member
Feb 28, 2004
295
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Long Island, NY
Aug 4, 2004
#14
  • Aug 4, 2004
  • #14
stimmler said:
How much hp did you pick up with your setup with VT cams? I was leaning toward comp cams XE270's. Did you get a dynotune? I emailed Kennedy's again and the 2100 price did not include the dynotune. He wants another 700 for that.
Click to expand...
Well since I had the cams and heads installed at the same time I don't know how much they made over the just the headswap. I did have it dyno tuned for $500 and she made 234 RWHP through my automatic but there were problems getting fuel so those numbers are low. I am going back in to have it re-tuned and hope to be somewhere around 250+.
 
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stimmler

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Mar 21, 2002
248
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17
Japan
Aug 4, 2004
#15
  • Aug 4, 2004
  • #15
Ryan's 02 GT said:
STIMMLER... If you're in the Army at Drum they might have an autocraft shop there. If they do go there and do what you can with there help. If you get to a point you can nolong do have the car towed to the mech. Atleast try to save some$$$. Just my .02 good luck
Click to expand...

I'll be in San Diego, without the car They are flying me from Erie, pa.
 
S

stimmler

Founding Member
Mar 21, 2002
248
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17
Japan
Aug 4, 2004
#16
  • Aug 4, 2004
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I'm Navy
 
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cltgt

Founding Member
Apr 15, 2001
931
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Geneva, Fl.
Aug 4, 2004
#17
  • Aug 4, 2004
  • #17
you can have your car shipped to Fl., worked on, then shipped back for that Kind of money. I was quoted $900 to have all my work done.
 
S

stimmler

Founding Member
Mar 21, 2002
248
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17
Japan
Aug 4, 2004
#18
  • Aug 4, 2004
  • #18
cltgt said:
you can have your car shipped to Fl., worked on, then shipped back for that Kind of money. I was quoted $900 to have all my work done.
Click to expand...
Speaking of fed EX and :OT: I know but when bought my SS inserts from Pro3i (Partshopper) they delivered them to the wrong house and didn't even try to get a signature. I found out that they were delivered by the tracking number that night and had to go door to door at midnight in the rain. GO FED EX.
 

97GTSTANG

Founding Member
May 25, 2000
852
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17
Virginia
Aug 4, 2004
#19
  • Aug 4, 2004
  • #19
stimmler said:
I don't have enough time to do it myself, and I've never done engine work before. I was going to have it done while I was away on active duty.
Click to expand...

Trust me man dont even try to do the swap yourself if you are not mechanically inclined. I tried to do the swap myself and i ended up bending a couple of valves and i had to take it to the shop and had them do it all over again. But i paid $1200 for labor. Trust me its well worth the $1200 for the headache u have to go through to get it done in time.
Good Luck
 
5

54life

New Member
Jul 24, 2003
392
0
0
Cali currently at Ft. Rucker AL
Aug 4, 2004
#20
  • Aug 4, 2004
  • #20
you have to learn sometime....if you can hold a wrench you can do a headswap...the only thing that I won't do is a rear gear swap.
 
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