|
Clutch replacement costs... Hi
Could be I have to do a clutch replacement in my early 1929 Tudor. If I would take the car to a shop, can anybody provide me a bulk idea of total costs. In other words, if someone have paid to have this job done what was the cost. That will give me an idea of how much I will have to save to do it, because i do not have the skills, neither tools or setup for that type of mechanical job. Thank you all ! Daniel |
Re: Clutch replacement costs... What are the symptoms of your problem? Slipping? Grabbing? Or maybe only needing adjustment?
|
Re: Clutch replacement costs... Quote:
I hope this answer your request. Thanks Daniel |
Re: Clutch replacement costs... There are a number of antique car repair shops in your area. Give them a call. They should be able to give you an estimate. Not a bad job. I would not pull engine, but drop the rear end.
I had a Ford Tractor Dealer do our last one. It was done in two days. No problems. We supplied the clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing, and pilot bearing. |
Re: Clutch replacement costs... Most vintage automobile repair shops will NOT give an estimate simply because of the unknowns. Not the unknown of how to do the job, but the unknowns of what has been 'MacGuyvered' during a previous restoration. It is very believable to have two mechanics take 3-4 hours each to have the rear end out, transmission on the ground, and the clutch & flywheel ready to restore. Add in an hour or so for machining flywheel and inspecting other items. Now you have assembly time, adjusting time, and test drive time. So you are 15-20 hours possible, ...times the hourly shop rate. Shops in the New England area will have a higher flat-rate over a shop in the Midwest.
Something that many never factor in is that it is grossly different when you are working on your own car vs. working on someone else's vehicle. There are risks and shortcuts taken on your own car that a professional cannot take. Items such as covering seats, painted surfaces, and other undercarriage protection to keep from causing chips or damage. Also, folks must realize that the mechanic is always one broken bolt away from a potential 3 hour set-back. |
Re: Clutch replacement costs... I always wonder what the Ford shop flat rate and time estimates were back in the 1930s.
|
Re: Clutch replacement costs... Thank you all !! I started to have an idea of potential costs.
~ $70-80 is the shop rate hour in my area. Best Daniel |
Re: Clutch replacement costs... Do it yourself with club members. Easy to do. Most work for donuts,coffee!
|
Re: Clutch replacement costs... It's going to cost you a bundle so I recommend you find someone in a club who has done many of them. The thing is, the clutch is sandwiched in between two relatively hard to move major book-ends. The engine in the front and everything from the transmission on back. You either have to pull the engine or you have to drop the entire rear end, including spreading the rear spring. If you take it to a shop, be sure to take Les Andrew's manual because it will involve a learning curve to anyone doing it, and you will pay for their learning curve.
|
Re: Clutch replacement costs... Quote:
Just went and checked my 1947 Chilton's Flat Rate Manual. It only goes back to 1938 so I used the data for a 1938 V8, which should be close as clutch and drive train are very similar. It shows "factory time" to replace clutch disk, pressure plate and throwout bearing as 4.4 hours at a total labor charge of $14.15. This comes out to about $3.25 per hour. Changing the pilot bearing was $1.20 extra. Total parts price for disk, plate and both bearings was about $11.25. Looks like Brent needs to light a fire under his mechanics! |
Re: Clutch replacement costs... Do it yourself with club members. Easy to do. Most work for donuts,coffee!
not in NJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol |
Re: Clutch replacement costs... Quote:
LOL.... I will talk with the club guys for sure. The rate of $3.25 per hour in 1938 will be around $56.7 today with an annual inflation average of 3.59. Thank you for your answers. The people on this forum are the best. Now I have and idea that the job can cost me between $1K to $2K ...... I better buy MANY boxes of donuts to the club members .... LOL Best Daniel |
Re: Clutch replacement costs... Quote:
Yeah, my guys must be Rookies at this! :D I am curious how many shops will quote the job at 5 hours. :eek: Tell you what, ...why don't you start by listing EVERY task you will need to do from start to finish to do this job. Don't forget the time it takes to re-surface the flywheel, and don't forget to factor in adjusting pressure plate fingers or pressing off the throw-out bearing and packing the new bearing before installing it. BTW, if the shop does not have equipment such as a flywheel grinder, be sure to add in the time it takes to transport it to a shop that can do it correctly. (-good luck with that!!). Also factor in test drive and other incidental time like clean-up, etc. There is no way that this job can be performed in under 5 hours. |
Re: Clutch replacement costs... I just dug out the paperwork for the last clutch we had changed.
Repair shop charged me for two men for two hours and one man for five hours. They also replaced the rear spring shackles, greased the u-joint, and changed the oil in the transmission. No problems or broken bolts. They had a spring spreader. Remember this was over 15 years ago. Cost was $650.00. They were very proud of their work. We did not have fly wheel re-surfaced. Clutch has worked great ever since. Their estimate was ten to twelve hours in shop time if no problems came up. They came in under there estimate. I do not remember the hourly rate. |
Re: Clutch replacement costs... Brent is right. My shop has replaced many clutch assemblies and there is no way in He.. that it can be done in 5 hours. We choose to pull the engine and do the clutch work outside the car. Everything has to be cleaned and painted. Clutch adjustment is easier. Just need some care in removing the engine so as not to scratch paint or damage anything. 20 hours $70.00 per hour plus any parts, paint and supplies. And resurface the flywheel. Good luck with the clubs.
|
Re: Clutch replacement costs... Our local "new" car dealer charges a $95 an hour shop rate. This is in Tennessee. It's as costly as going to the doctor or dentist.
|
Re: Clutch replacement costs... Here in Central Ct labor is "about" $120, Honda is at $145, some of the Brands in Hartford are hovering around $160+ and very few would touch an A. JMO
Paul in CT |
Re: Clutch replacement costs... Quote:
All-Pro here in Old Lyme loves to work on our 1929 and other vintage cars. There are also a number of very good shops in Old Saybrook and Essex. Come on down to the shoreline, life is good! Your right about the new car dealers service hourly rates. Things have changed. |
Re: Clutch replacement costs... Quote:
|
Re: Clutch replacement costs... I have a old chilton flat rate book, it lists flywheel renew at 6.2 ---states that the method is to leave the spring attached to rear---of course being "flat rate" you can't worry about chipping the paint on undercarrige parts, that excessive rust, stripped- broken fasteners are upcharges ---as are modifications
the same book lists a "krw" overhaul at 20 hours including babbiting block You may not want to watch a mechanic going at beating flat rate time, it can be brutal |
| All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:01 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.