Looking for a list of shop rates or hours per repair.1965 I-1000 fleetside

[donker1988]

I want to find out the amount of hours need to work on various things on the truck.To start with..Replacing the brake lines.Thanks

[jbgroby]

Donker,

That question will be best answered by the experience of the SHOP mechanic. The very best rate is a local shade tree mechanic WHO ACUTALLY KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING.

Many of the COPORATE SHOPS (Firestone, Midas, etc.) legally prohibit their workers from taking side work. (I've always wondered how they enforce that). GO to your local car shows and ask around, these folks not only have the experience BUT more importantly have the love it takes to really go a good job.

[ilvracn]

At my shop it would be $80 per hour. This is a flat rate. As an example ,replace radiator 1.1 hours would be $88, that is the charge weather it took 1 hour or 2 hours to complete the work.
In the case of the brake line, it is probably rusty. That means that what it screws into is rusty also. Replacing a brake line can turn into replacing wheel cylinders, because the line or bleeder wont come out. That in turn can into replacing the brake shoes, because the wheel cylinder or axle seal has leaked fluid and ruined the shoes. If the axle seals are leaking, the axle shafts will need to be pulled out and the seals and possibly bearings replaced. This is not always the case, but a simple brake line repair can turn into an expensive and time consuming ordeal.

My point is you may have difficulty getting an exact estimate for this repair. I would be very leary of anyone who does not explain this before starting repairs.

[AZKen]

What is your reason for asking? To get repairs done? To know what to charge someone for your services? To do it yourself? Seems like an open ended question. I assume if you wanted to know how much money you would get quotes. So in asking for hours, you must have other reasons.
If your reason is stated, it will influence the answer. An paid expert with all the tools and a lift.......... and a DIY person, will have large differences in time. We don't know which you want to know.

I have done many brake line jobs. No one can tell you how long it will take you. There are a whole bunch of things to do and a whole bunch of questions I would ask you. That's if you are asking because you want to do it, and have never done it.

[donker1988]

I want the brake lines replaced.And since it's not a common repair such as wheel cylinders or shoes..It's hard for me to figure out..If I'm getting over charged.I have been searching for a book..Or an online source...but no luck prior to '68.Trying to determine..If it's worth getting it done at a certain shop's quote.Thanks for all of the feedback...Guys!!

[AZKen]

If you give us the quote we can give our opinion. Don't hold back info. If your wheel cylinders are not new and master is not new, I would suggest doing those. I also don't know what is wrong with the old lines or if this is a restoration. The best way to determine price is by getting 3-4 quotes. I'll guess: If the shop is flaring and bending the whole truck, tubing (steel, not SS), fittings, three rubber hoses, fill and bleed- $650-$750 and up.

Summit/Inline Tube has a suitable prebent kit, without the rubber, for about $300. Steel. The 3 hoses will be about $60-$70

[jbgroby]

Donker, You can c\order a full pre-bend set from Inline Tube, for about $250.00, jack the truck up on stands and replace them one line at a time.

Originally Posted by donker1988

I want the brake lines replaced.And since it's not a common repair such as wheel cylinders or shoes..It's hard for me to figure out..If I'm getting over charged.I have been searching for a book..Or an online source...but no luck prior to '68.Trying to determine..If it's worth getting it done at a certain shop's quote.Thanks for all of the feedback...Guys!!

[Ruger3screw]

You can also factory in where in the country you are. For instance a 65 truck in Ohio you have a bad brake line figure on replacing everything if it hadn't been replace at least once already. Here in the west I work on these trucks daily and I'm not surprised to see all original equipment and just replace a wheel cylinder just from sitting.

Joe Michaels
Camp Verde AZ
K1001 Custom Cab, Big Window

[POWERSTROKE]

Had a shop do exactly what your wanting to do a year ago. I supplied new preformed stainless steel brake lines from Classic Tubing, $330 kit includes shipping. I also supplied the new replacement frt wheel calipers and all three flexible brake lines. The shop supplied the new master cylinder and new rear wheel cylinders. The shop also serviced the air conditioning.
Brake labor was 6-1/2 hours at $80/hrs for $520. Rear wheel cylinders $13.99 each, master cylinder $52.57. 2 quarts brake fluid at $4.99/quart, $9.98. AC work was $79.95. Total bill was $728.46 plus my $100 of frt calipers and $350 of brake lines and hoses. I think I got a good deal.
Truck was a 1996 F-250 regular cab 4wd 5-speed long box. Truck had 301,000 miles on it. It had new brake shoes & pads & rotors around 250,000 miles so didn't need drums, rotors, or pads & shoes.
I know I could not have replaced all the brake lines in 6-1/2 hours getting up off my creeper and getting back down after getting a tool.

Another shop I kinda wanted to do the work, took me three visits during normal business hours to find somebody to talk to. Guy was kinda short with me. $95/hour labor, plus they would not use my brake lines, they would make their own and refused to make them from stainless so that was enough for me to reject them from working on my truck. FOREVER!

The local O'Reilly highly recommended the shop I used. Local guys with rare and interesting cars seem to have him work on their stuff. He serviced a nice Mercury XR4TI last time I was there while the owner & I talked.