Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:24:59 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Need some assistance to see if my mechanic is overcharging
me...
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Hi Robert.....
reading your list of things do to .........
besides just a complete and properly done engine R & R .........
and for me .................getting all that stuff bolted onto the new
block,
restoring as I go, making sure everything is quite kopestetic.........
swapping exahsut, checking clutch .............and sorting it out to prefect
running in the end ......
I bet I spend 30 hours on that........getting it really dialed in and
perfect.
then you put in the brake work, and and a thorough coolant flushing .....
to me........
I would easily spend 40 hours doing this work............or more, for all of
it.
I'm not a 'slam dunk' mechanic though........I can't help addressing what it
there or nearby that is crying out for attention.
for example,
I can not install an engine, without at least bleeding the clutch hydrualic
system.
and about 20 things similar to that .......they are 'related' or nearby,
usually crying out for attention.
so 'really good and thorough work' takes a long time.
with the age of these vans, there are always many things overdue for
attention.
it's plenty of work swapping everything over to the new block........
and........I have spend 10 hours sorting out a 'rebuild' to make it run
right really sometimes.
sometimes they run perfectly from the get go.
to do it REALLY right............
there is a LOT to do.
and I'm not talking about all new injectors or all new this or that ......
I am talking about careful assembly of decent parts, replacing the ones that
are shot , obviously.
plus add on custom oil coolers ?
and plumb and mount those correctly and elegantly, and solidly ?
man............this is a 60 hour job in total. At least for solid careful
clean work.
that's how long I'd spend on it in my vangon shop, easily.
so $ 1,.100 is a token fee.......
or the shop does the usual slam dunk work.
or if what you mean is 'it's 1,100 in addition to the 400 I already paid
him' ( that's not exactly clear the way you wrote it ) .......
even 1,500 is way low.
the real 'trick' ..........is having the work come out right, and be very
solidly done.
re
"Install New Engine Oil and Screen install after rebuild completed"
Not sure what you mean there.
there is a pick up screen, but it could only be accessed with the cases
split ...........as in part of the rebuilt work, not engine installation.
I'm not even sure oil coolers are a smart thing to add.
on the rare times when it's hottern' hell, it's a long grade,, high load
......
sure,
and they need to be thermostat controlled.
you don't want coolers cooling fluids when they're not hot enough anyway.
External oil coolers add a weakness.........
something else to leak, break, get caught on something off road etc....
so 'be careful' is what I say, regarding external fluid coolers.
I would at least want real info about running temps of fluids, before and
after installation of external fluid coolers.
for the right application and use , they are an improvement
...............but in my prfessioonal opinion .......
it is not true at all that 'more cooling is always better.'
if the front discs are vented......
there is less 'meat' on vented discs to play with.
often you get to turn them once only.
have fun !
scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Stewart" <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2009 11:16 AM
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
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