Since buying my truck and the early CJ5's I have run into problems with the people I have work on my toys. Because I can not do the heavy stuff or the stuff which I not going to buy some crack head more tools, I have to rely on the shops. I just had the clutch replaced in the 60 CJ and the guy that did it asked a simple question, Quote; "Do or are you going to repair or replace the tub?" Easy answer on my place. Till I get the Jeep back and most of the bolts holding the floor pan covers are missing, torn and ripped out. And some of the worst turkey sh-t welding I have ever seen used to hold the covers in. Now the CJ was given to them and told I'll be back in two weeks to get it. It being in Az. and we live in Ca. we'll pick it up Friday morning as we arrive there. Wrong. I'm going off subject here. Now asking for them to fix the butcher job is going to go nowhere because I had had it happen before and the Judge stated, Why are you asking these people to fix something you are going to replace and so told them before they started!!! So, think before letting out of the bag what you may or may not replace in the future on your treasured Truck or other project. Now I must bring the CJ back here and fix (band aid) the butcher job. My two cents on letting off steam.
Charles, I feel your pain! There are too many jake-legs out there who pay for fancy advertising to woo you in and then do less than a good job! We all have our limitations and need help at times. The biggest thing we all have to learn is patience. If we can't do it ourselves, it is so important to research the project, research who you think can do the work, talk to people who have used them, etc, etc. It takes a lot of time to undo someone else's screw-ups. I don't know if these are words of condolence, a mini-rant or what, but I sure hate it when someone gets ripped off.
To me the problem is honesty.I do a little work on the side and have found myself doing less and less. Problem is I'm honest. If I don't think I can do it I just tell the person. They may think I don't know anything, when in fact I just don't want them dissapointed. I'll tear into just about anything,and eventually get it fixed. May take longer than expected.The shop I work at has had some hack jobs go thru. They give me crap cause I don't use the air tools so much. I'm not there to make a leaving, it's just therapy for me. I may be slow and clean parts to much,but hopefully the customer will see the fruits of my labor and request me next time. No one takes pride in there work. I work at a parts store and mechanics just keep slapping parts on. The lifetime warranty sucks. They don't fix the problem just get it going and take your money. Just my 2 cents!!
Thanks Ken, It's one thing to have something worked on your stuff and you go over some of their work because it was not as you would want it. But to down right butcher something because the owner is someday going to maybe repair something, is not good. It would have been different if the guy had called and stated you know that rust bucket of yours is going to have a lot of missing bolt in areas can I weld some washers with nuts on where we have to destroy the bolt or nut/s for a price. But not one word.
I Hear You ! As a Journeyman Mechanic I also encounter this . few are actual Mechanics , they don't know how to properly diagnose nor repair anything . I am now in the same boat , I cannot do my own work anymore . Last year I got skinned on a paint job on my classic Mercedes Coupe ~ $2,300.00 for a $600.00 paint job and I stopped counting the damage when it passed $1,500.00 in parts . I'm so P.O.'d I'm selling the car . I agree with the Judge , never , EVER take a bad job back to the butcher for proper repairs ! . This is the natural result of America deciding to follow the ' bad boy ' theme of greed and good enough . I'll never , EVER accept that .
Metal butchers Several years ago my first cab off a 78 c-20 2 new inner fender wells ball joints tie rod ends I aligned good enough to get to shop.Went to lunch came back 1.5 hours later truck is still on rack claiming they need shims .45 min later I get truck back 87.00 american dollars drove great got home opened hood those (crude word )lack of a shread of common sense idiots had cut & rolled back the inner fenders like it was there truck. Claiming the bolts were not easy enough to get to. However I did get replacement wells & a high stress free alighment .I would have been more agreeable to 5 min with a 3 foot of heater hose .I know your pain.Some people do not respect them selves let alone anything else.This is one of the many reasons we have so many lawyers.
I called the guy as soon as I figured out the speedometer was trashed , he said oh I'l get you another one. Not a word from him since I'll not let him touch the CJ again. I can take the cable on the 56 CJ and use it. I had to look at it to figure out where it went on them.
