Replacing a transmission typically takes a shop somewhere between about 4 and 10 hours of labor, and replacing an engine roughly 8 to 20 hours or more, depending on the vehicle. In practice the vehicle is often at the shop for one to several days, because diagnosis, getting the replacement unit, and transferring parts add time beyond the wrench hours. Rear-wheel-drive trucks are usually quicker than tightly packaged front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles.
Typical labor time
| Job | Typical labor | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission, rear-wheel-drive truck | About 4 to 8 hours | Transfer case on 4x4s, exhaust and crossmember access |
| Transmission, front-wheel-drive car | About 6 to 10 hours | Subframe removal, axles, tight packaging |
| Engine, truck or rear-wheel-drive car | About 8 to 15 hours | Long block vs complete engine, parts to transfer |
| Engine, front-wheel-drive or tightly packaged | About 12 to 20 hours or more | Engine and transmission removed together, subframe work |
These are general ranges; shops quote from labor guides for your exact vehicle.
Why it can take days
- Diagnosis to confirm the failure
- Waiting for the replacement unit to arrive
- Transferring parts from the old unit (sensors, brackets, intake or accessories)
- Flushing or replacing transmission cooler lines
- Test driving and relearn procedures after installation
What speeds the job up
- A complete engine or a transmission with its torque converter included
- Confirming the correct unit by VIN before it ships
- Ordering gaskets, fluids and any needed mounts in advance
Short block vs long block time
A short block needs the heads, valvetrain and more parts transferred, adding hours; a long block or complete engine saves labor at the shop; see short block vs long block.
Doing it yourself
At home, with basic tools, a jack and stands, the same jobs often take a full weekend or more for a first-timer. A transmission jack, an engine hoist and an engine stand make the work far safer. Lifting a transmission or engine without the right equipment is dangerous, so many owners buy the unit and have a shop install it.
Smaller transmission jobs
Many repairs take far less time than a full replacement: a solenoid pack, range sensor or speed sensor is often an hour or two, and a fluid and filter service less. Diagnose first; see signs of a bad transmission and transmission solenoid pack.
Cost and parts
Labor time is a big part of the total; see transmission replacement cost and engine replacement cost. Our transmissions and engines are listed by code, and most transmissions include a torque converter, as each listing states.
More guides: how to install a transmission.
Shipping is a flat $80.00 per order to US addresses, with 15-day free returns. Questions? Ask a parts specialist.