How much $ to charge for engine assembly?
 

Hey Everyone,
A neighbor asked me to do engine work on his Chevy 350. Basic
small-block, 70's vintage with carb. He paid for the parts and machine
work. I had to figure out what cam he should use, parts
recommendations and assemble the whole thing for him. It's ready for
him to pick up and he's been asking how much he owes me. I've always
done engines for myself, but this is the first time getting paid for
it. I probably have 10 hours in it, including dissably prep and
assembly. I'm not a pro, but a pretty successfull do-it-yourself
mechanic.

Thanks,
Don W

Re: How much $ to charge for engine assembly?
 

Whatever you think your time is worth. But for a neighbor you need to
charge something reasonable but not the same as what you would do it for
a living. I'd sort of think of it in tiers:
Lowest level is just hard labor, ie moving rocks or laying sod at $7 an
hour. Next level is some knowledge but some work, say painting a fence
or garage or doing the taping on a sheet rock job at $12 to $15 an hour.
Knowlege projects are those where it's your brains, talent, and
experience that they are getting

When I do "knowledge" projects for my neighbors, I charge $25 an hour.
Not cheap but I don't charge for the running off to get parts at
Grainger. (or for the fact that I have an account at Grainger) Keeps the
projects from multiplying, keeps the peace for those projects where the
neighbor REALLY needs some help.

Another way to look at it is "how much did the parts and services cost?"
If you charge 30% of that to help him buy it and assemble all that,
sounds reasonable.

For your project try anything from $100 to $250, sounds like a fair
price. All of these numbers are subject to local conditions. In some
rural areas there would be way high. In some high cost urban spots, way
low.



QuickTruck wrote:
> Hey Everyone,
> A neighbor asked me to do engine work on his Chevy 350. Basic
> small-block, 70's vintage with carb. He paid for the parts and machine
> work. I had to figure out what cam he should use, parts
> recommendations and assemble the whole thing for him. It's ready for
> him to pick up and he's been asking how much he owes me. I've always
> done engines for myself, but this is the first time getting paid for
> it. I probably have 10 hours in it, including dissably prep and
> assembly. I'm not a pro, but a pretty successfull do-it-yourself
> mechanic.
>
> Thanks,
> Don W
>

Re: How much $ to charge for engine assembly?
 

Whatever you think your time is worth. But for a neighbor you need to
charge something reasonable but not the same as what you would do it for
a living. I'd sort of think of it in tiers:
Lowest level is just hard labor, ie moving rocks or laying sod at $7 an
hour. Next level is some knowledge but some work, say painting a fence
or garage or doing the taping on a sheet rock job at $12 to $15 an hour.
Knowlege projects are those where it's your brains, talent, and
experience that they are getting

When I do "knowledge" projects for my neighbors, I charge $25 an hour.
Not cheap but I don't charge for the running off to get parts at
Grainger. (or for the fact that I have an account at Grainger) Keeps the
projects from multiplying, keeps the peace for those projects where the
neighbor REALLY needs some help.

Another way to look at it is "how much did the parts and services cost?"
If you charge 30% of that to help him buy it and assemble all that,
sounds reasonable.

For your project try anything from $100 to $250, sounds like a fair
price. All of these numbers are subject to local conditions. In some
rural areas there would be way high. In some high cost urban spots, way
low.



QuickTruck wrote:
> Hey Everyone,
> A neighbor asked me to do engine work on his Chevy 350. Basic
> small-block, 70's vintage with carb. He paid for the parts and machine
> work. I had to figure out what cam he should use, parts
> recommendations and assemble the whole thing for him. It's ready for
> him to pick up and he's been asking how much he owes me. I've always
> done engines for myself, but this is the first time getting paid for
> it. I probably have 10 hours in it, including dissably prep and
> assembly. I'm not a pro, but a pretty successfull do-it-yourself
> mechanic.
>
> Thanks,
> Don W
>

Re: How much $ to charge for engine assembly?
 

Whatever you think your time is worth. But for a neighbor you need to
charge something reasonable but not the same as what you would do it for
a living. I'd sort of think of it in tiers:
Lowest level is just hard labor, ie moving rocks or laying sod at $7 an
hour. Next level is some knowledge but some work, say painting a fence
or garage or doing the taping on a sheet rock job at $12 to $15 an hour.
Knowlege projects are those where it's your brains, talent, and
experience that they are getting

When I do "knowledge" projects for my neighbors, I charge $25 an hour.
Not cheap but I don't charge for the running off to get parts at
Grainger. (or for the fact that I have an account at Grainger) Keeps the
projects from multiplying, keeps the peace for those projects where the
neighbor REALLY needs some help.

Another way to look at it is "how much did the parts and services cost?"
If you charge 30% of that to help him buy it and assemble all that,
sounds reasonable.

For your project try anything from $100 to $250, sounds like a fair
price. All of these numbers are subject to local conditions. In some
rural areas there would be way high. In some high cost urban spots, way
low.



QuickTruck wrote:
> Hey Everyone,
> A neighbor asked me to do engine work on his Chevy 350. Basic
> small-block, 70's vintage with carb. He paid for the parts and machine
> work. I had to figure out what cam he should use, parts
> recommendations and assemble the whole thing for him. It's ready for
> him to pick up and he's been asking how much he owes me. I've always
> done engines for myself, but this is the first time getting paid for
> it. I probably have 10 hours in it, including dissably prep and
> assembly. I'm not a pro, but a pretty successfull do-it-yourself
> mechanic.
>
> Thanks,
> Don W
>

Re: How much $ to charge for engine assembly?
 

Whatever you think your time is worth. But for a neighbor you need to
charge something reasonable but not the same as what you would do it for
a living. I'd sort of think of it in tiers:
Lowest level is just hard labor, ie moving rocks or laying sod at $7 an
hour. Next level is some knowledge but some work, say painting a fence
or garage or doing the taping on a sheet rock job at $12 to $15 an hour.
Knowlege projects are those where it's your brains, talent, and
experience that they are getting

When I do "knowledge" projects for my neighbors, I charge $25 an hour.
Not cheap but I don't charge for the running off to get parts at
Grainger. (or for the fact that I have an account at Grainger) Keeps the
projects from multiplying, keeps the peace for those projects where the
neighbor REALLY needs some help.

Another way to look at it is "how much did the parts and services cost?"
If you charge 30% of that to help him buy it and assemble all that,
sounds reasonable.

For your project try anything from $100 to $250, sounds like a fair
price. All of these numbers are subject to local conditions. In some
rural areas there would be way high. In some high cost urban spots, way
low.



QuickTruck wrote:
> Hey Everyone,
> A neighbor asked me to do engine work on his Chevy 350. Basic
> small-block, 70's vintage with carb. He paid for the parts and machine
> work. I had to figure out what cam he should use, parts
> recommendations and assemble the whole thing for him. It's ready for
> him to pick up and he's been asking how much he owes me. I've always
> done engines for myself, but this is the first time getting paid for
> it. I probably have 10 hours in it, including dissably prep and
> assembly. I'm not a pro, but a pretty successfull do-it-yourself
> mechanic.
>
> Thanks,
> Don W
>

Re: How much $ to charge for engine assembly?
 

Hi Don,
I would say your neighbor is expecting you worked for free, just
offered to pay knowing you would turn it down. Like in business the
total charge should have been on a signed off invoice, before the job
starts.
I give him this site to learn how to break it in, as you know a
perfectly rebuilt engine may be destroyed in the first fifteen second:
http://engineparts.com/Motorhead/tec.../cambreak.html
http://performanceunlimited.com/docu...nebreakin.html
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

QuickTruck wrote:
>
> Hey Everyone,
> A neighbor asked me to do engine work on his Chevy 350. Basic
> small-block, 70's vintage with carb. He paid for the parts and machine
> work. I had to figure out what cam he should use, parts
> recommendations and assemble the whole thing for him. It's ready for
> him to pick up and he's been asking how much he owes me. I've always
> done engines for myself, but this is the first time getting paid for
> it. I probably have 10 hours in it, including dissably prep and
> assembly. I'm not a pro, but a pretty successfull do-it-yourself
> mechanic.
>
> Thanks,
> Don W

Re: How much $ to charge for engine assembly?
 

Hi Don,
I would say your neighbor is expecting you worked for free, just
offered to pay knowing you would turn it down. Like in business the
total charge should have been on a signed off invoice, before the job
starts.
I give him this site to learn how to break it in, as you know a
perfectly rebuilt engine may be destroyed in the first fifteen second:
http://engineparts.com/Motorhead/tec.../cambreak.html
http://performanceunlimited.com/docu...nebreakin.html
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

QuickTruck wrote:
>
> Hey Everyone,
> A neighbor asked me to do engine work on his Chevy 350. Basic
> small-block, 70's vintage with carb. He paid for the parts and machine
> work. I had to figure out what cam he should use, parts
> recommendations and assemble the whole thing for him. It's ready for
> him to pick up and he's been asking how much he owes me. I've always
> done engines for myself, but this is the first time getting paid for
> it. I probably have 10 hours in it, including dissably prep and
> assembly. I'm not a pro, but a pretty successfull do-it-yourself
> mechanic.
>
> Thanks,
> Don W

Re: How much $ to charge for engine assembly?
 

Hi Don,
I would say your neighbor is expecting you worked for free, just
offered to pay knowing you would turn it down. Like in business the
total charge should have been on a signed off invoice, before the job
starts.
I give him this site to learn how to break it in, as you know a
perfectly rebuilt engine may be destroyed in the first fifteen second:
http://engineparts.com/Motorhead/tec.../cambreak.html
http://performanceunlimited.com/docu...nebreakin.html
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

QuickTruck wrote:
>
> Hey Everyone,
> A neighbor asked me to do engine work on his Chevy 350. Basic
> small-block, 70's vintage with carb. He paid for the parts and machine
> work. I had to figure out what cam he should use, parts
> recommendations and assemble the whole thing for him. It's ready for
> him to pick up and he's been asking how much he owes me. I've always
> done engines for myself, but this is the first time getting paid for
> it. I probably have 10 hours in it, including dissably prep and
> assembly. I'm not a pro, but a pretty successfull do-it-yourself
> mechanic.
>
> Thanks,
> Don W

Re: How much $ to charge for engine assembly?
 

Hi Don,
I would say your neighbor is expecting you worked for free, just
offered to pay knowing you would turn it down. Like in business the
total charge should have been on a signed off invoice, before the job
starts.
I give him this site to learn how to break it in, as you know a
perfectly rebuilt engine may be destroyed in the first fifteen second:
http://engineparts.com/Motorhead/tec.../cambreak.html
http://performanceunlimited.com/docu...nebreakin.html
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

QuickTruck wrote:
>
> Hey Everyone,
> A neighbor asked me to do engine work on his Chevy 350. Basic
> small-block, 70's vintage with carb. He paid for the parts and machine
> work. I had to figure out what cam he should use, parts
> recommendations and assemble the whole thing for him. It's ready for
> him to pick up and he's been asking how much he owes me. I've always
> done engines for myself, but this is the first time getting paid for
> it. I probably have 10 hours in it, including dissably prep and
> assembly. I'm not a pro, but a pretty successfull do-it-yourself
> mechanic.
>
> Thanks,
> Don W

Re: How much $ to charge for engine assembly?
 

On 3 Jun 2005 18:06:43 -0700, QuickTruck wrote:
> Hey Everyone,
> A neighbor asked me to do engine work on his Chevy 350. Basic
> small-block, 70's vintage with carb. He paid for the parts and machine
> work. I had to figure out what cam he should use, parts
> recommendations and assemble the whole thing for him. It's ready for
> him to pick up and he's been asking how much he owes me. I've always
> done engines for myself, but this is the first time getting paid for
> it. I probably have 10 hours in it, including dissably prep and
> assembly. I'm not a pro, but a pretty successfull do-it-yourself
> mechanic.

I have no idea how much the work is worth. However, a major factor is
the relationship between you and your neighbor. You may want to ask
only a nominal fee, if your neighbor is a good friend or you may want
to ask a bit more if you don't want to encourage free sharing of your
resources (skill and time). Often I won't even ask a fee for things I
do for friends, but that is just my choice. If I'm offered some
compensation, I don't haggle over it at all and just let the amount be
what it is. Maybe ask your neighbor to cover the cost of taking your
wife to a fancy restaurant :-).

-D

--
A violent man entices his neighbor
and leads him down a path that is not good.
Proverbs 16:29

www: http://dman13.dyndns.org/~dman/ jabber: dman@dman13.dyndns.org