An exact time for engine replacement can not be made, in the course of replacing an auto engine, complications may occur. Every engine replacement job takes a different length of time. Different cars present different degrees of difficulty also. Old vehicles are much simpler in design and take less time to replace. A lot of untold and un-scene variables can change the amount of time it takes.
How long does it take to replace a car engine? In general, it takes a whole day to do an installation. Once the engine is removed certain components need to be checked for replacement like engine mounts, electrical plugs, and cooling system parts. Generally speaking, other related parts will need replacing once the engine is out and everything is inspected.
Of course, problems can pop up along the way to slow you down. This is more common on older cars where bolts have been in the same hole for 10 or 20 years. Or the grease buildup is so thick it’s hard to find every bolt. Or some bolts won’t come out, or break off. All of the above problems and many more occur all the time during an engine replacement.
Depending on the engine option you buy also makes a difference. If you buy a rebuilt engine long block, then many components have to be swapped from the bad engine to the good engine. And the components like the intake manifold and water pump need to be cleaned and new gaskets have to be used to bolt them on.
Some engines come complete, as in a “turn key” installation, where the complete engine is being installed. In most cases, the difficulty of installation of a new car engine makes up for the time lost on cleaning and replacing bolts and other parts on an old car engine swap.
Based on this fact: my replacement times are of a professional mechanic in a shop with the correct tools and parts immediately available. It’s easy to brag about installing your own engine, and maybe as a kid you did it once in an old car, but don’t fool yourself anymore. You are not a kid, and these are way more complicated cars now.
And, you may have a family or obligations to meet or a job to go to. So why mess around and wrestle with an installation job at home and perhaps get hurt, or end up taking it to a professional anyway, when a pro can usually have it done in one day, as along as the right engine and any the replacement parts are there.
Finally, the same holds true for the replacement engine you buy. Buy it from a reliable supply company like GotEngines.com. Make sure you get an engine that only needs to be installed once. Get the right engine the first time. Call 1-941-269-8284 right now for all the free information you can soak up.