How much to charge to do work on LT1

[jderry]

A kid I went to school with has a 1995 Camaro Z28.


He wants me to do a set of head gaskets on it.

Also wants me to remove timing cover and replace gasket and seals.


What would you guys charge ballpark for the work?


ondemand5 says the head gaskets pay ~ 15 hours and timing cover ~ 4 more

[Fox Slaughter]

If you did it for 20 an hour thats 380 bucks.

[Gregs_gsxr]

Tell him to get a couple price quotes from some shop then charge him what TJ said but if he helps that cost double

[Darren]

A kid or a friend? There is a difference.

[jderry]

Not really a friend. Just some one I know since we both drive F bodies type thing.

[Gregs_gsxr]

guess you gotta figure out what your time is worth

[Fox Slaughter]

Ask Brent how much that engine of his cost. Then just tell him you'll do it for the cost of Brents engine.

[bri2203]

I think the better question is do you want to do the work on it?
If you don't, quote it higher but if you do, tell him I want $xxx and I would suggest changing the coolant, spark plugs, etc. and all parts will be additional

[jetice]

Charge normal shop rate + materials and parts

[jderry]

With a normal shop rate, why not take it to a shop?

He was quoted $850-$1000 by two shops.

I was thinking about half that.

[bri2203]

With a normal shop rate, why not take it to a shop?

He was quoted $850-$1000 by two shops.

I was thinking about half that.

You would be ripping off your friend/person you know if you charged him a normal shop rate, and what comes around goes round.

Shops have huge amount of overhead that people out of their gargae do not have to pay.

If he was quoted $850-1000 in labor, I would tell him $350-400 and I think it would be a win for you and him.

[98blackbeauty]

Does his car have stock exhaust or headers? Personally i would not touch it for less than 500.00 and fluids and gaskets and parts extra. Huge chance you'll break bolts on exhaust manifolds or heads.

[jderry]

You would be ripping off your friend/person you know if you charged him a normal shop rate, and what comes around goes round.

Shops have huge amount of overhead that people out of their gargae do not have to pay.

If he was quoted $850-1000 in labor, I would tell him $350-400 and I think it would be a win for you and him.

That was my point, it was suggested to charge shop rate. He'd be better off with taking it to a shop at that point. I was thinking in the 4-500 range for labor only.

[masterfab]

i generally charge $40/hr with the customer being responsable for all supplies. let the customer know that you could break some exhuast manifold bolts when removing them and that would result in more time and money from him but you will try to do your best to keep everything intact. alot of exhuast shops wont touch exhuast manifold due to the studs or bolts breaking.

another way i have done it is to have them get a couple quotes in writing and bring them to you and try to beat there price by a couple hundred so its worth your time and there still getting a deal. after all you have no overhead like a normal repair shop so theres no need to match there price, at $90+/hr.

[jderry]

I forgot to mention, it has new headers and header bolts as of a few weeks ago.