opinions..... front end rebuild

[barbee6043]

I am aging out of the hobby I admit and over the many decades I have built many, even learned decades ago to do my body/paint. I paid the machine shop, the upholstery shop, and I paid a bud to do my trans. I did the rest after I learned to do my own body/paint. Lived in Missouri for 37 years before I moved to S E Texas in 2017. I have a muscle issue and for me to rebuild the front end would be a real stretch. I am down to just my 64 Comet ( yea I always wanted one) and I have all new parts for a complete front end rebuild, upper and lower loaded arms, tie rods, sleeves, drag link, idler, shocks, springs, strut bushings,idler, spindles, loaded backing plate with everything, goes to existing pitman! We live out in county with one traffic light, but people drive to Houston 1 to 1 1/2 hours for high paying jobs compared to "country " wages. (Underworked and overpaid???)
I have a "young"mechanic ( probably about 35) maybe a 1/2 mile down the road, has a lean to off his home for a shop, no lift, not even a torch, just him. So I had him give me a price to pull off the old suspension and install the new. Like just said, ALL new parts. $600 is his price. I figure 6 hours at most.
I realize when I take the family ride to have work done at a "regular " garage, the owner has the shop and makes a living, and pays mechanics a living. And the one man show mechanic down the road has to make a living.
Maybe $600 is a true bargain???????

 

[RustyRatRod]

Labor around here is a bargain if it'a 100 an hour or less.

 

[413]

Has he ever done a front end on a 60's/70's car? If he is experienced then go for it.

I just looked at a 64 comet 4 door with a V8. Cool styling on them, way better than a falcon.

 

[barbee6043]

Labor around here is a bargain if it'a 100 an hour or less.

Yes for the real garage.
The owner makes a living and so do the mechanics. The owner owns commercial r/e, a profitable business, pays property taxes all the other costs of having employees.
The neighbor mechanic replaced the front struts on our Toyota Tacoma a few months ago. He sometimes has a "helper" that maybe slightly challenged IQ wise, but anyway. A while later, wife kept hearing some kind of "rattle,noise" up front when we took off. I am bad deaf. Took it over to Josh and we all figured out "someone" did not tighten the front lug nuts! ha
I am no real mechanic but I even have never done that!

I admit front end on a Mopar pressing bushings and it all can be a chore, but this Ford wanna be, is NO chore especially with all new parts, LOADED upper and lower A arms. etc etc.

Actually Josh applied for job last week with the local REA. I don't
know anyone shade tree mechanic around here that can make $4000/week, $200,000/year.

 

[barbee6043]

Has he ever done a front end on a 60's/70's car? If he is experienced then go for it.

I just looked at a 64 comet 4 door with a V8. Cool styling on them, way better than a falcon.

He is done work on a 70s C body he has. He also has tried to sell it for $10,000 even with the 4 doors and a complete old car but needing a total resto! I am sure he is capable. Not hard.
Actually the Merc. Comet, Falcon are same , and mostly same as early Mustang.

 

[Dart Frog]

I mean really what are your options. If you're not wanting or unable to do the work than you will need to hire out. If you have a good relationship or feel comfortable with this gentleman then I say it's a fair deal. I would ask him to guarantee his work of course, schedule it and just move forward to something else. Just my opinion. Good luck.

 

[volaredon]

Yikes. Seems a little bit high for a "side job"

 

[72bluNblu]

That's a steal. I doubt you'd find a shop willing to do that for under $1k at the absolute lowest. It's certainly possible to get that job done in 6 hours, but if it's been a couple decades since it's been done it could easily take much longer if any of the parts don't cooperate. I would say 6 hours is the absolute minimum, that's somebody that's done it before, has some of the special tools needed, and everything goes the way it's supposed to. Torsion bars have to come out, break loose the ball joints, control arms, strut rods, shocks, then press out bushings, then press them back in, ball joints, tie rod ends, reassemble everything, reset the ride height, reset the alignment, etc, etc. Personally on a car that NEEDS a front end done I wouldn't plan on that taking less than a couple days. One problematic torsion bar or camber bolt and that one thing might take 6 hours.

Can he do an alignment on it? Because you'll need one.

 

[ch1ll]

$100 is still fair price if he is a certified mechanic. If not certified, $50-$75 an hour would be more realistic. Garages and dealers around here are $175-$200 and they screw you hard on parts prices even though they get them cheaper than you can.
I just had pads and rotors, front and back and a new battery installed on my 2018 Ford focus for $340 labor cash. He is $150 an hour, but I supplied the parts for brakes from rock auto and battery from menards.

Not many mechanics let you supply your own parts.

 

[barbee6043]

I mean really what are your options. If you're not wanting or unable to do the work than you will need to hire out. If you have a good relationship or feel comfortable with this gentleman then I say it's a fair deal. I would ask him to guarantee his work of course, schedule it and just move forward to something else. Just my opinion. Good luck.

Or just sell it and say screw you.
I CAN get it done with my old wifes help, but everytime I am on the ground, wife has to pull my old a** back up.

 

[barbee6043]

$100 is still fair price if he is a certified mechanic. If not certified, $50-$75 an hour would be more realistic. Garages and dealers around here are $175-$200 and they screw you hard on parts prices even though they get them cheaper than you can.
I just had pads and rotors, front and back and a new battery installed on my 2018 Ford focus for $340 labor cash. He is $150 an hour, but I supplied the parts for brakes from rock auto and battery from menards.

Not many mechanics let you supply your own parts.

Yes $50 is plenty. I would not take any vehicle to a dealership ever! Why would anyhone?
I have ALL new parts to go on!
There is no such thing here as a certified mechanic! There are 40 mi down the road. Any idiot can change out the front suspension on a 64 Comet/Falcon!

That's a steal. I doubt you'd find a shop willing to do that for under $1k at the absolute lowest. It's certainly possible to get that job done in 6 hours, but if it's been a couple decades since it's been done it could easily take much longer if any of the parts don't cooperate. I would say 6 hours is the absolute minimum, that's somebody that's done it before, has some of the special tools needed, and everything goes the way it's supposed to. Torsion bars have to come out, break loose the ball joints, control arms, strut rods, shocks, then press out bushings, then press them back in, ball joints, tie rod ends, reassemble everything, reset the ride height, reset the alignment, etc, etc. Personally on a car that NEEDS a front end done I wouldn't plan on that taking less than a couple days. One problematic torsion bar or camber bolt and that one thing might take 6 hours.

Can he do an alignment on it? Because you'll need one

It not a Mopar. ITs a 64 Comet (Falcon). NO TB!!! Good thing we don't live in Calif!!!!!
He does not need any special tools! A 12 year old can do it/

 

[Oldmanmopar]

No lift , No torch. He is working hard for his money.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Yes for the real garage.
The owner makes a living and so do the mechanics. The owner owns commercial r/e, a profitable business, pays property taxes all the other costs of having employees.
The neighbor mechanic replaced the front struts on our Toyota Tacoma a few months ago. He sometimes has a "helper" that maybe slightly challenged IQ wise, but anyway. A while later, wife kept hearing some kind of "rattle,noise" up front when we took off. I am bad deaf. Took it over to Josh and we all figured out "someone" did not tighten the front lug nuts! ha
I am no real mechanic but I even have never done that!

I admit front end on a Mopar pressing bushings and it all can be a chore, but this Ford wanna be, is NO chore especially with all new parts, LOADED upper and lower A arms. etc etc.

Actually Josh applied for job last week with the local REA. I don't
know anyone shade tree mechanic around here that can make $4000/week, $200,000/year.

Stealerships around here are up around and over 200. When I said 100 I meant small independent shops. Some will go 85 if you're a repeat customer.

 

[CFD244]

Geez Barbee, I feel for you. Getting old sucks. It pisses me off as well......I do everything for my neighbours for free, but when I need something it's up the *** we go.......I try to do everything on my own, and I mean everything. But one day that's going to come to an end as I am 60 now.

Guys around here with a skill saw in their truck are looking for $50 per hour!

 

[RustyRatRod]

Geez Barbee, I feel for you. Getting old sucks. It pisses me off as well......I do everything for my neighbours for free, but when I need something it's up the *** we go.......I try to do everything on my own, and I mean everything. But one day that's going to come to an end as I am 60 now.

Guys around here with a skill saw in their truck are looking for $50 per hour!

That's what bums like me charge. But I got sick and damn tired of people bitching about paying that, so I stopped any work altogether for anyone except keeping all our stuff up. Everybody wants it for nuthin and expects you to do it.

 

[Dart Frog]

Or just sell it and say screw you.
I CAN get it done with my old wifes help, but everytime I am on the ground, wife has to pull my old a** back up.

Yeah that sucks! Time waits for no man or woman I'm not quite there yet I can get up and down okay but I'm definitely not popping up . Good luck with your decision.

 

[volaredon]

On the certified mechanic thing ..I used to be Master certified ASE but when I briefly left the field I let that lapse and when I looked at getting it back, there's a whole lot more hoops to do now than then. I don't know if there's any kind of grandfather clause on that. But I will say this... the best alignment guy I ever knew had a reading comprehension problem but he was a damn good mechanic. When we worked together at Sears they had a huge push/bug up there behind for all of us to get certified, to the extent of repairs they offered. It took my buddy Ralph 4x to finally pass the test. It has no bearing on his ability, everyone said he was the best in the county maybe further. I sure know I learned a whole lot from him.
But I also know some who have were certified in everything possible to have been certified in,
that I wouldn't trust with a tricycle. So there's that.
I went back to school for something else while I was laid up and hurt, in a field that I never got to work in. In back turning wrenches again. And my employer could care less about certifications. My boss even said the same thing like 10 years ago. I don't get paid any different. So I never felt like I had to go through all the hoops that ASE has created since I was certified and it was current.

 

[RustyRatRod]

On the certified mechanic thing ..I used to be Master certified ASE but when I briefly left the field I let that lapse and when I looked at getting it back, there's a whole lot more hoops to do now than then. I don't know if there's any kind of grandfather clause on that. But I will say this... the best alignment guy I ever knew had a reading comprehension problem but he was a damn good mechanic. When we worked together at Sears they had a huge push/bug up there behind for all of us to get certified, to the extent of repairs they offered. It took my buddy Ralph 4x to finally pass the test. It has no bearing on his ability, everyone said he was the best in the county maybe further. I sure know I learned a whole lot from him.
But I also know some who have were certified in everything possible to have been certified in,
that I wouldn't trust with a tricycle. So there's that.
I went back to school for something else while I was laid up and hurt, in a field that I never got to work in. In back turning wrenches again. And my employer could care less about certifications. My boss even said the same thing like 10 years ago. I don't get paid any different. So I never felt like I had to go through all the hoops that ASE has created since I was certified and it was current.

I was 17 years old and my high school auto instructor sponsored me to take the ASE tests. I don't know how it is now, but if you didn't have experience (I had been working on cars since I was 9, but only a very short time "legitimately") you had to have a sponsor. I asked him how many he thought I should take. He said "hell red, take um all". I did and I ended up the youngest ASE master tech in Georgia history. I kept recertified for a long time, and then got hurt on the job. Now, it's a whole nuther matter. There are so many more tests to take now it's a nightmare.

 

[CFD244]

The thing that gets me.........My nephew is a licensed mechanic, and his shop pays him just under $40 per hour. That is above board and paying 35% income tax plus other deductions. That puts him at about $25 per hour take home. I don't understand how someone could justify charging any more than $40 per hour cash. But what options do we have with with shop prices the way they are. I've got a buddy that charges 1/2 shop rates and has people lining up. Hopefully the shops don't find out.

 

[Mtrhead]

Your friends will get you before a stranger will get you I'll let a boy bail me a garage 2 years ago for a 71 Dodge Demon and we were great friends and I knew not to let him get the car and title before the shop was built but he insisted that he get something up front so I let him get to 340 engine and transmission up front but that wasn't good enough he ended up talking me out of getting the car over to his house and before long he had pissed it away and got 10 grand for everything my shop still isn't finished...I'm having to finish it on my own dime....Hope he knows karma is real....Never shall I trust him with even a screwdriver again!!!!!

 

[nutz]

i'm at $140 but thats a little low ready for a pay raise
not sure your area or your car but up here we have rust
thats a 6hr + job on a lift with air and a torch ....and i normally ...very rarely install customer parts
but if that was a home job before i had over head think 5/600 is fare ....15 years ago i would work for 50 an hr

 

[RustyRatRod]

Your friends will get you before a stranger will get you I'll let a boy bail me a garage 2 years ago for a 71 Dodge Demon and we were great friends and I knew not to let him get the car and title before the shop was built but he insisted that he get something up front so I let him get to 340 engine and transmission up front but that wasn't good enough he ended up talking me out of getting the car over to his house and before long he had pissed it away and got 10 grand for everything my shop still isn't finished...I'm having to finish it on my own dime....Hope he knows karma is real....Never shall I trust him with even a screwdriver again!!!!!

I don't know. I still do work for two friends. Mr. Buddy who is a friend's father in law...and the coolest 80 year old ever. And my best friend who is a Gray Police Officer. Both will just hand me a wad of hundreds and say "tell me when you need more". No questions asked. Those type are few and far between.

 

[mayhem]

To the OP, I am in a similar state of health re: getting up from being on the ground - it's a beeotch getting old. A couple three suggestions... (1) is there a high school or community college near you that offers automotive programs? I've found that the instructors will always listen to old folks seeking assistance. (2) is there an automotive club a reasonable distance from you that might be able to lend a hand? I've hosted a group of 6 car guys and 'paid' them with a full spread BBQ. (3) is there someone that does that kind of work during the week that needs a side job for less than the going shop rates? Just spitballing here. Clearly I don't know your full situation but trying to expand the choices between Mr Shop Owner and Guy Down The Way. Or maybe there is another solution that hasn't presented itself yet. Regardless, best wishes for a safe and successful resolution to your problem.

 

[nutz]

Yeah most of my customers don't ask a price
They tell me what they need i do it and tell them how much it was
For them I through in extras
If i need to spend an 1/2hr estimating then I need to get paid ...

 

[CFD244]

Your friends will get you before a stranger will get you I'll let a boy bail me a garage 2 years ago for a 71 Dodge Demon and we were great friends and I knew not to let him get the car and title before the shop was built but he insisted that he get something up front so I let him get to 340 engine and transmission up front but that wasn't good enough he ended up talking me out of getting the car over to his house and before long he had pissed it away and got 10 grand for everything my shop still isn't finished...I'm having to finish it on my own dime....Hope he knows karma is real....Never shall I trust him with even a screwdriver again!!!!!

Geez, I remember your garage thread.....You were super stoked. Sorry it didn't work out.