If you remember, last October I left Washington for california to spend time with my mom before she passed on.
My van was in need of some expensive repairs and the shop I took it to was willing to do some trade with me.
They would repair the blown head gasket and few other things so I could make the trip.
They sat in it over three weeks....
In exchange for their services I would paint a mural in the owner's personal home shop.
We made it as far as the California border when the engine blew!
Seems when you replace the top half of an old engine it's more likely the bottom will blow out (I've been told)
We were very inconvenienced, had to rent a car at a rate of over 100 bucks for just one day, and would have been without a car for the 4 months I was in Ca. (if it wasn't for Rich Stebbing, who was kind enough to loan me one of his.)
This mechanic was willing to (at his expense) transport my van back to Wa.....that took almost a month to happen.
He still has my van. I have called and stopped by in person numerous times only to be told he'd bring it down to the shop in town next week...
Weeks have gone by since my last visit when he said that, but still no van appears in his lot.
My van is my only advertising....it's my work truck....it gets better mileage than the old truck we are driving now (and making weekly trips to the Drs office, 120 miles round trip)
We made this agreement on a handshake....I've been nothing but sweet every time, I don't think being pushy or threatening is within my right to do so....
I've offered to either do his windows or start on his mural if that would be of interest to him, but he has declined.
I'm just frustrated as I don't know what I can do at this point....
Hi Adrienne. I'd guess that your mechanic has lost interest in the trade-off that you've agreed upon, and may be somewhat embarrassed. For that reason, he's reluctant to begin the repairs. I'd simply ask him straight up, if that's the case. If so, you can start to make other arrangements, since the present situation is going nowhere.
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
I'd assume that his attention is on paying the bills and that is where his priorities lie. Sounds like he wants your van done, but other realities keep rising to the top slot. Try getting him some cash and see what happens, that might be his need when a mural would be a luxury.
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
The cause may be the weather in the great northwest and because of this I will be moving a little further south. In the seven year I've been here I have found the goody two shoes have their priorities stuck between the afterlife and their anal properties. Even Lewis and Clark had to go back east due to the lack of trust found there.
My advise would be to go see this person and figure out what you owe him for the towing of the vehicle from wherever he got it and have it towed to your home. Once you have it back in your possession, take an ad out in the local newspaper and offer that same trade to anyone else who can give your van whats needed. If you don't make a stand somewhere along the line, you'll lose.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Adrienne. The "trade" deals are always nice but they require that both parties hold up their end of the deal.
quote:I've offered to either do his windows or start on his mural if that would be of interest to him, but he has declined.
Your statement indicates that you haven't started your end of the deal yet also. According to you he did do what he originally agreed to do, unfortunately somethng else occured which disabled your van. It appears me that he has more than held up his half of the deal and you haven't started on yours yet.
Sorry if I sound harsh, but that's the way your post reads to me.
Posted by Harris Kohen (Member # 2139) on :
Adrienne, as a mechanic I have to agree with Dave on this one. The guy kept up his part of the bargain, you need to fulfill your obligations to him and then maybe you can work out some sort of agreement as to how your going to pay him to fix your van. Its very true and I have known this for over 25 years as a mechanic now that in many cases when you rebuild the upper half of a motor the lower half is almost guaranteed to let loose in a very short time. its a gamble that many people take and sometimes ya win and sometimes you lose. I wonder what kind of guarantee this guy is giving on this job, was there any agreement prior to the work being done? Is trhere any minimum warranty period required by state law? was there any paperwork with this job?
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
Unfortunatly I have no cash to give him, if you recall, I have been unable to work full time since my foot infection.
Maybe I should take the first step and show up with some sketches and see if that opens up the communication again.
I understand how it can be with trades, they don't take the same priority as a cash job.
He wanted a mural of an old drive -in with 50's cars...I think I will start there and see what happens...I'll keep you posted.
I have AAA, could have it brought over here so I can redo the lettering (which I've been wanting to do)....
A
Posted by Rick Woodward (Member # 3827) on :
addrienne i've worked on cars most my life. I dont know what kind of van you have or how old/mies on it. but if it blew the head gasket it sounds like the heads got warped due to overheating. if it has aluminum heads they tend to do that pretty quick. whether aluminum heads or cast iron. the first thing to have done is get the heads ground. they most likely are warped. if he didn't do that, you will drive off and blow the gasket again, coolant will go down your cylinders and blow your motor. wont take long either. Sounds like you need to work things out with him an get your van back. Find someone like hotrodders who build their own cars and find someone who will get a used low mileage motor from a wrecking yardand put it in your van. Some transmission shops do that work also. I wouldn't dump more money in the old motor.
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
I think they had it ground, but don't remember since it's been so long... It's a '91 Ford Aerostar LOTS of miles on it...lots
Just had the brake system redone, new tires, new water pump, new heater core, I already have too much into it.
He and I discussed this before he did anything, was it worth fixing, he gave me the impression it was, so I gave him the go ahead to do it.
He didn't give me a clue that the engine could blow on such a trip...
I just love that van and would hate to part with it. A:(
![[Frown]](frown.gif)