Please help a fellow teener!, ***I need to find Brad Roberts, please read post*** Options

[madd_dogg_914]

I know that the name Brad Roberts isn't a very highly regarded name in these parts, but I know someone out there must know how to get a hold of him. Brief backstory (or as brief as I can make it):

About 12 years ago I met Brad at a 914club.com event. We had chatted about converting my 1973 1.7 to a 914-6. Soon the chats became serious, and I handed the keys over to Brad to do the conversion. Since then, there has been much turmoil surrounding Brad, the separation with the club site to the world site, a divorce, jail time, moving, new jobs and adventures, all the while he maintained that my car is almost done, just a couple more things to finish, just need a wiring harness, etc. Now, 12 (it may even be more, I stopped counting) years later I get a Notice of Stored Vehicle in the mail from some shop I've never heard of in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. They want me to pay $6050 (climbing another $100 by the day), or they are going to sell my car at a lien sale. I don't know why my car is there (last I saw it, it was at his house), and I've been desperately reaching out to Brad to try and find an explanation, but he hasn't returned any phone calls, and he hasn't responded to any of my text messages.

The shop is called So Cal Euro Werks, does anyone know if that is Brad's shop? I thought his was called Inland Empire something, but I've been known to be wrong before. Maybe he is trying to collect money from me for having the car for so long? I'm really just trying to get to the bottom of it, and I'm trying desperately to not assume the worst (which is that he has just absconded with my money/parts, and just left the car somewhere).

So if anyone out there has any way of communicating with Brad, has seen Brad, or knows how to get a hold of him, would you please tell him that Chris Killam is desperately trying to get a hold of him.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart, this car means the world to me, as it was my mothers, who passed away when I was 9 years old. She left the car to me, and it is really the only thing I have to remember her by. I just want my car back, finished or not. I don't even know if the car is complete right now.

I've attached a picture of the car, as it was when I gave it to him to do the conversion. Please help, I feel (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif)

[76-914]

Interesting. I heard Gus' side of the story when you got your car back. IIRC, he could have slipped you the Big One and did not. And you thought he was an OK guy. All that I can say of that event and your behavior is that it is a little different than the version you posted. I don't have a dog in this hunt as I do all my own work. And in the end time will prove that either Gus is a Bad Mechanic or your just a PITA customer. I'm looking at your list and regarding your complaints I have to ask. Was strike one a result of some work he did and you were charged for or did he mis-diagnose something and you discovered it was the worn adjuster foot. Was strike 2 about some carb overhauls he performed and began to leak. If so, did he get the chance to make it good. As far as strike 3 goes I call (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bs.gif). Your friend was providing the "parts". It's his baby. Gus was quoting you to R&R an engine. You want him to include a free inspection service for a penny pinching customer. Good luck with that one.
I look forward to Gus weighing in on this latest comment with his side of the story. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

[BigFour1973]

Interesting. I heard Gus' side of the story when you got your car back. IIRC, he could have slipped you the Big One and did not. And you thought he was an OK guy. All that I can say of that event and your behavior is that it is a little different than the version you posted. I don't have a dog in this hunt as I do all my own work. And in the end time will prove that either Gus is a Bad Mechanic or your just a PITA customer. I'm looking at your list and regarding your complaints I have to ask. Was strike one a result of some work he did and you were charged for or did he mis-diagnose something and you discovered it was the worn adjuster foot. Was strike 2 about some carb overhauls he performed and began to leak. If so, did he get the chance to make it good. As far as strike 3 goes I call (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bs.gif). Your friend was providing the "parts". It's his baby. Gus was quoting you to R&R an engine. You want him to include a free inspection service for a penny pinching customer. Good luck with that one.
I look forward to Gus weighing in on this latest comment with his side of the story. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

I'll break down the list for you,
Strike one was a result of my #4 valve exhaust valve going out of adjustment in less then 500 miles. Like I said, when I opened up the valve cover to take a peek at what lay inside I found a adjuster foot on said valve that was threaded down to the end of its adjustment. Now since you do all of your own work, would you say this is something out of the norm? Or something you'd just adjust and close the lid and call it good?
Strike two, I did not give him the chance nor bring it up to him. I already had the motor out and took care of it myself at that point.
Strike 3 is regarding my friends 996, call it what you will. But if I got quoted to have my motor removed and replaced and left the building with a car and motor separated from each other. That's half the deal right there in a R/R

Who's the penny pinching customer you're referring to? And what free inspection are you talking about?

[76-914]

Interesting. I heard Gus' side of the story when you got your car back. IIRC, he could have slipped you the Big One and did not. And you thought he was an OK guy. All that I can say of that event and your behavior is that it is a little different than the version you posted. I don't have a dog in this hunt as I do all my own work. And in the end time will prove that either Gus is a Bad Mechanic or your just a PITA customer. I'm looking at your list and regarding your complaints I have to ask. Was strike one a result of some work he did and you were charged for or did he mis-diagnose something and you discovered it was the worn adjuster foot. Was strike 2 about some carb overhauls he performed and began to leak. If so, did he get the chance to make it good. As far as strike 3 goes I call (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bs.gif). Your friend was providing the "parts". It's his baby. Gus was quoting you to R&R an engine. You want him to include a free inspection service for a penny pinching customer. Good luck with that one.
I look forward to Gus weighing in on this latest comment with his side of the story. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

I'll break down the list for you,
Strike one was a result of my #4 valve exhaust valve going out of adjustment in less then 500 miles. Like I said, when I opened up the valve cover to take a peek at what lay inside I found a adjuster foot on said valve that was threaded down to the end of its adjustment. Now since you do all of your own work, would you say this is something out of the norm? Or something you'd just adjust and close the lid and call it good?
Strike two, I did not give him the chance nor bring it up to him. I already had the motor out and took care of it myself at that point.
Strike 3 is regarding my friends 996, call it what you will. But if I got quoted to have my motor removed and replaced and left the building with a car and motor separated from each other. That's half the deal right there in a R/R

Who's the penny pinching customer you're referring to? And what free inspection are you talking about?

Well big4, or is it BIG Whiner, read Tavomans reply below. He has confirmed exactly what I suspected. I've been in business for over 40 years and can smell a Rat a bock away. Go away. Would you mind taking the Troll with you on the way out. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

[BigFour1973]

Well big4, or is it BIG Whiner, read Tavomans reply below. He has confirmed exactly what I suspected. I've been in business for over 40 years and can smell a Rat a bock away. Go away. Would you mind taking the Troll with you on the way out. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

No, It's bigFour. I read and replied. I already know its not going to change your view of the situation since you and Gus seem to be friends. So please keep the comments from the peanut gallery down. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)