How Much Does A V8 Engine Cost? [Hemi & More]
V8 engines are generally found in performance cars, full-size pickup trucks, and full-size SUVs. You may also find a V8 engine in a Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, Ram 1500, Ford F-150, and more. It’s a hefty engine that costs a lot to run. Over time, engine parts can fail, which requires repair or replacement.
It costs roughly $7,000 for a new V8 engine but could cost as little as $3,000 for a used one. Prices can even exceed $50,000 for luxury models.
Most people choose to purchase a new V8 engine for their vehicle as opposed to overhauling them because the price of the engine plus labor could surpass the cost of a new V8 engine. If you’re thinking of purchasing a new V8 engine, there are a few factors you have to take into consideration, all of which we’ll go over in this article.
| Car | Replace | Rebuild |
| Ford | $40,000+- | $7,000 +- |
| Chevy | $300-$7,000+- | $1500 +- |
| Luxury | $50,000 +- | $40,000 +- |
| HEMI | $7,000 +- | $3,500 +- |
How Much Does A V8 Engine Cost?
A V8 engine can cost upwards of $7,000 or more depending on your vehicle and location. If you plan to install it on your own, it can save you quite a bit in labor charges. However, if you need it professionally installed, it can make you spend thousands more on labor charges.
Labor charges today range from $50 to $100 per hour. So why is it that these engines cost so much when compared to a 4 or 6 cylinder?
V8 Engine Explained
The V8 engine is V configured and has cylinders mounted on a crankcase in lines of four per side with the total number of pistons being 8. The banks can be set at either 90 degrees, but the most common is 72 degrees, hence the name “V”. Other models come with 45-degree or 60-degree angles.
The V8 engine first appeared in the 1920s and is now and has widely been used in racing vehicles. These engines are designed with a single plane crankshaft to deliver quicker acceleration and optimize the flow of exhaust. Today, you will find that most manufacturers have one version of a V8 engine in one of their vehicles.
The traditional 90-degree big-bore V8 engines are common in America, but because of their dimensions, they aren’t generally found in front-wheel drive vehicles.
They’re more likely to be found in rear-wheel vehicles such as muscle cars, luxury cars, light trucks, and sports cars. Some larger vehicles such as Cadillacs and Volvoc have the V8 transverse FWD and transverse AWD engine configurations.
Since there are so many V8 engines, we’re going to take a look at the differences between each one.
Ford Flathead
This was an amazing V8 masterpiece that was way ahead of its time. This V8 came with a one-piece block, high-pressure oil lubrication, and a creative crankshaft design.
All of these were new at the time. The best part about it was the price. It was more affordable than other motors. The engine lasted into the 50s and is now a popular vintage engine that appeals to enthusiasts and collectors.
Rover V8
The Rover V8 was originally from the UK and it first appeared in the 1960s and stayed until 2006. It was a superbly designed engine found in Land Rovers, Morgans, and TVRs.
It started as the Buick 215 and was an all-aluminum piece that was the very first turbocharged engine in the Oldsmobile Jetfire.
Chevy Small-Block
This is the engine of choice for many Chevy owners. It dates back to 1955 and was the engine used in the first Corvette. Since then, it has been used in multiple vehicles and comes in a number of sizes beginning at 4.3L up to 6.6L capacity.
This model made it all the way to 2003 and was then replaced by the Gen II model that was first introduced in 1992. This engine had the ability to produce 350hp. Today the Gen V model replaces all others.
This model is based on the original, but there have been improvements made over time such as the 350 Chevy engine carburetor.
A Chevy 350 can cost as little as $300 used and upwards of $6,500 new for the most basic block build.
Chrysler HEMI
Ever wonder where the name “HEMI” came from? It comes from the hemispherically shaped combustion chambers in the engine. These weren’t as unique as some of the other V8 models, but they had a huge capacity compared to others. This is why most people choose this engine over the others if they’re looking for superior power.
The 426 HEMI was used in the 1970 Plymouth Barracuda and now the 707hp Dodge Charger Hellcat. This is a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 and if you want, even more, there’s a Challenger SRT Demon with an 840-hp version.
The cost of a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 will cost around $3,500 used or $7,000+ new.
Maserati/Ferrari F136
If you want some true Italian engine power, the F136 is where it’s at. It offers 483-hp in a 4.3-liter F430. It was first introduced in 2004 and uses a modified cross-plane crankshaft version of the 458 4.5L Speciale.
The Quattroporte and GranTurismo have the 597 hp version under their hoods. The 454 is a beast of an engine. In 2015, Ferrari 488GTB introduced their turbocharged F154 V8 to replace older models.
A performance motor for cars such as a Maserati or Ferrari can cost upwards of $50,000 or more.
BMW
If you know anything about BMWs, then you know that they have some of the best V8 engines on the market. The current engine used in their cars is the BMW 4.4-liter twin-turbo S63. It produces 600hp and 553 lb-ft of torque instantaneously.
Audi FSI
The engine under the hood of an Audi B7 is the 420-hp 4.2-liter V8. It has an integrated dry-sump lubricated variant in the R8 sports car. These are high rev models and can reach up to 8,250 RPMs. It will put out all of the sounds an Audi enthusiast will love.
Today, most Audi models come turbocharged and reach upwards of 600hp.
Ford
Today, Ford uses a 7.3-liter V8 engine that offers best-in-class gas power and torque for their heavy-duty pickup trucks. The 7.3 seems to be their most popular and robust engine.
It puts out 430 horsepower and torque of 475 lb-ft. You will find a 661 horsepower V8 in the 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 that accelerates from 0-60 in under 5 seconds.
The Ford 460 can cost as high as $40,000 for a fully refurbished and ready-to-install model whereas new ones can cost even more.
Is It Cheaper To Rebuild or Replace an Engine?
It’s cheaper to rebuild an engine than it would be to replace it. Some people choose to overhaul their engine as opposed to replacing it because it costs less. An engine overhaul can cost between $2,500 and $4,500 in parts and labor. The labor alone is roughly $500 to $2,000 depending on where you go and where you live.
Difference Between a V6 and V8
When some people are looking at new engines for their vehicle, they may wonder what the difference between a V6 and a V8 is and what the advantages of each are.
The V6 engine is a 6-cylinder engine and a V8 is an 8-cylinder engine.
V6
The V6 engine is more compact and solid than a V8. This configuration has been around since the early days of the internal combustion engine. It’s less costly to manufacture and lighter. There’s more power in a V6 than a V4, but less than a V8.
Additionally, fuel economy is one of the biggest advantages of using a V6 engine. They’re also more stable and have better handling than a V8 engine.
V8
If you want more acceleration and power, the V8 is your best choice. This is why they’re more fit for muscle cars. If you use your vehicle mainly for towing and hauling, then a V8 would benefit you.
It has a lot of stable power. Even if you gently press on the accelerator, you can feel the strength and power coming from the motor.
Overall Advantages of a V8
The V8 engine is known to run unbelievably smoothly. The “V” configuration allows the power strokes to happen closer together and minimize vibration. This is because, at every 90 degrees, a power stroke is produced. The 4-cylinder models only produce a power stroke every 180 degrees and the 6-cylinder at every 120 degrees. The smoothness of the V8 puts less stress on the motor, which helps overall engine performance and driveability.
Additionally, the V8 engine has a better balance of power output and torque as opposed to smaller engine configurations. This is a happy medium that allows people to have a relatively small, light engine with a great balance of horsepower, torque, and reasonable fuel economy.
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Final Thoughts
There are many different V8 configurations on the market. Not all are going to work with your vehicle, so you need to make sure you find the right one. They all have different costs as well.
Some can cost as little as $300 whereas others can cost upwards of $50,000 or more. Weigh your pros and cons of replacing vs rebuilding if you’re on a budget or aren’t quite sure how you want to proceed with your vehicle.
