Re: Is adding air conditioning an unobtainable myth?

Posted by PackardV8 On 2011/9/7 17:36:39

"are worth two to six times book times and at a higher rate."

If "book times" is reference to the flat rate manual then yes, about 3 times flat rate would be a must-have for any mechanic to perform the operation. The problem is that flat rate manual does NOT take inot account rusty bolts, 50 years of gerry rigging by other mechanics, pushing the car in and out of the bay while waiting for parts and this list caould on and on for at least 1000 words.

Flat rate was written FOR THE MANUFATURER in view of WARRANTY work. Many other issues i won;t bother to detail at this point.

Basically, the Flat rate manual is a nice piece of memorabilia. Otherwise it's scrap paper. Even in the day of publish the flat rate manual time-specs was damned near impossible to beat by seasoned, factory trained mechanics in a well stocked dealership of parts and tools etc.

Bottom line, the flat rate manual was used to determine warranty pay. The CORPORATION defined the flat rate manual. Kind of like putting the fox in charge of the hen house.