Car #666, Rant Options

[Howard]

This car may be evil. The Hope diamond of 914’s?? Is #666 available for WCC?

Let me apologize in advance for the long winded post. I’m too cheap to pay for therapy, and have gotten great advice here.

Ebay ad said car had a 383” V8 with 300 miles on rebuild, a higher geared transmission, dual radiators, yada yada. Actually had a 305 that needed rebuilding, stock gears, and a leaky radiator. Steering box was loose (no bolts). Have posted this part before, and gotten advice on that part of the deal, so that is just to set the stage.

Otto checked the car and did the Porsche stuff, but we both knew engine was in trouble. 1 qt per 100 miles, etc. but he’s not a V8 guy.

Took car to local wrench. Place looked good, owner Steve races small block sprint cars. Steve gave me an estimate of $3000 to (I thought) remove, rebuild and replace the engine and make all right. Showed me his racer and said, “This is the kind of work I do.” Cool! Gave him a $1000 credit card deposit.

Went by the shop the next day. Car was torn down, and all looked pretty good. It was a fresh engine, but apparently was never run much. Cylinders glazed, rings had never seated, valve guides and springs suspect as cam had ground down flat spots. Metal in oil, and bearings scored. Pretty much as expected, and he had ordered the parts.

3 days later I get a call from a mechanic at the shop with bad news. The owner’s 22 year old son died at home, and the shop would be closed for a while. No details, but kinda have the feeling it was suicide, or drug related, or both.

About a week later, I went by the shop. Owner was there, and I expressed my condolences. He responded by asking for another $800 to buy the parts needed for the rebuild. Knew this was not a good time or place to argue, and said I would get back to him. Found GM offered a brand new stock 350 for $1199. Posted here, and most agreed that was the way to go. Told Steve all this, he said OK, bought engine and had it delivered to his shop. Then the shit hit the fan. He called, said I must come in and sign a revised estimate for $4000, not including the engine or any other parts needed. If I did not, he would remove all the parts and push car out of his garage.

Hmm. The guy had to be psycho after the loss of his son, so as they say, resistance is futile. I had already bought the engine. Installation had begun, so couldn’t return it. Car was held hostage. So I signed the revised estimate, and just figured to take him to small claims, or Auto repair bureau, or stop credit card to get $$ back. Car was completed (?) Tuesday. I went by to get. Asked him to start car, he said not until I had paid him. So I hand him the credit card. “Nope!, I want cash.” Not surprisingly, I didn’t have that much on me.

Next day I arrive with $$. Same BS. Signed revised bill that now additionally states ‘no warranty parts or labor’. Ask him if car is roadworthy. “I don’t know, I haven’t driven it.” At this point I just want to get my car out of there before one of us dies. Some of the stuff was almost funny. When he showed me the box of parts from the removed 305, there were only 7 pistons. Had to argue for #8!!

Well, car is home. Runs like shit, gas smell, and a few dings in the paint. Then this: Zero clearance at right rear tire, and rubbing against fender. Left rear has about 1.5” clear. What could cause this? Is something coming apart? Money is one thing, but safety another. Pics and short version on separate post.

End rant. At least I didn't ask for advice on how to handle women.

[dmenche914]

document all that happened, sue him, contact Better Bussiness Buerro, state auto repair , and all the local newspapers. Post his name, and his shops name on this website, and anyother car related websites, and any local sprint car sites, notify any sprint car sanctioning bodies. You appear to be too nice with this wacked out crook. Dead family member or not, no excuse for his crimminal bussiness practice.

hope you get all your money back, so you can have an honest shop fix your car right.

By the way the state auto repair agency did my nieghbor some good. Local Midas shop repaired my 80 year old nieghbors clutch in his 66 bug. it cost over $1000. he asked me to look at the bill, and diagnois why the car made a horrible noise after repair (car has 60k original miles on it!) Midas (Redwood City CA) ripped him off. most shop qoute less than $400 for a bug clutch. They also claimed to have fixxed the cooling system by replacing oil cooler, for several $100, uhm, I tuned his car the week before, and I can tell you it never over heated, and did not leak a drop of oil for the day i had it. They also replaced his spark coil for $100, wait a minute, I just did a tune up, no problem with the $20 coil the week before.
At any rate i wrote the state a letter on what happened, and he got most of his money back.

Let me state here what you should state on every web site you can about the crook that ripped you off.

MIDAS MUFFLER IN REDWOOD CITY CA IS RAN BY CROOKS THAT TRIED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MY NIEGHBOR. THEY ARE CROOKED, AND FRANKLY SHOULD HAVE GONE TO JAIL, NO DIFFERENT THAN STEALING $1000 OUT OF YOUR WALLET.

NEVER PATRONIZE MIDAS MUFFLER. I HOPE THEY GO BELLY UP, THEY DESERVE NO LESS.

good luck