WEmery7451@aol.com wrote:
>In a message dated 10/8/05 7:06:50 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
>edwardbarnard@prodigy.net writes:
>
><< As I remember it was $100 for a complete Hepolite kit of four pistons and
>sleeves 87mm. >>
>
>I went through a few sets back then. One piston looked like a 30 OT 6 slug
>went through the top of it. The distributor had screwed up and kept right on
>advancing.
>
>In my opinion, these items cost about the same back then as they do today.
>The dollars were worth a lot more back then, and people made a lot fewer
>dollars.
>
Cost has to be considered against purchasing power. In 1957, the
minimum wage was $1/hr. Accounting for inflation, one would have to
make $6.80 to have equivalent buying power today. Since the minimum
wage is now $5.15, purchasing power is 75% of what it was in 1957. The
cost for a replacement piston/liner set for wet-sleeve engines closest
to stock is from BPNW (and an 86mm set, at that, no 83mm set available)
is $604. So, in actuality, wages have increased 5.15 times since 1957,
but prices have increased 6.05 times. In 1957, 100 hours of labor
bought a piston/sleeve set, while in 2005, it requires 117 hours of
labor to buy the equivalent parts. While manufacturing costs have gone
down with improved processes, in the U.S., purchasing power has declined
at a greater rate.
Cheers.
--
Michael D. Porter
Roswell, NM
Never let anyone drive you crazy when you know it's within walking distance....
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