problems with a mechanic

[justinburnett]

Just thought I'd see if y'all have any ideas what I should do about this:

About 2 months ago I had my transmission re-built and a new torque converter and flexplate installed. I have a 400sbc and the trans guy put an unbalanced flex plate on which caused some nasty vibrations and breaking of all manner of stuff within about 3 days before I got it back to him. He told me it was fine, my engine was just shot so I bought an engine off CL that the guy said ran fine. Put it in, and it did run, but it also had the biggest coolant leak into the crank case and #3 cylinder that I've ever seen. unfortunately the guy brought it out to me from out of town and I tossed his number before I put it in and found out, so I'm screwed there.
When I was putting the engine in I noticed the bellhousing of my trans was all cracked. At this point I still hadn't noticed the flexplate was unweighted on the other engine. Anyway, since the "new" engine was no good I started stripping down the old one for a re-build. That's when I noticed the flexplate was wrong. Took it down to the tranny shop, told him what I thought happened, he said he didn't think it was their fault because he's sure he replaced the plate with what was on there before. I don't know one way or another, other than that it was running fine up until the day before I took it in. I tell him I think he should have known better and he says he'll replace the transmission case. That's fine with me.
So I've got the "old" engine all spruced up and rebuilt and it's ready to go in, and I took the tranny to the guy over two weeks ago now, which he said at that point it would just be a one day thing. He keeps putting me off and it's pissing me off. A lot. Last week he said come pick it up wednesday, so I did, and he says "oh I couldn't get to it, it's been so busy, it'll be done friday for sure" so I show up friday and it's "I'm so sorry, I give you my word it'll be done monday" and now today it's, "Well, I thought I could have it done but..." so I'm fed up and pissed off.
I need that trans so I can put the engine in and be done with all this. I have to tow a 4,000lb trailer about 600 miles next Sunday, which means I still need to break the engine in and make sure everything's running good and I didn't forget something. What the hell am I supposed to do with this guy jacking me around like that? In my younger days the guy probably wouldn't have a shop to call his own anymore, but I'm a little older, calmer, and less inclined to go to jail, what with having kids and such, so even though breaking both his knees and burning down his shop still seems reasonable, I know it's not the path I should take.
Any suggestions?

[Your41Plague12]

I'd go one more time, if he doesn't have it done just tell him you want it out of there right now. Tell him to drop whatever he's doing at that moment and help you get it into another truck, and take it somewhere else. I wouldn't ever give him my business again, either.

[BigBlocksRule]

Take a couple of buddies, pick up what looks like a fresh rebuild, load it into your truck and tell him you're even.

[justinburnett]

Lol the second one's right up my alley. PRoblem is I wouldn't know one transmission from another, to get one that would fit. Suppose I could sell it.
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[Altec]

So not only did he destroy your 400, but he cracked your bell housing because it wasn't installed properly?

[justinburnett]

Basically that's the idea, yeah.

Thinking at this point my best LEGAL approach (according to a friend of mine and he's usually pretty good at this stuff) would be to go pick it up today, take it somewhere else for a quote for repair including the R&R because I shouldn't be responsible for pulling it re-installing. Was just doing that to be nice cause the guy seemed willing to work with me at first. He said get a quote to have it repaired and sue him in small claims court for the cost of fixing it, and go ahead and throw in all the receipts for the engine work also, plus towing costs from when it broke down before, and just see what I don't get out of it. He says whether I told the guy it was a 400 or not, any judge will assume a mechanic should know the difference, or check if they're not sure, and even though I probably wouldn't be awarded the full cost of the engine re-build (I did get the heads re-done and can't really blame that on the guy), I should get more than enough to cover the trans fix.

Also, apparently once you are awarded a judgment, if the defendant refuses to pay, you can legally walk in and pick stuff up to go sell to make up the cost. That would really make my day.

Think that's what I'm going to do. This guy is going to lose thousands just because he couldn't bother to fix his mistake. Like I said, I was trying to be nice and just say "fix the case and I'll forget about it". Guess nice guys do finish last, like they say.

[70longbed]

all around a bad situation. you could attempt a lawsuit but the best you could do there is get your money back for the initial work done. was the rebuild done at a reputable repair facility? or a back yarder? I know a lot of so called mechanics that I wouldn't let fix my pedal bike.

[justinburnett]

It's a great big "professional" establishment. I can't figure out why they're screwing around with me no this. I'm even dealing with the owner and not just some middleman. I'm on my way there right now. GOing to tell the boss as nice as possible that I'll be there to pick it up at noon tomorrow, done or not, so it's up to him if he wants to honor his commitment or not, but I'm not just going to leave it there forever waiting for him to get around to it.
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[Altec]

I would simply make it clear when you expect it done. Not say what will happen if it isn't...

[justinburnett]

Right. Good plan, not give him advance warning. I'm still picking it up done or not.
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[Altec]

yeah, if you say you are going to take it if it isn't done I can tell you what he will do. He is going to tell you to take it right then and there... That's his easy way out. Don't want to give it to him if you don't have to.//

[justinburnett]

Well sadly I didn't get the opportunity. FOr a guy that's so busy if can't keep a commitment, if apparently has plenty of time to go home a couple hours early. I went in expecting to see a bunch of guys running around scrambling to get stuff out the door and Just stood there dumbfounded for a minute. There was no one there. Couple cars inside but no one working. Went in the office and found 3 guys sitting playing a board game. Asked one kid where the f*** the owner was and one of them is like "he went home early?" LIke he's asking me. I told then tell your boss I'll be here at noon and I want it done so one of you guys might get off your ass and start working. I'm pretty royally pissed off at this point so I left before I did something stupid, since it's not their fault, really, but WTF? I can't figure out how that place has been in business for so long if this is how they treat people. I'm more than happy to spend money to get a job done and I even have another trans I wanted rebuilt for a different vehicle and if he'd just fixed it to begin with I'd have had no problem giving them another chance and making some more cash, but of course I won't now. Neither will any of my friends. I just can't fathom what might be running through his head at this point.
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[fastwillie 696969]

most likey the transmission housing cracked when they mounted the tranny the torque converter probley wasnt seated all the way down and when the put the bolts in the tranny and tighten them up it crack the housing because the torque converter wasnt align up correctly
just my .2 cent

[justinburnett]

Whatever reason it is, it's hard to prove. I just want it back. Went down to get it at noon and it was dismantled all over a table. Guess that means it's getting worked on but at this point I don't even want that guy to do it. Kinda screwed now though, because I need it in one piece or it's useless to me. I can't imagine it takes that long so maybe they'll have it done today. Wish I could have just picked it up and been done with it.

[cableguy0]

Any competent tranny guy shouldnt have an issue rebuilding a gm rwd tranny in a few hours. Your looking out the hole in the back of the case in less than an hour. The time is in putting new seals in all the drums and cleaning everything up. Theres no reason the complete job should take longer than a day. Including yanking the trans and reinstalling.

[justinburnett]

Got it back all finished. I'm not happy with the experience but as long as it works I can put it all behind me and find someone else to deal w/th next time. Kinda late to install now so first thing in the morning it's going in.
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[Benelli]

Let us know if the damn thing even works.

Hope it doesn't happen ever again. It's this kind of stuff that gives mechanics terrible reputations.

[justinburnett]

Yeah. I almost dread finding out now... I was SO excited to get everything bolted back up and run this bastard but now it's like "what's going to be f***ed up now?"

This has really ruined my experience.

Now I finally pinned the guy down and got him to talk to me instead of avoiding me and he said the reason it took so long was he was looking for one of the HD cases with the thicker bell housing and it took him longer to track one down. I don't know if they're hard to find or not, but I guess it's nice to have one. I told him this whole experience would have been a lot better if he'd just got on the damned phone for two minutes and told me "Look, I know you said you were in a hurry but I think I can find something better for you, it's just going to take a few extra days", instead of ignoring me, avoiding my calls, not being there when I went to check up on it.

Even if it works well I'm not going back to that guy. I just don't feel like I could trust him to do a good job for me. Plenty of other fish in the sea.

[big_al_71]

Would never understand why people are so shady, hopefully the tranny will work well for you and this will all be left behind.

[justinburnett]

So far it's gone in okay. Just taking a break from getting the engine in. It's not lining up quite right so I'm going at it again in a minute. Will let you know what happens. PRobably not drive until tomorrow.
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[justinburnett]

Just wanted to update this. Got everything installed fine. My engine runs great. 220psi in all 8 cylinders and purrs like a bad ass kitten. Transmission seems to be working alright too but I don't like the shift points. Goes into second at about 15mph and then 3rd at about 18. Don't know how to fix that and I'm not too excited about taking It back for adjustment so I'll just find someone else to do it later. FOR now I'm just shifting in and out of 3rd manually. Definitely nice to be driving my pickup again.
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[Altec]

Glad it is working. You can get Governor recalibration kits to change the shift points. Something you can do yourself, and it isn't like you are worried about voiding the warranty on your fresh rebuild...

[justinburnett]

Just took it on a 600 mile drive. Worked fine except the reverse slips. Not terribly pleased. Still not sure if I want to take it back or just pay someone else to do it right.
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[Altec]

Ridiculous. It is either that they didn't replace a worn reverse band, or the servo is leaking/cracked.

[63sbssbbw]

Just hearing about A/Hs like that annoys the heck out of me
I wouldn't take it back there for love nor money.
just my 2 cents
T