On Mar 10, 2006, at 11:33 AM, Jon Brown wrote:
> Aaron wrote:
>> I estimated that it took me around 100 hours of labor. A lot of that
>> was figuring out the cooling, making runs to the parts places and
>> just sitting around bewildered. Actually the VW engine was out and
>> the subaru in with probably 10 hours of labor!
>
> So at $80/hr it ONLY cost you $8000 of your own time...  to install
> on top
> of parts...
>
> Even if factor in that your not a very good mechanic and you sit
> around
> bewildered some (which I think most mechanics do anyway)... you're
> minimally
> at a $5k cost to yourself.
>
> To be clear, I don't think professional engine conversion
> installation costs
> are too high.  In fact comparing the professionally done
> conversions I've
> seen to the home built conversions I've seen, I'd say it's money well
> spent...
>
> -Jon

While I have to admit that I am a poor mechanic and it probably took
me at least 2x as long as it should have, my time was "free" as in it
was my own - hence the term "free-time". I figure that we all sit and
watch a little TV, or go bowling, or mow our own lawns, paint our
rooms, drink beer etc. Heck, I think that some of us even work on our
own cars and spend lots of time e-mailing others about how to fix
them. How many of you figure that a 3 hour movie costs you $240 + a
ticket to watch? Just don't take a date!

I never stated that the professional conversion prices were too high.
I only gave people a figure so that they could get a feel for what a
conversion might cost if they did it themselves or could find the
labor more cheaply elsewhere. Besides, doing a conversion would only
cost me if I was taking time away from work to do it. At my student
rate that would be around $10/hr. But I'll assume the rest of you are
making $80/hr though since there have been so that have made this point.

As to my post detailing MY costs of doing the conversion, take it as
that - my costs. I think most of us are intelligent enough to figure
out what our time is worth to us. I usually have more free-time than
free-money so guess which route I take?

I am happy and my bank account is still positive. Life is good and
road trips even better now.

Cheers!
Aaron