Cost of setting timing, on a V8 ??

-
RPMagoo

RPMagoo

Just An Old Motorhead
Joined
Nov 4, 2015
Messages
3,233
Reaction score
1,995
Location
N.E. Pa.
I don't have a timing light, so I had a local Mechanic check, and re-set My timing, on My 383 Mopar, with electronic ignition. He did not get into the distributor, or carburetor. While doing this, He adjusted the 2 idle screws on the Edelbrock 600 CFM carburetor. -- It was a basic set the timing. - He used no parts - labor, only, and He charged Me $150. -- This is a small one man shop. -- I feel like I got "ripped off". -- Comments ??
 
did it take him 2 hours?

here is the thing, you are not paying for "what" he did, you are paying for the knowledge he has to spend 15 minutes with a screwdriver and a 9/16th wrench and make your engine run like it should
 
diymirage said:
-- did it take him 2 hours? --
Click to expand...
-- I believe that it did -- seems like a awful lot of time to set timing. -- I've done it, in the past. -- It's not Rocket Science. I realize that 2 hours can be $150 -- but 2 hours seems excessive.
 
i agree, 2 hours is a lot
but if thats what it took...when was the last time you worked n it?
did he also hook up a vacuum gauge to fiddle with the carb?
 
The shop I use on my daily driver charges $80/hr plus parts regardless of the repair. 65'
 
Cost of a timing light would have been a much cheaper alternative. That’s a 10 minute job. Be different story if he curved the distributor.
 
diymirage said:
-- i agree, 2 hours is a lot
but if thats what it took...when was the last time you worked n it?
did he also hook up a vacuum gauge to fiddle with the carb? --
Click to expand...
-- I believe that He did, and He adjusted the 2 idle screws, only.
 
Reminds me of this story.

may-13-at-5-05pm-a-ship-engine-failed-and-no-2504100.png
 
We charge 150/hr on commercial phone systems. 1hr minimum. Its the knowledge your paying for (If I showed you the 4 wires I connected, you'd be PISSED) . One of the first hydroelectric dams was almost installed for free, but Edison charged like 10K for the first service call, probably the basis for the story above..
 
If I had to pay someone to do everything these old cars need, I would sell the junk and by a new challenger. I don’t see where the fun would be. I love my old cars and do everything myself and, I still have days where I wonder why I bother.
 
150 will buy you a nice used advance timing light.

Today-service call. Drove to house,pulled cap and rotor to check distributor.replaced with known good ign module. All is good.
Fiddled with carb and timing,couldnt get rid of stumble.
Pulled carb, returned home to disassemble and clean carb.
Return to customers garage and replace carb. Runs like a top. 600 eddy,btw. Shoulda made a video.
$100 cash. Thats all i felt comfortable charging him.
If it was set timing and adjust carb?
Free...
Because i can.
 
Some shops charge a flat rate regardless of time , but a little steep I would have charged you 50$ because it’s old and if you like my work you’ll be back it’s a long term thing
 
i know this advice is a day late, but next time, post the question here
i remember one day asking on here what the best way was to mate the transmission to the engine before installing it again

the response i got?
"let me know when you have time, i'll bring my transmission jack and show you"
 
So you don't have the shop, or the license to repair, or the timing light, or the vacuum gage, or the know-how to do it yourself. But you are qualified to say how much is too much? There's probably a flat rate diagnostic charge for non-computer controlled engines plus some sales tax (I'm in CT and they tax everything). Decent shops around me are charging $100+/hr for labor with $125 for diagnostic fee.
 
moper said:
-- _ _ or the know-how to do it yourself. --
Click to expand...
-- I disagree on that, and I have a large garage and many tools. -- Haven't had a need for a timing light (had one years ago), and vacuum gage, until now. -- Will have one in the future.
 
Last edited:
Warranty used to pay .3 of an hour for "administrative", making out the ticket, collecting the money, filing the r/o etc.
.3 is 18 min and at $75/hour is $22.50. At $100/hour you have $30 invested and you car hasn't left the write up area yet!
 
Last edited:
RPMagoo said:
I don't have a timing light, so I had a local Mechanic check, and re-set My timing, on My 383 Mopar, with electronic ignition. He did not get into the distributor, or carburetor. While doing this, He adjusted the 2 idle screws on the Edelbrock 600 CFM carburetor. -- It was a basic set the timing. - He used no parts - labor, only, and He charged Me $150. -- This is a small one man shop. -- I feel like I got "ripped off". -- Comments ??
Click to expand...
Yep, you did. And this is the very reason I started to learn about cars and do it myself. Sorry to hear of this.
What Moper said. Sorry.
 
I know it seems high. But if he spent two hours, then it seemed fair to him. Its hard thing to second guess. Besides the whole 'what's his time worth', there is the matter of knowing what to do. Alldata doesn't go back that far, nor do underhood stickers. Unlikely he has a shop manual or even a Mitchels that covers it. So he
s got to do some digging and or figuring to know what to set it for. Not stock (and obvipously the carb isn't). Well then, maybe some more time to get a feel for it, listen to how it sound, etc. if he's being dilegent.
Now a guy who works on these a lot, different story. Get it warmed up, check everything out and have the tools put away in less than an hour.
 
He adjusted the idle screws??

I DAM sure hope he pulled the carb off before adjusting that!

the idle screws should be labeled and listed on the exploded view as DO NOT TOUCH screws....

I hope its not a Holley carb....if it is he did it wrong?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top