Lower Cost Hemi Conversion?
#41
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Jun 2007
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i 100% agree with this. Things can be done pretty quickly when you know what you're doing. Espeacially when the crew isn't busy playing grab ass with the counter help, or taking a coffe break every hour and a half.
The first coil spring lift kit i installed took me less time than my local shop said it would take them, (and they have a lift!... i was doing all this with a POS floor jack and some stands) AEV has unlimited resources when it comes to their shop... i bet they could do it even quicker if they had to!
The first coil spring lift kit i installed took me less time than my local shop said it would take them, (and they have a lift!... i was doing all this with a POS floor jack and some stands) AEV has unlimited resources when it comes to their shop... i bet they could do it even quicker if they had to!
I am not seeing the problem with the idea that a group of guys that do these conversions for a living could have this down to a 12 hour project.
Couple of examples.
#1 - The first time I did a clutch on my CJ it probably took me an entire weekend in the garage, between figuring out how to get the thrust washer out to extracting the broken bolts. Years later, I could drop my transmission in the camp ground in Moab, replace a fork in the tranny and be back wheeling in 3 hours. Let's just say, I had dropped that tranny a few times... I am not a fast wrench by any means, but when you have done a specific task so many times, it simply goes faster.
#2 - I have an old friend who I claim is the best mechanic I know, specifically on mopar products. The first night I met him, he arrived at the high school autoshop at 6:30pm in an dodge truck. He dropped the auto tranny, pulled it completely apart and rebuilt the entire thing and drove it home. Autoshop closed at 9pm. I still wonder how this was possible, but I watched him disbelief.
12 Hours with 2 or 3 experienced hands who do this job everyday, very reasonable in my opinion.
Couple of examples.
#1 - The first time I did a clutch on my CJ it probably took me an entire weekend in the garage, between figuring out how to get the thrust washer out to extracting the broken bolts. Years later, I could drop my transmission in the camp ground in Moab, replace a fork in the tranny and be back wheeling in 3 hours. Let's just say, I had dropped that tranny a few times... I am not a fast wrench by any means, but when you have done a specific task so many times, it simply goes faster.
#2 - I have an old friend who I claim is the best mechanic I know, specifically on mopar products. The first night I met him, he arrived at the high school autoshop at 6:30pm in an dodge truck. He dropped the auto tranny, pulled it completely apart and rebuilt the entire thing and drove it home. Autoshop closed at 9pm. I still wonder how this was possible, but I watched him disbelief.
12 Hours with 2 or 3 experienced hands who do this job everyday, very reasonable in my opinion.
#42
JK Junkie
Thread Starter
So if the HEMI swap really can be done in 2 days by a team of pros like SCL, AEV, Burnsville, ... that knows what they are doing and will get it right the first time, then that does warrant some sort of premium for the service beyond the usual hourly shop rate.
#43
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Sep 2008
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I missed it when they did the conversion in the parkly lot, but heard about it. Did they remove the body on this one?
#44
JK Enthusiast
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Should you take a pay cut because you're good at what you do?
#45
JK Freak
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That's a very good point. If you master something and can do it quicker (like camp crocker probably has with the hemi swaps) why would you charge less for the same quality work?
#46
JK Junkie
Thread Starter
In my experience, this is the type of job where you get a time estimate of a week to 10 days and 3 weeks later they are still making excuses. If I can drop my Jeep off on Monday morning and drive it home on Wednesday afternoon in perfect working order, I am willing to pay a higher price.
#48
I echo what Randy had to say about the AEV kit. If you have the cajones to tear it apart, it's really not that tough.
You can do a hemi swap for a lot less than $10K. Randy did and I did as well.
You can do a hemi swap for a lot less than $10K. Randy did and I did as well.
#50
JK Junkie
Thread Starter
My hats off to those that have done their own swap.