<VV> "pay someone who has the skills ... "

[Charles Lee]

To "pay some other fanatic who does have the skills, so it all works out" is 
OK if that person knows what they are doing, which requires that you know at 
least enough to judge his qualifications, and being diplomatic enough not to 
intimidate him.

I can only hope that my experiences are truly unique !

I still have the $475 (non-refundable) ECU chip in my toolbox that was the 
mechanic's best guess before he gave up and I found the loose wire that was 
causing my Audi to stall sometimes.

Or the guy who replaced my 65 Corsa's 4-speed with a '66 Saginaw ?
He changed the mount because it simply would not fit, but the 65 gasket 
"appeared" to fit Or he made his own ?), except the pesky little passage 
that starved the diff for oil, and split it in half, MELTING the pinion gear 
and the tapered needles looked like chewing gum !!! (No kidding - I kept it 
for years, but lost it at some point, it was so cool to see, but expensive 
!)

Or this last guy who put my 96 Ford Probe's head gasket in backward ?  (Yes 
it's possible) and the guy before that who convinced me I needed a new 
timing belt and then installed an even older one, for $800 ?

Then when I towed my 66 Monza from New York to NC, the guy who put new 
wheels and tires on her for the trip was terribly offended when I tried to 
tighten the lugs.

I lost a wheel before getting to the first rest stop where I was going to 
tighten them, but it was too late.  The wheel took out the hood and 
windshield of an oncoming car (no one was injured, thank Zeus !)

There are more, but these come to mind.

Let's hope I'm a magnet for these guys, and that they made enough money on 
me that they'll leave you alone !

I did get a lot of good stories, but they just sound like I'm exaggerating 
or whining, but they ARE interesting !!!!

Charlie



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris & Bill Strickland" <lechevrier at earthlink.net>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 08, 2010 4:31 PM
Subject: Re: <VV> Was "most cars ...


>
>>Pressing in valve seats is one of the things I don't have the equipment to 
>>do.
>>
>
> Ah, but that IS equipment I am sure you have -- an oven and the BFH -- 
> boring the hole for the new seat may be different.
>
> But, not everybody has even that level of skill, but they like Corvairs,
> and can afford to pay some other fanatic who does have the skills, so it
> all works out  -- I know, it is the claim that "I" restored the car,
> when actually the work was done by someone else and they paid to have it
> done,  but, if they didn't, the car would not have magically restored
> itself, and they helped keep the money in circulation -- yeah!
>
> These folks miss out on the satisfaction of having done the actual work
> themselves, so be proud of what you know you can do, but don't denigrate
> those folks who have skills that us laborers don't have.  I know one of
> those types who went out, bought a welder (TIG), learned to use it, and
> wound up building a very nice twin-turbo 350 powered 32 Ford roadster
> literally from the ground up, learning as he went, including paint  --
> some folks just aren't this patient  -- doesn't mean they couldn't do it
> if they chose to.  Yes, he bought spindles, rear end gears, axles,
> brakes, wheels, tranny, engine, clutch, wire, steel, and a body -- 
> headlight and other bulbs.  He built, installed, and programmed his own
> induction system.  Fair to say it is "his" car, even if he did buy a GM
> crate engine.
>
> mo,
>
> Bill Strickland
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