Alright this may be a dumb questions and I'm prepared to be flamed, but why don't the major shops put out labor costs. I understand that there can be mitigating circumstances, but at least a general list. Wouldn't it cost pretty much the same thing install a stroker kit on almost any evo.

I've seen major vendors like AMS quote approx labor costs in a thread so why not just put out a list. It would save phone calls and give them more time on the forums to spend on tech questions. I guarantee they know 90% of their prices of the top of their heads. It would help the consumer with realistically planning their mods out too. Maybe a parts list with labor and install quoted next to it? Just a thought.

 

Too many people take the prices as gospel and ***** and moan if it goes over that figure. It becomes another thing people can compare with the competition. It makes too much sense.

Choose any 2.

 

I can see that side of it I just think the pros outweight the cons. I mean lets face it the price shouldn't change that drastically though. Right? It would be interesting an example of why the price to install a part would change. For example it easier to install part (x) on a stock evo, but if evo has the mod (y) done it costs more to install part (x). I just don't see why the approx pricing would be that different. I'm not that guy am I?

 

wow, the only one is me.

 

what pisses me off is when your quoted one price said day and then your qouted something different the next!!!

 

By not publicly posting prices, the "mentioned" price can't be held against them. This way they can play with the numbers based off what you want done.

If you're worried about extra charges, simply specify that additional costs must be approved prior to installation.

 

Any credible shop will charge around 55-80 an hour so just figure that. if you want to get a better estimate of how much a specific job will cost, you've got to go to an underwriter (there's guys that do this full time for the dealerships) and look up 'book time' for a job, like pulling a head, engine, or transmission.

To give an example, I've heard that book time on a clutch job is 10.1 hours, but even at the lowest rate of 55 an hour, I haven't heard of too many shops charging over 500 for this work. The shop I worked at for a bit charged 450 for the job and they normally booked time at 65 an hour if I remember correctly. Worst part was that I got a measely 90 for each evo clutch job I did.

 

BR quotes installation prices of their staged upgrades.

 

most shops charge $75 or $80, but they deal to people who buy from them, so it's never a set price, I'm thinking.

But they're expensive. Tuning is around $100 to $150 or even high as $250 an hour, so it's pretty crazy.

 

That's why I am learning to do it myself. I already dump enough money into my car..If I actually had to pay for labor....I would be flat broke. The only thing I have really had to pay for is clutch install...cause I am not that smart

That's why being a mecanic can be so profitable. They can almost pretty much charge whatever they want cause we will pay to get that stuff installed.

 

Have you ever met a rich mechanic? Mechanics aren't exactly rolling large like a medical doctor.

Talk to a mechanic - those guys work hard for their dough, and it isn't the best work conditions. It's the stealerships and owners who end up keeping the profits.

 

here in cali $120/hour is not outrageous.

the real reason why prices arnt listed is because every car IS different. you have a different turbo, it may take more or less time to do somthing. different suspension might get in the way, different intake might hinder your ability to get at somthing behind it, etc. every car has different issues, and can take differnt time. when i do cams on the srts, some cars just take longer, bolts are toughter to get at, some are siezed, some break, etc. each job is unique, and therefore frustrtating to give a blanket statement.

 

Very true. Shops charge $60.00 an hour then the mechanics will make around $12.00. The shops are making most of the money.

 

its really sad, some of the mechanics i work for, some of the best i have ever seen (we only loose mechanics to race teams) and they cant afford to do anything for their own cars. they have to piece together motors for themselves. they build high horsepower cars all day, and have to scrounge for their 71 montecarlo

 

tex that is the truth.. here is a message to all that ***** about quaility shops labor prices.. go to school, read a book, look on the internet, and do it yourself.. shops like ams charge a little more than average cause of there high r/d costs... you can get a lesser quaility part with cheaper labor, but why.. in a mechanics mind, changing brakes is a quote that can be 95% quaranteed, installing 5000 dollars in aftermarket parts is impossible to give you an exact quote.. as far as those hack shops that are out there, do your homework, shop around, and dont get ripped off.

and for god sakes we understand your the customer, and have ques. but please dont hover over us like a swarm of bees asking questions.. it really affects the mechanics mood when he is trying concentrate on a hard project..