How much should an independant porsche mechanic charge. . . .

[OFG Racing]

How much should an independant porsche mechanic charge to remove and replace an engine on a 78 911SC?

Does anyone know the flat rate time for this?

Thanks mucho,

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I'm told that really skilled people can drop a basic 911 engine in under an hour. My Porsche tech (Upstate New York, independent shop not a dealership) charges $95 an hour. So let's give them the benefit of the doubt and guess that it takes 90 minutes for removal, 90 more for replacement, that's $285.

But who removes and then replaces an engine? Makes no sense. So your specific remove/replace cost would actually be part of the bill to "remove engine, replace rear main seal, correct valve cover leaks, replace engine" or whatever.

But you're right, maybe somebody will show up with the flat-rate figure.

[OFG Racing]

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

I'm told that really skilled people can drop a basic 911 engine in under an hour. My Porsche tech (Upstate New York, independent shop not a dealership) charges $95 an hour. So let's give them the benefit of the doubt and guess that it takes 90 minutes for removal, 90 more for replacement, that's $285.

But who removes and then replaces an engine? Makes no sense. So your specific remove/replace cost would actually be part of the bill to "remove engine, replace rear main seal, correct valve cover leaks, replace engine" or whatever.

But you're right, maybe somebody will show up with the flat-rate figure.

I asked because I just had a shop, without my authorization, pull my engine looking for a minor oil leak that I brought it in for. Without fixing it, they want thousands, fixing it, many, thousands.

Thanks for your input.

[javadog]

Around here, my shop would charge me about 5 hours, for a car without A/C. It sounds very much like you are getting screwed, unless there is more to this story. What was leaking?

JR

[john walker's workshop]

i do 4 hours, with or without a/c. then the repairs/parts swapping are added on to that.

[eimkeith]

5-6hrs. It had better take longer on the install, if you know what I mean! Bringing it to temp, triple checking everything, etc

[Bobboloo]

Originally Posted by OFG Racing

I asked because I just had a shop, without my authorization, pull my engine looking for a minor oil leak that I brought it in for. Without fixing it, they want thousands, fixing it, many, thousands.

Thanks for your input.

That's ridiculous. You might want to call an attorney. It's very important you find out what the law is concerning auto repair quotes.

Depends on the laws in your state but in California a shop can't legally run up a bill on you without an estimate/quote signed by the owner of the vehicle.

[euro911sc]

Originally Posted by OFG Racing

I asked because I just had a shop, without my authorization, pull my engine looking for a minor oil leak that I brought it in for. Without fixing it, they want thousands, fixing it, many, thousands.

Thanks for your input.

Lets hold on the law-yers just a few moments...

Is that thousands or a thousand? Is that ALL labor? I guess if they spent the whole day pookin' an prodin' around that is 8 hours * ~$100/hour so you might get to $1k if they are getting say $120/hour or spent 10 hours on it. BUT, not thousands ie >$2k. I'm a novice and it might take me 2 hours to pull it if I am alone with no lift! I think some friends and I pulled an engine in about 15 minutes once... that was after the oil drained the previous night Still, what time they can do it in vs. what they charge...

This ignores the issue of them pulling the engine w/o your consent, though. If you told them to 'Do what it takes and call me later' you might not have much of a leg to stand on. Sounds like some serious push back is in order to get to the bottom of why the bill is so high.

Keep us informed

-Michael

[CBRacerX]

If all goes well, 1 hour for one person is quite possible for the removal.

[mike_dunn]

5-6 hours at around $90/hour. Definitely not thousands.

[Peter Zimmermann]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

i do 4 hours, with or without a/c. then the repairs/parts swapping are added on to that.

Kudos to you, John. Very fair, and accurate. We added .5 hour to your number for the goofy after market A/C systems on some '70s cars, but that's about it.

[GaryR]

Originally Posted by OFG Racing

I asked because I just had a shop, without my authorization, pull my engine looking for a minor oil leak that I brought it in for. Without fixing it, they want thousands, fixing it, many, thousands.

Thanks for your input.

The car I race belonged to a nice older woman that was selling it to a friend. It was a one owner, great shape stock car at the time with 55K on it. She brought it into a local NJ shop and asked for an oil change to be nice to the friend buying it. Gets a call two days later "gotta talk ot the boss". Calls him next morning - "the bill so far is $10K, we had to tear the engine down, you had broken head studs... oh, wait, that isn't right, sorry.... it's $14K because we replaced all your brake calipers, car wasn't safe to drive!!!"

She sued, won, got the car back, and I bought the roller.. true story.