> When I first got my '4A, I took it into Triumphs Only to get it up and
> running again, as I had never done any mechanical work myself before and
the car had
> been sitting in a garage unmoved for 20 years plus. $6,500 later, I got a
car
> back with new rubber brake hoses and a new (err semi-new) battery. After
> about 2 months and 3 breakdowns in the middle of nowhere (thank God for
AAA), I
> decided to bite the bullet and try to figure out how to do some mechanical
work
> myself. All this revealed was that the carbs I had been charged to have
> 'rebuilt' hadn't been touched, and still had 30 year old gaskets on them,
($100's in
> labor right there, considering it cost $40 just for the labor to take out
the
> tachometer--which lasted a week). The more I take apart the more parts I
find
> I was charged for that are 30+ years old. Even the small things--radiator
> cap, thermostat, water pump (which failed 6 months later, for $99 you
think
> they'd replace the 1960's gasket instead of reusing it--obviously, the
pump was
> never replaced), $400 for "new" front calipers that are obviously used
parts--I
> have no problem with used parts, but not for "new" prices, "new" fuel tank
> float--that doesnt work and after removal is obviously the original part,
> distributor cap, cleaing of the fuel tank--err, more like add rust chips,
boil out
> radiator, obviously not done, installation of "stainless steel" exhaust
system,
> charged as both a sublet AND an in shop repair for labor costs (the system
is
> rusting in my backyard as we speak, by the way, can we say "mild steel"
for the
> price of stainless?), and, worst of all, judging by the amount of sludge
and
> the condition of the oil (with only about 100 miles on the car since it
was
> 'changed') I'd say that not even the OIL was changed, and if it was, the
> condition of the oil filter certainly didn't convince me otherwise, and
the fact that
> gasket sealant they used to seal the valve cover gasket covered the entire
> valve train, including the pushrods/oil holes, tappets, cam, all the way
down to
> the oil pick up in the pan (I think you're supposed to let it cure first
> before running the car), not to mention the tail light that had been
smashed while
> in the shop and the once complete toolkit that resided in the trunk that
> mysteriously disappeared.
>
> And while the above rant may seem off topic, needless to say, I would not
be
> at ALL surprised if this is the SAME TR5 that was listed a few months back
by
> Triumphs Only that turned out to be a 250, with some second hand TR6 PI
> components and badges. Definitely the first and last time I would ever
deal with
> Triumphs Only.
===========================================================================
"Triumphs Only" is a small time crook compared to a shop we have here on the
east coast in "Henderson North Carolina", this guy steals carbs, gauges,
switches, lights, door handles and any parts that have been restored before
he got the car, ask me how I know after $4500, and that does not include the
parts he stole, just what I had paid him before I found out what was
happening.
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