I'm really beginning to hate this hobby

"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword) 01/23/2019 at 15:06 • Filed to: None

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Brought my engine home today. Where to begin?

The shop never replaced the plate that makes up my “hot air choke”, despite me specifically bringing a replacement. The bolts were siezed, which is why I asked a machine shop to take care of it. Supposedly my redneck fix of putting sheet metal screws is enough to “seal it fine” since there is a tube inside or something. They forgot to do it, then when I asked them to take care of it before I picked the engine up.I guess I am going to have to get someone else to fuck around with it, which would have been much easier while the intake manifold was off of the engine.

They snapped off my dipstick tube. “but it has a rust hole, so it needs replaced anyway” I just found this out today. 10$, whatever.

He had hooked my balancer back up to the engine yesterday, we lifted it in my friend’s truck, and drove home. We took it off the back of his truck with my hoist and set it down as we were unable to get it on the stand in it’s current position. After picking it back up, I hear a snap as the engine drops back to the ground. Fortunately, it was resting on the tire I was using to move it.

Fuck, what happened? The HF balancer break? the janky engine hoist?

No, the fucker didn’t tighten the bolt on the balancer. Mind you, he’s the one that put it in my friends truck initially.

The bolt ripped the last two threads out of the back of the block, as those were the only ones engaged. as the rest of the weight slammed on the alternator bracket on the other end, it snapped in two. fortunately, no cracks to the oil pan, although there is this huge slick in my driveway from it dumping out the aforementioned missing dipstick.

So... nobody got hurt. The engine itself is fine (as far as I can tell). However, this bracket is a part that isn’t reproduced. Or available used, apparently .

I’m furious at this point, so I go over there (and careful not to yell) and explain what happened, show pictures, the bolt, ect. Get the “we aren’t responsible for how you handle the engine” line, and tell him he is lucky I didn’t crush my foot. I ask for a new bracket, saying I didn’t snap the thing because I felt like it. He refuses. I ask him to repair it ( I am really fucking doubtful, as it’s cast aluminum) and he agrees. Supposedly I’ll have it tomorrow.

Boy, I sure am confident about my engine that’s toleranced to a thousandth of an inch. Why do I feel like I am going to end up in small claims court?

I am so sick of being at the mercy of others. It’s unavoidable.

I would also not recommend Brougher’s Machine shop of Pittsburgh.

Nibby > My bird IS the word 01/23/2019 at 15:09

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now now, don’t get too choked up

My bird IS the word > Nibby 01/23/2019 at 15:10

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Well, I could be posting this from a hospital. I’m pretty fucking mad.

Nibby > My bird IS the word 01/23/2019 at 15:13

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be thankful you aren’t at a hospital

My bird IS the word > Nibby 01/23/2019 at 15:14

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I guess I should be thankful I’m not on fire or dead, too?

Nibby > My bird IS the word 01/23/2019 at 15:15

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that’s your choice if you want to be cremated

My bird IS the word > Nibby 01/23/2019 at 15:18

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I guess I should never be mad at anything again. Thanks Nibby!

Nibby > My bird IS the word 01/23/2019 at 15:21

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there you go

but it is totally okay to get mad every time you see an ugly car on the road

Cash Rewards > My bird IS the word 01/23/2019 at 15:22

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I think he was making a bad oun about the choke?

CalzoneGolem > My bird IS the word 01/23/2019 at 15:34

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That’s some bull. Good on ya for remaining calm.

My bird IS the word > Cash Rewards 01/23/2019 at 15:36

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I mean, the bolts are seized. I expected that he would do it at the same time as doing my stuck exhaust bolts that sheared off. Obviously you can’t get it now by just cranking on them.

PartyPooper2012 > My bird IS the word 01/23/2019 at 15:42

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I would have held out to say not recommending the such and such shop till after they repaired your bracket.

Now it will probably made out of plutonium and everyone in town will die of exposure to radiation.

vondon302 > My bird IS the word 01/23/2019 at 15:43

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Ugh reminds me of when I had a 258 rebuilt for my 84 jeep. I had given them a mild cam to put in it. 390 holley on an offenhauser intake with headers. Damn thing ran like a small block for the first 1000 miles then the cam promptly ate the distributor gear. Never could figure out what was causing this. ( pre internet days) After eating a few gears and having oil pressure problems I put a stock cam in it and it ran fine.

I'd of been pissed too.

Cash Rewards > My bird IS the word 01/23/2019 at 15:44

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Sorry, my dumb typo might have been confusing.

You should be angry! Definitely! That sucks!

Nibby saying don’t get too chok ed up was a bad pun/joke about the choke plate. I don’t think anyone thinks you’re overreacting. I’d be furious.

BeaterGT > My bird IS the word 01/23/2019 at 15:45

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“ I am so sick of being at the mercy of others. It’s unavoidable.”

So much this. On the upside, maybe the next shop you try won’t be so careless.

My bird IS the word > PartyPooper2012 01/23/2019 at 15:46

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It’s cast aluminum. So they are going to have a hell of a time.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > My bird IS the word 01/23/2019 at 15:47

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Weirdly this is one of the reasons I enjoy working on cars. Every time I pay someone to do something for me they find a way to make it an ordeal. If I do it myself... well I also find a way to make it an ordeal but that is my fault.

But yeah, people being fundamentally bad at their jobs is really annoying.

PartyPooper2012 > My bird IS the word 01/23/2019 at 15:47

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I would not trust it... You can probably pour a cast if you were so inclined. Would have been a fun project. Lots of videos online of casting aluminum 

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > My bird IS the word 01/23/2019 at 15:48

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Jesus, I am so sorry. That sucks. Bastards.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > My bird IS the word 01/23/2019 at 15:56

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How easy it is to weld the aluminum depends somewhat on the alloy and on being subject to vibration, as well as thickness. And if the piece is heated up properly for the process. If that’s duralumin or a similar alloy and he heats it up enough, maybe... but I’d try to find a junkyard part to swap as soon as possible.

Chariotoflove > My bird IS the word 01/23/2019 at 16:39

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Now my blood pressure is up too. 

My bird IS the word > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/23/2019 at 17:05

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I guess this means a serpentine system when it breaks lol