simonjrwinter Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 I was in two minds as to whether I should undertake my gearbox removal myself or If I should bite the bullet and get a specialist to do it for me. I've just had an email telling me it will take them 5.8 hours at £74.50 per hour (+vat = £500!) just to do the work and not including any parts. I think this has pretty well made my mind up for me. I'm not too worried about doing the work itself, it's just that my double garage is half taken up with another project, meaning I'll have to do it outside on the drive. Does anybody know of another triumph specialist in this area (Essex/London) whose prices are keener? Thanks Simon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
david ferry Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 That's quite some hourly rate. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tr6driver Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 (edited) I was in two minds as to whether I should undertake my gearbox removal myself or If I should bite the bullet and get a specialist to do it for me.I've just had an email telling me it will take them 5.8 hours at £74.50 per hour (+vat = £500!) just to do the work and not including any parts. I think this has pretty well made my mind up for me. I'm not too worried about doing the work itself, it's just that my double garage is half taken up with another project, meaning I'll have to do it outside on the drive. Does anybody know of another triumph specialist in this area (Essex/London) whose prices are keener? Thanks Simon Hi I thought that Norway is an expensive country,but that hour rate is very high , is VAT included ? Oystein Edited June 12, 2009 by tr6driver Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marko Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 (edited) We've got one of the best gearbox rebuilders in the country (don't tell him - he'll want a pay rise!) - if you look at the picture you can just see him lurking about outside near a blue spitfire!!! He been doing engine's gearboxes and diffs for TR for more than 30 years (yes he's an old git!) We charge £35.00 per hour +vat for TR Register members and we're in Norfolk... PM me if you want more details - full workshop facilities, plus collection & delivery if required..... Mark Edited June 12, 2009 by marko Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richard71 Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 We've got one of the best gearbox rebuilders in the country (don't tell him - he'll want a pay rise!) - if you look at the picture you can just see him lurking about outside near a blue spitfire!!! He been doing engine's gearboxes and diffs for TR for more than 30 years (yes he's an old git!) We charge £35.00 per hour +vat for TR Register members and we're in Norfolk... PM me if you want more details - full workshop facilities, plus collection & delivery if required..... Mark A very reasonable & hard to beat hourly rate, I may even pay you visit all the way from Scotland sometime. Richard. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JOHN'S TR6 Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 (edited) Simon If you are considering paying someone just to take out the gearbox, all I would say to you is that is very simple to remove. I have no great mechanical knowledge (went to art college) Say no more. I have done the job now twice in four years and it is worth getting over that learning curve in case you need to do the job again. Also the satisfaction when you have done these jobs is part of the fun of owning the car. I removed the whole box over the winter in not much more that three hours and that is with lunch and plenty of cups of tea in between. I only have a single garage with no more than 1. 1/2 ft each side of the car. It is mainly a case of removing the seats and carpet and gear cover. Un doing the bolts to the prop and rear mount and then the bolts to the bell housing ( thats the tricky bit due to access) And then finally detach the starter motor and clutch slave cylinder. No need to have to bleed after ( just support it) Then lots of pulling to split the box to the bell housing. Lift from inside the car. I Don't think it will drop through the floor. Some people don't even remove the seats but I would as you may trash the covering. If you drain the box first of oil it will be a tad lighter but the box is not as heavy as you may think. In my mind bits for the car are expensive enough without paying other people to do them. Then you will feel that you are in control of the car, rather than it of you. Just noticed your engine is a Rover V8. Don't know how that effects things. John Edited June 12, 2009 by JOHN'S TR6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ianhoward Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 ...it will be a tad lighter but the box is not as heavy as you may think. Each to their own!!! I certainly wouldn't want it dropping on my fingers/toes!! Brgds Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR 2100 Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 I've just had an email telling me it will take them 5.8 hours at £74.50 per hour (+vat = £500!) just to do the work and not including any parts. I wonder if that quotation was based on removal of engine AND gearbox as a unit - the factory recommended way. If you are just removing, it's not too bad, though you need some protection on the floors to avoid damaging the paint. Trolley jack underneath to just lift it off the rear mounting, remove all the nuts/bolts (and starter, clutch slave, speedo cable obviously) and you're away. AlanR Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Fremont Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 We've got one of the best gearbox rebuilders in the country (don't tell him - he'll want a pay rise!) - if you look at the picture you can just see him lurking about outside near a blue spitfire!!! He been doing engine's gearboxes and diffs for TR for more than 30 years (yes he's an old git!) We charge £35.00 per hour +vat for TR Register members and we're in Norfolk... PM me if you want more details - full workshop facilities, plus collection & delivery if required..... Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Fremont Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 We've got one of the best gearbox rebuilders in the country (don't tell him - he'll want a pay rise!) - if you look at the picture you can just see him lurking about outside near a blue spitfire!!! He been doing engine's gearboxes and diffs for TR for more than 30 years (yes he's an old git!) We charge £35.00 per hour +vat for TR Register members and we're in Norfolk... PM me if you want more details - full workshop facilities, plus collection & delivery if required..... Mark That's perfectly reasonable - such a resource isn't available to me, nor most other Yanks. I'd be quite tempted to hire it out but for the certainty I have that the job would not be as thorough or neat as my own work, nor would the time of completion and return likely suit me Quote Link to post Share on other sites
simonjrwinter Posted June 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 Thanks for all the advice chaps, I'm quite happy to take on the work (especially as the engine MAY cause it to be more difficult/expensive) I'm just worried about doing all the work outside on my sloping drive. I have an engine crane and a set of car ramps, I'll see how I feel and how the weather is over the next few days. Simon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR6 Poor Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 Shame on you. Labor to remove, reinstall, this is not a bad price at all. What do you want it done for nothing? What business are you in, do you work for nothing? You have no idea of the amount of time it takes to do this job. Not to mention the cost of the tools required, experience, insurance. And the V8 is not going to make it any easier. I hope you realize you have purchased a car that is going to require constant attention, ie money spent. More importantly, if you do the work yourself, time spent. Time is just like real estate, there is only so much of it, and they are not making anymore of it. I think you should do the job yourself just so you can find out why they quoted you the price they did. And, if you buy into these people telling you how fast they can do the job, and how simple it is, you are very foolish. It is just like asking someone how big a fish they caught. Good Luck. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
simonjrwinter Posted June 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 (edited) Shame on you. Labor to remove, reinstall, this is not a bad price at all. What do you want it done for nothing? Tr6 poor (is that your real name?) HUH? I beg your pardon? I CERTAINLY DON'T get paid almost £80 an hour (thats $131), how many people on here do? I have built two Cobra replicas and two GT40 replicas (with a third half way through hence the problem with the garage space). I have owned a Vitesse, a Dolly sprint, two GT6's and THREE TR6's (and those are just the Triumphs) So I think I may have the ability to do the job! I have no problem with paying people a decent hourly rate, but as Mark says, his garge charges £35+vat per hour, should I be happy with a rate that is more than TWICE that? I'm sure the company involved do a first class job, but sadly it's beyond my means. Simon Edited June 12, 2009 by simonjrwinter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alec Pringle Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 Hi Simon, £74.50+vat/hr ? For a TR6 ? They cannot be serious. That's twice the retail rate at the garage I use, and that's for a trio of very efficient and highly skilled mechanical engineers, not semi-skilled fitters . . . . And for that rate they happily deal with modern cars as well, complete with all the necessary high-tech computerised diagnostics etc. Wiltshire may be rural England, but the business costs aren't so much different to Essex. Why not drop in to the next Essex Group meeting and see if you can't recruit a couple of pairs of willing hands for a Saturday afternoon ? And then return the favour in the future when the willing hands are in need . . . . A bit of mutual assistance makes the exercise a darn sight easier and cheaper. It's the way we all used to do things, after all, and given present economic conditions about the only way we'll afford to keep our cars on the road. Cheers, Alec Quote Link to post Share on other sites
simonjrwinter Posted June 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 Hi Simon, £74.50+vat/hr ? For a TR6 ? They cannot be serious. That's twice the retail rate at the garage I use, and that's for a trio of very efficient and highly skilled mechanical engineers, not semi-skilled fitters . . . . And for that rate they happily deal with modern cars as well, complete with all the necessary high-tech computerised diagnostics etc. Wiltshire may be rural England, but the business costs aren't so much different to Essex. Why not drop in to the next Essex Group meeting and see if you can't recruit a couple of pairs of willing hands for a Saturday afternoon ? And then return the favour in the future when the willing hands are in need . . . . A bit of mutual assistance makes the exercise a darn sight easier and cheaper. It's the way we all used to do things, after all, and given present economic conditions about the only way we'll afford to keep our cars on the road. Cheers, Alec Alec, Damn good idea, think I'll do that. Many thanks Simon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR6 Poor Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 You never did say what business you are in, DR., Lawyer, Government? Marks garage will work for 35 pounds per hr.? Well, that is 203 pounds, 5.8 X 35, right? There is now way that anyone is going to put a clutch in a TR6, for 203 pounds labor. I don't believe it. That is about $300 USD, you would get laughted out of any garage over here if you ask them would they put a clutch in anything for $300 dollars, much less a TR6. I suspect you have already called Mark, and he is not going to put a clutch in for 203 pounds. I see that people wanting something for nothing is a worldwide problem, not just in the USA. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alec Pringle Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 Hi TR6 Poor, You're entitled to your own opinion, but if you insist on being so damn patronising to folks who are possibly more skilled and knowledgeable than you are are yourself, then you've earned a blunt response. In my considered opinion, you're doing a fine job of talking out of your backside. I wouldn't presume to comment on USA labour rates - I am, however, familiar with UK labour rates. £35-40/hr (+ 15%vat) is sensible for a small garage, £70+ isn't, end of discussion. As far as changing a clutch is concerned . . . . I'll quote from the 1976 edition of the ICME manual - which is about as authoritative as you could wish for. Triumph TR5 or TR6, clutch remove and refit, 6.3 hours. That was the industry standard time for the average mechanic in the average garage. If a TR specialist can't beat that by 10%, then there's something wrong with him. The 5.8 hours labour originally quoted to Simon is perfectly reasonable - the rate per hour isn't. And please don't give me any cr*p about "how big a fish they caught". I've been familiar with TR6s since they first came out. I've seen a skilled TR mechanic change a TR6 clutch in a road car, single-handed, in under 4 hours from drive in to drive out again. My car. At a race meeting, as TR team manager, I've watched a pair of my guys change a clutch in under 80 minutes - but that's a race car, with less trim in the way - and they were race mechanics not average Joes. " I see that people wanting something for nothing is a worldwide problem, not just in the USA." Absolute bollocks. The kind of uninformed observation that prejudices the rest of the world against the USA, sadly. Think, before you shoot from the lip . . . . Cheers, Alec Quote Link to post Share on other sites
foster461 Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 You never did say what business you are in, DR., Lawyer, Government? Marks garage will work for 35 pounds per hr.? Well, that is 203 pounds, 5.8 X 35, right? There is now way that anyone is going to put a clutch in a TR6, for 203 pounds labor. I don't believe it. That is about $300 USD, you would get laughted out of any garage over here if you ask them would they put a clutch in anything for $300 dollars, much less a TR6. I suspect you have already called Mark, and he is not going to put a clutch in for 203 pounds. I see that people wanting something for nothing is a worldwide problem, not just in the USA. With all due respect he didnt say he wanted something for nothing. He is capable of doing the job and was wondering whether it was worth it to him to have some else do it. Apparently at 500 GBP for labor he decided it wasnt and he would rather do the project at home. I would go through the same process. If I could get a clutch replaced for $300 labor there is no way I would pull the tranny myself. If it was $800 labor though and I was not pressed for time I would do it myself and spend the $800 on something else. I dont know how Mark can pay his folks and expenses and make a living at gbp 35 an hour. The last time I was in London that would have bought me seven cups of tea.. Which reminds me that independent of this discussion, comparing costs by using exchange rates is not going to give the whole picture. There are other factors like wages, taxes, benefits and cost of living that all go into determining if gbp 75 is expensive or good value to someone living in that area. Stan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
simonjrwinter Posted June 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 Well, Spent the evening putting rebuild kits in both the clutch master and slave cylinders along with a change to silicon brake fluid. As the car has been used so little over the years, the slave cylinder was showing slight signs of corrosion on the bottom of the bore leading to fluid weeping past the seal and the clutch becoming less and less effective as I've driven it (i've used it more in the last few weeks than the last owner did for four years!) I've tried to clean up the bore before fitting a new seal, but I guess I'll just see how it goes. I think it's quite possible the fluid will leak past the seal again so I will replace the whole slave cylinder at that time (they're cheap enough) My clutch release bearing noise isn't too great and I can quite happily live with the jumping out of gear occasionally thing, so may put off any gearbox removal thoughts until a later date. The clutch actuating arm is the adjustable type so I've tweaked it a bit to bring the biting point off the floor (where it has been since the previous owner had the car in 1989) so hopefully there's not a clutch fork issue there (time will tell) See you at the Ace cafe tomorrow. Mine is the green TR6 with the louvres in the bonnet Simon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR 2100 Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 along with a change to silicon brake fluid. Simon, You may wish to check other threads on the dangers of changing to silicon fluid without at least removing and washing all the seals to remove ALL traces of the old fluid and, preferably, replacing ALL the seals. AlanR Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richard V Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 (edited) I dont know how Mark can pay his folks and expenses and make a living at gbp 35 an hour. The last time I was in London that would have bought me seven cups of tea.. Stan Not even the English can manage 7 cups of tea per hour.... This is due to the 5 additional minutes per hour required in the bathroom "offloading" said tea, and no english gentleman would ever drink tea in the bathroom Edited June 12, 2009 by Richard V Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alec Pringle Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 Hi Alan, clutch hydraulics, master and slave seals is about it . . . . Excuse me Richard, but TRs were never gentlemen's cars . . . . and that's the drivers, never mind the grease monkeys who worked on them Anyway, we don't drink 'cups' of tea in garages, we drink mugs And if Stan has been in the habit of paying a fiver for a cup of tea, he's been drinking in the wrong establishments Ye gods and little fishes, for a fiver I'd expect a lap dancer with my cuppa . . . . Cheers, Alec Quote Link to post Share on other sites
foster461 Posted June 12, 2009 Report Share Posted June 12, 2009 Hi Alan, clutch hydraulics, master and slave seals is about it . . . . Excuse me Richard, but TRs were never gentlemen's cars . . . . and that's the drivers, never mind the grease monkeys who worked on them Anyway, we don't drink 'cups' of tea in garages, we drink mugs And if Stan has been in the habit of paying a fiver for a cup of tea, he's been drinking in the wrong establishments Ye gods and little fishes, for a fiver I'd expect a lap dancer with my cuppa . . . . Cheers, Alec I was staying in the Tower Hotel, right next to Tower bridge and the Tower of London. If I recall, the room was $600 a night so a fiver for a cup of tea didnt seem too bad. Stan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richard V Posted June 13, 2009 Report Share Posted June 13, 2009 Hi Alan, clutch hydraulics, master and slave seals is about it . . . . Excuse me Richard, but TRs were never gentlemen's cars . . . . and that's the drivers, never mind the grease monkeys who worked on them Anyway, we don't drink 'cups' of tea in garages, we drink mugs And if Stan has been in the habit of paying a fiver for a cup of tea, he's been drinking in the wrong establishments Ye gods and little fishes, for a fiver I'd expect a lap dancer with my cuppa . . . . Cheers, Alec Being a tea drinking grease monkey myself, all I can say is.... bring on the lap dancers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ragtag Posted June 13, 2009 Report Share Posted June 13, 2009 I was staying in the Tower Hotel, right next to Tower bridge and the Tower of London. If I recall, the room was $600 a night so a fiver for a cup of tea didnt seem too bad. Stan Good God Stan I didn't realise you were related to Arab Royalty Last time I stayed in the West End (and it wasn't during the Blitz) a double room was about £100! For the sort of money you paid Marko would have restored your car and put you up at the local pub for a couple of nights Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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