Engine swap; Acclaim to a Calais

[PorkoWog]

Some of you might know that one of my mates had crashed my VS Acclaim probably about a year ago. Well all I've managed to do in the past year is scavenge for new parts in order to fix up the Acclaim, bringing it back up to scratch like it once was. Since then, I've recently met a new mate that sold a VS Calais (without an engine) to a mechanic a couple of blocks down from his house. The mechanics were initially going to use the Calais for spare parts but haven't touched it for the past couple of months ever since my mate sold it to them. I've spoken to my mate and he is seeing how much they'd be looking for to sell it to me, and from what my mate says, it'll be dirt cheap plainly due to the fact that their is no engine in it. He assures me that the interior is immaculate and everything else is pretty much perfect; transmission, diff, brakes, etc, when he first sold it to them.

My idea is this; buying the Calais, and putting my engine from my current car into the Calais. I'd then use whatever parts I need to completely bring the Calais up to scratch as he did mention that the left quarter panel had a ding in it which I can get from my Acclaim. Would this be a good move?

The benefits I see in this is by saving quite a bit of money, and having a Calais instead of an Acclaim of course. The entire back side of my Acclaim seems as if a giant gave it a bit of a karate chop (mate crashed it into a double garage brick column) so it needs more then just an initial replacing of parts and a respray. I would save money on repairs (even though I've got a brand new boot and ClubSport body kit to replace damages with) and I'd save money travelling here there and everywhere for repairs and resprays.
If I was to get the Calais, I'd just need to replace my quarter panel (cheap job), swap the engine from my Acclaim to the Calais, and then a respray.

How much would an engine swap cost? Suggestions on where I can do this would also be a plus. Does anyone know any estimates on how much it'd cost to get them towed to a place to do the above work?

Sorry for the long post, but I just wanted to get all the details down on one post to get my research done and reassure myself that this is the right decision to go by. Oh, and if you anyone's curious, I would then sell off my Acclaim as parts and finally to the wreckers unless there are any takers.

Hope to hear from you guys soon.

[moff_man]

calais is a better option. as long as there both vs's it should be fine for the engine swap. the car is already at a mechanics so get them to give you a quote you cant loose bye asking. otherwise if you feel confidant you could do it your self.

[NeilB]

It's really just a engine out engine in job. As above if your not confident just try a couple of mechanics and get a price. Also worth a thought is if you are going to sell the acclaim shell go see a wrecker tell what you want and tell him after the engine swap and the guard you need he can buy the car off you a lot of wreckers could do this job for you.

[Andrew426]

I would stay away from that if you arent confident enough to do the work yourself. Otherwise its just a lot of hassle and expense.

Also, taking out and re-stitching a rear quarter panel isnt really a small job.

[combatantsomeone]

Maybz a hammer and a peice of wood might fix ur rear 1/4 :P depending on how bad it is of course lol

[PorkoWog]

calais is a better option. as long as there both vs's it should be fine for the engine swap. the car is already at a mechanics so get them to give you a quote you cant loose bye asking. otherwise if you feel confidant you could do it your self.

Thanks for the suggestion and I did think that. It might even decrease the price if I can assure him that I'd be giving him the business. I'm not confident to do the engine swap at home, nor do I have the space with my parents cars being in the garage.

NeilB, are you saying that the wreckers would be willing to take out the engine to put in my Calais, or are you talking about the quarter panel specifically?

I thought that as well Andrew426. Thanks.

combatantsomeone, it's definitely gonna take a lot more then a hammer and a piece of wood to fix my Acclaim!


I'd like to hear more feedback guys, it'll help me out with making a decision.

[FstStig]

Providing the Mechanic isn't a dodgy one, i would pay him to do it, you would be looking roughly $600 in labour though. No one can give you a price on towing as it all depends on where location A is (where your car is) and Location B is (Mechanics) and the towing company, so i would ring around to try and get the best price. Also make sure the Mechanic swaps over the ECU, BCM and Ignition Barrell. As these will be different with your key heads and key.

[PorkoWog]

Is $600 the going rate for an engine swap nowadays? I would never have thought it'd be that much... Thanks for the suggestions on other things to swap over Mumboman. Are there any other things I should make sure the mechanic swaps over to the Calais? Is the only advantage of using the new ignition barrel to keep my current keys or are there other advantages?

[Andrew426]

Actually I would recommend keeping the BCM and keyhead from the calais, as its a different unit to the one the lower models got and without it a lot of the switches on the level3 dash wont work, and you will probably also lose other functions like electric aerial. So keep the calais keyhead and BCM, but swap in the acclaim engine, trans and PCM.

[PorkoWog]

I was going to say that I didn't mind if it was a brand new set of keys and what not, so long as they work properly. I was planning on swapping the engine and transmission either way because I don't think the Calais has either. Thanks for the heads up. Anything else I should know?

[ephect]

first thing i would be checking is was the calais a super6 or v8? you'll need to swap over the wiring loom and ecu regardless. just keep that in mind when planning to do it yourself or pay someone.

[PorkoWog]

Won't be doing the job myself, so it wouldn't matter to me either way. The mechanics should know what they're doing I presume, no?

[ephect]

lol it all depends on how thorough they are

[PorkoWog]

I'll be sure to let them know I'm not wanting to get screwed around. I'll mention it though and see what they say about it. If they come up with a random excuse then I know to take my business elsewhere. Nothing wrong with having a checklist to go through with them before putting trust in them to do a good job I guess.

[Andrew426]

first thing i would be checking is was the calais a super6 or v8? you'll need to swap over the wiring loom and ecu regardless. just keep that in mind when planning to do it yourself or pay someone.

Could be NA 6, as i think most of them were?

[PorkoWog]

I'll ask my mate now and let you guys know.

[PorkoWog]

Sorry for the late reply guys. My mate can't remember what engine the car initially had however I've told him to ask his old man; hopefully he'll have a better idea. Regarding cruise control and all that, will I be able to get that? Are there any things that the Calais has that my Acclaim didn't that won't work any more due to putting the Acclaim engine into the Calais?

P.S: I had a first proper in-person look at the car and it's not at all bad. The interior is in very good condition, a couple of buttons missing from the steering wheel but that can all be replaced. I'm g'd to get things going... Thanks for all the help so far guys, I appreciate it.

[Andrew426]

Mate, forget what i said. Just let your mechanic sort it all out because it will be much easier than me trying to explain it to you

[PorkoWog]

I'm just really interested in doing the work at home too (dad offered his assistance as he used to do up his own Kingswoods back in the day). Got two mates that are mechanics that have offered their help as well. I'll get some quotes and compare work. Any answers for the questions in my previous post though?