Check my rebuild cost 8V92T

[basil]

I just got the bill for an 8V92 inframe rebuild, and I would appreciate anyone's opinion on whether the cost is reasonable:

Inframe Labor $5,720
Inframe Kit $2,778
2 Rebuilt Heads $1,884
Rebuilt Turbo $1,187
8 Injectors $515
8 Connecting Rods $365
8 Liner Inserts $57
Rebuilt Blower $450
Rebuilt Governor $296
Rebuilt Water Pump $160
Air filter Housing $216
Other parts and supplies $1,600

Total $15,228

This was done on the west coast, so a high labor area.  However, the parts cost also seems high to me.  Any opinions from someone that has done this before?

[H3Jim]

Can you share information on who the shop was that did it for you?

[josephgranzier]

No first hand experience w/ Detroit engines - just 3208 and dt466 -  but  OUCH. It seems to me I read somewhere in the past about in frame rebuilds being "frowned upon". I'm sure  some more knowledgeable folks than myself will chime in.

[luvrbus]

Basil, was that with aftermarket parts or Detroit Diesel parts I did mine 8v92 last year and had $10,000 in parts with a new crankshaft the crankshaft was over $4000.00.The blower ,turbo and heads seems high to me my blower was $292.00  the turbo was $780.00 and the heads $1180.00 and all of my parts were from Detroit.I don't know what the shop rate was but at a $125.00 per hour that is 46 hrs

[TomC]

Seems about right to me.  8V-92TA are one of the most expensive to overhaul.  With the NTC350 small cam Cummins being one of the cheapest.  Good Luck, TomC

[bobofthenorth]

$15k to rebuild an 8-92 doesn't seem out of line to me, more so if it was done in a Detroit shop but pardon me for asking, what difference does it make now?  Presumably by now the work is done so the cost shouldn't be any surprise to you.  You did ask for an estimate up front, right?  After the work is done is a little late to discuss the bill, IMHO.

[gus]

Just curious, did you get an estimate beforehand and what was it?

[Sean]

I've had my 8V92TA in-framed twice, and both times it was right around that amount.  That's with an independent shop -- I would expect it to be a bit higher at a distributor like S&S, Pacific, Valley, or Williams.

FWIW.

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

[Blacksheep]

Just curious, wouldn't it have been cheaper by about 9K to just pull the motor? I mean it surely couldn't cost near that to pull it could it?
BS

[makemineatwostroke]

Blacksheep, how would it be 9 grand cheaper to remove the engine to overhaul it just curious

[basil]

The estimate ahead of time was $12k , assuming no new heads, which were close to $2000, so from that perspective it seems in range.

I thought things like rods, liners, inserts etc all came in the rebuild kit, so I was surprised to see those on the bill.  The rest of the part costs also looked high, which luvrbus confirms.

Shop is a Bay Cities Diesel in Milpitas, CA, a DD shop and the parts are DD.

I am asking because I have not paid the bill yet, so wanted to check whether it looked reasonable.

One reason I picked them is they promised to dyno the motor.  It was built with 90 injectors so I am expecting to see 435hp peak with some loss for the transmission and linkage to the wheels.  I am assuming 15% loss like in a car, but would be interested to know if folks think the loss would be different in a bus drivetrain.

[Sean]

Basil, this sounds completely legit to me, especially for Milpitas labor.  Likely half again that amount up at S&S in Oakland.

The line-items are a bit wacky -- eight liners are more than $57.  Usually, each cylinder comes as a "kit" with piston, rings, liner, and connecting rod all pre-assembled.  But the total seems right.

My in-frames were done in LA, with similar labor rates.  Things are cheaper by a fair amount in, for example, the rural midwest.

I'm not sure what the comment about pulling the motor meant.  In-frame is almost always cheaper than pulling, if you don't need the crank seals and camshafts done.

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

[wildbob24]

In frame kits do not include connecting rods, but do include liners, pistons, rings, bearings, thrust washers and gaskets. The "liner inserts" they refer to are the rings that fit under the lip of the liner where it sits in the block.

The charge I would question is the "other parts and supplies" for $1600.  I'd want to know what was included in that. The rest of the parts do seem high, but you'll pay max price at a DD dealer.

[makemineatwostroke]

basil the shop looks to me like they used aftermarket parts and had a 35% markup.Don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with some of the aftermarket parts Clevite make DD parts that are better than OEM parts they have a 2 year warranty compared to DD 1 year. 

At Stewart and Stevenson we offered aftermarket and OEM parts with no markup on parts what you paid for them at the parts counter was what you where charged my point is you do not save a lot of money at a independent shop after they mark up their parts, but the labor rate will be little cheaper.One thing I would question him on is the price of the heads

[Blacksheep]

They are charging 5720 for in frame labor. What's the labor if the motor was taken out? Then they charge 2700 for an in-frame kit where as out of the frame should be different?  Then on the same bill they charge separately for individual items. Doesn't make much sense to me. Now you mention a dyno run. Is that included in the overall price? It's not listed. Could it be hidden amongst the parts somewhere?
I was told you could BUY a rebuilt series 60 for about 18-20K. Your price is not far from that and before I would spend that for a rebuild on a 8V, I think I would go the re-power route! JMHO

BS