2001 international 4700 with dt366e model c215 engine. Currently taken apart down to block... "sleeves,pistons,rods,etc out,", trans is out...
Shop charge is at 3k right now.
Head is damaged not rebuildable. Crank appears good with minor wear they said while looking down each cylinder "so no idea on crank bearings etc" just an eyeball look.
They want 24-26k total to do a complete inframe rebuild. Not touching the crank, installing a new rear main seal and putting the trans/clutch back in. Price includes labor, OEM inframe kit, and a 2k reman head they have on hand.
This seems quite steep, they did say it could be a couple thousand cheaper if they use aftermarket inframe kit. But this still seems quite high. Am I missing something here? I priced a good quality complete Aftermarket inframe kit at 2,150 and a fully loaded reman head with warranty for 1,800.
Is it really 15,000+ in labor?
In comparison I asked about price to do complete engine swap if I purchased a used engine fully dressed "drop in ready with donor ecm etc" and was given a price of 7k for the swap plus the 3k current charge....10k total all in for engine swap.
Found a good running 112k mile donor engine.
7k in labor for swap but 15k+ for labor on inframe?
BTW anyone know if this donor motor would be a direct drop in replacement for mine.
Both are international 4700 trucks.
Both are 2000 dt466e engines according to sticker on valve cover.
My truck engine model is C215, donor truck model says C250. "35hp more"
donor emissions number ends with ANB and mine ends with ANA.
my vin says 2001 with build date of Oct 2000, donor truck vin says 2000 with build date of Aug 1999. Both trucks according to vin are HT "high torque"
Donor comes drop in ready with engine wire harness only and ecm.
ANYONE KNOW IF THIS SHOULD BE DIRECT DROP IN TURN KEY SWAP, or is ecm swap needed "use donor ecm" and or programming needed? Donor is auto trans, mine is manual... believe my bellhousing should bolt up fine but any ideas on flywheel differences?
![]()
![]()
Shop charging too much?
Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by Chad1980, Jul 3, 2025.
Page 1 of 2
-
-
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
-
Sounds about right for a full in frame. I paid that much to do a CAT and I didn't get the RMS done. It's not all labor. There's lots of small charges that add up like miscellaneous parts, supplies and fees. Around 20k is pretty much average these days.
If you're struggling to make ends meet you could tell the shop. Sometimes they'll work with you to try and lower the bill a little. I would certainly do the rebuild over the swap due to the warranty if I were you. -
Did you take it to the stealership ? Sounds pretty high for a small box truck.
BoxCarKidd and Star Rider Thank this. -
From the stand point of a truck owner as well as a small shop owner that does work for the public. First I want to state Big trucks Big bucks. It’s not as simple as an in frame kit. Does that estimate include counterbores and shims?
First thing in any written estimate is itemized. Even if parts are in “kits” each kit needed should be included. As well as a detailed breakdown of labor hours total with amount by hour. Any additional parts as well as shop supplies, this still doesn’t include any extras like removal of broken studs in exhaust etc.
You don’t know if that does or does not include a turbo, if there is more to it than a kit etc. It should include any outside labor and materials as well. It’s extremely simple we ain’t out here living on country club lane before giving any go ahead you need to account for every dollar of that estimate and accept it still may not be final. Any less is not doing your due diligence and looking to be taken advantage of. If the shop won’t give you a detailed estimate then move on cause they are not worth your time. Most likely their work will be like their estimate half ### and not on time. However if they get you it’s cause you let themLast edited: Jul 3, 2025
Sirscrapntruckalot, BoxCarKidd, Big Road Skateboard and 5 others Thank this. -
Truth on both replies. My concern is I got verbal estimate not a written one for in frame rebuild with oem parts. Only specific part mentioned was a reman head. No other parts mentioned such as a turbo etc. Just a verbal 24-26k estimate for inframe. That came after I was told the current bill is 3k. So for 3k I got the engine completely torn apart "only the crank and main bearings remain in the engine in the frame" pistons,rods,sleeves,etc all out dissambled. Head off dissambled and checked over "junk", trans and clutch out and rear main seal replaced. All that for 3k, but another 21-23k for parts and labor for reassembly? OUCH. Zero warranty on crank or main bearings as it's part of in frame but they did say there is visible wear on the crank via observation down the cylinders.
So spend all that with no real answer on if the crank is going to last as long as the rebuild, or if it will roach out and take the rebuild with it... on an engine with little over 326k miles. Or for 10 grand all in replace with a used engine with 112k -
Well 15 hours at 200 per hour labor rate is 3000 so what is their labor rate? Did you approve them tearing it down? Also nobody I mean absolutely no body likes putting back what they didn’t string apart so…..you may be in an abusive relationship with the current shopSirscrapntruckalot, BoxCarKidd, Sons Hero and 2 others Thank this.
-
Also. pulling the trans and doing the rear main seal is not part of an in frame. The cost of that would be on top of the in frame price.
BoxCarKidd Thanks this. -
3000 total bill as stands for tear down including trans/clutch removal and rear main seal parts.
Go ahead was given for the tear down... obviously waiting on go ahead for engine swap.
Contacted international dealership today, spoke to service tech. Quoted 8k in labor only for in frame MINUS upto 2k if when brought in the dissambly was complete and all parts were present and "not all nuts and bolts are thrown into a box but somewhat kept with each part as possible", which they will be if current shop palletizes as they have already kept together most parts and hardware neatly together. plus another 1000 in labor if dealership installs the rear seal, puts in a new clutch and reinstalls the trans... which they will have too if it comes to them. So already that's at 9k labor at most and possibly down to 7k. Best part is they agreed to install an aftermarket in frame kit and honor warranty that i purchase IF they ok the product and its from a reputable distributor/manufacturer and its shipped directly to them. THAT IS AWESOME... they already stated oem parts from them is NOT mandatory but they must approve what I find and they have done so with more than a handful of aftermarket kits.... I could even purchase oem parts myself from online like ebay or private people IF they are sealed in original pkg with oem numbers on pkg and parts. Obviously if I order wrong parts it's my loss... BUT dang never had a dealer tell me that and still offer a "shop" warranty... not sure if shop and international warranty are different but hey a year is a year.
So big question other than the 7-9k in labor at the dealer.... how much should I be expecting to pay for aftermarket inframe parts including rods. The little stuff I'll let the dealer get but the big stuff I may aswell get myself including an oem reman head... not sure which aftermarket or non oem shop remanufactured head the dealer would accept but it may be worth it. Anyone think PARTS could stay under 7-8k? -
Pre covid did an inframe on ISX cummins 22998.50$
Local shop, reman head included. -
When I had my motor rebuilt. I had the mechanic doing the work also get the parts. Sure I could have saved some money getting them myself. When/if there came a warranty repair, it was not an issue between parts supplier or mechanic taking the hit for the repair.
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
Page 1 of 2