Benny,
I ain't out to tell you your business, but it sounds to me like you're
giving yourself away. I saw the '$25/hr' on your site and thought it must be
a typo. The local VW shop gets $85/hr and there isn't a shop I've seen
recently that doesn't get $65/hr- we're out in the middle of nowhere and not
near a major city (where the prices seem to be the same or higher, at least
in this part of the world).

As a self-employed small business owner myself, I can't see how you can
actually be making a living on that rate (never mind investing in your
business, etc). Additionally, the kind of attention to detail, etc. that you
seem to put into your work often commands a premium. Are your rates common
where you are?

The reason I asked, basically is that guessing at how long it took to
overhaul that engine in hours x common labor rates, I figured the guy would
have been able to get at least a fresh rebuild, probably minus installation.
You saved him a bundle.

Guess if I ever decide to have a rebuild done and not do it myself, I oughta
take a 'business trip' up your way and have you do it- between the your
rates, the exchange rate and the tax write-off I might actually make money
on the deal. : )

Cya,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "Benny boy" <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2005 7:38 AM
Subject: Re: I win!!! the worse ever "westy part" picture...

> Hey Robert, about 35 to 40 hours..of hard work, i have to admit.. at 25$hr
> (my last job ever at that price, am now at 35$hr)
>
> Let me explain, this is a very nice 86 Syncro, body and interior are near
> perfect... the owner lives in San Francisco, but he is from Montreal, the
> van as been sitting outside for 3.5 years, the rust comme from moisture /
> humidity more than the snow or salt itself... VW and Mazda when it come to
> engine rust... Now, that said, the original engine is done, finish,
kappoot
> (max compression 75psi), broken head, too much rust...
> So we found another good engine, a reman with only 40k on it, but again,
> this engine (the second one) as been sitting inside and outside for
years..
> but it is way less rusty....and someone filled this one up with fresh oil
> before, the injection is the worse part...so, i split open both engine, i
> took the best of everything out of those 2 (but mostly from the second
one),
> i did check/measure everything carefully...(pistons, sleeve, rings, heads,
> valves, seat....bla bla bla)....so that said, after about 40hours, we
should
> have a verry good 2.1L (about 1000$ CAD / 800USD of labor time), not many
> parts where needed to built back that engine... so, for about 1500$ CAD,
> this guy should have a good/clean/original/inspected/sealed running engine
+
> new starter, alternator, clutch. To your question, about 100$ of
tools(wire
> brush), liquid (Brake cleaner, solvant, degreaser), cleanner where
> needed..on top, my shop is a mess, he he he, and i forgot, we did use a
NEW
> tarp to work on it...finish...
>
> About your second question...oil treatment is the solution, yes, engine
are
> being treated also....but, this guys didn't!!! The engine i removed from
> this van was the original engine, original everything...even the fuel
> hose...it's a true 20 years old engine... so, not so bad after all...
>
> Of course i didn't use that part:
> http://www.benplace.com/syncro/syncro74.jpg
> I was just amaze by the poor condition of this one!!!!
>
> Ben
> http://www.benplace.com/vanagon_engine5.htm
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> Question: How many billable hours involved in that anchor, at how much per
> hour? What was the total bill w/parts, etc. (if you're okay with telling,
of
> course)? Speaking of anchors, nobody ever weighed in on my question about
> whether or not it would be worth it for y'all northern glacier dwellers to
> ceramic coat (or whatever) your engines to keep 'em from getting that way.
>
> Cya, Robert