About how much would it cost to have heads and cam installed at a shop??

 

I've usually been quoted 10 hours of labor if there aren't any unforeseen issues.

 

find one thats done it a few times. every shop makes it sound like a ls1 style f-body is like moving heaven and earth to do something until they actually do it. like a fuel pump the proper way for example. my shop had the rear dropped and the new pump installed and everything reassembled in around 2 hours. (2 guys)

labor cost me $1400 to have h/c, total exhaust, and leak down done. so i would guess $700 for the h/c alone.

 

my cam install cost me $2300...dyno tuned.

HOWEVER...that included most of the parts....AND he had to pull the heads to replace a suspected faulty lifter....so it would be just like he installed heads (minus the cost of heads)

new parts included:

TSP cam
ported ls6 oil pump
CC lifters
CC pushrods
SLP timing chain (before the ls2 came out)
gaskets
OEM head bolts
and the dyno tune

i provided the ls6 intake and coolant tubes and the car already had springs installed.

 

thanks guys. just trying to to get an idea for when the time comes

 

A good ballpark figure is $1500 give or take a couple of hundred bucks.

 

damn guys, i thought i was getting ripped off with $1400 for everything. hopefully you are including cost of parts too!?!

 

Should be around $700 just labor not including any parts.

 

wondering who does LS1 heads and cam installs for that low of a price? Ive only seen $900 and up.

 

Wow, I'm really surprised how many people here don't do their own work. Any reason why all of you didn't try to learn to do it yourself and save all that money? Just wondering.

 

I do my own work, and other peoples work. thats the only reason I have checked into shop prices. so I can know to charge alot less. I wouldnt do a head cam swap in an LS1 for alot less then that myself.

its not hard, but it is very time consuming and you'll need atleast some specific tools for the job. however I do still recomend to anyone that has the means to do the install themselves. its very gratifying (SP?) once its finished.

 

All my knowledge went towards the Collision Repair side of the automotive industry. And when it comes to engine work I do not have the patience. I think I'm gonna do the install of my LT's myself. But as far as rippin the whole top of a motor apart, the only time I think I would consider doing that myself is if it were on truck or old muscle car. Don't think I mentioned it but I don't have the H/C yet anyway. I was just wondering about what it would cost to have it professionally done.

 

i envy people like you one way for being able to do the job, but at the same time i would lose my cool if something unexpected broke and needed more tools or parts, etc. i just pay someone to handle the headaches and if something was broken, i dont know a thing about it as long as it works in the end. no stress. but i do imagine if all goes well, it must be nice to stand back after rebuilding your engine or whatever the task was and say "i did that"

 

well, thats all part of the game. rarely does a performance mod go as planned. something is always missing/broken/wrong/forgotten about. just gotta roll with it, and hope the customer understands if Im doin something for someone else. Im a tech. for a living at a GM dealership, so Im always buying new tools, replacement for the "missing" tools, once in a great while paying for parts if you F something up. unfortunatly.

 

Respect for that. What dealer do you work at?