Can This Be Real?
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Can This Be Real?
Need opinions on this bill. I'll try to make the story short. Brought my bone stock 2001 Z06 in for the following work 6 weeks ago (May1). I've been told the delay was due to trying to get parts from Vortech and I might get it back this week. I purchased an "absolutely complete" used Vortech V2-SQ (Water/Air) kit from this forum last November. Since then accumulated the rest of the pieces - OBX headers, elite tunnel plate, 2 catch cans and all of the fluids. Boost-a-pump also came with the kit and was also missing pieces.
1. Before Dyno = 3.0 hrs = $285.56
2. Supercharger Install = 30.3 hrs = $2,875.00
3. Exhaust & Tunnel Plate = 12.1 = $1,150.00
4. Oil Change = $14.95(lab) $117.02 (Matl)
5. manual tranny fluid = 1.3 hrs = $125.00
6. differential fluid = 2.1 hrs = $197.50
7. alignment = 2.6 hrs = $250.00
5. Retorque Rear End = 0.7 hrs = $62.50
Shop's Estimate To Complete: Brake Fluid, 2 oil catch cans, boost-a-pump, final dyno and tune = 18.1 hrs = $1,715.84
Missing Parts:
vortech parts (missing) = $465.84
shop materials and supplies = $323.71
spark plugs = $168.00
coolant temp sensor = $51.38
connectors = $18.20
helia relay = $9.35
ato inline fuse holder = $6.77
Total Hours 70.1
Total Labour $6,676.35
Total Material $1,160.27
Total $7,836.62
Based on the research I've done on here and initial conversations with this shop owner, I expected half this bill. Now this surprise at the end. Was I wrong?
1. Before Dyno = 3.0 hrs = $285.56
2. Supercharger Install = 30.3 hrs = $2,875.00
3. Exhaust & Tunnel Plate = 12.1 = $1,150.00
4. Oil Change = $14.95(lab) $117.02 (Matl)
5. manual tranny fluid = 1.3 hrs = $125.00
6. differential fluid = 2.1 hrs = $197.50
7. alignment = 2.6 hrs = $250.00
5. Retorque Rear End = 0.7 hrs = $62.50
Shop's Estimate To Complete: Brake Fluid, 2 oil catch cans, boost-a-pump, final dyno and tune = 18.1 hrs = $1,715.84
Missing Parts:
vortech parts (missing) = $465.84
shop materials and supplies = $323.71
spark plugs = $168.00
coolant temp sensor = $51.38
connectors = $18.20
helia relay = $9.35
ato inline fuse holder = $6.77
Total Hours 70.1
Total Labour $6,676.35
Total Material $1,160.27
Total $7,836.62
Based on the research I've done on here and initial conversations with this shop owner, I expected half this bill. Now this surprise at the end. Was I wrong?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 6
From: Winter Springs Fla
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,724
Likes: 0
From: Oil Country
Even the header install/ tunnel plate install is insane. Probably got overcharged by $500-$600 on just that! I put longtubes and a catted x-pipe on in my garage on jack stands in approximately 8 hours ( no tunnel plate mind you). There is no way a shop with a lift, air tools, experience etc. should take over 12 hours!
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,869
Likes: 61
From: montreal quebec
Total rip off.....total total rip off....dude you can get a new kit from a few different vendors tuned and installed for under 7k...dude....i did a blower install along with a head swap and cam swap and a trans swap along with a converter swap and a diff rebuild and an awesome tune....oh ya and a meth kit install...and my bill was somewhere near 3k...and i'm not even mentioning the oil change and the shop suppiles boost a pump and everthing else .....i think your getting screwed...You should have gotten an estimate first....good luck
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Oviedo Florida
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Something smells!!!Did you do your research before the install?
Did you know anything about the installer? NO ESTIMATE???
The installer is a crook but what about you, the truth is these
people wait around for babes in the woods like yourself to screw.
OK leason learned, you will be alot smarter the next time.
I hope you are happy with the work that has been done.
You get screwed because you allow people to do it---stand up
DON'T GET SCREWED!!!!!!!!
Did you know anything about the installer? NO ESTIMATE???
The installer is a crook but what about you, the truth is these
people wait around for babes in the woods like yourself to screw.
OK leason learned, you will be alot smarter the next time.
I hope you are happy with the work that has been done.
You get screwed because you allow people to do it---stand up
DON'T GET SCREWED!!!!!!!!
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 17,681
Likes: 11
From: Central Jersey
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
We are not the type of shop that goes around bashing other shops but a lot of those quotes are out of line. 3.4 hours for tranny and rear fluid is just rediculous as well as 12 hours for exhaust work.. My gut would be that the shop has little to no experience working on corvettes. Maybe they took out the entire drivetrain looking for the transmission thinking it was in the front.. 
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 16,667
Likes: 1,209
From: Raleigh, NC
St. Jude Donor '15
Need opinions on this bill. I'll try to make the story short. Brought my bone stock 2001 Z06 in for the following work 6 weeks ago (May1). I've been told the delay was due to trying to get parts from Vortech and I might get it back this week. I purchased an "absolutely complete" used Vortech V2-SQ (Water/Air) kit from this forum last November. Since then accumulated the rest of the pieces - OBX headers, elite tunnel plate, 2 catch cans and all of the fluids. Boost-a-pump also came with the kit and was also missing pieces.
1. Before Dyno = 3.0 hrs = $285.56
2. Supercharger Install = 30.3 hrs = $2,875.00
3. Exhaust & Tunnel Plate = 12.1 = $1,150.00
4. Oil Change = $14.95(lab) $117.02 (Matl)
5. manual tranny fluid = 1.3 hrs = $125.00
6. differential fluid = 2.1 hrs = $197.50
7. alignment = 2.6 hrs = $250.00
5. Retorque Rear End = 0.7 hrs = $62.50
Shop's Estimate To Complete: Brake Fluid, 2 oil catch cans, boost-a-pump, final dyno and tune = 18.1 hrs = $1,715.84
Missing Parts:
vortech parts (missing) = $465.84
shop materials and supplies = $323.71
spark plugs = $168.00
coolant temp sensor = $51.38
connectors = $18.20
helia relay = $9.35
ato inline fuse holder = $6.77
Total Hours 70.1
Total Labour $6,676.35
Total Material $1,160.27
Total $7,836.62
Based on the research I've done on here and initial conversations with this shop owner, I expected half this bill. Now this surprise at the end. Was I wrong?
1. Before Dyno = 3.0 hrs = $285.56
2. Supercharger Install = 30.3 hrs = $2,875.00
3. Exhaust & Tunnel Plate = 12.1 = $1,150.00
4. Oil Change = $14.95(lab) $117.02 (Matl)
5. manual tranny fluid = 1.3 hrs = $125.00
6. differential fluid = 2.1 hrs = $197.50
7. alignment = 2.6 hrs = $250.00
5. Retorque Rear End = 0.7 hrs = $62.50
Shop's Estimate To Complete: Brake Fluid, 2 oil catch cans, boost-a-pump, final dyno and tune = 18.1 hrs = $1,715.84
Missing Parts:
vortech parts (missing) = $465.84
shop materials and supplies = $323.71
spark plugs = $168.00
coolant temp sensor = $51.38
connectors = $18.20
helia relay = $9.35
ato inline fuse holder = $6.77
Total Hours 70.1
Total Labour $6,676.35
Total Material $1,160.27
Total $7,836.62
Based on the research I've done on here and initial conversations with this shop owner, I expected half this bill. Now this surprise at the end. Was I wrong?
Have you paid the bill? I'd fight it like hell. They saw you were driving a vette and decided to just double your bill on everything it looks like to me..
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 16,667
Likes: 1,209
From: Raleigh, NC
St. Jude Donor '15
Ridiculous. Post the name of the shop if you haven't already...
And I hope if you have paid the bill you paid with a credit card..and hopefully american express. you'll get your money back then
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 78
From: Forney Texas
Are you aware that there is a thread in this section for a brand new A&A supercharger kit, which is 300% better than the standard Vortech kit, installed for something like 6895.00? That includes a bigger, better intercooler, better bracket, belt, injectors, tune, warranty, etc. I've heard of Corvette tax, but this goes above and beyond! I could have done that work on the floor in my garage in way less time than they're charging. I would recommend you ask many questions and document everything. You might need it in the future.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
What's your mailing address? I'll send you some of this:
You're going to need it
Seriously though... my father and I just had a shop do a major overhaul on our Panoz race car. We've never had a shop do anything but neither of us had the time. Shop was/is one of the best road race shops on the east cost. But even still we got a final bill that was nearly 3x our original estimate! We expected about 2x our original estimate due to extra work we approved, but in the end they were out of line. They kept telling us they were "on budget" etc. What happened was the project manager didn't manage and the techs overbilled for everything to pad their paychecks. When it came time to tally the hours they were way over. Thankfully we had our original estimate in writing and were able to negotiate a fair settlement.
Did you just drop your car off and say "GO!"?
You're going to need it
Seriously though... my father and I just had a shop do a major overhaul on our Panoz race car. We've never had a shop do anything but neither of us had the time. Shop was/is one of the best road race shops on the east cost. But even still we got a final bill that was nearly 3x our original estimate! We expected about 2x our original estimate due to extra work we approved, but in the end they were out of line. They kept telling us they were "on budget" etc. What happened was the project manager didn't manage and the techs overbilled for everything to pad their paychecks. When it came time to tally the hours they were way over. Thankfully we had our original estimate in writing and were able to negotiate a fair settlement.
Did you just drop your car off and say "GO!"?
Last edited by Cobra4B; Jun 11, 2009 at 09:26 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
Need opinions on this bill. I'll try to make the story short. Brought my bone stock 2001 Z06 in for the following work 6 weeks ago (May1). I've been told the delay was due to trying to get parts from Vortech and I might get it back this week. I purchased an "absolutely complete" used Vortech V2-SQ (Water/Air) kit from this forum last November. Since then accumulated the rest of the pieces - OBX headers, elite tunnel plate, 2 catch cans and all of the fluids. Boost-a-pump also came with the kit and was also missing pieces.
1. Before Dyno = 3.0 hrs = $285.56
2. Supercharger Install = 30.3 hrs = $2,875.00
3. Exhaust & Tunnel Plate = 12.1 = $1,150.00
4. Oil Change = $14.95(lab) $117.02 (Matl)
5. manual tranny fluid = 1.3 hrs = $125.00
6. differential fluid = 2.1 hrs = $197.50
7. alignment = 2.6 hrs = $250.00
5. Retorque Rear End = 0.7 hrs = $62.50
Shop's Estimate To Complete: Brake Fluid, 2 oil catch cans, boost-a-pump, final dyno and tune = 18.1 hrs = $1,715.84
Missing Parts:
vortech parts (missing) = $465.84
shop materials and supplies = $323.71
spark plugs = $168.00
coolant temp sensor = $51.38
connectors = $18.20
helia relay = $9.35
ato inline fuse holder = $6.77
Total Hours 70.1
Total Labour $6,676.35
Total Material $1,160.27
Total $7,836.62
Based on the research I've done on here and initial conversations with this shop owner, I expected half this bill. Now this surprise at the end. Was I wrong?
1. Before Dyno = 3.0 hrs = $285.56
2. Supercharger Install = 30.3 hrs = $2,875.00
3. Exhaust & Tunnel Plate = 12.1 = $1,150.00
4. Oil Change = $14.95(lab) $117.02 (Matl)
5. manual tranny fluid = 1.3 hrs = $125.00
6. differential fluid = 2.1 hrs = $197.50
7. alignment = 2.6 hrs = $250.00
5. Retorque Rear End = 0.7 hrs = $62.50
Shop's Estimate To Complete: Brake Fluid, 2 oil catch cans, boost-a-pump, final dyno and tune = 18.1 hrs = $1,715.84
Missing Parts:
vortech parts (missing) = $465.84
shop materials and supplies = $323.71
spark plugs = $168.00
coolant temp sensor = $51.38
connectors = $18.20
helia relay = $9.35
ato inline fuse holder = $6.77
Total Hours 70.1
Total Labour $6,676.35
Total Material $1,160.27
Total $7,836.62
Based on the research I've done on here and initial conversations with this shop owner, I expected half this bill. Now this surprise at the end. Was I wrong?