[TIME SENSITIVE] Cost Estimate for Killer Queen's Resurrection, sourcing RAXP2164B for cheaper? [NEGOTIATIONS OVER]

"NKato" (NKato)
06/02/2018 at 19:03 • Filed to: Killer Queen

Chevy of Everett gave me a total and complete estimate on repairs. $3660 plus tax. Calculating for a 10% sales tax, that comes out to $4026. This covers the axle, brake pad and parking brake replacement (they got ruined), adjustments, and labor.

That’s for a PowerTorque remanufactured assembly with a 3-year warranty, 3.27:1 Limited Slip Differential, provided by O’Reilly. Dan, the guy who’s handling my car, says he’s willing to match with any company that sells the axle for cheaper than $1,716 (O’Reilly price).

The part number is RAXP2164B.

If y’all got a bead on a reman’d axle for this part number for much cheaper...send it my way. My budget is literally redlined right now — I’d have to completely tap out my Line of Credit (maximum is $2,000) and completely sink my savings account.

The upside? My machinist job will allow me to replenish my finances much faster than the previous one did. So any help would be greatly appreciated. Time is of the essence.

UPDATE: Negotiations have concluded. They price-matched the axle at O’Reilly’s, and they do not want to source from Autozone (since they’ve had dodgy warranty coverage). The final quote is $3076.98 + Tax.

And to respond to all those who suggest that I buy another Crown Vic, let’s just say Killer Queen has grown a bit on me, and I want to give her the post-service retirement she deserves, like this one:

DISCUSSION (19)

AestheticsInMotion > NKato
06/02/2018 at 19:13

Are you dead set on going through the dealer? I would imagine you could bring that total amount down considerably by shopping around

NKato > AestheticsInMotion
06/02/2018 at 19:16

Yes, because it’s not a stealership. They take great pains to not be one, and I’d like to be a patron of such a company.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > NKato
06/02/2018 at 19:16

Jegs:

https://www.jegs.com/i/ATK-Engines/059/RAXP2164B/10002/-1

sony1492 > NKato
06/02/2018 at 19:22

Why not buy another interceptor? You would be saving money

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > NKato
06/02/2018 at 19:23

For four grand, you could (should) just buy another CVPI...

...or two.

fintail > NKato
06/02/2018 at 19:23

I have to wonder, would it maybe be easier to just buy another car with a good unit? Then you get the part and a parts car to boot.

NKato > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
06/02/2018 at 19:24

My roommate, who works at the dealership my car is at, says that manufacturer has a terrible warranty. Even going so far as to use air quotes around the word “warranty”.

Yeah, that bad. I think I’ll mark this one down as a “mmmmaybe”.

NKato > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
06/02/2018 at 19:30

I’ll pass. This one has already grown a bit on me. :p

vondon302 > NKato
06/02/2018 at 19:34

https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/pts/d/selling-our-inventory-of-new/6584362809.html

Best I got. For 4 grand I’d park it until I could fix it and buy a cheaper beater.

M.T. Blake > NKato
06/02/2018 at 19:40

Four grand? You can buy old cop cars for 15 hundred all day long. Parts car or junk yard is where you should focus.

Urambo Tauro > NKato
06/02/2018 at 19:43

If it were me, I’d look for a used axle locally through car-part.com . Prices vary, but I’m seeing a LOT of axle assemblies for your application coming up at right around $250 (in the Detroit area). That would leave plenty of room for refreshing with new bearings & seals if needed...

NKato > Urambo Tauro
06/02/2018 at 20:06

I don’t disagree, but I do not necessarily have the resources to do the axle swap myself, and the dealership will not like having my car on the lift for a whole week. So, yeah. I’d also like the peace of mind a warranty offers.

2Fast2Furious: Rotary Powered > NKato
06/02/2018 at 20:09

Damn 4k in repairs for a p71?

You could buy 2-3 parts cars for that much

Definitely don’t recommend going through a dealership on any out of warranty repairs as they just flat out offer higher rates to being with, I also recommend looking at what the job itself consists of as you might be able to do the brakepads yourself.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > NKato
06/02/2018 at 20:23

This is a perfect application for a used part via a salvage yard or someone parting out a panther. A good, working used axle shouldn’t run more than a few hundred dollars. Swapping that axle shouldn’t be more than a few hundred in labor. That probably isn’t something a dealer will do, but I’m not sure what there is really to gain by having a warrantied rear axle on an otherwise old car.

I get that you want the best for the car. In this situation, you could have the dealer put the axle shafts back in so that the car can roll, pay them for a few hours of labor, have a wrecker take it to any Indy shop and have them swap in a new, used axle for a half of what the dealer wants to charge you. This just isn’t the kind of job dealerships are set up to do.

NKato > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
06/02/2018 at 20:29

But this dealership is set up for the job... :) They service all makes , despite being a Chevrolet shop. My roommate owns a Foxbody Mustang, and he works there.

Because he’s knowledgeable about their work practices, it gives me confidence that they can provide me with the quality service I need. Plus, all their work is warrantied.

Urambo Tauro > NKato
06/02/2018 at 20:32

Just saw your update. Good to see you managed to save a few hundred at least. Hopefully you’ll never have to cash in on that warranty.

NKato > Urambo Tauro
06/02/2018 at 20:35

Yup, that is exactly why I wanted to go through this particular service shop. They do their due diligence, and look for ways to save money and pass that savings on to the customer.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > NKato
06/02/2018 at 20:44

What I meant is their pricing structure isn’t set up for doing this kind of work on old cars. Any shop can do this job. There is nothing even remotely complicated about swapping a live axle for another one.

NKato > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
06/02/2018 at 21:08

Sure, I guess. But I’ve already sealed the deal, and I’m not about to back out now. Besides, these guys are pretty good about their work that I don’t mind paying a little extra for labor and warranty coverage on the work.