5.0 at the Shop - am I being Had?

BodyByAAS · Jun 7, 2010

Ok - Im not mechnically savy enough to do a tranny job myself - so I sent it to this well-reviewed place nearby that was BBB recommended and such... the guy just called and told me this

The engine was great with 89K and worth keeping HOWEVER...

The tranny needed to be rebuilt, it needed:

bearing kit
main shaft
blocking rings
cluster

He said parts were $895 + labor (that hes already charging for taking it out) was $495 - hwoever it also needed:

clutch - $345 (racing - regular was $60 less)
rear main engine seal- $25
Flywheel - $65

Apparently the Seal was leaking oil onto the clutch with ate away at it - but hes not charging additional labor for any of that since they are already doing the work.

Total is $1695 with Tax, 6 month warranty on the parts, 1 year on the Clutch.

What do you guys think?

tannerc91gt · Jun 7, 2010

First, spending that much rebuilding a t5 is realistic BUT a bad idea. You could have one built to zspec or a gforce t5 for that price.

What "racing" clutch are you getting? (I really hate the term racing clutch") what flywheel?
Rear main seal ruining a clutch is a pretty common issue (happened with my fox also)

You exactly aren't "being had" but the same money could go a lot farther.
Transmission shops are notorious for high prices, hell that pretty much applies to any mechanic

BodyByAAS · Jun 7, 2010

tannerc91gt said:
First, spending that much rebuilding a t5 is realistic BUT a bad idea. You could have one built to zspec or a gforce t5 for that price.

What "racing" clutch are you getting? (I really hate the term racing clutch") what flywheel?
Rear main seal ruining a clutch is a pretty common issue (happened with my fox also)

You exactly aren't "being had" but the same money could go a lot farther.
Transmission shops are notorious for high prices, hell that pretty much applies to any mechanic

Well - The plus side is that it comes with a warranty on Labor as well .. so since I am not the best stick shift driver thats probably a good thing!!!

Im checking to see what hes putting in for a flywheel/clutch - realistically I dont need anything too crazy since the most I'd do to the car would be a heads/cam swap and new headers.

KamiKaziDK · Jun 7, 2010

there are guys here locally on CL that will rebuild a t5, pull and install it for 750. All your shops prices are jacked up pretty high....but that's a shop, they have rent, employees, blah blah blah. Were you just taking it in to have the clutch replaced in the first place??

BodyByAAS · Jun 7, 2010

KamiKaziDK said:
there are guys here locally on CL that will rebuild a t5, pull and install it for 750. All your shops prices are jacked up pretty high....but that's a shop, they have rent, employees, blah blah blah. Were you just taking it in to have the clutch replaced in the first place??

Nah, I knew it needed a clutch - and it was leaking some oil in the rear of the engine - so I kind of expected the seal and tranny work - assumed the clutch since if ur down there may as well fix it... the flywheel I didnt think about, and I guess I didnt attach a $$ for all that in my mind

KamiKaziDK · Jun 7, 2010

well ask to see your old clutch, if there's nothing wrong with it, you don't need to have it and the flywheel redone. If you had it in for them to replace the rear main and then they said your tranny is leaking too it might be good to have some seals and what not replaced. But a clutch kit at autozone is like 125 bucks for standard and 175 for the "HD" kit from what I remember.....would they let you bring your own parts in? cause that would save you a couple hundred right there. If they say no, tell them....hey, autozone has it for this much...how come you're charging me so much??

BodyByAAS · Jun 7, 2010

KamiKaziDK said:
well ask to see your old clutch, if there's nothing wrong with it, you don't need to have it and the flywheel redone. If you had it in for them to replace the rear main and then they said your tranny is leaking too it might be good to have some seals and what not replaced. But a clutch kit at autozone is like 125 bucks for standard and 175 for the "HD" kit from what I remember.....would they let you bring your own parts in? cause that would save you a couple hundred right there. If they say no, tell them....hey, autozone has it for this much...how come you're charging me so much??

Yeah, He is replacing the rear main seal - the clutch he said is covered in oil and eaten up - the flywheel was something i dont remember LOL -

He told me flat out he makes 10% on parts - so Im waiting for him to call me back and tell me what is being put in. Frankly, I dont wanna hassle him on parts since he seems to be charging me fairly considering all the labor Im not paying for in addition to the $495 flat rate

f8tlfiveo · Jun 7, 2010

G-force t-5 cost me 1950$ but that trans is good for a lot more power than a stocker.. I pulled the trans and replaced it though.. So it would have been closer to 3k if I wouldn't have done most of the work

Jmunk · Jun 7, 2010

I wouldnt want a cheap autozone clutch in my car. Cheap parts are okay to put on some things that are easy and cheap to replace when they fail early. A clutch is something I would spend the extra money on and not have to replace again within a year. I think the prices are about on par with most transmission shops. Did the car have any issues shifting ? If not I would ask why the case was opened up then.

Most shops dont want you bringing in outside parts you sourced out due to fitment. If they get it apart and "your" parts are the wrong ones then they have a lift tied up down time till they get the right parts. Just my .02 cents.

BodyByAAS · Jun 7, 2010

Jmunk said:
I wouldnt want a cheap autozone clutch in my car. Cheap parts are okay to put on some things that are easy and cheap to replace when they fail early. A clutch is something I would spend the extra money on and not have to replace again within a year. I think the prices are about on par with most transmission shops. Did the car have any issues shifting ? If not I would ask why the case was opened up then.

Most shops dont want you bringing in outside parts you sourced out due to fitment. If they get it apart and "your" parts are the wrong ones then they have a lift tied up down time till they get the right parts. Just my .02 cents.

I also agree on the clutch thought - and they did make the fitment argument

Also - i brought it in cause the tranny was done - the rebuild I was expecting, but I estimated like 600 bucks in my mind - I only had 4th gear, nothing else!

90lxcoupe · Jun 7, 2010

1700 for all that work isnt out of line at all

KamiKaziDK · Jun 7, 2010

ahh.....well 1700 for a toasted tranny with all new clutch and everything isn't that bad. I thought you just took it in cause some leaks and then ended up with a 1700 estimate. And I quoted the autozone prices, because a lot of non transmission shops just get their stuff from autozone or checker/schucks/kragen...etc

BodyByAAS · Jun 7, 2010

KamiKaziDK said:
ahh.....well 1700 for a toasted tranny with all new clutch and everything isn't that bad. I thought you just took it in cause some leaks and then ended up with a 1700 estimate. And I quoted the autozone prices, because a lot of non transmission shops just get their stuff from autozone or checker/schucks/kragen...etc

Yeah - hes throwing in a Luk Clutch which he says is top of the line - the guy has been around for 30 years and is BBB rated - I just have never taken anything to a mechanic before so I **** my pants!!

KamiKaziDK · Jun 7, 2010

very good clutch set, I have a LUK gold in my 90. They're also the only clutch Bondurant uses and $345 is about right with markup. It'll be about as stiff as a king cobra clutch with more bite

BodyByAAS · Jun 7, 2010

KamiKaziDK said:
very good clutch set, I have a LUK gold in my 90. They're also the only clutch Bondurant uses and $345 is about right with markup. It'll be about as stiff as a king cobra clutch with more bite

Ive never been much of a "stick" driver - Im guessing STIFF would be less slip?

KamiKaziDK · Jun 7, 2010

It's gonna be a little harder to push in the clutch pedal than a stock clutch

BodyByAAS · Jun 7, 2010

KamiKaziDK said:
It's gonna be a little harder to push in the clutch pedal than a stock clutch

Gotcha!

Now - Considering Im not a great stick driver Im going to take it real easy and ease into every gear to avoid accidently staling or anything... How long/many miles should I wait before really beating on this thing?

Mustang5L5 · Jun 7, 2010

Mainshafts are expensive. Last I looked they were around 400 or so for that shaft. They also score quite frequently on the tip that used mainshafts are a hot commodity. So for a new cluster gear and new mainshaft...that is about 800 in parts.

Keep in mind the cost of these parts NEW!

New t-5 around 1200 plus shipping
New ford flywheel. 90 bucks from summit
New rear main seal 20 from auto zone
New clutch under 100

KamiKaziDK · Jun 7, 2010

You can beat on it right away if you really wanted to, but I usually give my clutches a couple hundred miles to wear off the new clutch glaze and create a good bond with the flywheel.

shaun_st · Jun 7, 2010

This is not a bad price. My brother had his 87 Saleen Trans rebuilt, taken out, new clutch and all for around the same. Transmission blew 2 months later, he had it towed back and they tore it all down again and rebuilt it for free this time. Somthing was not right, the clutch cable was not tight enough and not shifting right. I told him to get a new adjustable cable with firewall adjuster and he was too cheap. It never was right... horry story... then he sold the whole thing for $4000 instead of dealing with it. If i had room in my garage i would have bought it and fixed it.
Anyway, don't just replace the clutch and rear main seal. Make sure they change throw out bearing, and pressure plate which should be included with the clutch but worth asking. Also get a firewall adjuster and/or adjustable cable. You will be happy for the easy adjustments and get it just right. Flywheel can be turned possibly for cheaper than buying a new one as well.
Hard part of the whole job was removing stock H-pipe to stock header studs. PIA... once that is out, the top transmision bolts can be the next hardest, but after that everything else is piece of cake. Air tools help as well.

5.0 at the Shop - am I being Had?

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