On Thu, 10 Apr 1997 bkgallry@crl.com wrote:
> So ...the camber on my '77 Spit 1500 has looked a bit off...
> alignment specialist who " is very good with LBC's" [says] rear spring
> has...its tension and the ass-end of the car is about 2 1/2" lower than it
> should be. That's splaying the wheels out. This could be a dangerous
> situation on the freeway. We can't do the alignment until this is
> corrected. We also discovered you need 2 upper ball joints and some front
> sway bar bushings replaced. Whole job, parts, labour and alignment will run
> you about $1100.00. Whad'ya wanna do?"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Erik, I suspect what you want to do is GET A SECOND OPINION! I don't for a
minute doubt that much of that work might need to be done, but I can't
imagine it costing that kind of money. You probably could do about 95% of
the work yourself, and go back to perhaps someone else(?) to do a complete
four-wheel alignment.
The parts total for everything your car supposedly needs shouldn't run
more than about $300-350. Not counting alignment, the total labor is
probably about 2-3 hours for anyone used to doing the job, a bit longer
for someone NOT used to working on Spitfires, maybe 6-7 hours for someone
who's never before opened a tool box!
Of course, if the shop (or you) determines that you also need to rebush
the trunnions front and rear and replace a lot of other little items
(which is possible, but you didn't mention it), then the total bill might
creep up there towards that four-figure quote.
Otherwise, even factoring in a four-wheel alignment, which I suppose could
approach three figures, I'm baffled as to how anyone could ask your charge
card to carry an $1100 load!
Anyone feel free to point out what I might have missed! ;-)
--Andy
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* Andrew Mace e-mail: amace@unix2.nysed.gov *
* *
* Mrs Irrelevant: Oh, is it a jet? *
* Man: Well, no... It's not so much of a jet, it's more your, er, *
* Triumph Herald engine with wings. *
* -- The Cut-price Airline Sketch, Monty Python's Flying Circus *
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