Venting my frustration!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,136
Likes: 8
From: Chichester, UK
Venting my frustration!
Why is it that if I ask other people to do some work on my cars they almost always bodge the jobs!
What happened to the CRAFTMENSHIP and PRIDE?
I am sure my standard is not that high, just want a job to be done well!
What happened to the CRAFTMENSHIP and PRIDE?
I am sure my standard is not that high, just want a job to be done well!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 287
Likes: 0
What kind of work did you have done?
Sadly, I no longer even think of taking my vette to anything but a couple of highly respected local guys that are almost shade tree mechanics.
Even then, only if I absolutely have to.
Nothing on my vette is even factory anymore, even though it is pretty simple. I hate going to a parts store when asking about a carb gasket, and the guy wants to first know if it's a chevy. I tell him 454, and he doesn't even know what that means.
Sadly, we have to be our own experts now. Especially if you have to go along behind them and "fix" their work.
The good news is that this forum is the perfect place to research.
I feel your pain.
Sadly, I no longer even think of taking my vette to anything but a couple of highly respected local guys that are almost shade tree mechanics.
Even then, only if I absolutely have to.
Nothing on my vette is even factory anymore, even though it is pretty simple. I hate going to a parts store when asking about a carb gasket, and the guy wants to first know if it's a chevy. I tell him 454, and he doesn't even know what that means.
Sadly, we have to be our own experts now. Especially if you have to go along behind them and "fix" their work.
The good news is that this forum is the perfect place to research.
I feel your pain.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 3
From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania
Cause you're in England, drive on the wrong side of the road and your Vette is a foreign car there.
I have no idea who coined this adage but it's a good one: If you want it done right, do it yourself.
I have no idea who coined this adage but it's a good one: If you want it done right, do it yourself.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,136
Likes: 8
From: Chichester, UK
Can't weld for love nor money, so asked someone else to help.
Fitting an early crossmember to my 1980 to run true duel exhaust and asked someone to fitted in for me.
The lower two holes were ¼” out so he cut the crossmember and welded in a new part.
This is what it looks after 4 hours of grinding welds!
I will use it for now to fit the exhaust, but will source another one and hopefully find someone else to do the job better
Fitting an early crossmember to my 1980 to run true duel exhaust and asked someone to fitted in for me.
The lower two holes were ¼” out so he cut the crossmember and welded in a new part.
This is what it looks after 4 hours of grinding welds!
I will use it for now to fit the exhaust, but will source another one and hopefully find someone else to do the job better
Last edited by C3Paul; Apr 7, 2012 at 08:56 AM.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 577
Likes: 6
To be honest I have seen worse. Prep and cleanup take the longest and yeah a lot of time can be spent cleaning up someone's sloppy welding. The welds themselves don't seem that bad but it's obvious the welder isn't a detail person. He is obviously a function over form guy and you're someone opposite of that. Typical dichotomy. My advice since it looks structurally sound is to just continue cleaning it up and shaping it so it's more clean and symmetrical. Paint it, and install it. I think with a bit more love and attention it's a perfectly usable cross member.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,160
Likes: 4,238
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi,
I think that most people who are working on cars now, and have less than 20 years experience, are ONLY familiar with taking the old part off, and putting the new part on.
They really don't have the skills of people that we called MECHANICS for the 70 years before that.
Regards,
Alan
I think that most people who are working on cars now, and have less than 20 years experience, are ONLY familiar with taking the old part off, and putting the new part on.
They really don't have the skills of people that we called MECHANICS for the 70 years before that.
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,136
Likes: 8
From: Chichester, UK
I agree, it is perfectly useable and structurally correct, but not what I have expected.
I will use it, but will replace it in the future.
Still owe him £50 for the work, but so do not want to pay and I know I will pay him, but...
I will use it, but will replace it in the future.
Still owe him £50 for the work, but so do not want to pay and I know I will pay him, but...
Last edited by C3Paul; Apr 7, 2012 at 09:04 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,921
Likes: 46
From: So Cal
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
There is an art to welding. Although I can weld, knowing what to look for in a weld is important. Hard to tell from your pictures, but it does look like penetration was adequate, so it should hold up. I take my critical welding work to a few of my co workers who can really do a nice job. Prep is important, cleaning and fitting the mating parts before welding can go a long way in making the weld stronger and better looking. I try and bead blast and degrease the parts before handing it off to guys I trust.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Ah, for a person who is not DIY-oriented, you still have to put in some "time" to get good results from the 'helpers' you hire. But, your work is now relegated to researching who are the right folks to hire. Selecting qualified folks is a troublesome task...because there are so many boneheads and flim-flam artists out there.
You have to contact car clubs or ask around at car shows, etc. just to get a few names that are reputable and who do good work. Then, you have to contact them and ask for some references for folks they've done the kind of work you need done. Then, you have to contact them and go look at that work to judge if it's suitable for your purposes.
The best approach is to have a good buddy who already has all that kind of business done for him/her. Then you just get those names/numbers and call them up. But, not many of us have that luxury. Anyway, finding good "help" is not all that easy and it takes some work on its own to yield good results.
I sympathize with your situation, but without good research, you are just taking your chances.
You have to contact car clubs or ask around at car shows, etc. just to get a few names that are reputable and who do good work. Then, you have to contact them and ask for some references for folks they've done the kind of work you need done. Then, you have to contact them and go look at that work to judge if it's suitable for your purposes.
The best approach is to have a good buddy who already has all that kind of business done for him/her. Then you just get those names/numbers and call them up. But, not many of us have that luxury. Anyway, finding good "help" is not all that easy and it takes some work on its own to yield good results.
I sympathize with your situation, but without good research, you are just taking your chances.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANA
That sucks. I'm glad my 77 was set up for duels through the crossmember. Have long tube header with chambered exaust full duels.
I'm not a great welder. But if he went over them agine. And filled the low spots. You cloud have ground them smove and been like it was never touched
I'm not a great welder. But if he went over them agine. And filled the low spots. You cloud have ground them smove and been like it was never touched
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Let this thread serve as a lesson to any mechanics out there. It is easy to become a "guru" and attract a loyal following. You don't have to be a super mechanic, just do your job. My brother is a motorcycle mechanic, and he is never sitting around waiting for work. He has an extremely loyal following, not because he is a super mechanic, but just because he does the job correctly, and charges a reasonable rate. Apparently, that is a rare combination. It seems like if you find a mechanic who just does his job, it's like hitting the lottery, and you stick with that guy. My brother has customers who have moved to other states, and they still drive here to have him do work on their bikes.
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott