Just for reference-
The gear swap is probably about 3 times the amount of work of the carrier swap, and that is if you hit the pattern easily. If you have to repull it and check it over again- it is time consuming, especially under a vehicle.
Also, changing gears is not "a piece of cake". Reading the instructions may be, but the work itself is time consuming and tedious. Checking patterns, knowing how much shim to remove or add, even knowing where to start. About 11 years ago I took a class in rear-end set up from Dana. They went over everything, I was suprised at the amount of info they covered- hands-on also. I had even built rears before and was still amazed at the amount of material that was covered, and even then I still had a lot to learn.
I usually charge 200-250 for a carrier install, and 300-400 for a gear swap. The lower price being for bench jobs and the higher price for under chasis jobs. You can do it yourself and end up with a perfectly fine rear, or you can do it for your first time and waste $700 in parts if you dont get it right.

 

I second exactly what MZOOMORA said.
2HRs is very fair.

 

Hooper's rear end in Sun Valley did my 4.10 gears and Eaton posi install for $200.00. I dropped my truck off at 8am, picked it up at 1pm. No problems whatsoever and no gear whine. I was told Hooper's is popular with the f-bod guys.
Sun Valley might be a little far for you though.

 

Try the Toy Shop in Ramona

 

I think you mean Pomona, which is a little bit farther than Ramona.

 

P, R, whats the difference? Just kidding, your probably right.

I was referred to them by Don Lee for any transmission internal work.

 

Yeah, I've heard they're good as well....but I'd like to stay local. Thanks.

 

Let me know who you go with, as I need the same kind of work done as you know already

I figured as a last resort, I would schedule a Saturday appointment and bring a book with me and just sit in the lobby while they work on my truck.

 

For this gear/posi swap I'm going with MIT (Mechanically Inclined Technicians) in El Cajon at (619) 579-7727. They do lots of high-end work on hot-rods as well as off-road vehicles, and have an excellent reputation. My friend who had a maxed-out, rock-crawling Jeep got all of her work done there (Dana and Detroit Locker stuff), and she said they always got it right the first time.