Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:27:56 -0500
Reply-To: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Subject: Re: Need some assistance to see if my mechanic is overcharging
me...
In-Reply-To: <8C9FD569-7AFE-4310-A6C4-E1A0DDD282AC@mac.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I'd say it's a fair price. Around here $1100 does not pay for enough time to
do all you are asking for. It would be way too much for just an engine swap
but you are asking for a lot of extra stuff and time adds up fast.
It kind of goes like this:
Day 1 - at least 5 hours with delivery @ $65.00 - $85.00 / hr ($325 - $425).
Put the van on the rack
Drain all engine fluids
Pull the engine
Push the van off the rack & into yard
Deliver the engine
Day 2 - at least 10 hours with pick-up @ $65.00 - $85.00 / hr ($650 - $850).
Pick up engine
Install all the new stuff
Install engine
Install new fuel lines & coolant hoses
Fill & bleed cooling system
Bleed fuel system
Test engine & chase down gremlins that always seem to appear
Test drive van & double check for fuel & coolant leaks
Service transmission & test for leaks & add "wing"
Do brake job
Plus parts that you did not pay for - transmission fluid, brake fluid,
antifreeze, etc, etc.
And I'm sure I'm missing a few steps!
Thanks,
Tom Hargrave
Our Web Sites:
www.kegkits.com
http://www.kegkits.com/JABF/
www.stir-plate.com
www.andyshotsauce.com
256-656-1924
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of
Robert Stewart
Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2009 1:17 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Need some assistance to see if my mechanic is overcharging me...
Need some assistance to see if my mechanic is overcharging me...
So to fill you in on the background.
I had brought my Van back in December to a local Engine Shop that only
does rebuilds. It took him several months to complete the rebuild with
all the parts I ordered from Van-Cafe (over 2K in parts). He was
overbooked and took him a long time to get to the engine. He finished
it back in April and my mechanic who removed the engine and delivered
it to him had it and it was now up to him to take care of the rest.
Now he had it since April, he is not a VW mechanic, his speciality is
Nissan's.... so he needed to do some learning on the job with the
Bentley and Haynes manuals in hand plus some help from the Samba and
you guys to get the job done.
I clearly provided a list of what I wanted done and all the parts.
Can anyone here tell me based on my list below what the general cost
range should be?
Now I know this is a bit to ask but I am trying to be sure I am not
being taken here, so any idea of the realistic time frame to complete
these jobs would be really be appreciated.
Here's the list of what I asked him to do:
Model - 88 Automatic
Removal and Reinstallation of Rebuilt Engine (with all original
external engine components i.e. fuel rails, injectors, new rubber for
injectors provided, new spark plugs, new fuel hoses, wires, wiring
harness, Air Flow System, with all new gaskets provided, et al.)
Installation of New Fuel lines, (Engine Bay, & Front to Rear Tank Lines)
Installation of 2 External Coolers (Oil and Transmission Fluids) (1)
from BusBoys and (1) from Small Car for the tranny.
Draining of Coolant Lines ( he did not flush it as he did not have the
equipment) and Tanks & Refill Of All Coolant (Supplied)
Installation of New Coolant Hoses in the engine bay and the front 2
lines connecting to the 2 long hoses (which were good and used them)
with the Gowesty Coolant Hose Repair Kit. ( the two metal pieces they
sell)
Draining of Transmission and Differential Gear Oils and replacement of
fluids with new screen and filter provided.
Install New Engine Oil and Screen install after rebuild completed.
Installation of 3rd Party Transmission Wing Cooling System (welded)
(this is the little metal wing sold by Terry Kay.
Re-installation of existing S&S Exhaust System (though cleaned and
painted with high temp paint by me)
Reinstallation of cleaned K&N air filter.
Install New the brake pads and check the brakes throughout the Van.
(he told me I needed to have my rotors machined which I needed to
bring to a brake shop to have done. As the 1/4 inch edge of the rotor
was not worn down at all. It has new Brembo rotors that installed 3yrs
ago on the van with PBR pads.)
Note that the engine after the rebuild was brought to him bare, no
external components just the engine core with the heads on it, intake
runners, with the all the proper temp sensors in place. He had to put
all the components back on.
So what are your thoughts?
He is telling me this is going to cost me $1100 roughly. Now... I
already paid him $400 when I dropped the van off with him toward the
total of all these costs. Mind you it's all been in cash as well. His
rate is $60 an hour.
Thanks for your thoughts,
Robert
Bloomingburg NY
