Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

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Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

March 20, 2019, 10:23:52 pm

Just wondering if anyone can give a ballpark figure for having a shop do an inframe rebuild of the Cummins 8.3 in a '96 320U? Or how much it would cost to have a used engine installed in same?

Thanks,
Scott in Snowflake AZ

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #1 – March 20, 2019, 10:43:15 pm

U320's have m11 Cummins

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #2 – March 21, 2019, 12:47:24 am

$20-$30K

P

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #3 – March 21, 2019, 01:20:32 am

By the time you do the engine rebuild, radiator and cooling fan rebuild, charge air cooler check, and so one, likely way more than a he coach is worth. At some point it's reality.

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #4 – March 21, 2019, 01:42:44 am

At the point of an engine and related part replacement you will NEVER get your money back.
If you don't already own the coach and are thinking of buying it as is, If the coach were perfect and needed nothing other then the engine rebuild, and somebody GAVE it to you for free, you would still probably never see your money come back to your wallet.
The only way to come out ahead is if you could do ALL the work yourself.
People are usually suspicious when a seller mentions that the engine was re-built.

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #5 – March 21, 2019, 02:15:20 am

Determine which engine it is,320 will have the M-11,does it need a rebuild?Big difference between the M-11 and 8.3.I agree with
the above,unless you can do it yourself you might as well look at another coach.

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #6 – March 21, 2019, 08:34:37 am

What are the symptoms that make you say it needs a rebuild?

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #7 – March 21, 2019, 08:39:35 am

It would probably cost close to $30k to replace the M11 engine in a U320. If the rest of the coach is absolutely perfect then it might be a worthwhile project, but there could certainly be a number of financial risks involved.

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #8 – March 21, 2019, 09:29:15 am

Did my own, 3126 Cat...Cost me 4K, Probably in the same price range.

Someone on here had a new Cat 3126 installed, cost 32K. 1 year parts, no labor warranty.

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #9 – March 21, 2019, 09:37:48 am

And overall yours is probably a better job.That's give or take what I figure would cost me on the 12valve 8.3 plus maybe the cost of a new radiator,would love to do one just for the heck of it.The higher the cost for a shop to do it the better for me ,give me more incentive.

A little off subject but if I was to ever attempt an overhaul I would contact local schools and see if they had a apprentice type I
could hire to help.

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #10 – March 21, 2019, 10:03:21 am

Learn how to do it yourself, take a few weeks or even a month or so and have a better job than most shops with do. Then you only have a fraction of the $20-$30K. Used engines might be less expensive and somewhere around the $20K but...

Pierce

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #11 – March 21, 2019, 10:10:38 am

All U320's had the M11 Cummins 400 or 450. If a '96, it should be the 400. Unless the coach is perfect, read messages above! Even then I would crunch the numbers and add 15 to 20 percent for good measure!

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #12 – March 21, 2019, 10:12:26 am

Quote from: 80sDweeb – March 20, 2019, 10:23:52 pm

Just wondering if anyone can give a ballpark figure for having a shop do an inframe rebuild of the Cummins 8.3 in a '96 320U? Or how much it would cost to have a used engine installed in same?

Thanks,
Scott in Snowflake AZ

If you're driving a 23 year old coach as an investment, maybe you need a new investment advisor.

In-frame? Ummmm No.

If you have the basic knowledge and skill set to disassemble and re-assemble an engine, remember that the fussy stuff will be done by the machine shop. Everything else is tedious detail, removing, cleaning and replacing. Don't forget about the clean dust free work area.

BTDT.

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #13 – March 21, 2019, 10:49:03 am

Never worked on a M-11,looks to me that a 8.3 could be done in frame but would do it like Grace did,have overhauled engines
much bigger then these on locations in South TX,dust and sand is a concern just have to keep things clean,it can be done.
Every job is different but the only thing a machine shop would be needed for is rebuilding the head if it needed it,again have overhauled many an engine never using a machine shop.

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #14 – March 21, 2019, 11:33:31 am

As others have said, what is the issues with the motor? Worn out, I doubt that in a motorhome, unless it wasn't properly maintained. Has it been run hot, dusted? The point is an inframe is usually more of a freshen it deal, not a fix for a damaged motor. Such damage will require some machine shop service. As well as things like turbos, injectors, radiator and fans, and on and on you go. Read $$$$.
Most folk don't have the tools, space, time, or knowledge to tackle this kind of job. But by the same token 30k to rebuild a 6 cyl diesel is just nuts, but that's the way it is these days.

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #15 – March 21, 2019, 11:44:17 am

As a retired 'wrench', I'd like to know WHAT makes the OP think it needs a overhaul ?

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #16 – March 21, 2019, 02:01:00 pm

According to my cummins guy it would be about 15K plus that is in Arkansas, parts are between 4K and 5K. If mine died I would do it myself, can't be much different than wet sleeve farm tractors that I have done. I don't know about quality but I have noticed that you can get a full overhaul kit for M11 in frame for less than 3.5k on line. Unless I had someone that could verify quality I would probably get parts from Cummins. Just me.
Chris

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #17 – March 21, 2019, 03:33:20 pm

I have bought my engine kits for the International and Cat from AG kits never had a problem
https://www.agkits.com/cummins-m11-ism-engine-inframe-rebuild-kit---electronic-engine.aspx?recrawl&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhtjWofyT4QIV0f_jBx39Egh_EAQYASABEgJuQfD_BwE#.XJPmV9VKh0w

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #18 – March 21, 2019, 04:06:18 pm

Aren't those engines good for 500,000 miles or more if maintained?

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #19 – March 21, 2019, 04:21:42 pm

And the planets are all aligned with the sun and moon.

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #20 – March 21, 2019, 04:46:57 pm

Quote from: Nigel0434 – March 21, 2019, 04:06:18 pm

Aren't those engines good for 500,000 miles or more if maintained?

They are in everyday use, but time will get to them as well. Lots of o-rings and Iots of other gaskets and seals to deteriorate and cause problems.

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #21 – March 21, 2019, 05:26:44 pm

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – March 21, 2019, 10:03:21 am

Learn how to do it yourself, take a few weeks or even a month or so and have a better job than most shops with do. Then you only have a fraction of the $20-$30K. Used engines might be less expensive and somewhere around the $20K but...

Pierce

8-10K for a good low miles Cat or Cummins. I shopped a lot, and considered switching to Cummins. Love my Cat now. Once I saw it apart, it's such a heavy built simple industrial motor inside.

Re: Cost to rebuild/replace Cummins 8.3 in a 1996 320U?

Reply #22 – March 21, 2019, 05:47:34 pm

Lots of in frame rebuild kits from $1800 to $2400: cummins m11 rebuild kit | eBay

Some good used engines out there but the shop labor to install is really high in most places.

Good chance the engine will need a new head if it dropped a valve. Something else to consider.

Turbos are cheap to overhaul.

P

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