V-6 conversion

What can one expect to pay a legit shop to purchase and install a V-6 into a '70 B?

Sorry to say lots. More then any estimate they give you.

I don't even want to think how much I had to pay, But if you can't do it that is how you have to go.

Paul

Talk to Bill Guzman. Pretty sure he does turn key cars for customers. He's a member here, and makes the kit used to do the install. www.classicconversionseng.com. He will absolutely treat you fairly.

I believe a couple of the other members here -- Brian as an example, also do the same, I just don't have personal experience with them & I do with Bill.

Good luck,
Rob

James, another person to contact would be Dann Wade at British Car Conversions. He has done numerous V6 conversions and is located in SW Ohio. Here is his website:

www.killerbv6.com

James,

We can do the time for $500 and we can install for over $5K! You have to define a few items first:

What are they going to do? Everything or just the basic install.

Second, you have to name the exact motor used? 2.8, 3.1, 3.4L, FWD, RWD which will define how many parts they are going to have to switch off.

Do they have to wire in fuel injection and fabricate a custom harness?

What about parts? The above numbers have NOTHING to do with parts! You have to purchase the parts and assemble them or have them assembled.

How good of job do you want? This will depend on how good of shop you run through and how well they are familiar with conversions, non-stock work and British cars.

The amazing thing to me is how some people choose a cheap motor because its cheap and then end up spending MORE in bits and pieces to retrofit it into their car.

The simple answer is that its not simple to quote, but general ideas can be given based on Facts that You provide: which motor, what parts, what needs assembling, what will need tuning (and who tunes), carb vs. FI, quality of work and so on.

-BMC.

I am in the mist of buying a 1974 1/2 to convert to a V6. The car is a Ca. car no rust.

I am planing on selling this car, so if anyone is interested, let me know. You would get to choose the color, upholstery and many other options.

I asked this question myself a few years back. It is a question of shop time, timing, parts choices and money. Here's what I found:

Shop Time:
It takes about a week of shop time for a competent, well informed and organized shop to do a fairly simple conversion like a 2.8, 3.1, or 3.4 rwd motor into a B. This corresponds to 3 or 4 grand, depending on the shop. I am quite familiar with 2 such shops: BMC and British Car Conversions. They are both honest, extremely competent and do good work. There are many other shops which will charge more, some do poorer work, and a lot of shops that do both. In addition, a few will rob you, but most of the others are well meaning but incompetent. With this last group, you'll pay for them to learn on your car...
Adding extra features spells more shop time and therefore more money.


Timing:
Fall and winter are the time to start. Most specialty car shops are dead in the dead of winter. They are often happy to get work during that time, and often charge a little less and do their best work during those quiet times.

Parts choices:
There are a myriad of choices here, from all used parts to all new parts.

Cheapest is buy a low mileage but shabby donor car with the right engine and transmission. Typical cost is about $1000 or less for the whole car with good drivetrain. It is important to choose the car wisely.

Most expensive is a new high tech FWD motor converted to RWD with all the bells and whistles.

Convenience: BMC looks to be in your neck of the woods...

Classic Conversions does not do any work on customers cars. We specialize in designing new parts for MG's and other cars. Working on customers cars takes away creative time. Once in a great while we do a car to sell and features some or all of our products. The nice thing about this is that there is no shop charge, yes, we loose money as far as the shop time, but, we think is good advertising.

I do not know about any other shops, but BMC, Brian is a very decent person and he will do his best. We recomend him for doing installations using our products.

Dann's work is really nice. I have seen a couple of the cars he has done up and they looked like the engine was meant to be there from the factory. The billet parts make the 60V6 swap look amazing. I am doing a 3500 swap myself because I know what the 3400 did for performance.