Shop Woes Finale

[LEB Ben]

As some of you have probably read in my original 'Shop Woes' thread, I had some serious problems with a shop doing crappy work, and when I got the Bronco back, the tstat housing was still leaking...so I just siliconed anywhere it was leaking and drove home so I could actually do something about the problem. So I pull the housing off at the beginning of last week, and find that the shop drilled through the block to get the broken bolt out, and apparently tried to JBWeld (or the like) to form a base, then they helicoiled the hole. I figured fine, whatever, no biggie, I woulda probably done the same thing. I also noticed the housing was ever so slightly warped, and the gasket the shop used was torn all to hell, so I figured that probably caused the leaking. So ground down the housing to a nice plane, and got a new gasket. Buttoned everything up, and as I was trying to tighten down the bolt that was good, it wasn't tightening. Ok, again no biggie...just got a new bolt. Same thing happened. So I decided to inspect further and looked down in the bolt hole that was good when I sent it to the shop, and now it was missing about 2/3 of it's threads. So with the housing off, I see if I can get a bolt to bite...couldn't really, but noticed the bolt wasn't going as far down as it should...took a flashlight to it, and noticed there was JB in the bottom of this hole too...WTF. Now it made sense why there were washers on the bolt before I took it off. It's kinda a feat within itself that the bolt even stayed in. Again, I feel kinda ripped off because to me, this says someone messed up and started drilling the wrong hole to put the helicoil in...because that hole was perfectly fine before I brought it to the NAPA shop.

So what I ended up doing was...Dad knows a guy who can weld cast iron really well, and we brought it to him, drilled out everything the machine shop did on the original hole the bolt broke in...had the guy fill it up with weld, then me and dad drilled and retapped for a 3/8 bolt. The other hole that was originally good, was JB'ed up, but there was still an iron bottom. So we drilled out JB and retapped that hole for a 3/8 bolt, now I am leak free.


All in all...the work wasn't too bad, and pretty easy, it just seriously pisses me off that I had to pay $340 for work that I had to redo anyways. On top of that, someone knew they screwed up the good hole, and didn't come clean, or were gonna try and milk me for even more money...hence the 'oh it must be that the housing is warped...bring back the Bronco tomorrow so we can fix it and charge you for it.' Oh well...live and learn I guess, and make sure you don't break something when you don't have the tools to fix it.

 

[radialarm]

I would report them to the BBB, for what it's worth!!!

 

[LEB Ben]

Yeah I was seeeeeeeeriously considering that, especially when I first got the Bronco back, but now the anger has lowered some, and at this point what can I really get out of it? I've altered the work...so there's no real proof of what they did, and they told me they would fix the leak...while emptying my wallet. I'd really like to get my $340 back...but I doubt I'd be able to get it now. So I just figured I'd chalk this one up to experience. But...at the height of my anger, I did fill out a report, and there were 4 different grievences I could have claimed...never submitted it though.

 

[john112deere]

...make sure you don't break something when you don't have the tools to fix it.

Hell...I could have tol' you that before you started.

Ask next time.

 

[LEB Ben]

Well thanks Ian...who woulda thunk a tstat replacement could go all to hell. There's only so much stuff I can have with me at school...and that's in the form of a snap on tool chest and a diamond plate tool box in the Bronco. The chest has one drawer for screwdrivers, one for pliers/vice grips/etc., one for ratchets and sockets, one for wrenches, one for specialty tools, once for fastners, and the top has hammers, a tape measure and small extra parts...and the tool box in the Bronco holds the typical necessities...but I guess necessities are relative depending on what needs to be done...haha.

 

[john112deere]

Well thanks Ian...who woulda thunk a tstat replacement could go all to hell. Me. Learned that one the hard way... There's only so much stuff I can have with me at school...and that's in the form of a snap on tool chest and a diamond plate tool box in the Bronco. Oh, I hear ya. Got the same problem myself. The chest has one drawer for screwdrivers, one for pliers/vice grips/etc., one for ratchets and sockets, one for wrenches, one for specialty tools, once for fastners, and the top has hammers, a tape measure and small extra parts...and the tool box in the Bronco holds the typical necessities...but I guess necessities are relative depending on what needs to be done...haha.

And you've always got the necessities for 37 different jobs far more involved than the one you're doing, but not what you need to fix what's actually broke.

Ah, well...you got it all back together and running good now, anyway.

 

[flareside_thunder]

I'd still suggest filing a complaint with the BBB...not many people check but the ones that do will not have the same headaches you did if and when they go to that shop....it'd just be giving others a "heads-up".

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

Well I know what its like to learn lessons the hard way. I broke a tap off in my intake where the T stat goes on my 390. We still aint got it fixed but we will eventually.