<VV> Vair community has more ethical members than average ?

Mon Aug 16 16:35:29 EDT 2010

Charlie, you certainly have had a run of bad luck there. Luckily, I have
known about cars and worked on cars my whole life, and it has saved my
family tons of money over the years, not to think of the things that could
have gone wrong, like you have had.

I did replace a engine in a daughters car, who had had the oil changed by a
guy who came to your place and did it cheaper, right? He left the oil filter
just a bit loose. He became scarce when presented with the issue. $2K later
and a good used engine, I got the car running for the daughter who was away
at college.

But, I've made some good choices maybe others can follow, too. If I cannot
fix a car myself, it usually goes to the dealer, or a large reputable shop
who has a good reputation and a warranty to back up their work. One shop in
my area backs any repair for 3 years or 36K miles, good enough for me and
they get my business, a loaner car is available, too. But, I also buy year
old cars from the consumer reports best list, and run them for about 10
years and sell them. I'll do tune-ups and brake work, but that is it. That
keeps me away for most of the high mileage or expensive issues these modern
cars may have from worn out parts, etc.

It also keeps my wife happy, as she has confidence that a car will get the
job done for her when I am not around.

The corvair is different. No one works on that car accept for me. When I
bought this car three years ago, I set out to fix the things that were
headaches back in the 60's and 70's when I have the first car. I put an
alternator on this 62, because we had had reoccuring problems with the
generator and its mounts back on the first car. I overhauled the starter
with new bendix, solenoid, bearings and brushes, and the bendix lever,
replaced the battery + cable and solenoid harness, and replaced the ignition
switch because it looked like it had overheated. I've gone thru the brake
system, added Pertronix, iridium plugs, a rebuilt distributer and converted
to 12v coil, added all metal fuel inlet valves to the carbs and overhauled
them.  I replaced the rear wheel bearings. All to make the car more reliable
and more fun to drive.
Its become a daily driver for me (when the weather is clear).

It has not stranded us yet.

Mark Durham

On Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 11:15 AM, Charles Lee <Chaz at properproper.com> wrote:

> " I pay experts to do and concentrate on doing what my profession pays me
> to
> do."
>
> That's what got me into trouble, when I stopped working on my own cars.
> I didn't have time to learn OBD and my ignorance labeled me as as a
> gullible
> target, which I was.
>
> After losing $4,000 or more and have only two DOA cars to show for it, I
> had
> to learn OBD, and my victims of 'vehicular car-slaughter' have become
> 'academic exercises' and a symbol to "DIY" !
>
> As a database developer I was asked to teach computer programming,
> database,
> etc, at a local college and got my AS and a BS in computer science, pending
> my Masters in Educational Technology, and I made that my vocation.
>
> Unfortunately I concentrated on "doing what my profession pays me to do"
> and
> paid "experts" fix my cars, becoming even more ignorant with lack of
> experience.
>
> As a  member of the local chamber, I have lectures on how to "sell up
> services" and realized that the "experts" were just doing what they were
> encouraged to do (the town, county, and state make more tax money on higher
> bills, right ?)
>
> We like what we do and the cars we drive and respect each other, and  so do
> the great majority of auto repair shops, but they need to make a living and
> can't be faulted unless it an egregious abuse of the advantage any
> knowledgeable person over someone who is not as knowledgeable.
>
> Mechanics who take unfair advantage of car owners may be just "selling up"
> but should at least provide the parts and services that they claim.
>
> Any customer who does not hold them to that standard makes it that much
> harder for the next unwitting victim (yes, "unwitting" I was !)
>
> I can't remember the times I've commented, "That doesn't sound right" and
> was told, "Don't worry, it'll clear up when it warms up."
> Let's just say it didn't "warm up" but rather, after leaving :
>
> ... the Corvair's valve adjustment ("that sounds  wrong" : "it'll warm up")
> went from bad to worse and I adjusted them myself on the side of a dark,
> cold high speed road when it died, less than 5 miles down the road and they
> were closed.
> (I had paid Sunrise Chevy "to do what he does" while I was at work "doing
> what I get paid to do" and because it was too cold and dark and I didn't
> have time.)
>
> ... the timing belt that was just replaced (by my father's beloved
> mechanic)
> broke because it was too tight (after I had suggested that it might be
> tight
> : "it'll warm up")
> (my father lectured me about my disrespect for mechanics, how lucky I was
> that he even deigned to work on my car, etc, etc)
>
> ... the wheel fell off (installed by a tire dealer contracted with NY
> state)
> before I could get to a rest stop to DIY, and the missing wheel went
> through
> another cars windshield
> (When I started to tighten the lugs : "I already did that ! Do you think I
> don't know my job ?")
>
> Never mind the times I didn't even suspect until later that :
>
> ... the head gasket was installed backwards (and he blamed overheating on
> everything but his work)
>
> ... the reconditioned engine I bought and paid for that was garbage, and he
> blamed the poor running on a "slipping clutch" (no kidding)
> Engine I got (after teardown) :
> http://www.yourbuyersinn.com/KarKingWorkExample.htm
>
> from Kar King in Ontario CA (recommended by manager of AAMCO  (and former
> friend)
>
> Engine that was promised (not online, but same dealer and similar
> 'advertisement) :
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250628773143
>
> ... need I go on ?
>
> I want to get back into, and under, a Corvair because it's a great car, and
> the people who help are more concerned with doing it right, than "selling
> up" things I don't need, and
>
> Am I the only one ?
>
> Now you know why I don't gamble (except with car repairs, but no more !)
>
> Charlie
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mike Jacobi" <mvjacobi at comcast.net>
> To: "virtual Vairs" <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
> Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 6:09 AM
> Subject: <VV> Japanese cars and the Vair communityy
>
>
> >I simply refuse to buy any car made in Japan, or that enrich a company
> >based
> > there.  Nor, if I have a choice, will I buy anything made in Japan if
> > there
> > is a viable alternative made elsewhere.  My reasons are both historical
> > and
> > moral.  Anyone who would like to know the basis for this are welcome to
> > contact me offline.  After all, Toyota problems have little to do with
> the
> > Corvair.
> >
> > And in regard to paying someone to fix a vair.  I have no problem doing
> > that, in fact without the able and reasonably priced help of Ken Hand
> here
> > in Michigan, my vair would still be on blocks in the garage.
> >
> > I am one of those people who are mechanically challenged.  I can do
> simple
> > repairs...oil changes filter replacement etc.  The rest I pay experts to
> > do
> > and concentrate on doing what my profession pays me to do.  This works
> > best
> > for me.
> >
> > The real reason I drive a Corvair I think is the wonderful fellowship of
> > my
> > local club, the DACC and the sheer fun of driving a car that causes so
> > much
> > comment.  The folks on VV and in CORSA really round out the picture.
>  It's
> > not about the car for me, its about the community.
> >
> > As someone else on the list so eloquently states, "this is my opinion,
> > your
> > mileage may vary"
> >
> > Mike in Michigan
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> >
> >
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