10,000, 20,000, 30,000: what would it cost for a good shop to do a /6 conversion Options

[Tdskip]

To be completely transparent I’m really asking as a thought experiment to make myself have one more reason to enjoy the process of building one myself, but we have some people here that run quality shops and others that have used quality shops that I’m curious to get their feedback from.

My guess would be around 15,000?

Do I get any points for asking in a run-on sentence?

[BillJ]

If you do not have the motor that alone will cost you at least $15k for a nice rebuilt 6.

[JmuRiz]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
At this point I wish I would have priced that out (seeing how many years it's taking me) but I'd still faint for the price of paying someone to do everything.

[cary]

Talking to Jeff Gamroth on Monday.
The asking price for a 3.6 VR core is now $20k.

My son has a 1970 chassis on the rack, no drivetrain. #766
His budget is $30k for the chassis. Dad doing the work for FREE. Like the Coatsworth project we're doing on IG, it will be a new "forever" car.
Examples :
Harness $3500
Chassis dipped $5000
Paint ???
Just a start ...................

Drive train budget : $50k
Rothsport mild 3.2, flipped 915.

[jim_hoyland]

A former OC member with a 914-6 conversion told me a well-known shop charged him $100,000
Recently purchased by a current member...

[mepstein]

There are so many ways to do one and it depends if the shop has to assemble all the parts or everything is ready to bolt in. MB911/Ben did one not too long ago for a customer so he could probably speak to the time it takes. The shop where I used to work would say - time and materials.

The big problem is when a customer brings in their own parts and they don't all work together. Ben wrote about trouble with an engine mount that positioned the engine wrong in the chassis. That affected multiple other parts - engine tin, oil lines and exhaust. Very frustrating for everyone.

I have a feeling that a company like PMS can give you an accurate estimate because they have a system and use their own parts. But you will pay top dollar.

[914_teener]

There are so many ways to do one and it depends if the shop has to assemble all the parts or everything is ready to bolt in. MB911/Ben did one not too long ago for a customer so he could probably speak to the time it takes. The shop where I used to work would say - time and materials.

The big problem is when a customer brings in their own parts and they don't all work together. Ben wrote about trouble with an engine mount that positioned the engine wrong in the chassis. That affected multiple other parts - engine tin, oil lines and exhaust. Very frustrating for everyone.

I have a feeling that a company like PMS can give you an accurate estimate because they have a system and use their own parts. But you will pay top dollar.

This isn't my old adage quote but maybe it's ture for some..." if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it".

[brant]

Most of the owner conversions spend 30-50k
A shop would be about double that number

[rhodyguy]

15x2. Maybe. Must be easy to spend that on some sort of core/parts/labor long block. 'While you're in there....'. It's always more. Always. Then the 5 lug, big brakes, suspension, clutch/FW package, tanks, trans, etc. Every other system or item that has to be refreshed or replaced.

[horizontally-opposed]

Most of the owner conversions spend 30-50k
A shop would be about double that number

Also curious to hear from others, and suspect answers may vary by region due to hourly shop rates, but the above seems "about right" to me.

Can maybe see the very craftiest/luckiest owner conversions at 20-40k, but the parts prices alone these days are (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[Cairo94507]

If you have to ask, it's going ruin there whole experience. I would guess if you supply the ready to bolt in engine/transaxle package, with all of the assorted hardware, (oil tank, lines, cooler & thermostat, gauges, harness, exhaust system, engine sheet metal, etc.) you are looking at $15-18K to put it all together.

Where do you draw the line? Brakes? Suspension? Wheels? Chassis reinforcement & rust repair while the engine/transaxle are out? It is indeed a slippery slope.

But, when all done, there is nothing like driving a Six. My wife thought I was absolutely nuts when I told her I wanted to do a Six from the ground up. She told me to just go buy a new 911 Turbo coupe. I told her that was not what I wanted to drive. Where we live we see turbo coupes all over the place. Not even worth looking at.

I love my Six and enjoy driving it or just seeing it in my garage. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

[mb911]

I did one for a customer for 5k he supplied all the parts.. I am so busy right now that asked the same question I would charge 10k plus parts. That is for a simple swap not a restoration.

Simple swap to me= putting a 6 in place of a 4 and hooking everything up. Stock trans etc.

[mepstein]

It reminds me of the questions about overhauling a 911 engine. I've heard it's based on 40 hours but every engine building expert I talked to agrees that would be only be reasonable if everything is cleaned, measured, on the counter and goes together without issues.

[930cabman]

This isn't my old adage quote but maybe it's ture for some..." if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it".
[/quote]

True and true. If the disposable income pot is low, find a Miata. We are doing one including rust repairs, if I was charging $80./hour I estimate the total in the $60.k range. This includes a basic reconditioned 2.7 or 3.0

[roblav1]

Carrera 3.0 six, steel flares, went through absolutely everything. $40k, free labor, original chassis at $5k.

[Chris914n6]

Labor is going to be $100-150 hr. That's enough for me to do it myself as my job pays nowhere close to that....

I would imagine a 'repair' shop would be overall cheaper as they have fewer 'services' to sell you to rack up the bill. A resto shop will expect you to paint the bay and other things "while you are there" or sell you a $350 curb finder.

And then places like PMS will add their own 'premium' because they can.

Also, ask Eric as PMB has been doing more wrenching lately.

[Tdskip]

Thank you for the discussion and thoughts. I am not including the cost of the engine or transmission in that, sorry for not being adequately specific. Just everything else and labor.

[Front yard mechanic]

I'll do it it for 100 dollars if you buy my car for 85000.00 to start with (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[mb911]

So for the heck of it throw some retail numbers on things for lets say 2.7 and down

Oil tank $700-1000
Oil filler neck 100-250
Engine sheet metal/or fiberglass 3-1000
Oil lines/maybe AN 350-500 (no front oil cooler)
Throttle linkages 150-500
Engine oil cooler mod 150-250
Cup fly wheel 200-400
Headers 5-1500
Heat exchangers used to new 500-3700 (mine look like a deal at 2700
Muffler 5-1000
Engine harness 100-550(new)
Engine mount 250-500
Shift linkage mod 150-500
Oil filter console 100-180

This is assuming a 901 trans.

[raynekat]

To be completely transparent I’m really asking as a thought experiment to make myself have one more reason to enjoy the process of building one myself, but we have some people here that run quality shops and others that have used quality shops that I’m curious to get their feedback from.

My guess would be around 15,000?

Do I get any points for asking in a run-on sentence?

Be a little more specific.
Are you supplying the parts or does the shop do this?
Do you want a front oil cooler.
Upgrades to the suspension and brakes?
Factory like parts or after market?

There are many, many variables that go into this.

Like as in "blank check" for a shop to do the conversion?

If that is yes (blank check) for a GOOD shop to do this, it will not be cheap.

I just completed a 914-6 conversion a couple of years ago.
My engine (2.7 MFI) was $25k from the shop plus the $10-15k of my parts and restoration on top of that.
The gearbox (LSD, short gears, rebuild) was $14k.
The actual installation by the shop was about $10k.

But then I sourced the oil tank, engine mount, engine wiring harness, etc myself.

I'd say a ball park number is anywhere from $25k-65k depending on engine size, if rebuilt or used, etc, etc.