Topic: flat rate labor hours


Chascwell2    -- 07-07-2018 @ 11:30 AM
  Does anyone have a Ford Flat Rate labor hour reference?

What is the flat Rate Hours to remove and replace King ?Pins on a 1940 Ford


woodiewagon46    -- 07-07-2018 @ 11:57 AM
  Chaz, I don't know if there is such a thing. I have seen some shops that have a $50 an hour rate and have heard of shops that charge five times that. I would ask around and see if you can muster up some members of your local V-8 Club and see if anyone is interested in helping you do the job. It's not a big deal if you know what you are doing.


CharlieStephens    -- 07-07-2018 @ 12:51 PM
  I think what Chaz is looking for is a book that will tell how many hours it takes to do a task, not what it will cost. The shop will apply their labor rate to get the cost. I have seen the books and assume they are still available for new cars but I don't have or have access to any. A book like that would be useful if I was trying to estimate the amount of time required to change the water pump on a new Mercedes.

Charlie Stephens

This message was edited by CharlieStephens on 7-7-18 @ 12:54 PM


kubes40    -- 07-07-2018 @ 2:03 PM
  My Ford flat rate manual from 1940 says 2 1/2 hours to re-bush both spindles. That includes toe-in adjustment.
From my experience (too many ...) I'd say that's about correct.
Parts would be in addition to the labor.

Mike "Kube" Kubarth


Chascwell2    -- 07-08-2018 @ 3:53 PM
  Thanks Mike. All labor operations are time studied by Ford and published for Dealerships to charge warranty work as well as making estimates of repair costs for all labor operations, including customer repair jobs. I have also found labor operation time studies published in Chilton books, but the local library has put them in the dumpster some years ago. My experience has been that local shops , here in the San Francisco Bay Area, want to charge time and materials, which too often includes, coffee breaks, talking on the telephone, visiting with potential customers and friends. Somehow the hours worked always end straight up on the hour.

chascwell


kubes40    -- 07-08-2018 @ 4:20 PM
  I'm guessing that most shops nowadays have little or no experience working on anything remotely similar to your '40. That being (most likely) the case, they are certain to charge time and materials. I wouldn't blame them for that if they make it known up front that they are learning on the job.
However, to roll in coffee breaks, phone breaks, etc. is simply unethical.


Mike "Kube" Kubarth


TomO    -- 07-09-2018 @ 8:57 AM
  Unfortunately that the "time and material" applies to simple jobs like changing spark plugs, brake hoses and rotating tires, as well as more complicated jobs like front end alignment. It always takes longer than the Ford time schedule.

Because you are a "Collector Car" owner you must be rich. They don't realize that you are broke because you have been overcharged for so many jobs.

Tom


supereal    -- 07-09-2018 @ 10:40 AM
  At our shop we quote $100 an hour, somewhat less than the current dealer rate in the area. While that may be shocking, we are not making a fortune considering the cost of doing business. To drive out the old kingpins is usually not a problem. The removal of the bushings is simple with the correct driver. The time to ream the bushings to fit the new pins requires some practice. We use our Sunnen piston pin machine, which is preferable to a manual reamer. To contain the cost, be sure to obtain the pins and bushings before taking the job to a shop.


FrankM-RG5    -- 07-10-2018 @ 6:30 AM
  Seeing not all shops have equipment to machine bushings you need to find out where that can be done. Dropping off spindles yourself and picking them up could save you some money.


trjford8    -- 07-11-2018 @ 7:43 AM
  The pins usually come out easy. Take the spindles and your kingpin kit to a local machine shop. They will press in the bushings and fit the pins. I suspect the cost to do the work is around $150. Install the spindles back on yourself and take the car to the front end shop and have them reset the tow-in. I live in Napa, Ca. and there is a front end shop here that does work on old cars and can do the entire job if you want them to do it.. They will usually give you a price up front on the job. The only issue that could crop up once they get into the job is finding the king pin bores in the axle being severely worn. That issue could run up the cost severely if you need another axle.

This message was edited by trjford8 on 7-11-18 @ 7:51 AM


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