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I'd like to inform members of my experience with County Corvette, as I have been taken advantage by them.
I left my 1963 Corvette with both Jim’s, Mike, Luke, Craig and James. The car previously underwent a frame off restoration that had many areas overlooked, and I made the mistake of trusting County Corvette to rectify the problems. The cars major issues were the following; the brakes pulled to the right, the engine overheated, the rear axle/ suspension made a clunking noise, there was a driveline vibration and the transmission would pop out of second gear on deceleration. County corvette was able to repair 2 of the 6 major problems for a sum of over $40,000. Check the uploaded images for the scope of work!
Here is a shortened account describing one of many botched repairs performed by County Corvette; Craig, their "lead C2 technician" had to remove the engine harmonic balancer for some repairs, and failed to inform me and presumably anyone else that there were no provisions for a bolt in the crankshaft. (The crankshaft was replaced at some point in time, and did not have threads for a bolt). Instead of communicating to me that there was no way to affix the harmonic balancer with a bolt, Craig (improperly) whacked it on with a hammer. Upon Craig’s next test drive, it fell off. County Corvette phoned me and informed me to fix this issue, that the engine needed to be removed from vehicle. Upon some research of my own, there was an alternative method to removing the engine to perform this repair. When asked, County Corvette was unwilling to explore it. I even offered to purchase and provide the tools so that County Corvette could drill and tap my cars crankshaft without removing the engine and they refused to use this method. I had to have my Corvette towed from their shop after paying for an exorbitant amount in previous repairs. They exhibited complete incompetency and unwillingness to professionally amend their mistake. After being towed to my personal shop, I installed a bolt in the crankshaft in two hours, without removing the engine.
The engine still overheats, the rear end still clunks and there is still a driveline vibration. (No idea why they balance my tires, I never asked them to).
They might be ok at building your resto mod, but I would not let them do any repairs if it requires any level of intelligence.
Last edited by mulboost; Mar 19, 2023 at 10:57 PM.
If you have the shop, the tools, the knowledge and the experience to do what you just did, why go there in the first place? And why, after they screwed you seven ways to Sunday in December 2021, would you go back again in March 2022 and AGAIN in April 2022? (if I am reading the invoices right).
If you have the shop, the tools, the knowledge and the experience to do what you just did, why go there in the first place? And why, after they screwed you seven ways to Sunday in December 2021, would you go back again in March 2022 and AGAIN in April 2022? (if I am reading the invoices right).
Possibly because they said what he wanted to hear. I have seen, here in fact, with some conmen. They will say everything you want to hear, like "I will do that custom work only for less and it will be better and done faster- just give me 50% now" and then you don't back for a year.
I don't know this shop but I am willing to bet the diff work was bad and it will have to be rebuilt.
I am SO glad you posted this. I have a quote from them to do this for $5629.36! I love this car, I love driving it but I know nothing about it. I have owned it for 7 years and pretty much have done tires and oil changes, and the ABS module weld once. So I know it's time to do some work and I do have a list of stuff I want to address. I took it to County Corvette and below is what they said to start with for "safety" reasons.
Labor rate of $150/hour.
Harmonic balancer $597.94 parts and 7 hours of labor.
Oil pressure switch $193.66 parts and 6 hours of labor.
Brake fluid $12 parts and 2 hours of labor.
Clutch fluid, bleed & install remote bleeder $12 parts and 5 hours of labor.
*inspect car/exhaust when down
Spark Plugs $126.40 parts and 2 hours of labor.
Wires $220.90 parts and 1 hours of labor.
Transfluid 1 hour labor
Diff Fluid 1 hour labor
Total Parts 1102.90
Total Labor 3750
Subtotal 4852.90
Shop Supplies 485.29
PA Tax 291.17
TOTAL 5629.36
Thank you for posting this - I have been holding off on taking it there - something just didnt sit right with me with them. They charged me $500 to look over the car and not do any work at all! Not even a discount off of that if I wanted to go ahead with work.
That being said - where do you go now? I really need a good mechanic!
Jessica
I am SO glad you posted this. I have a quote from them to do this for $5629.36! I love this car, I love driving it but I know nothing about it. I have owned it for 7 years and pretty much have done tires and oil changes, and the ABS module weld once. So I know it's time to do some work and I do have a list of stuff I want to address. I took it to County Corvette and below is what they said to start with for "safety" reasons.
Labor rate of $150/hour.
Harmonic balancer $597.94 parts and 7 hours of labor.
Oil pressure switch $193.66 parts and 6 hours of labor.
Brake fluid $12 parts and 2 hours of labor.
Clutch fluid, bleed & install remote bleeder $12 parts and 5 hours of labor.
*inspect car/exhaust when down
Spark Plugs $126.40 parts and 2 hours of labor.
Wires $220.90 parts and 1 hours of labor.
Transfluid 1 hour labor
Diff Fluid 1 hour labor
Total Parts 1102.90
Total Labor 3750
Subtotal 4852.90
Shop Supplies 485.29
PA Tax 291.17
TOTAL 5629.36
Thank you for posting this - I have been holding off on taking it there - something just didnt sit right with me with them. They charged me $500 to look over the car and not do any work at all! Not even a discount off of that if I wanted to go ahead with work.
That being said - where do you go now? I really need a good mechanic!
Jessica
Maybe I missed seeing the year of your car but those labor hours seem crazy. 3 hours to change the plugs and wires??? I know nothing about this place other but these 2 stories read like nightmares.
Wow. Just the double and triple charging for work already done previously seems to make the case for small claims, much less the complete lack of diagnostic skills. My bp has gone up just reading through those invoices!
Sorry these guys took advantage of you mulboost, and don't let some of the victim blamers around here chase you away.
I am SO glad you posted this. I have a quote from them to do this for $5629.36! I love this car, I love driving it but I know nothing about it. I have owned it for 7 years and pretty much have done tires and oil changes, and the ABS module weld once. So I know it's time to do some work and I do have a list of stuff I want to address. I took it to County Corvette and below is what they said to start with for "safety" reasons.
Harmonic balancer $597.94 parts and 7 hours of labor. "Safety reasons"?
Oil pressure switch $193.66 parts and 6 hours of labor. Lots available on line for about $30. Also lots of YouTube videos in case you or someone helping you wants to tackle it. .
Spark Plugs $126.40 parts and 2 hours of labor. $15.75 per spark plug?
Total Parts 1102.90
Total Labor 3750
Subtotal 4852.90
Shop Supplies 485.29 Beer & pizza?
PA Tax 291.17
TOTAL 5629.36
Thank you for posting this - I have been holding off on taking it there - something just didnt sit right with me with them. They charged me $500 to look over the car and not do any work at all! Not even a discount off of that if I wanted to go ahead with work.
That being said - where do you go now? I really need a good mechanic!
Jessica
Glad you held off, you certainly saved yourself money and headaches.
Glad you held off, you certainly saved yourself money and headaches.
LOL at the Beer & Pizza - well, this is where I fit the typical woman owning a car. Although I would absolutely love to learn to do my own work and learn, I have no tools and don't even know where to begin. I have no friends with Vette's either!
CC said it HM came off it would damage steering column or something?
Buy tools, buy books follow directions. When in doubt search the forum.Thats what pretty much what everybody else does. Sometimes it is a learning curve, it takes a while to get things right, 6 hours for a switch? You have got to be joking.
LOL at the Beer & Pizza - well, this is where I fit the typical woman owning a car. Although I would absolutely love to learn to do my own work and learn, I have no tools and don't even know where to begin. I have no friends with Vette's either!
CC said it HM came off it would damage steering column or something?
Totally understand, and don't feel bad, not all guys do their own work either. And each generation of Corvette has its own differences so someone well-versed in one has a large learning curve for another. A wrench is a wrench, but where it is needed can vary.
My suggestions to you are:
1. Post a new thread in NE Regional asking for suggestions near Philly.
2. Start browsing the C-5 section https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c5-general-103/ just to gain general knowledge of your car. Post your questions and issues in threads there, even if you don't do your own work you will be better prepared to deal with whatever shop you go to
3. If there is a Corvette Club in your area you may find good suggestions from their members, whether you feel like joining or not
4. Don't let age or gender deter you - there are lots of female owners out there, some who do their own work and some who don't. You're never too old to do whatever - there is a thread in C-4 General section about a 13YO girl with a Vette, and on the other end of the scale you've got old guys like me in our 70's and even older still having fun.
Good luck and keep us posted on how you make out with those repairs once you find a shop.
I am SO glad you posted this. I have a quote from them to do this for $5629.36! I love this car, I love driving it but I know nothing about it. I have owned it for 7 years and pretty much have done tires and oil changes, and the ABS module weld once. So I know it's time to do some work and I do have a list of stuff I want to address. I took it to County Corvette and below is what they said to start with for "safety" reasons.
Labor rate of $150/hour.
Harmonic balancer $597.94 parts and 7 hours of labor.
Oil pressure switch $193.66 parts and 6 hours of labor.
Brake fluid $12 parts and 2 hours of labor.
Clutch fluid, bleed & install remote bleeder $12 parts and 5 hours of labor.
*inspect car/exhaust when down
Spark Plugs $126.40 parts and 2 hours of labor.
Wires $220.90 parts and 1 hours of labor.
Transfluid 1 hour labor
Diff Fluid 1 hour labor
Total Parts 1102.90
Total Labor 3750
Subtotal 4852.90
Shop Supplies 485.29
PA Tax 291.17
TOTAL 5629.36
Thank you for posting this - I have been holding off on taking it there - something just didnt sit right with me with them. They charged me $500 to look over the car and not do any work at all! Not even a discount off of that if I wanted to go ahead with work.
That being said - where do you go now? I really need a good mechanic!
Jessica
A total of FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS-----FIVE THOUSAND---to do THIS----
Why would you or anyone else pay someone else to do such simple, basic work that any high school kid could do---let alone FIVE THOUSAND bucks.
I certainly dont see 1100.00 in parts here either.
What am I missing?
I am certainly not the high class engine mechanic on the level of many of the guys here but what you have listed is so basic.
A total of FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS-----FIVE THOUSAND---to do THIS----
Why would you or anyone else pay someone else to do such simple, basic work that any high school kid could do---let alone FIVE THOUSAND bucks.
I certainly dont see 1100.00 in parts here either.
What am I missing?
I am certainly not the high class engine mechanic on the level of many of the guys here but what you have listed is so basic.
Did I miss something?
Eddie
Well, she says she is a woman with no previous mechanical experience and no tools. What's the beef? There are many guys on here who don't do any of their own work either - such as the guy who started the thread. Some people don't have the time, some don't enjoy it, some may have physical limitations that prevent them from doing their own work. Some may live in an apartment and have no place to tear down a car and leave parts and tools until the next day's work. Nothing at all wrong with any of that, we all have different skill levels and circumstances.
EDIT - In fairness to OP, he DID do his own work after the shop in question apparently butchered the job. So maybe he had other reasons for shopping out the needed repairs. I stand by the overall point I was making.
Last edited by Railroadman; Mar 23, 2023 at 10:17 AM.
Well, she says she is a woman with no previous mechanical experience and no tools. What's the beef? There are many guys on here who don't do any of their own work either - such as the guy who started the thread. Some people don't have the time, some don't enjoy it, some may have physical limitations that prevent them from doing their own work. Some may live in an apartment and have no place to tear down a car and leave parts and tools until the next day's work. Nothing at all wrong with any of that, we all have different skill levels and circumstances.
EDIT - In fairness to OP, he DID do his own work after the shop in question apparently butchered the job. So maybe he had other reasons for shopping out the needed repairs. I stand by the overall point I was making.
Well stated. I'm one of the "can't do own work" due to a physical handicap... I'm happy to pay a trusted mechanic to do the work I can't do...
Buy tools, buy books follow directions. When in doubt search the forum.Thats what pretty much what everybody else does. Sometimes it is a learning curve, it takes a while to get things right, 6 hours for a switch? You have got to be joking.
Thank you! I appreciate everyone being thoughtful and not judging - i was really leery to post on here for fear of being bashed bc I am somewhat naïve
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