Ok guys, i just bought an AST from a mechanic and he charged me $260 USD for it and the installation which didn't take more than 5 min.

I asked him about radiators and he told me he is selling the Fwin ones. The prices he gave me are $800 for the 2-row and $1200 for the 3-row and these include labour as well. I know that Koyo's sell for $350 and Fluydine's for $450 or something like that.

Now the question is: Do there is something special on these Fwins? Does the labour costs like this? or is he trying to rip me off?

Antonis

 

Ask him if that cost also includes KY.
I've never heard of them.

 

what is fwins? is it a company?

note, koyo and fluydines are single pass i believe.

if you want a 2 row/double pass, just cut your sin 1/2 and weld in a metal plate and weld it all back up together (well if you got a tig and the time)

 

Well, i found their site and i translated with altavista but still couldn't understand lots of things.

Here is the website, you need to use translation:
http://www.tabata-r.co.jp/f-fwin.html

I found another Japanese site refering to them as:
RADIATOR �E�E�E Fwin/ONEOFF ALUMI 3CORE TRIPLE TURN

What the hell that means?

 

would be nice if it could be translated..no speak or read japanese..

 

I bought an AST for ~100.00 (been awhile back so price may not be correct). Install took me 20 minutes and I do not consider myself a good mechanic. The AST sounds like a rip off IMHO.

 

It can be through www.altavista.com

You just click on the translation and follow the proccess.

 

i think ur mech. is ripping you off. pettit chgs 149 for their aluminum ast, and like you said it only took 5 mins. labor.

go with a koyo rad. and do it yourself, otherwise get a mech that doesnt rape u

 

NO. If you didn't have the mechanical knowledge to install an AST, DO NOT try a Koyo. They are a bitch to get to fit in a stock FD. If yours is modded with an aftermarket IC, intake, and battery relocation, then it may not be so hard. But trust me, they are VERY hard to fit in a stock FD. Get a Fluidyne. I have a Koyo, trust me.

 

The Koyos are 2 inche cores. The Fluidynes are like 1 inch. Get a Fluidyne if you are going to DIY it.

Get a new mechanic in any case. You got sodomized.

 

sorry to say but your mechanic is taking your money. i hope he was giving you head while he was installing your AST.
save $400+ and buy a koyo, pwr, or fluidyne and install it yourself.

 

is that before/after an exchange rate?

 

Usually places have a minimum rate. That is how mechanics make money. They can do 16hours of work in 8 hours with experience. You figure he charged you 1 hours labor, regardless of how long it took him ...that doesn't matter. So, you paid about $175. A smaller shop would have charged you 1/2hr labor instead. The most expensive radiator in the US that I know of is Mazdacomp at approx $600 + 2hrs labor = $800. A better shop would charge you one hour. Yes, he is over priced but then again you're not in the US. As far as the brand, don't all those company's get the cores from the US anyhow?

 

they also charge by a book with certain hour rates.

if you can do it in 2hr but book says 3hr -you pay for 3hr.