How much should this be? Replacement exhaust manifolds 8.1 mercruisers...

[neuromark]

Forgive me, because I'm essentially illiterate when it comes to engines, and so I need to get all this work done by the experts.

8.1s mercruisers, on 2002 searay sundancer. Starboard engine overheated with smoke billowing a couple of weeks ago; limped home on port engine. Waterpump, pulley, alternator seized, exhaust elbows found to be leaking. MarineMax gave me an estimate.

My question is...they want to replace both exhaust manifolds, risers, elbows (mercruiser 8.1s, that had new manifolds in 2009): at a charge $4675 ($1485 labor, $3090 parts, $200 other stuff) for each engine. And $550 to haul it out for one day. Total of near $9900.

Is that a crazy price? I tried searching, at that seems pretty high.

[mmcguire2002]

I'm no expert, but that sounds like highway robbery.

[scoflaw]

Not understanding exactly what happened, but alternator seized, shredded belt and overheated because the water pump quit spinning?

3 year old manifolds don't need to be replaced, the riser surface on the manifold along with the risers themselves can be resurfaced at your local machine shop for short money. Replace the elbows, if they are in rough condition, if not, give them the same treatment. Back together with OEM gaskets.

Shop around for a better price, that's crazy money.

[fwebster]

The red flag for me in your description of the charges is the haul out fee. You don't need to have a 380DA out of the water to do a manifold/riser replacement and $550 is high......I can get my 450DA hauled out for $225 if I am doing some work on the hull, but most marinas hitting you up for $9K in repairs don't charge for the haul out or yard time. The haul out charge may be indicative or over pricing in parts and labor.

I'd have to shop that quote around at an independent Mercruiser service center to keep MM honest.

[mainstream]

The red flag for me in your description of the charges is the haul out fee. You don't need to have a 380DA out of the water to do a manifold/riser replacement and $550 is high......I can get my 450DA hauled out for $225 if I am doing some work on the hull, but most marinas hitting you up for $9K in repairs don't charge for the haul out or yard time. The haul out charge may be indicative or over pricing in parts and labor.

I'd have to shop that quote around at an independent Mercruiser service center to keep MM honest.

+1 for what frank said my marina charges $4.00 a ft price seams way high definatly shop it

[Jls3546]

I have a '97 330EC with twin 8.1S's, and am replacing my manifolds now. I bought 4x OEM manifolds and 4x sets of elbow gaskets for about $2200, including tax and shipping. I'll check the elbows when I take them off, and either recondition them (around $300 at a local auto shop) or replace them (about $500/ea, ugh). I'm planning to do the work myself this weekend in my slip, no need to haul the boat. I agree with mmcguire2002, $10k for the job is highway robbery...

[JimFromMD]

Forgive me, because I'm essentially illiterate when it comes to engines, and so I need to get all this work done by the experts.

8.1s mercruisers, on 2002 searay sundancer. Starboard engine overheated with smoke billowing a couple of weeks ago; limped home on port engine. Waterpump, pulley, alternator seized, exhaust elbows found to be leaking. MarineMax gave me an estimate.

My question is...they want to replace both exhaust manifolds, risers, elbows (mercruiser 8.1s, that had new manifolds in 2009): at a charge $4675 ($1485 labor, $3090 parts, $200 other stuff) for each engine. And $550 to haul it out for one day. Total of near $9900.

Is that a crazy price? I tried searching, at that seems pretty high.

The bill for parts/labor when replacing the risers/manifolds/elbows and raw water impellers on my BII drives (I was just lazy and since they were already there!) came to ~$5K in Annapolis. I got a discount for doing it before the winterization rush came when they were a bit slow. Granted I have 5.0L EFI engines, not 8.1s, but the work was done on the lift. If you want the number of my merc certified mechanic PM me. They do make road-calls and may offer you a discount for doing it over the winter.

[northern]

On my boat the risers are for OEM cost 1000 for 4. The manifolds if I require them are 380 each so 1500 for 4. Labour I have been told is 8 hours an engine.
Best to have the risers taken off first. Most rad shops will refurbish them. I pay 200 for 4. If the mating faces are thinned I replace them.
Lots of threads on manifold work by a lot of people who know way more than me. Read some and you will get a better idea what to do and pay.

[tdschafer]

Sounds like around double what it should be. As all others have said, shop them!!