Rajca

iTrader: (8)

unless the cams are damaged in any way, no reason to change them out. valves will be bent before any damage to teh cam. i cracked a roller on the rocker arm and bent valves from my mis-shift. but cam is all good. id only replace the guides that had the bent valves

pits200

Sounds good bout the guides. But with the cam, I didn't think that it got ruined, I was just wondering because its lobes are probably worn pretty good after 200k.

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

ask them to mic kit out. might cost u though.

pits200

What is that?

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

take the cam out and use a micrometer to see if its worn out/ past its limit

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

See if you can still get that engine swapped in. I'd just do that.

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

we do also have to make a living too, and buy tools and such (which some can be $$$), but yeah that still is $25 more an hour then my work charges
also how do you think they pay for that nice waiting area/show room, and those brand new loaner cars (that you don't seem to mind driving btw); you gotta pay for it somewhere (aka the higher rate)(but yeah some it is also the "name" though)

pits200

Come on man, you can't justify the cost. It's not just you guys, its all blue collar overinflated incomes. You think its right how the GM workers who didnt graduate college were making $75 an hour then surprise surprise the American auto industry goes under cause they can't pull a profit.

I'm talking about education vs labor value.. Not being rude, I know mechanics have many certifications but they don't need 8 years of schooling and 200k in debt to become a lawyer. (and some charge around the same rates a dealership does. )

As for the nice perks, Im pretty sure 95% of the population would take having their $100/hr rate down to $50/hr and pass up on the waiting rooms, and fancy showrooms. Also, you realize those loaner cars are a business write-off, they take a depreciated value and come tax time, they get a nice chunk of change from that.


So please, when it comes to economics, blue collar labor can not be justified to charge $125/hr.

pits200

Thats exactly what I was thinking. I was going to tell the guy that Id buy the engine and they do the install for free.

He told me that it is 20 hours in labor and no way is he doing that..

How many hours in labor do you guys think it is to take off the front and back heads. He told me it was 6 hours of labor to take off the front head, but how much more do you think it is to do the back also?

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

me, my bro, and a friend took out and engine from a tl and put it in my tlp in my garage with basic tools and a engine hoist in 3hrs. all working and ready to drive. the dealer ship u go to sucks balls from what im reading.

pits200

Oh, well its a given that this dealership sucks ass. They fooled me at first by being nice up front, but its results that matter and they are not giving any good results.

But this was a random dealership 300 miles away from home when my car broke down, so i was kind of shit out of luck and this is what happens.

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

f***ing internet connection, i lost what i had type and don't feel like retypeing it right now

but there is also tools cost, power and rent that has to be paid, and a biggie one that you are not mentioning, is insurance, and you probably know how much that can cost sometimes, cause some people just happen to be sue happy , but they are seriously

then also for the dealership, they also gotta pay for licenseing fees also to acura for their name use

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

I am so sorry you are going through this again (what is up with the T-Belt debacle)?

I just had an 04 Odyssey J35A4 engine that I bought for 700 (53k) installed, in just over one work day (11 hours max) including R&R of the pistons, crank & heads labor was 1300.00 at an independent shop. 20 hours for a swap is pure BS.

pits200

Ha, low blow bout the sue happy. (I know you're teasing)

Let me tell you three blatant lies this shop told me.

1.) First time I picked up the car after the engine overhaul, the service rep came out with me and we started it up and the LOUD ticking. We looked at each other and he said, "oh, the car has been sitting for a little, those are the injectors being a little loud". I almost laughed right in his face.

2.) The first time I took it back for another valve adjustment and I told the tech I wanted to be there while he did it and I wanted to make sure he did a compression test. Well, the tech told me that my compression is really good, it's at 150 and is within 10% for each cylinder, I asked if 150 was low and he showed me in the manual that the min was 135. I told him that I thought these cars should be closer to 200 and he was like NOOOO, ive never even seen diesel cars with that. BIG LIE

They are a bunch of liars or just not knowledgeable people.

pits200

I filed the court papers for the T-belt, just waiting for a trial date in the mail..

And the 20 hours for labor I know is complete BS. Cause when they gave me the option instead of getting the engine redone, they said the engine swap would cost around 3k with tax. About $1500 for the engine (Thats there markup) and $1500 for labor. So doing the math. $1500 in labor definitely does not add up to 20 hours of labor.

This is frustrating Cabrio, I feel like im scamming people by having to sue everyone, but I have pics of my waterpump, I have video of how bad my engine sounds. They're all VERY legit complaints.

How hard was the j35 swap into our engine bay, does there need to be any modification?

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

my cl is in teh really high 190's except for one cylinder which is at around 115, but that the bent valve problem.

the swap is straight forward and easy. but take it to a diff shop

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

Except for needing a brass y fitting to get the coolant routed out the back of the engine it was completely P&P. The torque is amazing & I am 1k away from being able to rev past 5k.

I left out I also had all the 105k TB PM done so take that away from the swap time.

I highly recommend it

pits200

Hm, with this dealership, I highly doubt they are going to tackle anything that is above and beyond what is typical. I also doubt that they would even know heads from tails on how to do this.

But say I was able to do this, what about my headers, would they fit the new engine or is the manifold a diff size?

It probably is just to much work, that sucks though

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

ur headers will fit.

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

Everything fits, I am using my 09 TL IM & DC Sport headers. you can use your IM.

gnuts

iTrader: (1)

I think you're better off suing and getting your $ back, then taking the car to a reputable performance shop to get the 3.5 done.
-3.5 lower end. Have them put in new crank bearings and RL pistons.
-Put your rebuilt heads back on along with everything else.

pits200

But I don't even know if I have a foot to stand on for suing them? I mean, I know the work was done wrong based on how the engine runs and performs and the low compression.

The car runs though and it doesn't throw any codes, this would be a hard one to prove in court.

Rapture

Hate to try and derail the thread, but where do you guys think I should get my 7 year service done? Having heard pits' ordeal, I'm skeptical about having a private garage or mechanic do it. But then again I read that dealerships can put a real big dent in your wallet with the 7 year service..

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

about $800 for the 105k/7year service. private honda/acura shop

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

if u lived in the GTA i could get that done for you for 300 plus parts.

timing belt and water pump and sparks were 750 installed...at the DLR if I recall correctly

Rapture

I personally don't know of any shops around here that work solely on Hondas and Acuras. I'll probably have to go with the dealer.

I have an 03 with about 79k miles on it. I think it'd be safe until I figure something out.

e30cabrio

iTrader: (6)

Do a search on Craig's List under Automotive Services.

pits200

So one hassle down. After speaking with the owner of Precision Acura on Tuesday for about 2 hours they got back to me today and offered me a monetary amount which would cover an engine install at the dealership back in my home town.

I accepted their offer and am pleased. The owner is a very respectable individual and he is the one who got this problem solved for me.

Kudos to an owner who is actually hands on with his dealership. I went through a lot with them but I suppose these things happen every once in awhile and you just have to persevere.

gnuts

iTrader: (1)

that's nice to hear. You must be relieved. Now does that monetary amount have to go to a 3.2 or can you do what you please with it? ie. 3.5L

pits200

Ha I can do with it what I please. Im not sure if the dealership near me would even do the 3.5 swap, actually Im wondering if they would even know it was a 3.5 engine if I had it dropped off there. Ive been pricing Odyssey engines because the whole issue is that my heads weren't refinished and they said they would have been, so I can't use them for the 3.5 upgrade. I have been asking E30Cabrio bout the 3.5 install and trying to get some pointers so I'll wait and see.

I just wonder if I should keep the money and not invest anymore in this car

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)