Need help on Repair shop issue (legal matter)

[mlibre10]

I recently bought a 1962 Chevy C10

Brought it to the shop a couple of days ago to have the clutch replaced. Visited the car yesterday to check on update and saw the truck out side with the window down so I thought its being worked on. Last night when I got home, I texted the Shop owner to inform him that I hoped someone closed the window as we had a Storm Warning.

Got a text back from him telling me that he thought I closed it since I saw it. I was pissed off and told him it's his responsibility to secure and prevent damage on the truck. He told me it fine since my truck doesn't have carpet anyway. I told him it's not my point. My truck have a steel passenger bed it will get rusted.

I drove to the shop to close it my self and found him there. Stating the window doesn't close well.


My question is, will it have damage on the tranny or engine due to the moist on the rain? He took the clutch out so im not quite sure what is exposed underneath when it was sitting outside in the rain.


Pls help! Thank you.

[Clyde65]

one time of it raining, possibly in the truck? No, it shouldn't hurt it that much. if it had carpet and it got soaked, I would recommend removing it and drying things out.

Now, my impression on this dude you took your truck to is that he doesn't give a rats behind about my truck when it comes to rain, how is he on my clutch job? something to think about there.

Good luck!

[mlibre10]

It's been raining for good 4 hours non stop till I realized it. I'm pretty sure the bed had been flooded then. The seat is leather. Will the moist on open tranny and engine create some issue?


I saw something about water getting into tranny is a huge messed up situation and can cost rebuild.

[1963c-10]

I would take pics to document just in case you have any issues. When it comes to legal matters if you don't document it doesn't happen.

[61K10]

the bed is flooded? tk never been in the rain? I would worry about the clutch job more than a little water. Being a manual transmission no water should get in it. Should be in the shop not sitting out in the rain. I would make sure he has the flywheel surfaced. good luck!

[TJ's Chevy]

Sounds to me to be a simple case of "Choosing the wrong place to go." At the shop I work at we leave customer's equipment out in the rain after they're dropped it off, BUT when they're half way apart from us working on it we do our best to at LEAST throw a tarp over it to keep as much moister out as we can.

[mlibre10]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

Sounds to me to be a simple case of "Choosing the wrong place to go." At the shop I work at we leave customer's equipment out in the rain after they're dropped it off, BUT when they're half way apart from us working on it we do our best to at LEAST throw a tarp over it to keep as much moister out as we can.

The Shop Owner demands to be paid in full $550 removal and installation plus $265 for the kit. My worries is He is not giving any guarantee. I told him job needs to be completed first but he insist for me to pay. Is that standard?

[mlibre10]

Paying in cash or check to his name instead of the shop so he scapes tax and any liability to the work done.

I had the Truck towed to a different shop with parts all dismantled. I can now just only hope everything is there to be completed. Also lost the key. Luckily I always carry a spare with me.

Need more guidance please!!!

[TJ's Chevy]

That sure as heck ain't Standard imop. My machinist did ALL the work before I paid him to do my engine. Though because I've known him for some 11 years I do trust his work and paid him half at the beginning and the rest later. But no...even at my shop we don't charge our customers until we're done. I'd suggest getting your truck outta there and going somewhere else. People who demand payment before any work is done aren't trust worthy...for all you know he could take your money and do nothing...then when it came to court claim You never paid him.

[Chevy Fleetside]

$265 for a kit. I paid $119 at Napa. I am just glad I can do all of my own work. When I did my clutch in my truck I think it took a total of about 2 hours, maybe more since I am old now.. I never ask for money up front when I am doing a job. The law here is 10% but you can bill for materials. This is for construction work. I don't know to many shops that ask for payment up front either and if they did I would walk.

[Wrenchbender Ret]

In some states the finance co. has preforance over the mechanic. If the payments are behind they could reposes it without paying the mechanic. Often shops in these states will ask for payment up front on a customer they are not familiar with.

[DPowers]

Originally Posted by mlibre10

Paying in cash or check to his name instead of the shop so he scapes tax and any liability to the work done.

I had the Truck towed to a different shop with parts all dismantled. I can now just only hope everything is there to be completed. Also lost the key. Luckily I always carry a spare with me.

Need more guidance please!!!

Contact Better Business Bureau and also have the new shop detail any "damage" or issues that may have risen due to the first shop's negligence.
In reality, it will most likely be a lesson learned about where not to have work done.
How about some pics of your truck?

[mlibre10]

Work in progress but it's in great shape.

[mlibre10]

Previous owner said the 38k miles is all original and not been turned. Almost 70% original parts.

[Clyde65]

I have never heard of a reputable shop asking to be paid up front unless the customer has a reputation of slow or non payment, which I doubt that you are one of those.

I would either take it somewhere that isnt a flake, or offer to bring your new parts to him ( or pay him for the parts) and then when it is done and you test drive it, you will pay him for the labor. If he says no, move your truck!

[1963c-10]

Yeah...I'd error with caution here. I've never had one of our local shops ask for payment up front. Even the machinist I use....pay when we pick up. Some smaller shops I could see asking for parts up front if its a large job, but a clutch job is a pretty standard job for most mechanics.

Some clutchs can cost a pretty penny. I know I have a ram stage II and it was over $300 for the clutch and pressure plate.

[MikeN]

My guess is you made him mad with the dispute over the window, which is what triggered the demand to be paid up front. You made the right choice by starting over at a different shop.

[mlibre10]

I'm stuck now as the new shop I brought it to stated that it's the wrong tranny and clutch size. The shop may have given me the wrong parts back so that I am buried with the cost and situation.

[1963c-10]

So they swapped your transmission and bought the wrong clutch for it? Looks like a civil suit in order........

What transmission did you leave with the truck and what did you receive back?

[mlibre10]

I'm no mechanic so I really don't know.

The track is running when I brought it. The only problem with it is the Clutch is stuck and no pressure. I was given an advise to have a clutch kit replacement.

The Previous shop dismantled the tranny and the abandoned the work cause I wouldn't pay him full in advance.

The New Shop claim that now, the parts is not matching and they will not be able to put it together. They said that the tranny given back to me is not compatible with the truck. They also said I was given back a clutch that was 11 inch of which is the wrongs size?

I filed a law suit of Destruction of Property, Negligence and Emotional Distress and one other thing.

[mlibre10]

When I win, I will be filing another law suit for loss of income and discrimination?as the truck seemed to be discrimanated due to its age. The shop didn't care about it at all.

Oh yeah, the other claim already filed is Breached of contract.

[1963c-10]

What engine do you have? Many of the early trucks would except 10-11" clutchs. I had an 11" behind my 230 inline six and also run an 11" behind my big block. Clutch size shouldn't be such an issue as long as the flywheel will except the 11" clutch. Transmission not fitting could definitely be an issue, but hard to tell if we don't know what you have now.

[mlibre10]

Straight six.

Can you by chance and help me by calling the shop?

[TJ's Chevy]

230's and 250's and 283's came stock with a 10 inch clutch the 292 and 327 had 11 inch clutches. Sue the crap outta that dude.

[mlibre10]

Can anyone give an idea how much it will cost me to put a new Tranny and clutch to the truck? As much as possible and the cost is reasonable, I'd rather keep the truck.


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