How much does an engine swap cost?

Understanding Engine Swap Cost

Whether you’re considering an engine swap to replace a failed engine or to improve performance, there are many factors to consider besides just the engine swap cost. For example, late-model computer systems, transmissions, and wiring harnesses are engine-specific. If you change to a different engine, you’ll need the matching computer and complete wiring harness. That alone can add at least $1000 to the engine swap cost. In this article, I’ll discuss the costs of performing an engine swap with the exact same model (direct replacement) versus attempting to install a different engine (engine swap).

Three types of engine swaps

1) Direct Replacement: This is the simplest and often the cheapest type of engine swap, as it involves replacing the engine with one that is identical or nearly identical to the original. The engine swap cost of a direct replacement is much lower than a performance or custom engine changeout. Costs are generally lower because fewer modifications are required.
2) Performance Upgrade: Swapping in a higher-performance engine, such as upgrading from a naturally aspirated engine to a turbocharged one, is more complex. This type of swap can involve significant modifications to the vehicle’s drivetrain, suspension, and electronics, increasing the overall cost.
3) Custom Engine Swap: Installing an engine from a different make or model of vehicle (e.g., swapping a V8 engine into a car originally designed for a four-cylinder) is the most complex and expensive option. This often requires extensive custom fabrication and modifications to the vehicle’s structure and components.

Direct replacement engine swap cost

Whether you’re replacing your engine with a rebuilt, junkyard, or new, there’s a significant amount of labor involved. Here are the steps common to all direct engine replacements:

• Drain the cooling system and hoses.
• Disconnect the power steering pump/hoses
• Disconnect all electrical connectors from the engine
• Disconnect the exhaust pipes and fuel lines
• Support the engine while you disconnect the transmission and transfer case (if equipped), engine cradle
• Separate the engine from the transmission/axles/transfer case
• Lift or drop the engine out of the engine bay
• Transfer all the driven components, sensors, spark plugs, and wiring harnesses to the new engine
• Reverse the process to install the replacement engine

Sample direct replacement engine swap costs for different vehicles @$145/hour

Direct replacement labor for a 2015 Ford F150 with the 3.5L turbocharged engine: 26.4 hours $3,828
Direct replacement labor for a 2019 Kia Optima 2.4L engine: 11.1 hours $1,609.50
Direct replacement labor for a 2016 Subaru Forester 2.5 DOHC engine: 8.9 hours $1,290.5
Direct replacement labor for a 2020 Chevy Silverado 5.3L engine: 20.9 hours $3,030.50

Add in the cost for the parts usually replaced during an engine swap

New engine and transmission mounts: $600 – $1,000, depending on the type of mounts used
New drive belts, coolant and hoses, spark plugs, and fluids. $600

Performance upgrade cost

All of the above costs for removing and installing the engine, plus these additional costs:

The complete wiring harness and ECM from the donor vehicle: Approximately $2,000
The transmission from the donor vehicle: Approximately $1,500 for a used transmission in good shape
Exhaust and catalytic converter work to make it compatible with the new engine: Approximately $2,000
Cooling system upgrades: $1,000
Suspension changes may be needed to handle the extra weight: $1,500
Fuel system modifications will add to the cost: $1,000

Cost for a custom changeout

All of the above costs plus engine cradle modifications, brackets, mountings, etc: $5,000 to $10,000

©, 2020 Rick Muscoplat