If I wanted to put this:

http://www.rebuiltautoengines.com/ol..._1-engine.html

into my stock 1972 cutlass s, how hard would it be? Basically, how much would the entire swap cost if I had a shop do it?

 

I think you would be better off finding a good core and build it maybe have a good machine shop do it

Just my .02 worth

 

+1. The entire swap would cost a whole lot when you found that that engine didn't meet your expectations and you had to get another one.

- Eric

 

It's not that it's hard, in fact it's very easy. However you will need some additional stuff. An, intake and carb, exhaust manifolds (or headers) and bigger exhaust, timing cover, water pump, fuel pump, valve covers, accessory brackets and pulleys, motor mounts, plugs, wires, oil, misc hoses, and a gasket set. I'd figure $2500-2800 for the above and then another $1500 to install for labor. So your looking at a total cost with engine at $6400. Then add another $500 -1000 for a fudge factor.

 

Any links you can suggest where i can buy a core?

 

I have bought two this year one for 400 and one for 200 both came with th400 off of ksl here in Utah basically same thing as Craig's list .
also if you list your location some one might have one here that's you could pick up I know 2blu442 has a few
Try and get a complete one your brackets should change over not positive for your year but you can use valve covers dizzy

Also I got my quote today from three different shops looking around 2500-3500 to build complete new pistons and cam lifters price ranges depends on how much head work is done

 

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...526#post561526

 

Changing to a 455 is a great upgrade but this particular one your looking at is not such a good deal.
You could have a heck of a rebuilt 350 for a fraction of that price and with lots of upgrades like a real nice 2.5 exhaust.

 

Please post receipts and details for that $1600 "heck of a rebuild", and include the upgrades as well.

Sorry, but I don't think you have a grasp of what it costs to do things right. I suggest reading captjim' thread on a $5000 SBO rebuild. That's a solid motor.

Now, I guarantee that the long block in the link above will be a low compression, J-head 455, so I can't say that I'd recommend it, but $1600 (heck throw in the $500 core and make it $2100) is not a "heck of a rebuild".

Back to the OP's question about swapping motors, search is your friend. This has been covered hundreds of times on this forum.

 

I was going by the whole price as in this post below so would you please stand corrected and stop trying to belittle another person's reply with your inflated sub intelligence all the time?

 

I apologize, I missed that post.

The amount of additional stuff is variable, and nowhere near this much. Water pump, fuel pump, timing cover, balancer, valve covers, accessory brackets, pulleys, motor mounts, distributor, flexplate all swap from the 350. The oil pan swaps also, but BBO pans are slightly different. The SBO pan works in a pinch. New motor mounts (only needed if the old ones are questionable) are about $5 each at RockAuto. The starter swaps but will be a low-torque version. You'll need longer belts. A cast iron intake is less than $50. Repro W/Z manifolds are $300. With careful shopping and reuse of parts, expect $600 or so for additional parts beyond the short block. I have no idea what labor charges would be to pay someone to do this.

 

I would imagine around five hrs for removal and install and give maybe 3 hrs for transfer of parts and maybe 2hrs for tuning ? So around 1000.00 would be my guess

 

The amount I specified was turn key and installed.

OK, so you can knock off $1000 for reusing some stuff of the old engine, but your still looking at $5-6000 installed including incidentals with labor.

 

My most time consuming and thing I hate is the torque converter bolts and trans lines.