Looking for a general idea on mechanic charges

[CG]

I have a stock frame, no body on it, and soon to be almost totally dirt and grease free. Before I tackle a job I have never done before I would like to get an idea on what you think is a reasonable price to have it done. I will be supplying all the parts.

Front end rebuild. Upper and lower ball joints. Inner and outer tie rods and adjusting sleeves. Idler arm. Lowering springs. Drop spindles. Calipers.

In the rear. Drop springs. 2 inch blocks. Shock relocators. Adjustable panhard bar. Trailing arm bushings.

I think that is all the things that might require tools I may not have right now. And abilities I haven't figured out yet =)

Thanks for your input













Mark

[mr48chev]

I did front end work for years and hated to work on the front end on a bare frame when I had the springs out. That said, I would find someone who had a flatrate manual and look up how many hours the book says that it should take to do those tasks. I don't have one but if I remember right to do the front end on a truck that drives in the door pays about 4.5 or 5 hours and maybe less. The only thing on the rear that needs any extra equipment except regular hand tools is changing the trailing arm bushings and a guy should use a press for that.

Now the big question. As you already have the truck torn down and replacing those parts isn't rocket science, why not do it yourself? You need a ball joint press to change the lower ball joints but Harbor Freight has their knockoff for sale for about 40 bucks and it is pretty slick for changing U joints. I have the OTC unit and use it more for changing U joints than ball joints.

[71swb4x4]

Advance and like parts stores will usually rent their nice ball joint press for a $150 or similar deposit, you get that money back when you return it.

[CG]

If it isnt over the top crazy to have it done I would rather pay or trade someone to do it. I have a buddy that is a mechanic, but (for right now) he's playing our "well what do you have to trade game?" Which is fine, because I do the same thing to him when he needs his office equipment serviced =).

Im hoping to get the upper hand this time with a little help from my board buds.

[dubds10]

Honestly, all that stuff is general stuff and any grease monkey can do it. That's everyday stuff and shouldn't take anymore than a day to do it with the right tools all laid out in front of whoever is doing it.

With the frame stripped, it only helps to move around since there's no body in the way, otherwise it never really matters to me if a frame is body free or not. It's all just nuts and bolts

You're buddy will know this and know's this isn't anything big to deal with, so you've got the upper hand in knowing anybody can do this if they want to. And if you're frame and suspension is clean and dirt free already, then that makes the job even easier. I find most my time is wasted on stuck bolts or forgetting parts after I've torn everything apart and have no way getting back to the store hahaha

Stuff like that should be a few bills and a case of beer if even that. Unless you got a few local buddies who are willing to help out one day. You get 2-4 guys on a frame doing small stuff like that and it's done in a couple hours.

[CG]

In my head I was thinking 2 or 3 hundred bucks. But once again Im not a mechanic. Last car I took into a mechanic was my 61 Lincoln, and I really felt raped when I got the bill. And this was at a place that I was friends with the owner and the fellas that did the work.

So on the one hand it was way more expensive than I thought it should be, and on the other hand I must not know crap when it comes to what stuff costs lol.

This is why Ive tossed this out to you guys.

[Jessechop]

Well you are looking at 4-5 hours on the front end, probably 3 on the rear, so say 8hrs at $60 hr (local rate) = $480 for around here

[big_al_71]

You are looking at right about $400.00 here in south florida.

[Livrat]

Mark,
Bring the frame back down and we will help you do it.. Free.

PS: We have your fuel lines and brake lines off

[67Slider]

Originally Posted by Livrat

Mark,
Bring the frame back down and we will help you do it.. Free.

PS: We have your fuel lines and brake lines off

Very cool!

[CG]

Originally Posted by 67Slider

Very cool!

Yeah Livrat is a very good guy. He is one of the first people on this board I met in person and he is always there when I have another goofy question I need answered =)

[67Slider]

I got some family in Oak Harbor. If I get over that way I may look you guys up.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by Livrat

Mark,
Bring the frame back down and we will help you do it.. Free.

PS: We have your fuel lines and brake lines off

If you lived in So Cal, I would make you the same offer....except throw in a case of beer I love doing suspension work. I have it down to a science now.

[dubds10]

If you end up doing it at LIVRATs place, let me know which day. If it's on a weekend then I might be able to come down and give a hand while I pick up more parts

[CG]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

If you lived in So Cal, I would make you the same offer....except throw in a case of beer I love doing suspension work. I have it down to a science now.

Wow! You would do the work and throw in a case of beer? You are the man

[pockets]

I've seen shop rates vary from $60-$75 an hour. My brother-in-law owns a shop and he is in that range as well.

It seems high unless you are the one paying the bills for the shop
on the flip side, he isn't one of those guys that starts finding "things" to jack up the bill on you.

as others have mentioned, it isn't overly complicated work, just takes a few hours to do.

[heeroyue2002]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

If you lived in So Cal, I would make you the same offer....except throw in a case of beer I love doing suspension work. I have it down to a science now.

dang id love to have someone nearby to help me like that.

[DaBigKahuna]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

If you lived in So Cal, I would make you the same offer....except throw in a case of beer I love doing suspension work. I have it down to a science now.

Be careful what you say in an open forum... I may just take you up on it!

[CG]

Sure are a lot of great guys on this board!

My mechanic buddy has been trying real hard to get me to let loose of my vintage 427 engine and he is wanting to give me some cash and do the work. But what he wants to give just isnt going to cut it.

On a side note I wouldnt even have known it was a vintage 4 bolt 427 big block if it wasnt for Livrat (Mark). I was told it was a 396 by a so called "expert". If you have questions on this kind of stuff Mark is the man.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by CG

Wow! You would do the work and throw in a case of beer? You are the man

I meant for you to throw in a case of beer, since I would be doing the work...and we would probably have it polished off by the time I am done

[Ackattack]

Bring it to KS and we can bust it out in an afternoon

Really it's a good learning experience.

[CG]

Originally Posted by Ackattack

Bring it to KS and we can bust it out in an afternoon

Really it's a good learning experience.

You could have offered when you were a little closer