Possible Complete loss of my Corvette...

[Evolution1980]

Tatortot,

Don't know if the shop told you or not, but with the new paint, for the first 30-60 days, don't cover the car (or at least the freshly painted area) and don't wash it with any soap of any kind. If you get grime or something on it, use liberal amounts of water and a soft sponge. I would actually just hold the hose over the area as I washed it, that way there was continous fresh water being applied to the sponge as I was cleaning.

...getting close!!! (At least it's not the middle of summer when this happened!!!)

 

[22229stingray81]

Thanks for the tips, the owner told me to only wash with mild soap, but better safe then sorry, right? I didn't even think about not covering it, thats the first thing I would have done when I got it home! Getting close... real close..

-Tatortot

 

[Yoda]

-Tatortot,

Hope all comes out ok for you and you're back on the road soon I get a smile everytime I read this thread

So, it's time for me to ask... What are the chances you might make it up to Auburn for the CAC Cruise-Fest?? I would love to meet you, and see this 1981 that has the heart of a lion, just like it's young owner.. guess you're not so young anymore.. hmmm what about 20 or 21 now??

If you can get there, I'll spring for your Cruise-Fest Package, including the Banquet

Bud

 

[22229stingray81]

Your kind words are once again greatly appreciated Rare81. I'm getting up there in age now, a whole 20 years old. I would love to attend Cruisefest but unfortunitally there are too many obsticales I cannot overcome. Your offer to pay for my Cruise-Fest package was amazing; your hospitality and the hospitality of all CAC members never ceases to amaze me, I only hope that one day I can give back to this community what they have given to me. One day, I am sure that our paths will cross Bud, its only a matter of time!


-Tatortot

 

[Evolution1980]

Your kind words are once again greatly appreciated Rare81. I'm getting up there in age now, a whole 20 years old. I would love to attend Cruisefest but unfortunately... ...I am sure that our paths will cross Bud, its only a matter of time!
-Tatortot

Well, this year is the inaugural, but there's always next year! Plus, by then you'll be old enough to <ahem> 'legally' partake in the Blender Wars!
:TALK
:L

 

[22229stingray81]

I think I've been taken!

The Corvette shop was suppose to call today so I could pick it up, or if it possibly needed more work to let me know and ask for my approval. Well unfortunitally the shop called while I was in class, so they talked to my mother. Now get this, to replace the valve cover gaskets, and replace the wiper motor, they want $500!!! Now I'm no mechanic, but this seems a little much to me!! It is $250 alone labor for the valve cover gaskets... if I knew it would be this much I would have tried to tackle this myself! It's too late to cancel the work because my "uninformed" mother gave it the go ahead, but come on... half a grand for valve cover gaskets and a wiper motor? Is it just me or does this sound too much to any one else?? I suppose it is probable.. but just the other day it was all ready to be picked up.. now it needs $500 more of work... Should be ready by tomarrow...


-Tatortot

 

[Evolution1980]

Now get this, to replace the valve cover gaskets, and replace the wiper motor, they want $500!!! Now I'm no mechanic, but this seems a little much to me!! It is $250 alone labor for the valve cover gaskets... ... Is it just me or does this sound too much to any one else??-Tatortot

Too me that sounds way outrageous. Even including parts in that total sounds expensive! I'd definitely try to get them to hold off on the work. You can always take it back to them if it turns out to be a reasonable charge after all, but it doesn't sound right to me!
Technically speaking, I don't know if your mom can give the authorization since it's your car and you are over the age of 18! (If you wanted to get snitty with 'em...)

 

[22229stingray81]

What a mess... Well I tried to research more about the cost of this all... trying to justify the amount they are asking.. A wiper motor at Mid America goes for $140... valve cover gaskets for for $18.. but apparently she wanted to get "hi performance speical ones" as my mom passed on to me... whatever that means... So lets just say $175 total for part... $325 for labor? $250 of it being for the valve covers? I mean I know its hard to remove them, and might even need to move a/c components, but $250? If they were charging $50 an hour... 5 hours of work for just gaskets? Does that sound right? I tried to compare this to previous work I've had with my trusted mechanic. I broke a pushrod once, and he removed the valve covers (and changed gaskets), replaced broken pushrod on #2 cyl. exhaust valve, adjusted all valves, checked all componets (rocker arms, studs, valve springs) and it only came to $435, $390 of it being labor, but it was clearly a lot more intensive, and he went over a lot of the engine. $250 to basically remove valve covers, place new gasket, put back on... what do you guys think?


-Tatortot

 

[John Ulrich]

Lesson learned!

Always get a cost in advance of work performed. I've been in situations also where someone mentions they can take care of this or that, it'll be "no problem!!"...until the bill comes and yes there is a problem now.

Assuming is dangerous

Later,
JU

 

[Evolution1980]

I mean I know its hard to remove them, and might even need to move a/c components, but $250? If they were charging $50 an hour... 5 hours of work for just gaskets? Does that sound right? $250 to basically remove valve covers, place new gasket, put back on... what do you guys think?

Just within the last day or so somewhere else on this forum someone was talking about removing the covers. Besides the 4 bolts holding 'em down, you'll likely have to move the AC slightly out of the way, which I believe is just loosening the adjustment set screw/bolt/whatever.
Sumtin' sounds like it's getting shady real quick in your neck of the woods. Depending on how much time you have left before the work is done (if you can't get it put on hold), you might consider starting a new post in the main C3 tech forum and asking. Unless they did the work today, you should be able to call first thing tomorrow morning and tell them to hold off. Or better yet, go down in person so they can't say it's already all apart when it really isn't.

...and tell your mom to stop spending your money! ("Hi-po" gaskets???)
and also while you're at it, tell her that her phone privileges have been suspended! She doesn't have to answer questions for you no matter how much they prod her. If you weren't around and she wasn't either, they'd still have to wait for an answer regardless! :eyerole

 

[Imachad]

I was the guy who was posting about valve cover removal. I just got it all put back together w/new paint. On my 76 I did have to move the AC out of the way to get the valve cover off on the passenger side. I couldn't believe the tight squeeze in there! After that it's a breeze. Just make sure to put the AC back in the right spot. Oh, and when you take the covers off make sure not to bump your fuel line. I tapped my hard line slightly but it was enough to unseat it. I had to tighten it back up. Best of luck.

Chad

 

[22229stingray81]

Just picked the Corvette up... what a damn mess... valve covers aren't leaking and the wipers work at least... but that is the only positive thing.. Where do I start???

1-Paint work is terrible
2-Car was filthy interior wise
3-Interior light was dangling from its wires on passanger side
4-LOUD chirping coming from right rear.. seems to handle and drive fine.. but this noise... does not change with speed increase, does not change with breaking... upon almost stopped you can hear it start to slow down, so it is definatley from a rotational mechanism of some sort.
5-Windshield has some sort of spots on it that could not be removed by a normal wash of the wipers.
6- A lot of overspray in the wheel well

Maybe I am being over critical, but come on, this is my baby! How could you not notice the chirping sound?? They said they road tested it, but just down the street... I am very distraught by this whole incident.. why doesn't anyone take pride in there work? If I was a 'vette mechanic I would treat all as if they were my own. They said if I noticed anything wrong to bring it back and they would evaluate and make the insurance pay accordingly.. I just don't trust them to do things right... but I can turn to no one else; my normal Corvette mechanic doesn't deal with insurance companies. She did bring me home safely though, maybe everything is okay? Thats it for now.. I'll post what my next course of actions will be, definatly not taking it back to them though.

On a side note: I was following my Mom home incase something happened, and we were stopped at a stop light.. and this really old half-wrecked economy car pulls up next to me and says "you wanna run?" Talk about bad timing...

-Tatortot

 

[Yoda]

-Tatortot,

Get ahold of the insurance agent you've been dealing with, get over there as soon as possible, like right now... show him your concerns, and take him for a ride. He has leverage to stop payment and to help you get this straightened out.

There may be another way to approach this, but my advice is what I would do. Hopefully some other will chime in here with some advice too.. Dam I hate to hear this about your 81 and happening to you... ad wish I lived closer I'd go with you to have a little talk with both the insurance agent and the body shop...

Bud

 

[22229stingray81]

Calling the insurance guy tomarrow Bud, going to deal with them one on one now, no middle man that does shady work.

-Tatortot

 

[Eric]

Calling the insurance guy tomarrow Bud, going to deal with them one on one now, no middle man that does shady work.
-Tatortot

After you get through with "talking" to them, see if you can drive to Stingrays (the info is in one of my earlier posts in this thread). Tell them what is going on and get their opinion on your car. Damn shame dude, hope you find a way to work it all out. Sucks when bad things happen to good cars (and people).

- Eric

 

[Evolution1980]

Just picked the Corvette up... what a damn mess... valve covers aren't leaking and the wipers work at least... but that is the only positive thing.. Where do I start???

1-Paint work is terrible

Well, that's gonna be up to your insurance agent. Painting is painting. Yes, fiberglass requires a bit special attention, but fi the shop decided to do the job, they damn well better know how to do it correctly!

2-Car was filthy interior wise
3-Interior light was dangling from its wires on passanger side

Paint and primer dust get EVERYWHERE! However, as just stated, prepping the car and masking it off effectively is their responsibility to you.

4-LOUD chirping coming from right rear.. seems to handle and drive fine.. but this noise... does not change with speed increase, does not change with breaking... upon almost stopped you can hear it start to slow down, so it is definatley from a rotational mechanism of some sort.

I'd start by checking the wheel bearings or the u-joints. A good mechanic should be able to isolate that issue without tearing it apart. It should just be a matter of getting the ass-end off the ground and putting the car into 'drive'. You should still be able to hear the sound if it's bearings or u-joints. I had to have both replaced on my rear when the car had around 68K miles on it.

5-Windshield has some sort of spots on it that could not be removed by a normal wash of the wipers.

Likely a chemical solvent. You'll probably need to polish it out.

6- A lot of overspray in the wheel well

That's 'expected' to an extent and wouldn't really worry much about it. You can always shoot the wheel wells black if you like. I have Dk. Blue overspray in my wheel wells. I don't really notice it or think about it. However, with white it may be a bit more pronounced.

Maybe I am being over critical, but come on, this is my baby! How could you not notice the chirping sound?? They said they road tested it, but just down the street... I am very distraught by this whole incident.. why doesn't anyone take pride in there work?

No, you are not being overly critical. It is your baby and every single one of us that has money in our cars feel the exact same way! Your car should be able to be put back to the exact same condition it was, barring frame damage. <-- Notice the 'period' at the end of that sentance.

Follow Bud's advice on this. And believe me when I say that many of us here will feel your pain and accordingly so feel almost a personal connection to your car/situation. A few of us have been down this road, we can completely understand your feelings.

 

[22229stingray81]

Thanks for everyone's support; just when I think I've hit rock bottom I can read these posts and get a full tank of confidence. I am absolutely sick of this. The car WILL be fixed properly and I will not take no for an answer. My first thought was it was wheel bearings when I heard it, a jar like that from another car could have certainly destroyed them. What is a ballpark figure on new wheel bearing replacement? 71Shark- If my mechanic will not take the car because of the insurance thing, then I will have to seriously consider the shop you recommended. I really do not feel comfortable driving it right now though; the sound scares me to death, and I do not feel confident it would make it all the way there, it will have to be towed.

I am really not that upset about the bad paint job, because to tell you the truth the entire car looks pretty bad paint wise; one good panel isn't going to make the entire car look better, that I can deal with. The filthiness on the inside really got to me. I figured it was sanding reminance when I felt it, but I couldn't believe someone could be so ignorant with something like that. The overspray wasn't a surprise either, but I thought they said they were going to mask off the area, thats why I was surprised to see it. I'll keep you all posted, thanks again for the helpful tips.

-Tatortot

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

adNo excuse for bad workmanship…Stick to your guns. It is sad but true that young people are taken for idiots. Give this shop a wakeup call. By God if you are old enough to go to War for our Country you are old enough to be treated with proper respect and receive proper service from everybody that you do business with!

My wife’s car just came out of the shop last week from a minor fender-bender. The work was perfect, no overspray, the car was spotless but the pin striping had not been replaced over the new paint. The guy came up with some lame excuse that I did not hear as I walked back to my car saying, ¨Call me when it is ready.¨ The phone was ringing when I got home, the only words said were, ¨hello¨ - ¨the car will be ready at noon tomorrow¨, and it was.

 

[22229stingray81]

Shock!

I am in complete shock.. I don't know where to begin. So my father called the insrance guy, and he basically says "yeah, sounds like a wheel bearing, take it back to the shop and well get it all fixed and whatnot" so then my father says we don't want to take it back, and we'd like to take it to our guy, which he agreed on, and he even heard of the shop and said how great it was. Sounds good so far, right?? So then we call my mechanic... no answer... says the number has been disconnected. My dad goes over there on his lunch break... there are a bunch of industrial trucks inside, and nothing is the same, and especially no Corvettes!!! He is just amazed as what he sees. So when he gets home, we call around.. You have to realize that this mechanic has been there for ever 20 years, and has become almost a family friend. So we find out by another mechanic friend of ours (who does not work on corvettes unfortunitaly) that he simply retired!!! We talked to him not even a month ago, and everything is gone now!!!!!!!! No warning or goodbye... just amazing. I have no mechanic anymore.. what am I going to do?? He was so good and so close, I could always limp my way to his shop. Fortunitally the other mechanic we called is a really really close friend of ours and he is going to call around tomarrow and get us a good place, but it still cannot replace my guy, you know?? Ugh.. well at least I'm getting the insurance company to cooperate.. thats a start...

-Tatortot

P.S. If anyone knows any good Covette mechanics in the Northern VA area, please please let me know.

 

[Evolution1980]

...You have to realize that this mechanic has been there for ever 20 years, and has become almost a family friend. So we find out by another mechanic friend of ours (who does not work on corvettes unfortunitaly) that he simply retired!!! We talked to him not even a month ago, and everything is gone now!!!!!!!! No warning or goodbye... just amazing. I have no mechanic anymore.. what am I going to do?? He was so good and so close, I could always limp my way to his shop.

Well, if he was 'that good' and almost a 'family friend', he shouldn't be that hard to track down. And from what I gather, once a mechanic, always a mechanic. If you can find him, he may be willing to do work on the side.

Nice lil' rollercoaster you got yourself on...sheesh! One step forward, two steps back...:eyerole