Re: [Amc-list] Amc-list Digest, Vol 2, Issue 68

[Justin Shelton <hydeparker@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi, NicK:

Thanks for your (and everyone else's) input.  I'm not THAT dissatisfied with the price, and frankly there's a reason I take certain things to a machine shop, because they have skills and equipment that I will never have.  I'm more than happy to pay for a premium for a *good* service, it was just that I was a bit surprized that my little AMC head was more expensive than my IHC heads, and I just took them in a year or so ago.

I do like this shop the fact that they are excited to work on the IHC and Rambler stuff to them, and that they actually know what I have.  To me, that means a lot, that they take an interest or are at least aware that something other than Chevy or Mopar or Ford is out there and worth working on.

I'll probably go back to these folks.  They're convenient, they're nice, they know how to do what they do . . .  

- Justin
> Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2007 20:41:53 -0800 (PST)
> From: Nick ALFANO <71amx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Amc-list] 6 Cyl Head work
> To: amc list <amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Message-ID: <553006.37533.qm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
> 
> Justin,
> 
> I think you got a good deal.  It is easy for people on
> the web to say you got ripped off, but in reality,
> when it comes down to the work they did, $300 is a
> fair price.  Think of how much time goes into the
> things that aren't listed below like disassembling
> your head, hot tanking them, grinding a new set of
> valves, setting the valve springs with shims so they
> all match in pressure and height.  Installing the
> guides means removing the old, installing new plus
> honing to fit your valve stems so they are not too
> tight and the cost of the guides them self.  Where
> they bronze or steel liners (I assume steel or they
> should have been more)?  $100 for a valve job on 12
> valves, very fair.  For $100 I am assuming this was
> not a 3 angle valve job.  If it was, you got a great
> deal.  Then you have to clean them again before you do
> the final assembly and install freeze plugs.  Now
> multiply all that times the average shop rate of
> around $75/hr (they probably charged you a lot less
> than that).  It sounds like your head was not a quick
> valve job.  You had valve problems, guides issues,
> seat issues and possibly more.
> 
> In my experience, you might find some shops a couple $
> cheaper and some a couple $ more.  In the end, it is
> who you trust and is it worth saving a buck to search
> for the guy who will do it all for less.
> 
> Now I am not trying to put you down, just trying to
> make you see the other side.  These guys were fair to
> you.  Being that you are only 50 or so miles from me,
> I would tell you if you were getting ripped and have
> you bring you stuff to me.  Feel good about the price
> you paid and enjoy the engine.  I know I shop around
> here where that would have cost $100-$150 more for the
> work you had done.
> 
> Nick Alfano
> Alfano Performance
> Kenosha, WI. 53142
> 262-308-1302
> 262-942-8271 after 6pm central and weekends
> 

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