eallanboggs

iTrader: (1)

Most people who frequent this site know the going prices for aftermarket cams, springs, pushrods, etc. so unless you get the parts wholesale your markup is limited unless you want to chance running a potential customer away. Your not dealing with soccer moms on LS1Tech who aren't informed about this stuff. There are a lot of competent wrench turners who have plenty of experience working on LS series engines that don't work out of a shop. They do cam/head swaps everyday of the week without callbacks. The people who break off rocker bolts or strip the crank threads should have paid the extra dollars to a shop in the first place rather than take on a job that was over their heads because it ends up costing them the shop rate or more in the long run.

edcmat-l1

iTrader: (10)

I'm not ripping anyone. It's up to me to find vendors to sell to me less than they sell to you, so I can sell parts competitively, AND make a profit. You're right, I am not selling anything that is superior to anyone elses stuff. But, it all adds up in the end.
As for my analogy, it is not any different. The wait staff is paid a minimal amount of money, and then depend on your tips. The restaurant has to pay overhead, cooking staff, etc. They are selling a product. So are all the shops.
Most of them cant survive on 75 bucks an hour. Parts sales are a big part of the profit margin.

rocksws6

iTrader: (4)

^ It sounds better when you put it like that. But that whole charging double for not buying parts through you that was kind of a bad thing to say IMO.

TA1364

iTrader: (11)

So you would rather not have the business at all if they dont buy the parts from you? Sounds like your loosing more money that way

edcmat-l1

iTrader: (10)

I would rather not have the headache and or liability of installing customers parts.
I have people bring me ebay heads, and cams, and other crap to install. Used this and that.
To me, a business owner, its offensive when people come in with parts they've bought somewhere else to "save a buck" and then want some killer deal on the install. Its cut-throat, pure and simple.
So yes, I would rather turn down the work, than get wrapped up in something I have no control over with the exception of installation. And yes, I do lose some business because of that. But sometimes, its better to lose certain jobs.
The longer I'm in business, the pickier I get about what jobs I take in.

1997bird

iTrader: (2)

I here that!! Usually when you do accept a job of this nature you end up upside down into the project so bad you actually loose money. Not only that if there ever was a problem with something they try to make you "responsible" for the parts anyway!!!

edcmat-l1

iTrader: (10)

EXACTLY. Finally, someone whos been there, done that!!

bigdsz

iTrader: (1)

A friend of mine is a master GM tech and shop foreman at a local Chevy dealer. We both have Vettes, his is a Z06, and Camaros, his is a 35th anniversary '02. We really have a great relationship,I pay him $30/hr, which I think is fair for both of us. I will say if anything ever got screwed up I would never hold him responsible, because I figure it would be as much my fault as his. Other guys at his dealership who are car crazy will do work for the same $.

edcmat-l1

iTrader: (10)

Cant beat that. You got it made there.

TA1364

iTrader: (11)

If your at that point where you can pick and choose what jobs you do, congrats.

thecobrahunter

iTrader: (1)

Man, labor prices must be dirt cheap where 'yall at. Granted, my car has $131,000 miles on it and engine probably has to be dropped for the install. But for my install, Compcams camshaft & lifters & push rods & springs, and SLP timing set, got quotes between $2300 and $2700. Might even have to have work done on the valves (+ $400?). Putting this mod on hold for a while.

HAZ-Matt

iTrader: (8)

This was also 4 years ago so there was bound to have been some inflation...

eallanboggs

iTrader: (1)

You're comparing apples to oranges. The lifters/valves is where the lines get drawn. Plus you have to take into consideration whether the shop has past experience on the GenIII not the GenI/GenII. Big difference when it comes to a cam only swap. The GM factory manual(Helm) says the heads have to come off for a cam swap(anyone that visits this site knows that NOT true). Removing the heads raises the time and price of the job, but they're required come off to service the lifter and valves. The heads do not have to come off to service the cam/pushrods/rockers/timing chain and springs. If you want a price for a cam only swap(includes new springs/timiing chain and p rods)that's one price, but it goes way up if the heads are coming off. I don't know if it approaches $3K, but in your case maybe it does. Enough reading here will show you that the engine does NOT have to come out to do the work you're talking about. Maybe this is the practice of the particular shop you're using. Buy the tools you need and do the work yourself. It doesn't get any easier than this engine. I'd rather do a cam on a GenIII than change a waterpump on an Asian 4 banger and forget the transverse V6s. If you have to do the heads on one of those you might as well spring for a new engine because the flat rate for heads on a V6 transverse engine will eat up the cost of a rebuilt motor.

farmington

iTrader: (14)

I found a local guy who works out of his garage. He did the cam, lifters, springs, pushrods, oilpump, timing chain, LS6 intake, AND headers and y pipe for $650. Did a great job too.

VandykeT/A

I've never had it done at a shop but the guy that works on my car did my cam and springs, a 4.10 gear, and I bought a set of rear LCAs off him for 350. Then the same guy did my heads/another cam, motor mounts, different headers and y pipe,and took the transmission out for 500.

COPO9560

$1500 seems like a lot for cam swap but your post says rods, not push rods. May want to clarify this with shop - changing connecting rods would make their price seem like a bargain.

VandykeT/A

Yea but since everything else he named were top end parts you would the think the shop would know what he was talking about. It could happen though. That was probably with a dyno tune.

eallanboggs

iTrader: (1)

For $650 I hope he also vacuumed the carpets, washed the windshield and detailed the tires and wheels. Realistically, no legit shop can do all those mods for $650 and stay in business for very long. Swapping a stock exhaust for a set of longtubes to me is a bigger job than a cam swap on a GenIII. If a customer comes in and wants parts installed that they purchased themselves you have to write "Labor Only"-"Customer Supplied Parts" on the work order. That's what I do and not only do I write it on the work order, but we have this converstation ahead of time to explain that I'm in no way providing a warranty for the parts. I'm providing labor only. Whether the part works or not is the concern of the customer. That doesn't mean you take shortcuts when installing customer provided parts(you never do that) if you want your customer base to grow. It just provides for an understanding between the customer and installer. Many times dealing with customers is more difficult than the actual repairs themselves. Who needs to know the life story of their customers? I for one do NOT, but sometimes customers want a shoulder to cry on and their mechanic is a captive audience until they put the cash in your hand. If I can give one bit of advice stay away from the ones going through menopause. And how do you know which ones they are you ask. Oh, they don't mind telling you, but by that time it's too late. They'll take paper towels and put them under the vehicle and if they find one drop of oil in the morning that's a comeback. You try charging them extra to get rid of them. It doesn't work. They come back anyway. I think if you shop around you can find the right price, but not everyone can find someone that will do a frame off restoration for $650. Hell, I'd even provide the pizza and beer for that price. Talk about a bargain.