RE: alfa-digest V7 #1016

["Lewis, Gerald" <gerald.lewis@domain.elided>]

My excellent local mechanic, says that his book is quoting 16 hours labour
for the
removal and refit of both cylinder heads. He also has been quoted for a head
kit of GBP 185
- - - 250 ( USD 300 - 400 ).

I haven't done this job before, but stripping and replacement of a Rover V8
3.5ltr SDI
( 1961-63 ex Buick 213 ci) took me 7 hours and cost 45 GBP for the head kit.

	You might want to check just what that 16 hrs involves, i.e. is it
just remove and replace or does it include valve guides, or other head work.
Remember too that this involves removing and reinstalling the timing belt,
etc. properly.

	The book is not an accurate measure of how long a job may actually
take.  There is a built in profit margin.  Mechanics use "the Book" to quote
a price to the customer and then work like hell to beat it, effectively
raising their per hour rate. Among checkbook mechnanics the idea is to "beat
the book" because that is where the money is made.  The other side of the
coin is, if the mechanic runs into a problem that takes longer than the
quote they usually have to eat the difference.  That is what my son, "the
mechanic" tells me.  He also tells me that a competent mechanic should be
able to beat the book by 50%-70%.

	Parts seem pricey but with your 17.5% VAT (or somewhere close to
this) it  may be in line.  Are those his prices?  If so, there is an
additional profit included there.  I had one mechanic charge me $35.00 USD
for a relay I could have bought myself for uner $5.00.  Will he work with
parts that you supply?  Some will, some will not.

	Jerry in Houston

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