Cummins big cam rebuild cost

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by Dino soar, Feb 18, 2025.

  1. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    I'm wondering if anyone knows what the cost of an out of frame rebuild would be for a Cummins big cam 400.

    Someone has a truck and they're telling me that the engine had an out of frame rebuild and I'm trying to get a handle on roughly what that would cost.

    I am going to call the place that did it, but I'm not certain they're going to tell me what the price was. Although I may be wrong about that.

    At any rate they tell me that the block was good, but I'm uncertain exactly everything that was replaced.

    Assume everything has been replaced, because the number that this person is telling me seems very high to rebuild that engine, even out of frame.

    And if anybody has an idea what it cost, they did pull the engine and put it back in so there's that cost also.
     
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  3. broke down plumber

    broke down plumber Road Train Member

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    Soo whhat was the price they said ?
     
  4. Arctic_fox

    Arctic_fox Experienced mx13 execrator

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    Better question. If it had an out of frame....why does he not have recipts? And if he does why wont he show them to you?

    I personally would tell him recipts or piss off. My guess is he is trying to scam you.
     
  5. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    It's not that.

    The work was definitely done the work is definitely verifiable.

    I do not know if the shop that did it will tell me the total of the actual cost if the customer asked them not to. I do not know.

    The person gave me a price that I thought is beyond what it would cost to rebuild a Cummins big cam.

    I'm trying not to say the total the person gave me because I don't want to influence anyone.

    I just want to hear a mechanic that does this everyday that works in the garage and can estimate the cost, or someone that's had this done, what is the total for this type of a rebuild?

    All I really want to know is what is the actual cost if you're a mechanic, and you pull out a Big Cam Cummins and you rebuild it out of frame and you put it back into the truck.

    If you strip that engine down to the block and it was Magnafluxed, and you started from there what would the cost be for that rebuild out of chassis?

    @AModelCat
     
    broke down plumber Thanks this.
  6. FLHT

    FLHT Road Train Member

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    Machine work to get everything in spec ?
     
    broke down plumber Thanks this.
  7. LoneRanger

    LoneRanger Road Train Member

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    Without receipts there’s no warranty. No warranty, then in frame is worthless.


    It’s the same as the Facebook listings 250k mile car for sale with new engine 100k miles ago.
     
  8. W923

    W923 Road Train Member

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    It will vary greatly depending on
    The quality of the parts
    The reason it was done
    How much was reused
    The amount of machining it got
    The type of truck it’s in might make 500-1000 difference because of removal issues
    Bottom line I’ve not done a big cam recently but 4 n 14 in the last 2 years and they’re pretty similar in parts/labor costs except for injectors
    Low price 12500
    High 28500
    Average about 20k
    My shop rate was 85 on the first one and 110 on the last
     
  9. BoxCarKidd

    BoxCarKidd Road Train Member

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    Probably about the same as an N14 mechanical on a skid with a bad block. Cummins exchange about $34,500 + $2,500 core however they did not have the parts to make it during covid.
    They did have a short block less cam for about $14,500 + core. PAI W/P, O/P, ballancer. Bepco compressor, James Turbo, Local built heads and injectors. Cam and followers from ATL. Mid America clutch. I thank it ended up over $30,000.
     

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  10. OLDSKOOLERnWV

    OLDSKOOLERnWV Captain Redbeard

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    Well there’s what’s setting under the hood of my W9….

    IMG_7112.png
     
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