Question : Install New Engine vs Rebuild

krozet · #1 09-18-2009

Hello;

Anyone have a ball park figure of the installation cost for a new diesel engine and transmission in the Baltimore/Boston area? I have done some digging and found the cost of a new engine / transmission plus shipping but I never thought about the actual install. I am trying to do a cost analysis of the cost of going new vs. rebuild.

Thanks for any info;

Robert

badsanta · #2 09-18-2009

What size and type are you looking at?

JimsCAL · #3 09-18-2009

Depends on how much you are willing and able to do. If the yard and mechanic does everything, it could easily run $5000 or more. If you can remove the old engine, clean and prepare the engine space, hook up the new systems, etc., you can reduce that significantly.

jrd22 · #4 09-18-2009

Unless you replace the engine with the exact same make and model you will more than likely have to remove the old engine mounts and glass in new ones. You also want to check if the rotation will be the same or else you need a new prop. Exhaust, water intake, etc, etc, may have to be modified/changed depending on location of things on the new engine. A lot of people have reported that the cost of installation has equalled the cost of the new engine.

krozet · #5 09-18-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrd22

Unless you replace the engine with the exact same make and model you will more than likely have to remove the old engine mounts and glass in new ones. You also want to check if the rotation will be the same or else you need a new prop. Exhaust, water intake, etc, etc, may have to be modified/changed depending on location of things on the new engine. A lot of people have reported that the cost of installation has equalled the cost of the new engine.

Wow, I never even considered a few of those points. I knew I would have to worry about the mounts and such. If I went with a new engine I was planning on moving from a 16HP Yanmar 2GM20F to a 27HP Yanmar 3GM30F. I don't need the extra HP but the price difference between a re-manufactured 2GM20F and a new 3GM30F is $600. I could disassemble the old engine and remove it along with the transmission, I would have to get someone with better glass knowledge than me to do the mounts and need help installing the new engine and transmission. The weight alone would require assistance to maneuver the engine into the mounts. Once seated though I could re connect the exhaust, water intake....

Sounds like it might be easier to just do a total rebuild if needed as opposed to a new engine.

DwayneSpeer · #6 09-18-2009

If the old engine is raw water cooled don't even think about a rebuild. The old engine, even if rebuilt is just waiting to fail due to something inside corroding thru.

I don't know about all the manufacturers but when I repowered with a new Beta they made engine mounts that fit onto my old engine bed. I just had some adapter plates made so that the new mount bolts and the old bolt holes worked. No big deal and definitely no rebuilding the engine mounts!

Also, I did all of the installation work on my project and I'm just a back yard mechanic. The two things that were a bit unusual were that the new engine turned opposite of the old and the throttle hookup was also backwards. I now run my transmission in reverse for forward, no big deal for a Volvo Sail Drive, and hooked the throttle up backwards also. Both readily achievable.

The bottom line. Don't give up on a new engine of a different make until you have looked into it very carefully and are sure it just won't work.

GOOD LUCK!

jrd22 · #7 09-19-2009

Dwayne makes some good points. Another thing to consider is that on average a "rebuilt" engine will probably only have about half the life of new. Also, don't forget that unless you replace the starter, injection pump, fuel pump,alternator, cooling pump, raw water pump, etc, those things will be "old". Did the price comparison you did include replacing all of these with new ones? I don't think you would run into a lot of the possible problems if you stay with the same manufacturer (Yanmar), they should turn the same direction etc., you will have to compare where everything is on the larger engine to see if there will be major problems.

Maine Sail · #8 09-19-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by krozet

If I went with a new engine I was planning on moving from a 16HP Yanmar 2GM20F to a 27HP Yanmar 3GM30F. I don't need the extra HP but the price difference between a re-manufactured 2GM20F and a new 3GM30F is $600.

You need to know what "re-manufactured" includes and actually means. The problem with re-builds is that most all of the parts and pieces are still 20+ years old such as the alternator, starter, fuel pump, water pump, raw water pump, motor mounts, transmission, heat exchanger etc. etc, on and on.

Most "re-builds" only include the internals of the engine and perhaps the high pressure fuel pump but be sure to get an itemized description of just what will be replaced in an re-man engine.

Re-builds are nowhere near the value of a new engine especially with today's parts prices and labor rates. Heck you can barely buy a Yanmar alternator for $600.00 let alone a starter, motor mounts, heat exchanger, transmission or the myriad of other items NOT replaced when a re-build is done....

jefframage · #9 09-20-2009

Go with the new.

Check out Beta Marine and other suppliers.

Select size and footprint to fit existing mounts, should be easy.

Select transmission to get right hand vs left hand.

More HP will require different prop. Don't mull over it, just get the new right prop.

You'll be shocked at how much better the new motor, new prop, and new HP level will improve your life aboard.

Ensure closed loop cooling.

Tear down the old motor to reduce weight and chuck it over the side (lol, only if onthe hard). That was the 2nd best day of my boating life, getting rid of the volvo MD7A. what a wreck that motor was.

lots of rugs, and elbo grease and a few beers for friends will get the new motor in place.

Rebuilding that Volvo was the biggest waste of money I've experienced, second only to the stock market. lol

SailorNate · #10 09-20-2009

I second Jeff on this one. I have owned two Volvo motors now, I never would have owned the second if I didnt get a 25K discount for it rusting there. The high price of labor and parts make rebuilding an engine a losing bet. Look around, find the owners group for your boat and find out what works well for your setup.

Nate