"........find someone who does not do flat rate. flat rate is great for the tech/ mechanic but can often jip the customer by charging a job for so many hours, then doing it in less time.........."


Tell you what Matt, go to work as a flat rate mechanic (say in a dealership) for a month and then come back and tell me what a great deal it is for the mechanic. If I beat the flat rate all well and good, but who eats it if takes longer than the book gives (you know the book that doesn't give allowances for rusted/seized bolts on a 20 year old car)? What happens on a slow month when your stall is empty? Yeah, flat rate gives you an incentive to turn out more work, but if you get a defective part, or screw up.........you get to do it again for free. Yeah, a GOOD flat rate mechanic can make a decent living, but he busts his butt to do it, regardless of what someone who has never worked in the field may think.

As far as custom work goes, any shop that does it will tell you they can't go by flat rate because no flat rate manual exists that can cover all the different things that may be required. Even something that sounds as simple as installing the bucket seats can go every quickly (i.e. finding a set from a similar model that are a bolt in to being a nightmare involving modifying tracks, building spacers etc etc.

The engine swap is another good example, if I'm replacing a small block with another small block the price would start at around $550 (labor only). Changing over from say a V6 to V8, or small block to big block ( basically an engine that was an option in the car or truck) would add an extra $100-$200 in labor. Doing something major like slipping in a 500CI Caddy would START at $1000. Until you actually get into the swap it's almost impossible to have a feel for how much time it's going to take unless you have already done a similar swap in the past.

youngmalibu, one thing I have seen over the years is that the GOOD mechanics in an area usually charge about the same rate as each other, you can always find someone who SAYS he can do it for half the price but you will find that you get what you pay for. Check with the reputable shops in your area and in order to get the best estimate be very specific on what it is you want them to do, the more information you provide the better they will be able to tell you how much it will run.