A little freaked out!

[DadsCharger00]

So I finally got fed up with the 68 not running, or at least not running like it should, so I took it to a shop this evening and dropped it off. Have to admit I'm kinda freaked out right now. It's a nice shop, good people. Guy who owns the place has a 67 himself, and one built for his brother. Has an SS Chevelle, a 69 Mustang Fastback, fully restored....and a number of other old classic cars. So he knows his stuff, and so does his mechanics. Some mean machines in the building. But straight up, I'm freakin. I can't help it. That car hasn't been out of my garage basically since it's purchase. I mean, I THINK I trust him....but how can a person tell ya know. Lots of "normal" people out there ya know....just a little rant!

[charge69]

I don't think I could trust my Charger in ANY shop right now!  Just check in often with the shop and drop by unannounced to check in on your car.  It sounds like things should be just fine but, let the owner know how you feel and check on it often!

[crj1968]

I think you've found the right place. Those dudes aren't going be "whoa musclecar! lets ring it out!" 

[cudaken]

I think you've found the right place. Those dudes aren't going be "whoa musclecar! lets ring it out!"  

Not sure about that one, but they will know its limits! Beside, sometimes you have to beat on them a tad to see if they are running right!  

Dads Charger, I would not be worried, seems the owner is into old cars and will know most of the in's and outs. Bob, my daily driver mechanic is a hard core Belly Button Boy but I have trusted him with my Mopars on jobs I did not want to do.

The basic are the same on all HP cars.
Correct Timing
Properly working ignition system
Cam timing
Proper Carb tuning
 


Now a machine shop , not the same thing!  

Cuda Ken

[myk]

What was the car doing, or not doing?

[DadsCharger00]

Running! Lol.  Basically it wouldn't stay running.  Changed the distributor,  bought new spark plugs,  pry pull off the dual quads go back to 4 barrel intake. Tune it, get the timing adjusted. ...maybe that'll do it. I really dont know!

[myk]

Did you have a thread about your car somewhere?  I'm curious to see what other members may have suggested?

[Kern Dog]

It sucks to admit defeat and let someone else wrench on your car.
I am pretty capable with the old cars but in regards to my 2007 Ram, I've had to let the dealer fix some stuff. Its strange though...When I've had the truck in for service, I pace back and forth. I keep checking the clock. I think of errands that I should be doing. Its strange that when I am Unable to use it, i feel the urgency to use it!

[myk]

It sucks to admit defeat and let someone else wrench on your car.
I am pretty capable with the old cars but in regards to my 2007 Ram, I've had to let the dealer fix some stuff. Its strange though...When I've had the truck in for service, I pace back and forth. I keep checking the clock. I think of errands that I should be doing. Its strange that when I am Unable to use it, i feel the urgency to use it!

I feel your pain.  When the Charger had its misfire problem over the weekend I couldn't sleep or concentrate on anything else; the car had to be whole and healthy! 

Anyway, for those of us accustomed to wrenching on our cars it's difficult to admit defeat, but a man needs to know his limitations...

[fy469rtse]

Myk , your sounding like clint eastwood ( dirty harry ) more every day , and your licsensed to carry 

[myk]

Lol, I loved Magnum Force; it was my favorite of the 'Harry movies...

[Dreamcar]

I think you've found the right place. Those dudes aren't going be "whoa musclecar! lets ring it out!" 

I agree. It doesn't sound like you brought it to a quick lube place with teenagers working on it. Relax. 

[DadsCharger00]

Did you have a thread about your car somewhere?  I'm curious to see what other members may have suggested?

I'd posted a couple times. It was pick up coil, or possibly the whole distributor, or maybe vapor locking, electrical, orange box, maybe a short....there was a couple of ideas.  Been going on since October when I moved. SO I guess it was time to move on, and start over, and let pride go a little bit.

[charge69]

Hopefully, the shop will quickly discover the problem, fix it and you can get your Charger back on the road!

[twodko]

I'd be anxious about have my car at an unvetted shop too.

Nowadays I can't wrench on mine like I used too. I ran across
a guy and his wife who own their own shop by referral.

This guy is truly a master mechanic and repairs every vehicle out there.
Turns out he has a good rep with Classics as well with quite a few customers.

The man is uber careful and meticulous. He's wrapping up his own
resto of an original 1965 chevy ½ ton short bed fleet side 4wd
that's gorgeous.

He's also become a regular shooting buddy.

Your car will be fine. Like others have said, check in with the shop often and drop by
unexpectedly.

[HeavyFuel]

Nothing to worry about....

[crj1968]

Yeah- everything will be OK.

   

[Dreamcar]

"We were going to fill up the tank for you and some guy in a Mustang came along and..."

[twodko]

 

[Ghoste]

.

[timmycharger]

Nothing to worry about....

HAHAHA yes!!! 

[472 R/T SE]

It absolutely kills me to have to pay someone to wrench on my Charger when I could physically do the task before being hurt.

Luckily all my buddys are pretty skookum with wrenches so dropping my car off somewhere isn't as bad as it used to be.






Dads, you said you had problems once you moved.  Are the elevations drastically different?  I'm lucky, 500' above here.

[RECHRGD]

Always write down your mileage regardless of how much you trust the shop.  Years ago, I had a local shop do a rebuild on the transmission.  They also removed and reinstalled it in the car.  Long story short, the "test drive" added over seventy miles to the odometer.  I was not a happy camper.....

[DadsCharger00]

  Thanks for the words and PICTURES of encouragement!  :2thumbs:Only thing I guess I didn't do was check the odometer. Never thought to do that one. Hopefully it doesn't matter....I DO HOWEVER know how much gas was in her 

[Ghoste]

RECHRGD, you would think a transmission shop would at least have enough sense to leave the speedo drive unhooked for a stunt like that, did they even offer you an apology?

[RECHRGD]

RECHRGD, you would think a transmission shop would at least have enough sense to leave the speedo drive unhooked for a stunt like that, did they even offer you an apology?

Kind of a long story, but I'll try to condense it.  The guy that installed the unit in the car was not the same guy that did the rebuild.  I wanted to know when it would be ready, so I could do the test drive with the tech to check things out.  I called to find out what the status was and was told he had it out for a test drive and he should be right back.  So I figured there was just a misunderstanding of my desire to be involved in the test drive.  I called back about fifteen minutes later and was told that he still had not returned, but should be "right back".  I voiced my displeasure to person on the phone and that they were hired to fix the tranny, not go for a cruise.  I was about 30 minutes away and got a ride to the shop.  When I arrived the car was back, but the tech had conveniently "left for the day".  When I checked the mileage and confronted the owner about it, he tried to defend the need for the drive.  I told him about the mileage and time the tech had the car out and he just had a deer in the headlights look on his face.  I've never been back there since and never recommend them to anyone.......

[Kern Dog]

Actions like that deserve a beatdown.

[Homerr]

Take an odometer picture from the driver's seat with their shop sign in the background out the windshield next time on your phone.  Even better if you let them see you doing it.  It's tougher for them to dispute than you saying you "remember the mileage".

Your car is probably just fine.  Let the guys do their thing and perform a reset to baseline so you can enjoy the car.  It'll be easier to tinker with yourself once you know that it runs well.

[472 R/T SE]

Take an odometer picture from the driver's seat with their shop sign in the background out the windshield next time on your phone.  Even better if you let them see you doing it.  It's tougher for them to dispute than you saying you "remember the mileage".

-'jack
Boy howdy do people get excited when they see you taking their picture.  I used to do it all the time when I picked my daughter up from school & all the disabled parking spots were being occupied by parents waiting to pick their child up with NO disabled permit.
I always stop right behind the car's at the driver's side door mirror to take the pictures so the flash catches their eye.  A lot of the times I'm not even getting the license plate, just mess with them.  Hopefully they think about the dough head that took their picture next time.

"I'm only gonna be here for a few minutes."