How much $ to charge for engine assembly?

Hey Everyone,
A neighbor asked me to do engine work on his Chevy 350. Basic
small-block, 70's vintage with carb. He paid for the parts and machine
work. I had to figure out what cam he should use, parts
recommendations and assemble the whole thing for him. It's ready for
him to pick up and he's been asking how much he owes me. I've always
done engines for myself, but this is the first time getting paid for
it. I probably have 10 hours in it, including dissably prep and
assembly. I'm not a pro, but a pretty successfull do-it-yourself
mechanic.

Thanks,
Don W

Sounds like you want to charge him close to the local garage rates or you
woudn't be asking :-)
Me, if he was a decent sort, I'd charge him a bottle of whisky, and know I
can ask for help when I need it.

Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

"QuickTruck" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hey Everyone,
> A neighbor asked me to do engine work on his Chevy 350. Basic
> small-block, 70's vintage with carb. He paid for the parts and machine
> work. I had to figure out what cam he should use, parts
> recommendations and assemble the whole thing for him. It's ready for
> him to pick up and he's been asking how much he owes me. I've always
> done engines for myself, but this is the first time getting paid for
> it. I probably have 10 hours in it, including dissably prep and
> assembly. I'm not a pro, but a pretty successfull do-it-yourself
> mechanic.
>
> Thanks,
> Don W
>

That sounds more like my kind of pricing. Over the years, I've had
the favors come back from the third or fourth party down the line as
often as from the guy I helped directly.

If the guy is enough of a jerk that I feel like I want to charge him I
just don't do the work. If he wants to make an offer, I let him feel
good abouit himself.

In the society of lawyers we have evolved into, there is also a
liability issue to consider for paid services.

On Sat, 4 Jun 2005 09:26:05 UTC "Dave Milne" >
wrote:

> Sounds like you want to charge him close to the local garage rates or you
> woudn't be asking :-)
> Me, if he was a decent sort, I'd charge him a bottle of whisky, and know I
> can ask for help when I need it.
>
> Dave Milne, Scotland
> '91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ
>
> "QuickTruck" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > Hey Everyone,
> > A neighbor asked me to do engine work on his Chevy 350. Basic
> > small-block, 70's vintage with carb. He paid for the parts and machine
> > work. I had to figure out what cam he should use, parts
> > recommendations and assemble the whole thing for him. It's ready for
> > him to pick up and he's been asking how much he owes me. I've always
> > done engines for myself, but this is the first time getting paid for
> > it. I probably have 10 hours in it, including dissably prep and
> > assembly. I'm not a pro, but a pretty successfull do-it-yourself
> > mechanic.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Don W
> >
>
>


--
Will Honea

you and I are running the same policy :-)

Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ
"Will Honea" > wrote in message
...

> If the guy is enough of a jerk that I feel like I want to charge him I
> just don't do the work.

I won't disagree there. I have helped two folks from this group rebuild
their engines. One in a snowbank, the other in an unheated garage at
-20 or so.

I worked for beer and the return favor.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Will Honea wrote:
>
> That sounds more like my kind of pricing. Over the years, I've had
> the favors come back from the third or fourth party down the line as
> often as from the guy I helped directly.
>
> If the guy is enough of a jerk that I feel like I want to charge him I
> just don't do the work. If he wants to make an offer, I let him feel
> good abouit himself.
>
> In the society of lawyers we have evolved into, there is also a
> liability issue to consider for paid services.
>
> On Sat, 4 Jun 2005 09:26:05 UTC "Dave Milne" >
> wrote:
>
> > Sounds like you want to charge him close to the local garage rates or you
> > woudn't be asking :-)
> > Me, if he was a decent sort, I'd charge him a bottle of whisky, and know I
> > can ask for help when I need it.
> >
> > Dave Milne, Scotland
> > '91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ
> >
> > "QuickTruck" > wrote in message
> > oups.com...
> > > Hey Everyone,
> > > A neighbor asked me to do engine work on his Chevy 350. Basic
> > > small-block, 70's vintage with carb. He paid for the parts and machine
> > > work. I had to figure out what cam he should use, parts
> > > recommendations and assemble the whole thing for him. It's ready for
> > > him to pick up and he's been asking how much he owes me. I've always
> > > done engines for myself, but this is the first time getting paid for
> > > it. I probably have 10 hours in it, including dissably prep and
> > > assembly. I'm not a pro, but a pretty successfull do-it-yourself
> > > mechanic.
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Don W
> > >
> >
> >
>
> --
> Will Honea

I know people in Utah that barter, that's a good way to get what
you want, and not use any real money, so no taxes, all though I think
the revenuers still give them a bad time.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
http://www.billhughes.com/

Will Honea wrote:
>
> That sounds more like my kind of pricing. Over the years, I've had
> the favors come back from the third or fourth party down the line as
> often as from the guy I helped directly.
>
> If the guy is enough of a jerk that I feel like I want to charge him I
> just don't do the work. If he wants to make an offer, I let him feel
> good abouit himself.
>
> In the society of lawyers we have evolved into, there is also a
> liability issue to consider for paid services.

Will Honea wrote:

[snip fore and aft]
>
> In the society of lawyers we have evolved into, there is also a
> liability issue to consider for paid services.

IANALawyer but I very much doubt that the lack of an exchange of cash or
of a formal place of regular business will effectively keep one out of
USofA civil courts over an allegation of loss or injury.

Consider: You are a Good Guy, you help me out by doing over my brakes
in your driveway, I pay you nothing. A month later a rusty brake line
pops during an attempted panic stop. I survive and haul you into court
because you knew or ought to have known that a dangerous condition
existed (and because I'm a jerk, am under insured and need the cash).
"Why," my tinhorn from the firm of Dewey, Cheetham and Howe screeches to
the judge, "Mr. Honea might just as well have put a ticking timebomb
under my client's driver's seat! Honea was under the car, did the
brakes and _let_ my client drive away in a lethal deathtrap." I might
not be able to convince a jury that you had a duty to guard my safety
but it will cost you at least $10,000 in lawyer fees to defend yourself
against my suit.

Wanna settle right now for, oh, $6K, before my tinhorn finds out that
you hold a $1M umbrella policy on your house?

God, I'm glad I'm not an owner operator pumping gas, or driving a
truck anymore.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
http://www.billhughes.com/

Lee Ayrton wrote:
>
> IANALawyer but I very much doubt that the lack of an exchange of cash or
> of a formal place of regular business will effectively keep one out of
> USofA civil courts over an allegation of loss or injury.
>
> Consider: You are a Good Guy, you help me out by doing over my brakes
> in your driveway, I pay you nothing. A month later a rusty brake line
> pops during an attempted panic stop. I survive and haul you into court
> because you knew or ought to have known that a dangerous condition
> existed (and because I'm a jerk, am under insured and need the cash).
> "Why," my tinhorn from the firm of Dewey, Cheetham and Howe screeches to
> the judge, "Mr. Honea might just as well have put a ticking timebomb
> under my client's driver's seat! Honea was under the car, did the
> brakes and _let_ my client drive away in a lethal deathtrap." I might
> not be able to convince a jury that you had a duty to guard my safety
> but it will cost you at least $10,000 in lawyer fees to defend yourself
> against my suit.
>
> Wanna settle right now for, oh, $6K, before my tinhorn finds out that
> you hold a $1M umbrella policy on your house?

You get some truly bizarre judgemnts your side of the pond ; like the case 2
months back of some teenage girls who baked some cookies and left them on
their neighbour's front door step - neighbour sued the girls successfully
for $1000 as she had a panic attack on seeing the cookies.

Fortunately here there is a deterrent in suing people ; if you can't make it
stick, you are responsible for ALL of the costs, including theirs. Plus if
it is particularly stupid or petty, the lawyers get a bollocking for wasting
the court's time.

which reminds me of a small limerick.

There once was a man named Rex
Who had diminutive organs of sex
As he flashed them about
He let out a great shout
"De minimis non curat lex" (the courts are not concerned with small
things).

Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

"Lee Ayrton" > wrote in message
...
I might
> not be able to convince a jury that you had a duty to guard my safety
> but it will cost you at least $10,000 in lawyer fees to defend yourself
> against my suit.
>
> Wanna settle right now for, oh, $6K, before my tinhorn finds out that
> you hold a $1M umbrella policy on your house?

I have a very good insurance company for such things. They have been
able to recover costs for defending every such suit to date - not
being a professional, certified 'technician' removes much of the due
diligence problem. Now, if I help you with electrical wiring, that's
another story.

Still a PITA, but generally just helping out leaves the owner in the
position of responsibility. Matter of fact, it generally leaves him
with liability for any injuries you suffer as well. I've found that a
good lawyer usually makes a pretty decent poker player as well.

On Sun, 5 Jun 2005 17:51:17 UTC Lee Ayrton > wrote:

> Will Honea wrote:
>
> [snip fore and aft]
> >
> > In the society of lawyers we have evolved into, there is also a
> > liability issue to consider for paid services.
>
> IANALawyer but I very much doubt that the lack of an exchange of cash or
> of a formal place of regular business will effectively keep one out of
> USofA civil courts over an allegation of loss or injury.
>
> Consider: You are a Good Guy, you help me out by doing over my brakes
> in your driveway, I pay you nothing. A month later a rusty brake line
> pops during an attempted panic stop. I survive and haul you into court
> because you knew or ought to have known that a dangerous condition
> existed (and because I'm a jerk, am under insured and need the cash).
> "Why," my tinhorn from the firm of Dewey, Cheetham and Howe screeches to
> the judge, "Mr. Honea might just as well have put a ticking timebomb
> under my client's driver's seat! Honea was under the car, did the
> brakes and _let_ my client drive away in a lethal deathtrap." I might
> not be able to convince a jury that you had a duty to guard my safety
> but it will cost you at least $10,000 in lawyer fees to defend yourself
> against my suit.
>
> Wanna settle right now for, oh, $6K, before my tinhorn finds out that
> you hold a $1M umbrella policy on your house?
>
>
>


--
Will Honea