Ford Labor rates, 1936 A,B, and V8's

Just bought it off of ebay, darn missed the 1937 repair manual

full of labor rates for all parts of the car and some of the costs of parts.

get this,

rebuild engine for V8
432 Install new rings and pistons, grind valves, clean oil pump,tune engine
Labor Charge $19

Recondition Transmission and clutch
Labor Charge $11

Amazing!

Traderjack

 

Thats amazing! I wonder what the cost of living was then as compared to now.

 

Wow. You won't find prices that are ANYWHERE near that now!

 

well, heart of depression, wages 25cents an hour, or less, but things were cheap! Yep ,I was there then !

traderjack

 

In 1936, a man making $19 a week could support a family, you could live like a king on $40 a week.

 

well in 1974, our warranty flat rate with chrysler was $7.00 an hour-techs made about $2.75

 

I work at a Chevy dealer (yes, I still have a job!). Labor rates are $65 on up per hour!

 

some of the geezers who bring their model t's and a's by here for work dont see anything wrong with those labor rates.

 

.I worked a summer job in 1954 at a repair shop and did a complete brake job on a 52 Dodge-turned the drumbs,rebuilt the Master cylinder and all wheel cylinders, bled and road tested and got a whopping $9.50 commission and was damn glad to get it. I worked at a Shell one summer and put in 70 hours a week for $35.00 and very glad I had a job. Back then you quit a job and there was a line of people waiting to get it

 

Our shop rate is $96 an hour. Flat rate killed this industry.