Dear Diary.... Long, but a MUST read....

["Patrick Bureau" <pbureau@home.com>]

Dear Diary,

For the past week the broken baffle in my muffler had completely driven me
to get it changed. So I booked my local Sears shop and got them to order the
proper muffler for my "Beatrice" so that they could perform this easy cut a
pipe and stick a muffler on the exhausts system so that I would be back at
work by noon latest.. Everything was finely tuned and set in rock up to the
point where I actually let the mechanic perform a exhaust inspection (to
supposedly make sure nothing else needed attention on his part).

8am.. Bring car at sears automotive garage, I am the first client, the
mechanics seem in good humor as I hear the chattering and friendly bantering
in the garage area. so far so good. As I talk to the owner of the shop he
tells me he got the muffler the previous day so that I don't waste my day
here. Charming fellow a great talker for a shop-owner.

815am the car is driven into the garage area, looking through the service
window, I am glad to see a middle aged mechanic that comforts me in knowing
that they did not give the job to a 20 years old that never seen this car
before.. I start to relax.

8.30am the mechanic calls me at the garage area to discuss my "problem" of
noise.

8.35am the mechanic explains he cannot hear any noises from the muffler, and
points at the heat shield that is loosely holding from the body work and
tells me that most likely my noise problem, after pointing out to him that I
can only hear this noise when starting the car when it is cold , he
retorques, well its warm right now, well let it cool down, meanwhile I will
stick a screw into this loose cover into your floor area so it wont disturb
you anymore , calm I watch hit grab a drill, and a aluminum screw, I eye my
coffee on a barrel near by and rear for it, Dzzzz. he turns around with a
nice serviceable smile, there! now lets it sit for an hour and will start it
up again... as I gaze up from my coffee cup to the car where the newly
installed screw is inserted, I notices liquid dripping from the shiny new
bolt... puzzled I look at the mechanic that suddenly realizes it was too
early in the morning, as he pivots and looks at his work... gas tank pierced
with a bolt, gas dripping from the tank unto the floor.

8.45am after recovery from a near infracts and heart attack and 3
cigarettes... the owner find me outside (under the rain) and start excusing
himself for the mistake and promises to get the tank repaired this morning
at no cost what so ever. being in a good mood, and understanding human
nature (though some folks should be shot for desecrating a gas tank thinking
it is a floorboard.. but I digress) I nod my agreement and call work and
advise that I will not be in today..

9.15am after his morning break, mechanic starts attacking the "tank " job,
proceeds to carefully remove the 4 bolts holding the "h" frame assembly so
that he can lower the tank from the body, bolts that were never moved since
its conception in 1985, two snapped, and the French Canadian back yard
swearing started.. "criss the Volkswagen", standing close by... no
commenting, as I did not want to put gas on the fire (pun intended) at this
time... he lowers the full tank (of gas eh!) and leans it atop the H frame
so that he can remove the last two breather hoses and electrical connection
atop the tank. (I could of told him it would been easier to do this through
the back seat.. but no.. I was hoping something else to happen.. read on...

945am, after 30 mins of work the tank almost ready to be removed, suddenly
shimmers under its own weight as the H bar drops another 5 inches lower, 2
mechanics run to help the poor lad as he's trying desperately not to spill
this tank unto the ground. finally the tank is emptied and lowered to the
ground, wiped dry, and sent out to be repaired. 1/2 hours I am told...
(more swearing follow as I listen at a distance of the open garage door,
looking on..) The mechanic realized he just snapped not one but both break
lines that he forgot to disconnect from the H frame and broke door to weight
of gas tank.. he calls Napa and get two new rear hoses and flexi hoses for
the rear brakes lines... 20 minutes I am told (so far so good the parts are
available..)

1030am, the brake line arrive and a few minutes later the gas tank also...
the mechanic is busy taking a "syndicated break"

11am the mechanic realize more problem arose during this removal of the
tank, the hoses leading to and from the gas pump are cracked due to hold age
and "sudden" previously noted stress... he orders more.. cannot proceed
until they get here, this time, not trucks available it will only get here
by 1pm.. I head out to lunch...

1PM, the parts are in the mechanic is back in a better mood after lunch, so
many breaks so little work...) and he reassembles the tank unto the car, the
tank has been cleans, pressure tested and repainted.. the brakes lines are
nice and new and the bleeders on the rear drums are properly functional (to
the surprise of the mechanic, which expected to break one and replace them
too... (chuckling by myself at this point eyeing the work of art unfolding
in front of me..)

2pm tank in reinstalled, reassembled and properly connected. (note... need
to change axle bearings and plates in rear, one is crooked). re installs the
brakes lines and after drilling the 2 broken bolts from the frame and
re-threading the holes, he reinstalls the H frame in place, adjust the
position of the brake lines, and gas lines so nothing gets pinches or rubs..

3PM INSTALLS THE MUFFLER.....

3.15pm drop the car to the ground and declares.. all done!
3.16pm car is lifted to my insistence that I now "check" the work that was
done on my car.
3.17pm found the U bold used uselessly placed unto the pipes, as plenty of
air is heard when car starts. after fsking with it for 30 mins he advises me
that this is the best he can do, and I have to accept the work done.

4PM I advise to the now rather annoyed at me mechanic that his work is
sloppy and that he is no longer required to complete the work (gawd I love
dismissing people for crappy work) and advise the owner that I require a
"torch-man" he calls over another mechanic, and I explain to this guy...
SOLDER the exhaust, I live in Texas and leaking exhaust Fails mechanical
inspection. he tells me this is not standard work in Canada.. I look at the
owner, he nods to the mechanic to do as told.

4.30 the work is completed and to my entire satisfaction I pay up for 1
muffler + 30 mins installation fee, grab my keys and leave...

Why do people argue with Scirocco folks when you ask them to "change this
part, don't argue, just do it?"
and secondly, I wonder if the same guy does shocks in the front..? I could
use a couple more brake lines and perhaps CV joint replaced for free... I
wonder... MUAHAHAHA

Patrick Bureau
1985 8v Titian Red Scirocco
http://longcoeur.com/scirocco
----------------------------------
SCA-Name Lord Patric de Long Coeur
Ansteorra, Steppes Barony
http://longcoeur.com/


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