How much $ to rebuild a 3spd
- Thread starter gb043075
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dgangle
total rice
why the guessing games? https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/294300-how-much-labor-$-replace-1f.html
if you feel you got a fair price then that's all that matters
if you feel you got a fair price then that's all that matters
OK...so what did you end up paying for the tranny, and the engine install?
dmaddox
SILVER Star
Things have changed. I dropped off my plain-jane 1970 Plymouth 4-speed tranny at a reputable and good shop thinking 300-400 TOPS to rebuild my 4-speed.
634.50 was my bill. Again, just rebuilding a 4-speed that is no more complicated than a 3 speed plus a gear.
I am still upset - but you have to pay to play.
You may have paid even a premium but if the work is done, done right, and you didn't have to do it /shrug just have to look at it as an expense to get it on the road?
did you pay the entire shops' mortgages or something?
634.50 was my bill. Again, just rebuilding a 4-speed that is no more complicated than a 3 speed plus a gear.
I am still upset - but you have to pay to play.
You may have paid even a premium but if the work is done, done right, and you didn't have to do it /shrug just have to look at it as an expense to get it on the road?
did you pay the entire shops' mortgages or something?
- Thread starter
- #6
I delivered the complete new 1F, old motor and transmission were already pulled and delivered to him. Mind you, the new 1F was delivered after he told me it would cost him more to rebuild it than if i just bought a reman (so i did). Delivered all parts to him and had a good kickoff conversation in January. The schist being this is just a little project of mine but i'd like you to do the work since you know what you're doing and have always treated me right. When your guys aren't busy working on the good paying jobs, you can tinker with mine. We're in July and he's pretty much wrapped up, looks good, haven't road tested it yet, but appearance wise he did a great job and things look good. Every time i went by the shop i got the "oh, we're just tinkering on yours when we're not busy". Fine, that's what we discussed.
Out the door tax tag and title? $5000
I agree you have to pay to play, but I'm having a hard time swallowing this one. General breakdown was about $1700 labor for tranny, $2200 for installing new motor and taking the misc parts off blown motor onto new one. Mostly new parts though, new starter, dist and coil, radiator, etc etc delivered to him ready to bolt on. $1000 worth of tax and "shop supplies" crap. Based on my math of about $60 an hour labor rate, that comes to 28 hours for tranny and 37 hours on motor.
Fair?
Out the door tax tag and title? $5000
I agree you have to pay to play, but I'm having a hard time swallowing this one. General breakdown was about $1700 labor for tranny, $2200 for installing new motor and taking the misc parts off blown motor onto new one. Mostly new parts though, new starter, dist and coil, radiator, etc etc delivered to him ready to bolt on. $1000 worth of tax and "shop supplies" crap. Based on my math of about $60 an hour labor rate, that comes to 28 hours for tranny and 37 hours on motor.
Fair?
Sounds really high to me. I would think no more than $750 to rebuild the trans and $1500 tops to install the motor. I could understand $5000 if it was a 350 conversion but swap a stock motor to a new stock motor. Wow!
You can pull the stock motor and swap a stock one in a weekend.
Hate to say it but you are pretty much at his mercy. He has your truck and can put a lien on it if you don't pay. Ask for an itemized bill and ask nicely that he lower the bill. If he doesn't take it as an expensive lesson learned. Always get a price upfront.
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
Rebuilding a Toyota manual tranny takes about 4 hours if the tranny is on the bench already. The parts kit for the rebuild is about $200.
Why would you ever rebuild the 3 speed boat anchor?
Anyway, unclear exactly what he did for you, but you are being screwed on the tranny bill.
If he rebuilt the tranny, transfer, mated to the new motor and installed the entire powertrain, and delivered a running vehicle with a warranty, then maybe $2500 would be sort of fair.
Why would you ever rebuild the 3 speed boat anchor?
Anyway, unclear exactly what he did for you, but you are being screwed on the tranny bill.
If he rebuilt the tranny, transfer, mated to the new motor and installed the entire powertrain, and delivered a running vehicle with a warranty, then maybe $2500 would be sort of fair.
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Sorry to say but by not getting an estimate you basically wrote him out a blank check.
Just curious...say the guy won't budge, what else can he do? I do not know the legal system in the US too well, and I would never tell anyone what to do, but could he pay it, then take it elsewhere else for evaluation, and then try to take the garage to small claims court to get some money back on the argument of an exaggerated bill?
- Thread starter
- #14
agreed, shame on me for not getting it in writing. initially, the plan of attack was for him to tear down old motor and give me an estimate to rebuild. after tear down he called to tell me he'd end up spending more on rebuild than to just buy a reman and drop it in. again, shame on me but at that point i assumed (ASSumed) that my nut was in the motor and dropping it in would be some $$$, but within reason. I now have $4000 in a reman delivered, untold parts bills, AND the $3000 worth of labor (excluding the tranny $) in misc. to drop it in. I coulda had a vortec conversion for what i've got in this thing......anyway, i appreciate the feedback. I'll report back on how the conversation goes.
dmaddox
SILVER Star
You've been had.
See if you can work with him. Just be polite, say "I misunderstood" or "I had no idea" or "I wish we would have discussed" etc...
Yes, the ball is a bit on his side however words in this case are definitely stronger than any legal sword or long drawn out battle.
Sounds like a misunderstanding - ESPECIALLY if you assume "work on in your spare time" etc..
That bill is HUGE and should have been done within a week or two of originally dropping it off with a new paint job for that price.
Work with him, negotiate, discuss. Diplomacy is all you have at this point without getting nasty.
Good luck
See if you can work with him. Just be polite, say "I misunderstood" or "I had no idea" or "I wish we would have discussed" etc...
Yes, the ball is a bit on his side however words in this case are definitely stronger than any legal sword or long drawn out battle.
Sounds like a misunderstanding - ESPECIALLY if you assume "work on in your spare time" etc..
That bill is HUGE and should have been done within a week or two of originally dropping it off with a new paint job for that price.
Work with him, negotiate, discuss. Diplomacy is all you have at this point without getting nasty.
Good luck
Not sure what the overall condition of the truck is but if it had a stock f and 3 speed it is a early truck. The entire truck may not be worth the 5k bill depending on overall condition. If he won't budge it may be cheaper to let him keep the truck. A boat anchor f and 3 speed are not worth even $1500 stand alone.
Ah...so he thought you had tons a spare change to spare when he saw you coming with a restoration project. (we need a tsk tsk/shaking head smiley)
I agree with the polite conversation to start...you should be able to find a middle ground.
I agree with the polite conversation to start...you should be able to find a middle ground.
Ouch. Looks like you will get to test your negotiation skills. I wish you the best of luck.
- Thread starter
- #20
Ok, just hung up the phone. Here's an abbreviated version:
Me: hey, so what did you think when you saw the total on the bill before you faxed it over?
Him: [deep breath / sigh] I thought it was high. What did you think?
Me: Well, to be honest, I choked on my coffee. I thought it was real high, like double what i expected it to be.
Him: Yeah, i've been exptecting your phone call.
conversation goes on about how he had his guy sandblast, pressure wash, polish and gold plate every nut bolt and part....that it was like having a puzzle to put together (WTF? - isn't that what mechanics do?). bla bla bla, i took some time off and told my guy there was no way we could charge you that much, i cut my labor rate. i reiterate that i provided everything needed as soon as they asked for it, provided tech help when they needed it, manuals, diagrams, etc. The fact that this was a "get to it when you can" project that's been going on for 5 months, etc. etc.
Him: I understand, let me think about it over the weekend and we'll talk monday.
Me: I appreciate the work you guys did, it looks really good. I dont' want you to feel like I'm trying to beat you up or for you to lose money on my little toy project, but I can't help but feel this isn't reasonable. I hope we can find some middle ground on this and both walk away feeling good about it. Talk to you Monday.
End of conversation. It went as well as it could have i think. I'll report back Monday on result.
Me: hey, so what did you think when you saw the total on the bill before you faxed it over?
Him: [deep breath / sigh] I thought it was high. What did you think?
Me: Well, to be honest, I choked on my coffee. I thought it was real high, like double what i expected it to be.
Him: Yeah, i've been exptecting your phone call.
conversation goes on about how he had his guy sandblast, pressure wash, polish and gold plate every nut bolt and part....that it was like having a puzzle to put together (WTF? - isn't that what mechanics do?). bla bla bla, i took some time off and told my guy there was no way we could charge you that much, i cut my labor rate. i reiterate that i provided everything needed as soon as they asked for it, provided tech help when they needed it, manuals, diagrams, etc. The fact that this was a "get to it when you can" project that's been going on for 5 months, etc. etc.
Him: I understand, let me think about it over the weekend and we'll talk monday.
Me: I appreciate the work you guys did, it looks really good. I dont' want you to feel like I'm trying to beat you up or for you to lose money on my little toy project, but I can't help but feel this isn't reasonable. I hope we can find some middle ground on this and both walk away feeling good about it. Talk to you Monday.
End of conversation. It went as well as it could have i think. I'll report back Monday on result.
