Couldn't agree more! Unless you have serious big bucks or are an
unemployed master mechanic, the process of getting your car reliable and
attractive is an incremental one.
In dealing with mechanics the best you can do is get real lucky or
attempt to minimize the harm. To do that, you need to know what work has
to be done and roughly how to do it, but not want or be able to.
Next find out which mechanic is good at what and farm the work out
accordingly. I have found it makes a lot of sense to have him or her do
only one job at a time. It really minimizes misunderstandings and
opportunities for price bloat. Buying and supplying the parts to a trusted
mechanic has also worked for me.
Of course some jobs are cheaper done in a package, but I've not faced
that one yet.
Mark's car seems about where mine was at start of project last year.
Watching it look better and drive better with each improvement is really
satisfying.
Good luck to him.
John Cowan
At 12:03 PM 7/4/97 -0400, you wrote:
>Mark S. Lepore, MD wrote:
>
>********************** Snip **************************************
>What have I done?
>My '71 Tr6 that I bought less than a month ago needs major work, or so a
>recent mechanic says. I'd like people's opinions on these prices, and
>alternatives, aside from me doing it myself, which I'm not confident I
>could do. Symptoms: lots of play in the steering; the car sags to the
>passenger side; carb leaks fuel, and idle is too high. My gut feeling
>is that their labor rate is too high, and perhaps some of the things
>really don't need to be done:
>
>1)Install a new rack, new tie rod ends, a new shaft and u joint and
>align the front end. Parts $535, labor $205
>2) Install front springs - Parts $76, Labor $220
>3) Install rear springs - Parts $90, Labor $138
>4) Install front end "major suspension kit", which replaces all the worn
>bushings and things like that. - Parts $638, Labor $550
>5) Carb rebuild (both carbs) Parts - $86, Labor $330
>6) Install new vacuum advance $65 for used part, $55 labor
>
>Any and all input would be appreciated.
>Sirmoog
>**************************** end Snip *****************************
>
>Dear Dr Mark,
>
>Is this a hobby? If the answer is yes then you need to attack this
>incrementally. Remember these automechanics are accustom to working
>on cars that folks need every day and will not tolerate return trips
>to the shop. A feiend of mine had a problem with his car battery
>running down and he took it to the shop. They replaced: 1) the
>alternator, 2) the regulator, 3) the battery, and 4) the battery
>cables. And lo and behold the problem was fixed. Well of course
>the problem was fixed. IT WA A WHOLE NEW SYSTEM!
>
>You, on the other hand, can afford to "try" the cheaper
>fixes first and see if that works.
>
>*lots of play in the steering
>Probably the steering rack mounting bushings (cheap parts, quick
>replacement). Also the tie rod ends are a common maintenence item.
>These racks rarely go bad. And I've never seen a bad stearing shaft or
>U-joint. I'd say replace the bushings and tie rod ends and see what
>results you get.
>
>*the car sags to the passenger side
>The most common cause is rear suspension bushings. Change those first.
>I'll bet the springs are fine.
>
>*carb leaks fuel, and idle is too high
>There is a guy in Oklahoma, Jim Taylor - I think, will do a total
>rebuild for about $150 per carb. And this includes rebushing the
>throttle shafts. I think. At $75 per hour, $330 is 4 hours which
>must include learning curve.
>
>On another note, the labor quotes are for individual operations. If
>you do decide to have the springs and bushings replaced at the same
>time you will be paying for twice for some operations. The labor for
>replacing the bushings includes R&R of the springs since that is
>a necessary operation.
>
>Lastly, and I know that, as a Doctor, you hate to hear these words, ;)
>but, get a second opinion. I think these guys saw Dr at the end of
>your name and read it as "Boat Payment."
>
>
>Good luck and keep the faith. Take two parts catalogs and call me in
>the morning.
>
>Dave Massey, St. Louis MO
>
>
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