I love you men!!!

Ben

On Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:15:01 -0400, Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET> wrote:

>Most mechanics will not touch a Vanagon.  They will take one look and
>tell you to hit the road.  That this guy is taking his time to learn the
>van and also only charging you $60 per hour is a miracle from Heaven
>above.  Instead of questioning if he is charging you too much you should
>be sending him flowers or making him breakfast in bed.  Please treat
>this man right, he deserves it.
>
>Ken Wilford
>John 3:16
>www.vanagain.com
>
>
>Robert Stewart wrote:
>> Need some assistance to see if my mechanic is overcharging me...
>>
>> So to fill you in on the background.
>>
>> I had brought my Van back in December to a local Engine Shop that only
>> does rebuilds. It took him several months to complete the rebuild with
>> all the parts I ordered from Van-Cafe (over 2K in parts). He was
>> overbooked and took him a long time to get to the engine. He finished
>> it back in April and my mechanic who removed the engine and delivered
>> it to him had it and it was now up to him to take care of the rest.
>>
>> Now he had it since April, he is not a VW mechanic, his speciality is
>> Nissan's.... so he needed to do some learning on the job with the
>> Bentley and Haynes manuals in hand plus  some help from the Samba and
>> you guys to get the job done.
>>
>> I clearly provided a list of what I wanted done and all the parts.
>>
>> Can anyone here tell me based on my list below what the general cost
>> range should be?
>> Now I know this is a bit to ask but I am trying to be sure I am not
>> being taken here, so any idea of the realistic time frame to complete
>> these jobs would be really be appreciated.
>>
>> Here's the list of what I asked him to do:
>> Model - 88 Automatic
>>
>> Removal and Reinstallation of Rebuilt Engine (with all original
>> external engine components i.e. fuel rails, injectors, new rubber for
>> injectors provided, new spark plugs, new fuel hoses, wires, wiring
>> harness, Air Flow System, with all new gaskets provided, et al.)
>>
>> Installation of New Fuel lines, (Engine Bay, & Front to Rear Tank Lines)
>>
>> Installation of 2 External Coolers (Oil and Transmission Fluids) (1)
>> from BusBoys and (1) from Small Car for the tranny.
>>
>> Draining of Coolant Lines ( he did not flush it as he did not have the
>> equipment) and Tanks & Refill Of All Coolant (Supplied)
>>
>> Installation of New Coolant Hoses in the engine bay and the front 2
>> lines connecting to the 2 long hoses (which were good and used them)
>> with the Gowesty Coolant Hose Repair Kit. ( the two metal pieces they
>> sell)
>>
>> Draining of Transmission and Differential Gear Oils and replacement of
>> fluids with new screen and filter provided.
>>
>> Install New Engine Oil and Screen install after rebuild completed.
>>
>> Installation of 3rd Party Transmission Wing Cooling System (welded)
>> (this is the little metal wing sold by Terry Kay.
>>
>> Re-installation of existing S&S Exhaust System (though cleaned and
>> painted with high temp paint by me)
>>
>> Reinstallation of cleaned K&N air filter.
>>
>> Install New the brake pads and check the brakes throughout the Van.
>> (he told me I needed to have my rotors machined which I needed to
>> bring to a brake shop to have done. As the 1/4 inch edge of the rotor
>> was not worn down at all. It has new Brembo rotors that installed 3yrs
>> ago on the van with PBR pads.)
>>
>>
>> Note that the engine after the rebuild was brought to him bare, no
>> external components just the engine core with the heads on it, intake
>> runners, with the all the proper temp sensors in place. He had to put
>> all the components back on.
>>
>> So what are your thoughts?
>>
>> He is telling me this is going to cost me $1100 roughly. Now... I
>> already paid him $400 when I dropped the van off with him toward the
>> total of all these costs. Mind you it's all been in cash as well. His
>> rate is $60 an hour.
>>
>> Thanks for your thoughts,
>> Robert
>> Bloomingburg NY
>>