How much labor?
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You would have to find a good mechanic who is willing to such a job.
Just to swap out just the engine on a regular motor, expect to pay up to a couple grand.
If you can find a place that did this type of work before, then seek them out and drive there for them to do it.
While the motor is out is the time to change all the other parts around the motor. Electrical and mechanical. It is never easier to do that while it is out.
When mine was out I even took out the brake lines in front and sand blasted them. coated with zinc primer then painted them with paint.
I should have done more of them . Others not cleaned rusted out 3 years later and wasted a few days getting it done.
Just to swap out just the engine on a regular motor, expect to pay up to a couple grand.
If you can find a place that did this type of work before, then seek them out and drive there for them to do it.
While the motor is out is the time to change all the other parts around the motor. Electrical and mechanical. It is never easier to do that while it is out.
When mine was out I even took out the brake lines in front and sand blasted them. coated with zinc primer then painted them with paint.
I should have done more of them . Others not cleaned rusted out 3 years later and wasted a few days getting it done.
Helps if you put your year/model/awd/conversion/etc in your signature line or your profile so we know what we are working with. https://www.astrosafari.com/account/signature
An "experienced mechanic" familiar with the Astro could do a direct swap in a day. This is providing everything is ready to go. Cutting the cross-support (and fabricating braces) for Gen-2 might add another hour or so.. but FAR less work than lifting the van and pulling entire subframe. Some people like to turn these jobs into lengthy projects replacing everything else too.. but not everyone needs to do that. Often these projects last weeks or months.. or even longer. Some of us need our vans back on the road as soon as possible.
I pulled my V8 one weekend (in my 92), did some work to the engine, and popped it back in the following weekend. About 2 days for me.. but I was working on ground in my driveway and garage... working with hand tool.
I would expect a typical shop might charge about $1000 or so to do the labor.
I pulled my V8 one weekend (in my 92), did some work to the engine, and popped it back in the following weekend. About 2 days for me.. but I was working on ground in my driveway and garage... working with hand tool.
I would expect a typical shop might charge about $1000 or so to do the labor.
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I haven't yet done this swap, but I have done many other swaps. I can say from those experiences that there are always surprises. I wouldn't want to commit myself to a certain number of hours on any engine swap project without allowance for surprises.
You have to lock down as many parameters as you can. Have all fuel/engine management decisions made and parts on hand from in tank pump to jets/injectors. Know that you have a suitable starter on hand. Think through every system and what upgrades might be necessary.
Years ago, I had a job swapping Acura K20A2 engines into FIAT X1/9s. I performed five of those swaps. Now, those swaps were WAY more work than an Astro V8 swap ought to be, involving lots of cutting and fabrication to make the engine fit, plus parts that I had to build to install the engine and make everything work. But every one was different. Thirty plus years of...creative mechanical and wiring solutions...led to fixes that were not part of the scope of the original project.
An Astro V8 swap is a whole other animal, but don't underestimate the element of surprise.
You have to lock down as many parameters as you can. Have all fuel/engine management decisions made and parts on hand from in tank pump to jets/injectors. Know that you have a suitable starter on hand. Think through every system and what upgrades might be necessary.
Years ago, I had a job swapping Acura K20A2 engines into FIAT X1/9s. I performed five of those swaps. Now, those swaps were WAY more work than an Astro V8 swap ought to be, involving lots of cutting and fabrication to make the engine fit, plus parts that I had to build to install the engine and make everything work. But every one was different. Thirty plus years of...creative mechanical and wiring solutions...led to fixes that were not part of the scope of the original project.
An Astro V8 swap is a whole other animal, but don't underestimate the element of surprise.
I would honestly be kinda surprised if you can find someone to do a v8 swap for you for anything less than 2k. You 'might' be able to find someone that would do a direct swap, same for same(4.3 to 4.3) without having to move parts from one engine to the other for 1k. A lot depends on your location and who you choose to do the swap. Might find a shade tree that would do it pretty cheap, but a professional shop is going to want at least a few phalanges, if not an entire limb 
All of that will vary as well, depending on what engine you are going to install, if you have every little piece that is needed or if they are going to have to go searching for parts, etc. Generally something like this is done by the owner, it can get super expensive paying a shop to do the same thing that you can do in your spare time.
I have enough vehicles that I don't care if it would take me a year to do the swap, so if it isn't your only/daily then you might want to consider taking on the job yourself.
All of that will vary as well, depending on what engine you are going to install, if you have every little piece that is needed or if they are going to have to go searching for parts, etc. Generally something like this is done by the owner, it can get super expensive paying a shop to do the same thing that you can do in your spare time.
I have enough vehicles that I don't care if it would take me a year to do the swap, so if it isn't your only/daily then you might want to consider taking on the job yourself.
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260 Posts
All true. A V8 swap in an Astro, as seemingly simple as it might be, is at least 20 hours of labor. Typical shop rate of $100/hr, and there you go. If I were the one doing the swap, I would charge at least $2k once I had proven to myself on my own vehicle that I can do it in 20 labor hours, assuming that every jot and tittle was provided by the customer. I say "at least" because I would want to insulate myself from customers' often scope-broadening expectations ("Surely he'll want to fix any wiring problems he finds in the van while doing the swap...") and vivid imaginations ("my power windows worked fine before I dropped it off.")
On the vivid imaginations subject, my father, a professional mechanic until he died, had a customer complain that their DOOR TRIM MATCHED before dad worked on it, and it didn't after he was done, so he must have changed it. I was at dad's shop to hear the customer say it. Customers have a way of imagining their vehicle as being factory new when they drop it off for service. Everything worked perfectly and there were so scratches or dents.
I should clarify my previous post...
When I said a "day for a direct swap"... this was for identical V6 to V6, or already existing V8 to V8.
NO CUSTOM WORK.
When I pulled my V8 for a quick fix (the 2nd time).. I did nothing but put it back in.
All the work had already been done. It went back in quick.
An upgrade swap V6 to V8 is a much different story.
There are plenty of little things that have to be done, modified, or changed.
If it's a "copy" of a job already done, then it might go quicker.
Again, if everything is already ready to go in.
But a first time is going to take some time.
It's custom... and will be custom time and labor.
If I were quoting the job.. it would be NO LESS than 2 full days minimum.
Again, everything ready to go in.
Of course there's "followup" time too... tweaking, adjusting, etc, etc
When I said a "day for a direct swap"... this was for identical V6 to V6, or already existing V8 to V8.
NO CUSTOM WORK.
When I pulled my V8 for a quick fix (the 2nd time).. I did nothing but put it back in.
All the work had already been done. It went back in quick.
An upgrade swap V6 to V8 is a much different story.
There are plenty of little things that have to be done, modified, or changed.
If it's a "copy" of a job already done, then it might go quicker.
Again, if everything is already ready to go in.
But a first time is going to take some time.
It's custom... and will be custom time and labor.
If I were quoting the job.. it would be NO LESS than 2 full days minimum.
Again, everything ready to go in.
Of course there's "followup" time too... tweaking, adjusting, etc, etc
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1,330 Posts
You guys are smoking crack if you think some shop is going to do a V8 swap for $2000
Copper...:
I agree completely, but some places in the country do have labor rates lower than our Seattle area.
No mater the labor rate, it will be an expensive install, after amassing all the necessary parts and figuring out all the little details involved.
Sometimes, after the physical conversion is done, there is a lot of fussing with small issues to get it all working properly.
Rod J
Issaquah, WA
I agree completely, but some places in the country do have labor rates lower than our Seattle area.
No mater the labor rate, it will be an expensive install, after amassing all the necessary parts and figuring out all the little details involved.
Sometimes, after the physical conversion is done, there is a lot of fussing with small issues to get it all working properly.
Rod J
Issaquah, WA
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4,450 Posts
LMAO yeah a $20 difference in labor rate isn't going to save the $3k ish difference in price everyone is throwing around.
@Pengyou listen to Copperfiremist, he is a pro mechanic that has done a V8 swap. I'd be astonished to see anything under $5K by the time all the fiddlin' is done., probably closer to $10K depending on how much goes sideways.
Personally I'd say don't bother, plenty of Savana vans and even Econolines that already have that V8 and more room to play with anyways... ye be warned.
@Pengyou listen to Copperfiremist, he is a pro mechanic that has done a V8 swap. I'd be astonished to see anything under $5K by the time all the fiddlin' is done., probably closer to $10K depending on how much goes sideways.
Personally I'd say don't bother, plenty of Savana vans and even Econolines that already have that V8 and more room to play with anyways... ye be warned.
^ EXACTLY!!!
How did you know?
Econolines + they have a good diesel engine in them, but an upgrade to awd is $40K. Chevy has a newer van with AWD that has a V8 as an option, but they are longer - more issues when you are on rutted, bumpy, dirt roads. Astro's are a little tight inside but the outside dimensions are more suitable for what I will be doing. I have considered a 4x4 pickup, but the van is more multipurpose. I can also pull into rest stops, WM parking lots, etc and sleep without looking like much. I always keep a folding cot and weekend get away bag in my Astro, so taking off is a no brainer! I 🧡 my Astro!
I have done the V8 swap a few times and would not do it for anyone else. The best advice I can give is slowly get the parts you need if a V8 is still a desire. Oil pan I have come from JTR publishing, but I posted the info on here, so I have no idea if they have any left. Motor mounts can also be bought from him. Then you will need wiring & ECM from a donor vehicle. Exhaust will have to be custom-made. I used the pass side exhaust manifold from an early 80s Camaro and the driver's side from a 90s truck. The phone number for JTR is 925-462-3619 ask for Greg. Ask him if he still has any (non LS) v8 to awd oil pans for the Astro/Safari. If you decide to go this route, consider lifting the van at least 2" for easier access to everything. If you need more info on parts numbers and such, feel free to message me. Mark
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Yeah I get it... you got the astro bug.
CFM has done it, never again. Mark built frickin battleships and nuclear warheads in his sleep, so everything's easy for him! Hehe
IMHO... not worth it. Just refresh the v6, maybe look at gearing. That's a whole lot cheaper and easier. Vios con Dios amigo
CFM has done it, never again. Mark built frickin battleships and nuclear warheads in his sleep, so everything's easy for him! Hehe
IMHO... not worth it. Just refresh the v6, maybe look at gearing. That's a whole lot cheaper and easier. Vios con Dios amigo
It really depends on what route you want to go and which engine in particular you want to use/have access to. An LS swap is a bit more involved than an old 5.7 swap. I have a v8 sitting here that I paid ~$250 for that I need to get a pan for when I do the v8 swap on the AWD, probably be in it about $1000 all said and done.
But paying someone to do it, oh hell no, not worth it IMO.
But paying someone to do it, oh hell no, not worth it IMO.
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