$750 to install cams and valve springs!?
$750 is steep depending on what they are doing. If they are doing it by taking the head off then it seems fair as long as it includes head removal and install, new head gasket, resurfacing the head if necessary. If it includes all that, it's a pretty good deal.
I'd love to see you do springs/retainers in about an hour or so. You need to be extremely careful you do not drop a valve doing this, so time needs to be taken. I can do the intake side in about an hour, and I've been doing this **** for 10yrs. Sure you can pay some hack *** mechanic a case of beer and $20, thing is do you want quality?
Add in an inexperienced shop and they will just look it up in the book for hours 8.8 x 90-99/hr and you are right on par with your price quote.
Just because it can be done in 4 or 8 or 12 hours means nothing. The system is designed to calculate BILLED HOURS for the job, not HOURS TO DO ACTUALLY THE JOB.
This same principal works in auto collision and body work. XXX hours paint time, XXX hours rem/replace panel etc. Its no different.
Anyone comparing cams only install price or timing belt install price is irrelevant as they are not the same job as he was quoted.
Been working on cars a long long time, so I understand book time and how mechanics bill for jobs.
Fact of the matter is though the quote the OP got is way high for what most shops are charging to put cams, springs, and retainers in an EVO head.
Like I said if you sleep better at night knowing you paid more because (Insert Shop Here) did the job and you think they know how to do the job better than anyone else then spend your money how you like.
Fact of the matter is though the quote the OP got is way high for what most shops are charging to put cams, springs, and retainers in an EVO head.
Like I said if you sleep better at night knowing you paid more because (Insert Shop Here) did the job and you think they know how to do the job better than anyone else then spend your money how you like.
i paid $450 for my cam and springs/retainer install...that also included: pulling the head, doing a complete 60k maintenance (water pump, belts, tensioners, pulleys), installing ARP head studs, and a new head gasket.
Parts alone were at least $1200.
Parts alone were at least $1200.
Been working on cars a long long time, so I understand book time and how mechanics bill for jobs.
Fact of the matter is though the quote the OP got is way high for what most shops are charging to put cams, springs, and retainers in an EVO head.
Like I said if you sleep better at night knowing you paid more because (Insert Shop Here) did the job and you think they know how to do the job better than anyone else then spend your money how you like.
Fact of the matter is though the quote the OP got is way high for what most shops are charging to put cams, springs, and retainers in an EVO head.
Like I said if you sleep better at night knowing you paid more because (Insert Shop Here) did the job and you think they know how to do the job better than anyone else then spend your money how you like.
I dont think that 600+sounds that bad for install. As long as the work is done by a qualified shop.
For me I would rather buy the tools and learn how to do it myself. I used the tool linked on the first page, and it made the springs and retainers easy as hell. Still time consuming. So if you dont have the time or the tools, 600-800 is worth it.
For me I would rather buy the tools and learn how to do it myself. I used the tool linked on the first page, and it made the springs and retainers easy as hell. Still time consuming. So if you dont have the time or the tools, 600-800 is worth it.
I wouldn't touch the job for under $600. and that's with the person there acting as a gofer. I don't do this because I'm lazy. I like to educate people.
Cams alone are a 3 hour job. Add springs and retainers. 5 hours total. I charge not only for labor, but attention to detail which is what you should be concerned with.
One thing I see more than anything is hacks not sealing the valve cover properly. Weeks later you have trails of oil running down the cylinder head.
Cams alone are a 3 hour job. Add springs and retainers. 5 hours total. I charge not only for labor, but attention to detail which is what you should be concerned with.
One thing I see more than anything is hacks not sealing the valve cover properly. Weeks later you have trails of oil running down the cylinder head.
Heh... cams don't take more than an hour or two to do if you know what you're doing... valve springs are the tricky part, also very time consuming.
Taking the cams out are part of the valve spring install and should be included in the price... you have to take the cams out to do the valve springs anyways. I'd say pay $350 MAX for the whole job...
Taking the cams out are part of the valve spring install and should be included in the price... you have to take the cams out to do the valve springs anyways. I'd say pay $350 MAX for the whole job...
Decent price, i did the same job as above without spring and retainer install for 500 at a reputable local shop
I'd love to see you do springs/retainers in about an hour or so. You need to be extremely careful you do not drop a valve doing this, so time needs to be taken. I can do the intake side in about an hour, and I've been doing this **** for 10yrs. Sure you can pay some hack *** mechanic a case of beer and $20, thing is do you want quality?
Me and a friend did mine in 6hrs the first time (neither of us had done it before). The second time (bigger cams, different springs) took us 4hrs start to finish.
Last edited by dsmfan95; Feb 20, 2012 at 04:25 PM.
Being a technician, I honestly see this as being a pretty reasonable price.
You get some random place doing it for $300, it probably means some starving flat rate guy is throwing it together as quick as possible, not taking the proper steps.
Good luck!
You get some random place doing it for $300, it probably means some starving flat rate guy is throwing it together as quick as possible, not taking the proper steps.
Good luck!