Planning on going to Mudrack for tb/wp job, anyone know how his pricing is?

[TheDan]

So ive owned my 2002 cruiser (ThunderTruck) for about 8 months, 6 of those months ive been deployed. My cruiser is at 180k and is in need of a timing belt/water pump. Id also prefer to do every moving part that touches the timing belt and is buried within that could sneak up and have me reaccomplishing the maintenance all over again. (Tensioner, idler bearings, ect) (fan bracket/fan clutch too maybe???)
Ive decided to take it to gary at mudrak as he is the leading land cruiser specialist in my area.
Im a bit nervous though because im used to doing my maintenance myself and used to reaping the financial benefits of that. (Baselined, tb/wp, etc my 02 4runner myself 3 years ago) But now having a kid and also living off/away from my military base (requiring me to need to drive to work daily), i can afford the time for large jobs.

Has anyone had this job done at mudrak? What was the total price?

I called him today and semi-scheduled a ballpark time to drop my cruiser off. He also informed me (when i asked) that he will not install customer supplied parts (i understand completely). I am also wondering if his parts source is similar to a dealership or if its (sorta) competitive with the parts-pricing i can achieve if i were to buy myself thru alternate methods (amazon).
I didnt want to be "that guy" to him and barrade him with a bunch of dumb questions that can be offputting to a mechanic running a business... That and he seemed like a very nice guy.
If anyone has gone to him for a timing belt/water pump job, what is/was the price? Im prepared but also nauseous about it (financially) as im used to doing my own maintenance.

 

[OverLand Cruisers]

First off you are super lucky Mudrak is close by! People ship rigs there from all over.

Gary is a super stand up guy and his shop does excellent work.

I'm sure that whatever parts he sources are the best available and probably not marked up much, if at all.

In the end it may cost you a bit more than using cheaper parts but your 100 will thank you for it.

 

[WillW]

His pricing on parts will not be anywhere near Amazon pricing. I can't remember his pricing for labor, but I believe it was 150/hr.

Edit: Because of your situation, I would buy quality parts and take it to a very competent mechanic who would have no problem doing such a simple maintenance task with a much more affordable price.

Otherwise, if Gary does it, you will at least know the truck is in the best of hands.

 

[TheDan]

Thank you for the words of encouragement.
In the reguards of the parts/prices of them, i was planning on going o.e.m. but i know that buying parts yourself thru other vendors can be much cheaper than buying the same part from a contracted parts supplier or dealership.
Take the pic of the amazon cart for instance. The timing belt kit from amazon (aisn/mitsubishi belt, and oem bearings/tensioner) is ringing in at under 200 with everything included, but when you bring your car to a private mechanic they have middleman parts suppliers or purchase from the dealership if it cannot be sourced-making the price raise.
I do feel at ease that i can FULLY trust mudrak, im curious about how much moola others have payed. I definitely didnt want to be ''that guy' asking the mechanic/owner these questions as i know how offputting they can be.
Reguardless of price, he is getting my business and trust. Just trying to anticipate the wallet hit.

 

[WillW]

His pricing on those parts might not be that bad, but I'll let someone else chime in that may have actual numbers from their experience with him.

 

[TheDan]

Hoping to get the belt, pump and thermostat, tensioner, idler bearing, and (fan bracket?-dont know if theres rolling parts attached to the timing belt there) done for under 1600 out the door, but prepared if its more.
Peace of mind comes at a price though. And thats why i bought a cruiser, and also why im taking it to mudrak.

His pricing on parts will not be anywhere near Amazon pricing. I can't remember his pricing for labor, but I believe it was 150/hr.

Edit: Because of your situation, I would buy quality parts and take it to a very competent mechanic who would have no problem doing such a simple maintenance task with a much more affordable price.

Otherwise, if Gary does it, you will at least know the truck is in the best of hands.

 

[BCMitch]

If you're set on using a TLC focused shop, given your location, I would also get a quote from George at Valley Hybrids. Both are Gary and George are well respected, but Mudrack is $30 more expensive per hour.

 

[TheDan]

Thank you @BCMitch. Ill keep George in mind for the future if i encounter something unexpected and out of my abilities. I think im gonna press on w/ mudrak (my wife is gonna follow me over and join me for a day-trip in the area, that, -and it sounds silly-, i feel that tentatively schedualing today on the phone was word is bond).

 

[e9999]

???
I don't think any reasonable business owner would object to being asked what a planned job will cost. And I'm sure Gary is one of the good guys.
I would not give my business to any who does object.
I don't think there is any good reason for a repair shop to object to a customer bringing the correct OEM parts to be installed, besides wanting to make a profit themselves on the parts. And if so, they can take that into account when quoting the total price if the customer brings the parts. And they can take that into account when offering the warranty on the job.

I would not go to a business to have a job done without knowing what it will cost.

But that's just me...

 

[TheDan]

I feel confident that he will be reasonably priced as well and am willing to pay for the peace of mind by taking it to him.
Im going to email him and inquire on a rough estimate to see if he can give me a ballpark idea.
Earlier when i anticipated 1600, that was NOT ever said by him. That was my worst case scenerio i painted in my own mind based on dealership style charges and possible mechanical suprises needing to be addressed while into the job. (I definitely dont want to scare off any business for anyone).
I can understand the parts sourced by him as well. Especially if there is any malfunctions with them, he will be able to deal with the vendor more directly. Ive supplied parts to other mechanics before on the conditions that there will be no warranty (even if oem parparts were supplied). And i can see it from a shop owners point of view too, where your reputation is at stake, and if someone supplies you a dud part, things then get hairy and a upset customer could do damage to your reputation/livelyhood. (I would never do that personally...being more understanding --im a aircraft mechanic--, but others may).

 

[vman07]

Maybe I missed it but why have you not just asked him what a TB out- the-door cost is?

I called him a while back and he gave me a price over the phone for a steering rack replacement, and just for kicks I asked him how much it would be to regear and add front and rear ARBs. He quoted prices easily.

 

[Quick]

His pricing on parts will not be anywhere near Amazon pricing. I can't remember his pricing for labor, but I believe it was 150/hr.

.

Toyota quoted me $1300 for TB/WP/Transmission/differential/brake fluid/PS service. Is there no Toyota or Lexus nearby to compare the prices, $150/hour is way too much? What am I missing here?

 

[TheDan]

"Maybe I missed it but why have you not just asked him what a TB out- the-door cost is?"


I brought it up on the phone but i believe i stepped all over my words and asked more questions before he could address that question. (Self admittedly- i can be socially akward at times and things like this happen to me all the time, lol) i sent an email requesting a rough estimate first thing this morning.

"Toyota quoted me $1300 for TB/WP/Transmission/differential/brake fluid/PS service. Is there no Toyota or Lexus nearby to compare the prices, $150/hour is way too much? What am I missing here?"


Your not missing anything sir, i have been planning on taking the cruiser to gary ever since i purchased it knowing im due for a timing belt. Im VERY against dealerships as they dont consider your best interests in mind, only their bottom line. And furthermore, the dealership person working on your car is mainly unknown to you and could overlook details that seem minor to him, but cut corners for a dealership are not uncommon due to the nature of their maintenance atmosphere (alot of the time the dealerships will pay their maintainers for the hours of the charge the book says it should take, so they race thru things to get more jobs/pay, and if the maintainer isnt looking carefully can miss and overlook other items/forget to go get his torque wrench, etc). So id gladly pay someone like gary who is extremely familiar with cruisers and his professional opinion and maintenance tactics will be tried and true.

 

[gatormark91]

Hoping to get the belt, pump and thermostat, tensioner, idler bearing, and (fan bracket?-dont know if theres rolling parts attached to the timing belt there) done for under 1600 out the door, but prepared if its more.
Peace of mind comes at a price though. And thats why i bought a cruiser, and also why im taking it to mudrak.

It is a Toyota 4.7, not a Ferrari V-12. Any competent non-dealership mechanic that you trust can do the job, and probably has done it a dozen times, since these motors are everywhere.

I did my own, so I can attest to what it takes to do the job right. It takes mechanical ability, but it is nothing out-of-the-ordinary.

 

[Quick]

What he ^ said and not to mention, dealership would stand behind any screw-ups too. Having said that, charging more than dealership (My Porsche dealer charges $140/hour) and this guy is $150, wow.
You just need to find a trusty Indy that knows what he's doing. My Indy services my Porsche (non engine related, Lexus, BMW 5 series and 2 Camry's) and never had any issues, nada.

 

[gatormark91]

What he ^ said and not to mention, dealership would stand behind any screw-ups too. Having said that, charging more than dealership (My Porsche dealer charges $140/hour) and this guy is $150, wow...

Yep. $150 is appropriate, IMHO, for restoration work and stuff that is mechanically challenging, takes special training/knowledge/tools/etc..

For getting something basic like a TB, $150/hr is high, IMHO. But that might be what shop labor goes for in some locations, I cannot speak to that. For $150, you are paying for peace-of-mind, I guess. You'd better get some cookies or something, too, for that much.

 

[whitey45]

$150 pretty standard here in the Bay Area, porsche dealers are $190.

 

[Quick]

In that case, it's all good.

 

[gatormark91]

$150 pretty standard here in the Bay Area, porsche dealers are $190.

I'd still want cookies.

 

[vipergrhd]

I might missed something here but you are an Aircraft mechanic? Do you have a place to work on the vehicle? This engine is very simple
and easy to work on why not try it if you have the time and place to do it. You can always buy a factory manual and follow that if you feel more comfortable.