Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) How much should I charge?

[JAmos]

Got a guy who wants his leaky head gasket changed. He wants to pay me to do it, but how much should I charge? This is my first cummins head gasket change. It seems straight forward, are there any tricks to make it easier and faster? I'm thinking that I'll remove the turbo and leave the exhaust manifold on.



I'm also gonna mention the kdp issue while I'm working on it. Think he'll prob want a gsk and cam plate.



Should I do an hourly rate or so much per item/job?



Thanks, Jordan

 

[DWitcher]

Leave the turbo on. I get $600 for the head gasket.

 

[hsmith]

Got a guy who wants his leaky head gasket changed. He wants to pay me to do it, but how much should I charge? This is my first cummins head gasket change. It seems straight forward, are there any tricks to make it easier and faster? I'm thinking that I'll remove the turbo and leave the exhaust manifold on.



I'm also gonna mention the kdp issue while I'm working on it. Think he'll prob want a gsk and cam plate.



Should I do an hourly rate or so much per item/job?



Thanks, Jordan

Too many variables to quote a price. Miles on engine make a difference too. Last one I did with 225k was around 2k with machine work, new injectors, etc.

 

[JAmos]

DWitcher-thats for labor only right?

 

[Forrest Nearing]

$600 labor is a deal for a quality job

 

[CumminsPower98]

I just did a '94 a couple weeks ago. I don't know what book time is on this but I just charged my usual $25/hour at 14. 5 hours, which might be slow but I'm real careful about getting everything real clean and doing it right. The customer picked up his own gaskets. I don't touch the turbo. Just remove all exhaust manifold bolts and everything just sits there nice and easy. I have done two others this way as well. If you are not aware, there are two rubber plugs in the bottom of the cowl you need to remove in order to get the long head bolts and push rods out of the last two cylinders. Also if you don't have a hoist then rent one because this head is VERY heavy and can't be done without damage if you try to do it by hand. I know I can't anyway. Make sure you tap the head bolt holes out with a 12mmx1. 75mm tap. Anyway I will stop, I don't know what all you know.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

you're undercutting yourself big time at that rate!!!!!

 

[CumminsPower98]

Well I'm not a big shop all setup with all the wonderful equipment and don't even have a business setup. I just do some jobs on the side when not driving or working the main job. I'm using the company shop, or hole in the wall as I like to call it, so I have no overhead.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

that's cool, if I could get someone to do a quality job on a head r&r for $400, I'd be all over it!!! everyone I know that does quality work charges twice that, so I end up doing it myself! :{

 

[Rip Rook]

If it needs a gasket, it may very well need a surface. Be sure to check it, or have it checked, before it goes back together... ...

 

[WDixon27]

yea really, mine was a royal pain and i am use to royal pains working on late model volvos

you're undercutting yourself big time at that rate!!!!!

 

[wildmanben]

hey, whats wrong with Volvos? Did lots of work to those back in the day...

 

[Forrest Nearing]

he said late model



anything late model is a PITA anymore

 

[biggy238]

Have finished mine today, I would say $600 labor would be fair. Probably gonna need machine work. Insist on a head set from cummins AND GET THE RIGHT VALVE SEALS. Valve seals cost me 1. 5 days (short hours to work with school)

 

[JAmos]

What is the issue with the valve seals? There must be several sizes?



Jordan

 

[WDixon27]

imho ford absolutely screwed up volvo, the older cars like 240/740/940s are great cars easy to work on and cheep to get parts for, the 850 last volvo designed before ford bought them is a pain sometimes but not godawful to work on, the 40/60/80 series are unholy pains in the a**, it's like they did things on purpose to make removing or getting to parts hard, a mechanic must of molested the design engineer when he was a child and now he's getting revenge, friggen timing belt job on a 850 that took around 2 hours to do takes the best part of the day and now requiers a $450 special tool on a later 70 series, which is almost the same car and engine as a 850, which by the way has renault stamped on the side of the block, nothing good can come from france

hey, whats wrong with Volvos? Did lots of work to those back in the day...

 

[WDixon27]

the ones that came in my cummins head set didn't fit, my old ones were still soft pliable and had a good grip on the valve stem so they stayed in

What is the issue with the valve seals? There must be several sizes?



Jordan

 

[biggy238]

Yes, a larger and smaller outter diameter seal came on the factory heads. The head set I got had the larger seals when I needed the smaller ones. I'll dig and see if I can find the part numbers...

 

[DWitcher]

DWitcher-thats for labor only right?

That is correct. I can knock it out within 8hrs if everything looks ok.

 

[CumminsPower98]

The put ones in the top end gasket kits that don't fit the engine for some reason. I don't know what the real reason is.

What is the issue with the valve seals? There must be several sizes?



Jordan