[cody-z34-birchem]

So I give my car to this guy to work on. Tells me he'll do the entire re-build, and have it done in 4 days for $600... Just drove past the shop for... hmmm... the millionth time. The car's parked outside, with 1/2 an engine under the hood still waiting for the new one. Went to go inside, shop's locked up. Give him a call, guess he has to "move my car to a different shop" before he can work on it more because the people he works for is having problems with the people who own the building. Ahhh, I'm getting tired of waiting for this dude. My car should've been done 3 weeks ago so I could "give it to my girlfriend" for her bday as planned. She thought I was getting rid of it because of family arguments, truly, it went to the shop. When I showed up at her get together for her birthday, I had nothing but a lottery ticket. Why? Because I'd invested all my money into this car so I could give it to her, and it still wasn't finished. My initial finish date was going to be 10/15, I'd like to tell this guy to take a look at the calendar. I've heard the excuses from "I'm sick" to, "I've been too busy," and now I get the excuse shown above. Reading this forum I see this car SHOULD be worth all this stupid trouble, I'm hoping it's a champ when I get it back.

[tunerlover3]

Was it just some guy? Or someone you knew?

[cody-z34-birchem]

One of my buddies knows him. Been to his house for a couple beers in the past, seen some of the work he's done on cars. When I told him the job I was getting done could exceed 2k at your everyday shop, he argued he could do it for $600. I argued over this for a month and finally said screw it, towed the car to this guys shop, dropped it there, and have been keeping close tabs every since. Chewed my buddy a new a**hole when I got the call saying "this car needs a new engine... it's easier than digging deeper. There's no compression, the valves aren't bent, and the head gaskets 'you say were good before the timing belt blew.'" Shopped around and found a 3.4 for $425 shipped to the shop. He's had that for almost 2 weeks now. So, like I said, I've chewed my buddy a new a**hole, and the mechanic's heard it from me... enough. ha.

[nitehawkjcb]

Wow... I'm glad that I'm friends with my mechanic. He dropped in my L67 for $250.

[cody-z34-birchem]

I'm friends with a mechanic also. But his shop is full out legit and he doesn't do anything for cut price except for small repairs for his daughter on her 01 bonneville ssei. I couldn't afford $2k, but I wanted my car done, so I cut corners with the cheaper guy, you know??

[Nick07]

You couldn't do it yourself in a friend's garage without your girlfriend knowing or what? That woulda saved you the labor costs and the weeks of bs from that guy. It's cake since it's the same motor, understandable if you couldn't do it or didn't want to but it really is pretty easy

[cody-z34-birchem]

Well my plan was to work on it with a cousin of mine, but when he opened the hood and saw how the 3.4 twin cam is shoehorned under the hood of that car, my cousin Jeff's response came back "If I ever meet a guy who decides to shoe horn a motor in like that, I'll kill his ass!" This comes from a 40 year old guy who's used to working on cars with RWD, where you can fit ten bodies under the hood with the engine. I myself have no real experience under the hood except for replacing hoses, doing oil changes, and customizing air intakes to make things like my minivan sound like they're going to eat you alive. I've heard it's super easy to swap the engines, but like I said I have no experience. I told him if the car's not done by next Friday I'm towing it out myself and I'll find someone else to do it. I've got the tow dolly and that, just would have to learn how to do it myself lol. I'm not the smartest, I could use a hand on some of these things. Like I said, I've been told it's fairly easy, I just have zero education and figured I was better not screwing it up and having someone who had experience do the job.

[Manitcor]

welcome to the real world. They saw you coming, they saw a younger guy and knew they could jerk you around because you likely didn't know better and would be to passive to really be a stick in the craw. Eventually they will just disappear and take your car with them.

IMHO, call him up now, tell him you are coming to get the car and if you have to tow it out you will. Make sure you have your paperwork and be ready to call the police should it be necessary.

Make sure you have any paperwork (estimates) singed work orders etc and as much info about these guys as possible. Chances are you will need to drag them to small claims court to pay for the crap they likely broke, screwed up or stole.

good luk.

[cody-z34-birchem]

Well I've been under the hood, nothing that wasn't broke before is broken now. I'm debating on how you said to get ahold of him and tow the car out ourselves. It sounds like a good idea. I called him and told him I want it done next Friday. I'm going to get more info on this guy, and see if I can get more out of it. I've got the 3.4 engine, I just need to find someone with more experience who can drop the engine for me. I hate not having the tools and working out of my mom's garage. It's kind of embarrassing to post this up here, but i've got to rant to some people who aren't going to say "it's just a car" as most of us know these montes aren't "just cars."

[Nick07]

Hey man if you gotta do it your mom's garage then more power to ya, that's nothin to be embarassed about. I have to go my girlfriend's parent's house to do any extensive work on my car or even change my oil cuz we live in an apartment complex. You're on a good forum to ask for help with a swap like that, most people on here can walk you through somethin like that without pictures or anything. Taking that motor out is BASICALLY just unhooking hoses, wires, some linkage here and there, removing some things that might get in the way, taking the front tires off (and suspension if you'd like), removing 4 bolts, and lifting the car off the motor. There's other stuff I left out obviously cuz I'm not gonna go into detail unless you need it, but pretty much your lifting the car off the whole subframe and you get the motor and tranny with it. The hardest part is finding a safe way to lift and suspend the car above the motor while you remove it

[Manitcor]

cody-z34-birchem, on Nov 13 2009, 11:20 AM, said:

Well I've been under the hood, nothing that wasn't broke before is broken now. I'm debating on how you said to get ahold of him and tow the car out ourselves. It sounds like a good idea. I called him and told him I want it done next Friday. I'm going to get more info on this guy, and see if I can get more out of it. I've got the 3.4 engine, I just need to find someone with more experience who can drop the engine for me. I hate not having the tools and working out of my mom's garage. It's kind of embarrassing to post this up here, but i've got to rant to some people who aren't going to say "it's just a car" as most of us know these montes aren't "just cars."

if you are near the cities I know there are a few members around that area that have the skill/experience to handle a swap.

[cody-z34-birchem]

Well let's put it this way, if my car's not done next Friday, I'm picking it up, and the motor with it. I went to the shop today and the car is at the new shop, I looked inside it and everything I bought for him to put on the new motor is inside. I locked the doors because the idiot has left it unlocked with my new oil, filter, anti-freeze, alternator, ACDelco plugs ($7.50 a pop) and my $47 plug wire set. If there's anyone in the cities who can help me out after next week, that'd be great. I'm EXPECTING the car to not be done, so I don't have any let downs when it's not finished. Although, I went into the shop today, and that new motor going in looks amazing. I'm ready for it all to come home... in one piece. Like I said, if anybody on here can help me, let me know. I don't even have a jack here, the jack and wrenches are at my grandpa's house, but if I were to be doing the work, I'd be bringing everything here. Thanks guys for being helpful, once again, if I end up needing someone to do the swap for me I'll let you all know, thank you again!!

[cody-z34-birchem]

Today's the day I call and see if Lucifer will be done by 330 tomorrow afternoon. If the response I get is another one of it not being finished, or of how he's been un-able to work on it, I tell him to prepare it to be towed out tomorrow. This could be a good phone call. Crossing the fingers and wish me luck!!

[cody-z34-birchem]

Ha, so, so much for towing the car out. Friday, car wasn't done. Was told "It'll be done by 6." Didn't hear from him all night, called at 830, "The exhaust is leaking very badly, it doesn't fit right after the manifolds and is leaking so badly if you drive it, it's likely to start fire. I promise it will be done tomorrow night." Didn't hear from him, nor did I call him, all weekend. Monday we call and say the car needs to be done Wednesday at noon when we get here. Well, we got there. Guess what.

[jaybaum96]

im guessingg the car hasnt been touched?

[cody-z34-birchem]

The engine is in the car... but what I'm guessing is the exhaust collector... where the manifolds connect to the rest of the exhaust system, doesn't fit up right. They have to go buy another one. Told me he'd call me when he got the part. Speaking of which, I'm GUESSING it's called the collector... can anybody help me out with the name, and the price..?

[Manitcor]

you are thinking of the downpipe. If he runs out and buy the GM part be prepared to add another $500+ to the bill. GM downpipes are not cheap.

[Cully77]

Dude I really think you should set a time/day and get it out of there... And follow through, do not leave it there after this deadline. I wouldn't care if he said at that point that it would bedone in an hour, you have to draw the line. He has learned that your deadlines are not binding

[Sidewinder]

I would frankly, go get your car and tow it now because it sounds like this guy is trying to screw you for money. One more thing will lead to another, then another. Get the car and get a yard to pull an exhaust from a Z34 off for you (its stainless anyway) and have an exhaust shop hook it up and hang it and be done with that guy.

If he gets the part without telling you, you never asked him to get it so its his loss and you shouldn't have to pay for it.

Get out while you can...

[Manitcor]

they saw you coming.

and with each past deadline they realize how full of it you are which will lead to even more brazen attempts to jerk you around.

did you ever sign any paperwork to have this done?

[Rochford77]

once you get you car from this @s$ hole, even if it is finished, be sure to spread the word that they are sh*t heads. Complain to whoever you have to complain to to make sure they dont get any business. rate them poorly on yellow pages.com and such, and tell all your friends in the area. its jerks like this that make people not trust taking their car into shops. nothing bugs me more that a scam artiest like this.

[cody-z34-birchem]

Well I just talked to my Mom today. The talk with my Grandpa comes tomorrow. I've signed no paperwork. As of right now, if the car's not done Friday, I'm going in and getting it. I'm calling him Friday morning and if he still doesn't have the pipe, I'm getting the car. There's a Monte Carlo LS w/ the 3.1 in it in Cambridge I can get for 200. Should I pick this up and do the job myself?? Or should I just do some welding...? btw, the downpipe.... is that not part of the exhaust AFTER the two manifolds come apart..? maybe I just don't know what I'm talking about, sorry guys

This post has been edited by cody-z34-birchem: 26 November 2009 - 12:45 AM

[cody-z34-birchem]

Okay my FINAL question here. The engine we dropped in was out of a '96 z34. Shouldn't this exhaust have bolted up PERFECTLY?? It IS the same engine... if I get more than 2 yesses here, I'm taking the car tomorrow. And this, well, I've got everyone in my family behind me so this if finally freakin serious. It's been all talk and then the guys with the trucks say they don't want to worry about it. Now, if I get the right answer, Monte comes home tomorrow. Let me know, and Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!!

[jaybaum96]

yeah it should bolt straight up no problem, and just get the car, do it yourself if anything. It is an easy task and they shouldnt be taking this long onit.

[Sidewinder]

I don't recall the heads or exhaust manifolds changing at all between 95 and 96, though I know that the intake manifolds did. I'm not a DOHC expert but I'm pretty sure its all the same and they shouldn't have had an issue. Go get your car.

Edit: If you want to be sure, go to your local gm dealership and ask at the parts desk for a part number for a downpipe for a DOHC, if the part number is the same for all years/the part hasn't changed then you can be sure it should have bolted up.

This post has been edited by Sidewinder: 26 November 2009 - 05:18 PM

[cody-z34-birchem]

Yes, I'm going to get the price of the part tomorrow from O'reilly Auto Parts, have them pull up the diagram. If the price's cost is over $100, I go tow out the car. If it's BELOW $100, then I buy the part, take it to him, and have him do it, while I watch. Otherwise, final decision through the entire family is that I pick up a '95 Monte z34, found on Craigslist with a blown trans for $200. By the time I pull the exhaust pieces I need, the master window control switch, and the piece with the knobs and stuff for the climate control system, the car will have paid for itself. Which... sounds better

[nitehawkjcb]

Wow man they've been d!cking you around. The exhaust should not be a problem, and the piece I believe you're referring to is the crossover (the exhaust that connects the front manifold to the rear).

[blazerman3]

I`ve been reading these posts....If I were u I`d just go get the damn car and learn from this experience. This guy obviously doesn`t know what he`s doing or just wants something for Christmas in this bad economy....just go get the car. Good luck!

[cody-z34-birchem]

Should be getting the dolly to pull it home today. I looked into it today and it is that damn downpipe that's bad. I'm going to be picking up another monte for the switch because I'll be damned to spend $500 on one metal piece.

[lilMonteZ34]

Reminds me of me when I needed my timing chain fixed on my 96 z34 monte. Took forever to get my car back. When it was ready to pick-up it drove and sounded like a hoopty because the mechanic didnt time the chain properly, plus it didnt start after I drove a couple of blocks away from the shop to my house. He offered to fix it. lol I was not ever going to let him touch my monte again, but I did let him come see that it did not start. So he was able to give me some of money back. So I in turn had to send it to a totally new shop to have the whole job redone. In the end I got my car back it sounded and drove good.

Indeed it is time to get your car regardless of their progress.

This post has been edited by lilMonteZ34: 29 November 2009 - 11:08 PM