Reasonable R&R charge

jalopy45 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-26-2009, 09:17 PM

I got a bill from the guy that I had swap motors for me today, $2387.96, this was for pulling my 7.3 out, pulling a head and telling me I had a broke piston and then for installing a 6.9 I bought from a friend whcih he had to change over the fuel pump and pull one head again to remove a broken glow plug. So it broke down to 38.5 hrs labor @$60. hr. and the rest in parts. I supplied all the fluids. I'm I out in left field thinking this is a little excessive?? I left the truck with him at the beginning of July and the 6.9 at the end of July and got it back on Monday. This was done in his driveway.

fabmandelux · #2 (**permalink**) 09-27-2009, 08:52 AM

Sounds a little steep to me......................My labor manual says 22.3 hours for the job, and 60 bucks an hour for his driveway is a little steep also. You should have brought it to me, I only charge $45/hr!

jalopy45 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-27-2009, 01:02 PM

I would have, but his original deal was $1000.00 to R&R which I thought was high but he was supposed to be a specialist, he used to be at Nicks Diesel in Bend.

892504x4 · #4 (**permalink**) 09-28-2009, 12:55 AM

WOW, I'm glad Grandpa doesn't have a diesel to have him work on

kjvforme · #5 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 10:55 AM

Sounds to me like he's a specialist in taking money. That sounds like a dealership rate. I wonder what they were paying him at the shop he was working at, $25.00 an hour? He made a good profit off of you. I would steer people away from that guy. Call around and see what you would have had to pay at other shops including Ford. If it's conciderably less take it up with him. If he refuses to pay back some of the money report him to the Better Business Bureau, heck he might not even have a business license and is not reporting his work on taxes.

jalopy45 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 10:22 PM

I sent him a check for 22.3 hrs. @ $60 = $1338.00 plus 16 "O" rings $ 6.40, 2 cans of cleaner @ $6 ea., and 2 cans of ether @ $6 ea., 1 head gasket @ $88.45 and an intake gasket kit @ $93.12 for a total of $1537.98 and he calls me up and says he'll never work for me again and he's going to sue me. This all started with him telling me $1000 to r&r the engine.

fabmandelux · #7 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 11:19 PM

Good for you! He will never sue, and if he cashes your check and sues, it will be thrown out.............

I hate ripoff artists

jalopy45 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 11:45 PM

Never tore one down myself but I kinda thought $88.45 for a single head gasket and $ 93.12 for the intake gasket set was a little high?? And myt final question is why 2 cans of ether???? I had brand new glow plugs.

fabmandelux · #9 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 11:52 PM

Seems a little high to me too. I'll check with my suppliers tomorrow and post my prices.

2 CANS of ether! WTF?

bertha66 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabmandelux

Seems a little high to me too. I'll check with my suppliers tomorrow and post my prices.

2 CANS of ether! WTF?

Maybe the ether was for when he was making out the bill

kjvforme · #11 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 11:18 AM

Does this guy live within the city limits, if he does does he have a city business license? Turn him in, for no license, does he have a state business license, no, turn him in to the state. I would still contact the BBB, maybe they can lean on him. As for him taking you to court, did he give you a written or verbal quote? If it's in writing for him to remove the engine and put it back in after repair, then I think the only thing he could sue you for would be the installation of the fuel pump. Of course when you look at what he didn't have to do to the 7.3 and subtract that work and then add what he had to do on the other engine, it should even out.

Bringing in the shop rates from Ford and then explaining to the court that he is identifying himself as an expert in diesel engines. So that way so can say he took to long to do the job and I should have to pay for the longer hours. Ether was used in the older large engines as a starting aid but was never intended to be used in the mordern engines of today. I bet if you look in your owners manual it states "do not use ether". So if he did use it have him explain how he as a expert in his field would do something that would void most warranties if found out. Just my cents.

Rob

fabmandelux · #12 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 05:11 PM

I checked with my local NAPA today, and this is what I was quoted.

Single head gasket...........$42.79
Intake gasket set.............$59.10
Both where in stock.

I also checked with my engine builder in Spokane where I can buy a complete overhaul gasket set for $92.10

I would also check with City Hall to see if operating a business in a residential area is permitted.

jalopy45 · #13 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 06:32 PM

Christmas Valley is no where large enough to have a city hall, in fact the local deputy lives almost 20 miles away in Silver Lake. Saturday morning coffee in the local cafe does more to make sure the word gets out about him than anything else.

kjvforme · #14 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 12:44 AM

Is that in Lake county?

jalopy45 · #15 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 09:50 AM

Yup, country seat , Lakeview is 120 miles away. The only time we see more than 1 cop is on sunny weekends when people from the cities come out to the dunes.