SPA Modeler

Dealers always look for ways to add more charges for profit on the repair bill. That's why I avoid having them do the work unless it's still under warranty. I always get a second opinion from my own mechanic for a piece of mind. Nine times out of ten most of those little "extra repairs" charges dealer mechanics find are not needed.

That mechanic must think you’re one of those West LA rich guys...

Hi BlackSheep and Carlos!

Well, that was a snapshot of dealer service costs. However when I did a side by side comparison of dealer versus independent mechanic using oil change as a metric, the dealer’s charge after all discounts applied was virtually identical.

I am trying to picture myself as a rich guy and it is not working. I do believe in the power of visualization, though, so I will keep working on it.

Discount? What discount!?!?

Man, my mechanic here in Rowland Heights would have done it for one-fifth of that cost! I love this guys; he's been taking care of my cars for 24 years now.

A wise friend (who's a plumber) said there are two people you want to keep as good friends: your plumber and your auto mechanic. I am fortunate in that I have done so!

Hi BlackSheep and Duke! TGIF and thank you both very much for your replies. I am on my second visit with a new mechanic about six miles from where I live. Fingers and toes crossed.

This build log here is the impetus for two crucial things for me in my modeling:

1. It got me interested in the Mustang, and is the main reason why I bought my Mustang kit which I’ll be building after my Corsair is complete

2. It turned me o to the idea of taking my time, test-fitting more, and really making sure my idea with what I want to do with a project is clear in my mind.

At no point have I ever gotten the impression that you were just winging it. And this is gonnabe fantastic. I love that you included that pilot figure.

On the kitchen wall of the house where I grew up was a placque; on it was painted the motto: “Whatever you are, be a good one,” which is something I believe William Makepeace Thackeray said in conversation, but is most commonly attributed to Abraham Lincoln, and I want to live up to those words, personally, and I have found many of my friends share these thoughts and qualities in their own brand of living, so I am deeply touched by what you wrote, Ken. Thank you. Your work inspires me as well, and I am grateful also for your words and music; these will follow me around throughout the day or evening as a dialogue I am having with the work itself (the nitty gritty) puts me through the paces.

I love that quote, Bruce. And I thought about it last night when I opted once again to not drink too much beer even though it’s technically still a “holiday weekend”, and again this morning while I was st the gym for Leg Day X Running Day X Kettlebell Snatch Day. And Cripes-A-Mighty, I’m smoked! (Hehe didja see what I did there?

Anyway, yeah man, that’s the kind of mission statement I can get behind!

I feel your pain on the mechanical issues Bruce. My truck has been in the shop twice this year. The first time was the same as yours, the seam at the top of the radiator failed. Last time it was the timing chain. There's a long list of stuff that needs to be fixed. Luckily I have a good mechanic that doesn't charge an insane amount.