What should my buddie charge?

[csudman]

Got a buddie w/ a full shop. Lift, welder, lathes, blah, blah, blah. Got a fella that wants to do a solid axle swap on an Isuzu Trooper. The guys got the axles already. 10/12 blt. I know, But thats what hes got. This price would be to install axles only just the labor. He's gonna do leafs. Prob have to out board the springs in the front. Dont know about the rear yet. Maybe the same. Full width. Gettin d-shafts biult, so the only other major thing i can think of will be steering. Well see. Im just tryin to get an Idea to help him out w/ pricing. Anyway, I guess I lookin for a price for labor only. All materials would be seperate.
Thanks
CJ

 

[Eagle]

If you (or your buddy) haven't already done this swap on a couple of vehicles, I don't see how you could even ballpark the amount of time required. I wouldn't commit to a fixed price on something that's essentially a prototype installation. Tell the owner what the hourly rate is for labor and tell him you have no idea how long it'll take.

Whatever you guess, I can assure you it will take about twice that long. That's just the way it works.

 

[REDXJ4FUN]

I was involve in a similay project. we did a axle swap in a pathfinder to use a 9in rear ans a EB front axle and coils. i belive total with parts not including the axles was about 5Gs. you looking at a good 8 to 10 hours to cut the old suspention off then come the un knowns like what wonderfull things are tied in with the IFS. then thers steering and adapting the brakes. don't forget drive shafts. There was a artical on Off-road.com about an axle swap in a trooper that I had seen awhile ago when a friend wanted to do the same thing but we never did it.

 

[Gary E]

If he hasn't done it before he may be better off charging by the hour.