Real Quick Labor Cost Question

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Apr 25, 2007 | 03:51 PM

smurray

Thread Starter

Freshman User

Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 44

Likes: 0

From: Belgrade

Real Quick Labor Cost Question

Okay...I'm looking into getting about a 4" lift kit installed for my truck. It's an '89 F-150 4x4 short box. How much (ballpark) can I guestimate for labor costs so I know I'm not getting jipped? I figured about $1000. Thanks.

Apr 25, 2007 | 06:58 PM

ReAX

Post Fiend

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 10,007

Likes: 4

From: Central Florida

Most of the shops in our area figure 8hrs for a lift kit. Depending on your rate, I'd suspect an easy $400-700.

Apr 25, 2007 | 07:10 PM

smurray

Thread Starter

Freshman User

Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 44

Likes: 0

From: Belgrade

Thanks. I couldn't help it....I'm getting a lift for my truck. Getting 15x10 Mickey Thompson Classic Lock Rims, Cooper STT's, 6" Pro Comp Lift, dual steering stabilizers. I think it's going to look really good...and I think, besides a paint job, this should pretty much complete my old truck. Hell, I've rebuilt everything else on it. They priced it out at $3500 for everything.

Apr 25, 2007 | 07:15 PM

smurray

Thread Starter

Freshman User

Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 44

Likes: 0

From: Belgrade

Oh one more quick question...I've got 3.55 gears in my rear diff (only reason I know that is because I just installed a Detroit TruTrac in it)....will 3.55's turn 35" tires without a problem? I've got a pretty new but mostly stock 302 with an RV cam, T-19 4-speed transmission...hopefully it won't have much of a problem. I hate working on gears...they're a pain in the ****.

Apr 25, 2007 | 07:48 PM

ReAX

Post Fiend

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 10,007

Likes: 4

From: Central Florida

My 3.55 were too low on my 4speed with 31's, but as long as you don't have overdrive the 3.55s should be close with 35's. For performance though, you may want to look at 4.10s. I loved my 36s with 4.10, but it wasn't bad with 3.55s.

Apr 30, 2007 | 10:31 AM

bocephus_3349

Senior User

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 335

Likes: 0

From: riverton u.s

No the 3:55's will no work. The thing i try to tell people over and over again is if your going to be putting on bigger tires you need to change the gears. if you have a automatic with OD then i would go 4;56's if your running the np 435 4spd then go 4.10's because of lack of OD. I have a 93 f-150 6ich and 35's with 5spd i run 4:56's with detroit. That set up woke my 302 right out of a slumber. With the 3:55's you might think you could get better mpg but that is not so true because your having to work it harder to get the same as stock resaults. I get about 12mpg around town 16 on the open road. another thing is save the 1k labor and do it yourself and use the money to do new gears. Lifts are easy and if you havnt done it then make it a learning time. I can complete one now after several installs in about 4hrs with a friend 8hrs by myself. just my .02

Apr 30, 2007 | 11:43 AM

smurray

Thread Starter

Freshman User

Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 44

Likes: 0

From: Belgrade

Thanks...I would do it on my own but I'm away in flight school for the Army right now, in Alabama, and I left my truck at home in Montana. I figured if I didn't do it now I never would, which is why I had it done. Also, from what I've been told, since I'm putting on all new radius arms they have to cut the old ones off at the rivets (which is right by where the fuel pump is on the frame). I didn't figure it would be wise for a guy like me to be using a cutting torch near fuel lines, so the professional job felt worth it to me at this point. As far as the gears go, I'm planning on putting an eaton e-locker in the front differential as soon as I get home, and I can re-gear the rear end at the same time as well. Thanks for your info. I'll definately take a long look at installing those 4:56's, although the truck feels really low geared to me already. It's got that 4 speed Borg Warner with the granny gear. At 65 mph in 4th gear I was turning at about 3300 RPM with my old stock sized tires.

Last edited by smurray; Apr 30, 2007 at 11:48 AM.