Getting ripped-off by mechanics isn't a Sexist thing. It's a "most
mechanics are a*sholes" thing. When I first bought my spitfire back in '96,
I didn't even know how to change the spark plugs...So I took to my dad's
mechanic.
Within 3 months, I'd totaled $2000 in bills. In month six, I threw a rod,
killed the engine and searched for a new mechanic. After I started
replacing items on the car, I realized....What the hell did I spend $2000
on? Nothing was ever replaced!...
Well, lets see here...
-$75 to replace the valve cover gasket.
-Hmmm..$90 to "re-hang" the muffler...(That was the piece of rubber tire
they had screwed into the rear tub of my Spitfire with machine
screws....Man those machine screws weren't the onlything getting screwed)
-Ah yes...$140 to replace my front brake pads. Must have been the gold
plated ones I asked for.
-Oh...here we go...3 months later (took it in for an oil change) $89 to
replace ANOTHER valve cover gasket (must be a known defect in
Spitfires..Anyone got a service notice on that?).
-And this my favorite bill...$280 to replace the timing chain and timing
chain cover gasket.....And I had to supply them with the gasket and chain.
(I figure I've paid my "stupidity tax" and a few other's share as well.)
This place is still my father's regular mechanic shop.
People are just a-holes in general. They'll screw you any way they can if
you give them half a chance.
I've also had difficulty looking for body shops. I heard of a member on the
Triumph mailing list that had his TR6 painted by his local high
school/college shop class. I believe it cost him about $200 for the paint
and some other "supplies". But it was perfect. If any of the students
flubbed anything, the teacher made them redo it. I seem to remeber it
taking about 6 months, but $200 for a perfect down to the metal repaint
isn't too bad.
Wouldn't hurt to inquire at your local schools to see if they have shop
classes in need of projects.
I have the added difficulty on my car of it being previously "painted" by
the PO. In a beautiful mustard yellow (which almost passes for Inca...I
think he stole it from the trucks that paints the yellow lines on the
roads). Atleast it would be beautiful if it weren't for all of the runs and
paint chipping off (where he sprayed the laquer directly ontop of the
enamel.....and on the chrome!)
If you think it's difficult to get someone to paint your car for under
$5000...just for grins, throw in that it has laquor on it and you want it
back to enamel.
I'm perfectly willing to pay $2500 for a half decent paintjob. But I get
laughed out of every shop when I say the magic word "laquer". None of the
"insurance" shops want to have to sand down all of that metal. Talk about
time consuming.
You can't even just go out and buy all new major body panels and have them
painted, because you'll still need someone to weld them all onto your tub
and align them correctly. You're right back to the $10,000 "restoration"
shop prices when all is said and done.
I think I'm just going to drive my car the way it is. And when the rust
holes start to appear, just use a little bondo and grey primer. (It'll
blend with all the 80's cameros in town) When you see the "sort-of inca
yellow" spitfire at the car shows with the Panasport rims and primer grey
spots all over, you can go.."Hey! That's Terry's car!"
Terry L. Thompson
'76 spit 1500 ("oh...those aren't rust spots..the color is roan")
Maryland
P.S. I go away for 3 days and there's 280 messages on here! You people need
to cut down on the caffeine!
>LBC, after all!
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>So, at least you're a guy going around with the car...
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>Hang in there!
>
>Laura
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>Vita brevis est: rapide agite, vigore strigate!
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