After all the assurances that they headers I bought would fit, they dont. Car is now inoperable, will be days before the next set of headers arrive. Maybe someone could have checked before they removed the manifolds, some bolts broke and the gaskets arent reusable. Expecting 15 cm of snow tomorrow, and the shop will have to leave it outside. I have no problem paying to tow it home and back, but my experiences with tow trucks is no better. I know this is the nature of our hobby for these things to happen, but I find it hard to believe that ordering parts has to be a crap shoot. Another $700 mistake, as well as the risk of what is going to happen to my car while it is in their possesion. I can probably recoup $300 if I am lucky. Unfortunately this is the norm for me, I expected nothing less, but was hoping for a nice surprise. Plan B is in place, for Thursday, but I expect nothing but a bigger bill, an inoperable car, and a suggestion for plan C. Sorry to ramble, but I know you most of you guys have been through similar, and I thought venting might help. I dont trust my car anywhere overnight, and its not because I am a freak about it, its because when you get screwed in the past, you dont want to open yourself up for more of the same, but I have no choice but to trust. This SUX! (I broke my own rule......If it aint broke, dont fix it!)
That is bad news. I wouldn't trust leaving a vehicle at a garage/shop overnight either. Your car is a beauty also ... out in the weather that we are expecting. How long will it be there?
Sorry for probably making you feel worse Tom, but I used to get a knot in my stomach just having my '68 442 rag being worked on at a shop.
__________________
Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
I suspect that they were re-boxed at some point? I am a bit of a newb, but I explained what I had, and what I needed. Next time I will run any part# by the members here when they are expensive. I can get over the loss of $$ pretty quick, but I will be nervous and grumpy til I get this sorted out and she is back in my garage where it belongs.
That is bad news. I wouldn't trust leaving a vehicle at a garage/shop overnight either. Your car is a beauty also ... out in the weather that we are expecting. How long will it be there?
Sorry for probably making you feel worse Tom, but I used to get a knot in my stomach just having my '68 442 rag being worked on at a shop.
The new plan means it stays there til Thursday. I have doubts that the new headers will arrive in time, which means more than a week. The only way to get it home is by tow truck. No offence to tow truck drivers, but I have lived my life, and I dont need another regret right now. I get that knot also, I had it when I dropped it off, but now its full blown fear. If my firetruck was plated right now, I'd be bringing the Beaumont home on it.
Tom, where is your Beaumont? ( Who's doing the headers?)
Also, don't hesitate to contact me for part #'s or whatever. I usually get my parts sent from Jegs or Summit to Calais, and then go pick them up. ( Who did you order your parts through?)
Finally, we need to get together for a coffee or something, seeing as we haven't met yet and both work at the Base!
Barry, yes we should hook up some time soon, I've gotta have my Beaumont with me at the time, because I have a few things I'd like to ask if you dont mind. I ordered the parts online, and had them delivered. The attached paperwork states that it will fit. A guy named phil in Oromocto did my flowmaster setup last fall, his work was excellent. He is somewhat of a perfectionist. Even when I was satisfied with the tailpipes, he continued to manipulate them til they were perfect. I only blame myself for my predicament. I would think that someone might have checked before the manifolds came off, but I hired them to put headers on that I supplied myself, so its not their fault. I went to put the cover on last evening, there was a large tow truck unloading very close to my Beaumont, it was unlocked and the keys were in it. Just standard business, but I was hoping for more. It doesnt give me a warm fuzzy feeling.
Carl, yessir another lesson learned for me. My attachment to this car is crazy, I didnt sleep well, dont expect to very productive either at home or at work, but I'll be fine once it is a memory. My coworkers laugh at my concern, but this car represents 25+ years of sacrifice, and is the reason I get out of bed with a bounce in my step these days. Some call it childish and materialistic......perhaps, but I'm not looking to change. Thanks for the reassurance my friend, I hope your trips go well. (Winter storm warning in effect here now)
No one loves it like you do. That's why anyone within a 100 km radius knows it would be foolish and dangerous to mess with it. Listen to The Carl. It's gonna be okay.
Not all shops give you the run around! I work on many nice cars and I even work on some very rare cars, never due my customers feel un easy leaving there car with us! Just saying maybe you should find a shop that is as passionate about your collector car as you are. There some really good shops out there.
Thank you for the reassurance! So far everyone who has seen it, loves it like I do, or close anyway. I called my insurance company yesterday and increased coverage to 35k for complete loss. Can you tell I'm nervous? Yes, everyone who knows me knows that I have not been myself for the last couple of days, and if this progresses in a negative direction, somebody might want to hang out at the space station for a while til I cool down;) . I took tomorrow off, and hope the headers come in or else we are into the long weekend, and I'll be setting up a tent beside the shop! ;) I do believe it will be fine in the end, because I wont rest until it is. I am already upset that I found it outside, unlocked, and keys in it, but I cant tell him how I really feel about that until I get possesion back. That would be like being at McDonalds and saying to the kid at the counter.....take this big mac in the back and make it right. I wouldnt be able to eat the big mac after that. I only blame myself for my predicament, but i learned a good lesson, and am feeling the pain from it.
Not all shops give you the run around! I work on many nice cars and I even work on some very rare cars, never due my customers feel un easy leaving there car with us! Just saying maybe you should find a shop that is as passionate about your collector car as you are. There some really good shops out there.
I've had good and bad like everyone else. The manager is a good ole car dude, and races a sub 9 sec Camaro. This shop has not done anything wrong,(except maybe leaving it outside with the keys in it) this issue is my own fault. They did excellent work in the past. I brought them a part that didnt fit.
This shop has not done anything wrong,(except maybe leaving it outside with the keys in it)
I thought this was the norm? EVERYBODY does this on PEI
There are so many unlocked cars here (some with the keys in them overnight). A lot of people just leave their cars running while going into a place.
After living in downtown Toronto for 25 years, I put a lock on my pet cat!
-- Edited by Pontiacanada on Wednesday 20th of April 2011 01:16:26 PM
__________________
Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
