Baselining & Repairs Quote -- seem reasonable? (1 Viewer)

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Joined
Aug 26, 2005
Threads
17
Messages
63
Location
Atlanta
Hey guys,

Took my new (to me) 94 Cruiser into a local shop that specializes on cruisers, and they did a full diagnostic report on my truck. In total, about $3000 worth of work to do to get into top shape (major things include servicing the birfs and a full tune up). The report they provided was very detailed, but I'm wondering what you all think of the price for each of these fixes. Reasonable? I'm thinking of doing the fluid changes myself if it's pretty straightforward.

Lemme know what you think...

Thanks all.

$45 Transfer case - replace fluid
$170 Transmission fluid with filter/flush
$85 Rear differential fluid with seal
$170 Radiator - clean, flush & fill
$140 Brake
$95 Power steering with new return line
$28 Radiator cap
$185 AC Idler Pulley
$147 EGR Temp Sensor (Code 71 on CE light)

$1,185 front axle service

$725 tune up (includes below)
PCV Valve
Spark plugs
Oil change
Dist cap
Rotor
Timing check/adj
Plug Wire check
Air filter
Batteryterminal cleaning
Adj throttle cable
Adj the kick down cable
Electronic ignition check/adj
Basic emissions check
Run diagnostic codes
Vacuum test
New Belts
Plug wires
Compression test
Remove and clean the throttle body
Re set the throttle positioning sensor
Remove and clean the Idle control solenoid
Remove and clean the cold start injector
Remove and clean the Air Mass meter
 
I assume you received these quotes from the very well-known Atlanta Land Cruiser shop? (There's only one there)?

If so, you are in good hands.

Do you have a place to perform repairs/fluid changes etc., yourself?

If so, I'd do a lot of these myself in the driveway/garage/parking lot, etc.

For example, fluids--do them yourself.

Tranny--bring the tranny pan down, take the filter off, clean it out, clean out pan, get some RTV, put on exterior of pan, place filter back up in there, put pan up and screw back in. Put in tranny fluid.

Xfer-drain/refill
Differentials: drain/refill
Oil: drain/refill; new filter too.

PCV/plugs/wires/distributor cap/rotor--do them yourself.

A lot of the other stuff you can do on your own as well. Just jump in there and tear it up.

Get all of your parts OEM, if possible (esp. the critical ones.).

All of that said, David and the folks at ULC are great (if they are who you are talking about) and they will treat you right and take care of all of your problems.

I'd say let them do the "big" stuff, and you take care of the rest...

Hell--you could even dot he front axle job if you wanted to and had time/place/tools to do so.
 
I think you could save major $$ by doing it yourself while fattening up Dan's dogs for the winter.

I don't see the PHH addressed either?

Check the plug wires and then replace?

$170 for a flush, local dealer charges $99 regular, $79 on a flier.

To me the prices seam high... I had my birfs and PHH done locally (labor) done for $350 by a well known LC shop here in the PNW.

I agree with Beno do the light pay the heavy.
 
The quote was from David at Urban Land Cruisers (in Atlanta). I'm gonna let then handle the front axle. I'm not up for that challenge right now, and apparently it needs to be done ASAP.

Per the fluids...is there something complex about replacing the brake & PS fluid? Or are the fluids themselves really expensive?

Per the tuneup items...rough estimate of how much all these parts would cost? (what chunk of that $725 is labor?)
 
Call or PM CDan and ask him for a parts quote for what you need:

Here's his information:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=17873

Then subtract that from your quote from David, and voila, you'll find out how much your labor is...(at least theoretically).

Regarding your brake fluid: You need to bleed the entire system which is basically a two person job...not too difficult nor time intensive.

Regarding PS: doing a complete system flush is really messy and somewhat time intensive, hence the quote.

Good luck.
-onur
 
Beno -

I'd guess that would inflate his labor cost. Most shops don't charge the kind of discounted prices CDan offers IH8Mudders. With a lot of shops, a lot of the shop profit is in parts markup.

If this guy doesn't know what a can of brake fluid costs, I doubt he's going to do the birfs. It doesn't scream familarity with wrenching.

Just my 2 cents.
Charlie
 
The $725 tune-up looks like a lot of fluff you could do yourself even with 1/2 banana wrench skills and an FSM. I'd definitely do that part yourself.
 
CharlieS said:
Beno -

I'd guess that would inflate his labor cost. Most shops don't charge the kind of discounted prices CDan offers IH8Mudders. With a lot of shops, a lot of the shop profit is in parts markup.

If this guy doesn't know what a can of brake fluid costs, I doubt he's going to do the birfs. It doesn't scream familarity with wrenching.

Just my 2 cents.
Charlie

Yeah Charlie. I agree. My response was trying to mimic ones from elders here when I was a newbie--they really gave me the impetus to wrench on my own junk...haven't looked back since... :D (for good or for ill... ;) )

That said, yes, independent shops do jack up parts prices. But I don't want to generalize about cruiser only shops. I'm not sure what goes into David's prices, and it would be ignorant of me to presume....

That said, I think he should take the plunge and wrench on his own junk!! :D
 
speyrod said:
To me the prices seam high... I had my birfs and PHH done locally (labor) done for $350 by a well known LC shop here in the PNW.


Wow!!! I paid $1050 to do my birfs, HUGE MISTAKE I should have had a little more patience, studied all the posts here and done it myself- which is exactly what I did a few months ago when I installed my lockers. Get yourself the Birf DVD(do a search) and set aside a whole weekend, you can not imagine the satisfaction you get after this is done. So far I have tacked 99% of the stuff you have on the list, and I consider myself a 1 :banana: mechanic.
 
hi

david has to feed his dogs too!!if you dont want to do it yourself i would take it to urban landcruisers.top quality work.it will be done right and guarenteed.i would a mud member versus a dealer any day. :beer:
 
Biff said:
Wow!!! I paid $1050 to do my birfs, HUGE MISTAKE I should have had a little more patience, studied all the posts here and done it myself- which is exactly what I did a few months ago when I installed my lockers. Get yourself the Birf DVD(do a search) and set aside a whole weekend, you can not imagine the satisfaction you get after this is done. So far I have tacked 99% of the stuff you have on the list, and I consider myself a 1 :banana: mechanic.


Any rough guide to the :banana: ratings in general for a N00b? :D

IE: 2 :banana: = how hard of job relative to 1 :banana: ?
 
Razorshock said:
Any rough guide to the :banana: ratings in general for a N00b? :D

IE: 2 :banana: = how hard of job relative to 1 :banana: ?


:banana:= Changing brake pads, chaning diff oil, bleeding brakes

:banana: :banana: = Birf Job, installing radiator, installing fan clutch. dropping 3rd and installing locker.


Ofcourse these are my interpretations, since my skill level is a 1/2 :banana:
 
LR_RESQ said:
Who was that thru? I will be needed to do my birfs soon and I don't have a place to do them. :doh:


You can do it in my garage, as long as you promise to help me bleed my brakes. I've got a cooler full of beer left over from our Halloween party. I would love to practice on your rig. We can even bang out the PHH at the same time. I'm sure I could cut my time at least in half next time.

Steve
 
Count me in for the Birf party.... the kit from Cdan is sitting on my workbench gathering dust, waiting for courage....

where are you in the land o' beav?
 
I would avoid Urban Land Cruisers like the plague.

PM me for more information.
 
rgsiii said:
I would avoid Urban Land Cruisers like the plague.

PM me for more information.


1 unhappy customer is louder than 1,000 very happy ones. :frown:
 
I'd be up for a PNW Birf party! I also have C-Dans kit and ready to rock and roll. Who else is in?
 
Biff said:
Wow!!! I paid $1050 to do my birfs, HUGE MISTAKE I should have had a little more patience, studied all the posts here and done it myself- which is exactly what I did a few months ago when I installed my lockers. Get yourself the Birf DVD(do a search) and set aside a whole weekend, you can not imagine the satisfaction you get after this is done. So far I have tacked 99% of the stuff you have on the list, and I consider myself a 1 :banana: mechanic.


Wow...I got my birfs done for $200 plus the $2XX + $12 for parts from CDan and the Birf DVD at a local shop (not a Cruiser specialist, but he does good work)...I feel special now!
 
The more you do yourself, the more familiar you will be with your truck. None of the service items here are especially difficult, but if you work a day here and there on the weekends it will take MONTHS to even get close to the end of this list.

Unfortunately, the job you need the most-the front axle rebuild-is also the toughest. Not that it is especially hard, but if you are not adept at turning wrenches, it's tough place to start.

Maybe you could compromise-have a good shop do the front axle, while you take your time and do everything else. If it were me, I would concentrate first on the repairs like the front axle and engine code, and then do the maintanence. If it were really my truck, I would replace the radiator and all of the cooling system belts, hoses and thermostat. The reason is that any badness in the cooling system can cause catestrophic engine failure in an old truck. See Doug's thread about his cracked head.

ULCs prices don't seem out of line for what you would pay at any speciality shop. Still, $3000 buys a whole lot of new parts with money left over for lift, tires, sliders bumpers etc.

Good luck.
 

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