my A$$ hurts!!!
 

110 bucks to have a McLeod aluminum flywheel balanced to 290 (amc) specs...
seems a bit steep to me....how about you guys?
it's paid for but i'd like to know if i'm ever gonna go back there...

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

Tom,

The hardest thing about doing that job is having another flywheel to match it to. I have done a few Fords and it usually takes about 45 minutes, a lot of which is setup time. $110 is maybe a little more than what I would have charged but certainly not out of line. Most auto repair shops in my area are getting $100 an hour, just as a reference point.

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

i gave them the flexplate that was for the 290......

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

you could get your own balancer to do it... last I looked they are under 20K

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

tom: some of us who build and race sometimes dont have everything at our disposal ,like my self ,to do on our own,(machine shop,milling,valve seat cutters,flow bench,and so on,)unfortunatly we have to spend cash at our race machine shop in order to get data ,yes this sucks ,but with out it you will not know what improvements will work,take this as a investment ,build a relationship,,if the machine shop has all of the essentials(flow bench,dyno,machining) this will go along way,,my machine shop didnt have a amc bolt pattern or dolly that would except my engine,but i was able to take the dolly home do all the hook ups at my leasure and bring the engine with the dolly to his shop ready to go,yes he charged me the full amount but during the coarse of the winter while i was making changes i was able to work with him and use some of his equiptment to gain knowledge and performance with out going broke,,now i am ready to go to the dyno after all of the improvements ,yes he will charge me the full dyno rate although i do all the hook ups ,but it is well worth it,if your patient and willing to pitch in to help with performance shop this will go along way,,we will see you out there gmonde ,,,

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

Now THATS funny!!! Nice comeback, Bub!
Danny Durham

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

Hey Bub,the same could be said if you need to have a car flat bedded.When you get the bill remember the truck cost about $70-$80 K.Might make sitting down a little easier.

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

People with a "lunch box investment" can't get past some of our "hourly pay".
Great comment Bub. :-)

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

umm, i asked if that price was about right or not, not what the balancer cost.
it's been a while since i had one done...

obviously i won't be using you, either..

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

yeah, i'm just ROLLING on the floor laughing.
and you'd just **** if i went out and did just that,wouldn't ya?


i've been know to...;)

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

Tom,,,believe me I **** enough as it is with the diet my wife has me on these days! Maybe if you did go out and get your own balancer, it'd be a money maker, as I'm wondering how many of those could there be in Front Range, Coloraduh?
Good luck with your project,,,,Danny Durham

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

Well it appears there seems to be somebody that can't afford to run a stock elim. car. What a silly question to put on a forum, did you really think everybody would say you paid to much!!!!!

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

it ALSO appears that you couldn't give a straight answer.

btw, can ANYBODY afford racing?
or should we just leave it to the "chosen few" like you?

half the fun (there's that word that seems to be missing) is the research and scrounging for parts for me...i've never been a checkbook rodder nor will i be a checkbook racer.

i'd have just bought somebodys racecar if that were the case...

hey, i just wanted to know if it was a fair price.
and i HAVE found out it was (off another board and BillK on here) about right.


silly?
been here long?

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

geer, i'm in Berthoud and why i don't just change the thing in my profile is that i get tired of people thinking i live in the mountains.
"front range" is a term for everyplace from ft collins to colo. springs....
an yeah, there's a few machine shops around here...
still looking for a good one though...

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

Is Verle Stevens still in business? The last I knew he was in Aurora but that was several years ago. Anyway if he is still working, he runs a good racer machine shop.

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

Tom,
I have done this type of re balance many times for customers. Most of the customers consider themselves in a bind. I have never felt like I have taken advantage of any of them. I think it is fair to say it this way. If you consider the investment in machinery, the time involved to do the work correctly and the possibility that spinning 2 flywheels that are vibrating and out of balance that could cause damage to your equipment and yourself, No your A** shouldn't be hurting. I've charged between $40 (check to see if 2 already match) and $150 for doing the complete process. (based on time and difficulty) I have had one of them come loose and scare up the wall behind the balancer and take out one of the transducers on the balancer. I also lost one of my favorite flannel shirts in that mishap. I'm glad it was between the ring gear and my belly. :~) I just factor this into doing business.

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

not sure, thought i'd heard he retired but i try and stay the hell away from denver....

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

good to know,the fella i USED to have balance all my stuff died about 4 years ago but the feller that's doing it for the machine shop i took it to was trained by him so i'm pretty sure it's good to go.
thanks for the straight answer,i've been out of it (building engines) for a while so price changes along with shops...

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

Gezzz....I thought you paid entry to an NHRA national event there for a moment when you said you azz hurts......LOL

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

I agree 100%......

Engine machine shop equipment costs a fortune.....how many shops went under in the last 10 years! and lots of them had older equipment.....no payments. Machines are also only a small part of the investment.

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

that'd be my colon.....

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

Tom, don't get discouraged. However, the reality is that the procedure you outlined is in the "insignificant" bucket in terms of overall expense. I know it is tongue and cheek expression, but if your ***** hurts now, you re in for a surprise!

The balancing deal would be needed for any stick combo, hot rod, brackets, on up.

It is just that there are many additional things that stockers need that make a flywheel balance job look like a candy bar purchase.

We try to have the very best for our car, but it is something that happens over time. Our budget does not always allow us to have new stuff either. We look for deals used and try to refab it like new. It helps us get what we want and I think sometimes better than out of the box items.

Some things that help. A good network of racing friends that help each other. Some are machinists, some are good at figuring combos out. some testing or having the tool or part you need at the right time. We trade stuff out to help each other out.

We also have one of the best racing machinist guys around to do our stuff. If you can find a place like that, you can chart your course with them and match your budget with the project to see if it works. Then most of this stuff won't be surprise.

The true value of a good machinist that understands the crazy $$it we do is priceless!

Research is your friend. Until a month ago, I had never had a new jerico or Gforce. We just learned what to buy and how to keep them alive.

I have nice youngblood clutches, I have never had a new one. We have found some used ones and had Rob rebuild them for us.

If it werent for us testing and working together, knowing what parts to buy and how to service them, we couldn't do it.

I would suggest making a list and start to prioritize. Despite the whining, the comments, and NHRA promoting people lacking the proper skills and experience to their upper level staff, this STILL is a great sport with some of the most innovative and helpful people anywhere involved in it.

Welcome Stick Racer!

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

oh , i'm not discouraged.
damn, all i asked was if that was a normal price....
like i said before, it's been a while since i had anything balanced...wasn't sure of the current prices...
i just keep plugging along as it's a hobby to me, not a career move.
i got a job....

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

That was'nt bad price I convert flywheels all the time I go by time it is anywhere from 45.00-125.00 normaly.
I have a friend that says if you're buying it's too high,if you're selling it's too cheap.
Mike Taylor 3601

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

Ha! That's (not) funny! I don't care who you are! Jim:rolleyes:

Re: my A$$ hurts!!!
 

Yes he is. Verry good machine shop. The Burtons use him.