Worked on a Monte SS with 38xxx miles...

[ACRucrazy]

So today I put a security system in a 1988 Monte SS with 38k miles on it.
When I went to pull it in the shop, i thought to my self.. DAMN thats a nice looking car, bright paint and clean.
Then walking up to it I saw the exhaust was the same color as the car.. hrm..
I pulled it in the shop and was gonna ask they guy who repainted it...
He then told me that he just purchased the car from his nephew, and he is now the 3rd owner. His nephew had it for 8 years, and only put 1000 miles on it in the last 2 years.
I didnt ask him about the repaint and proceded to install the security system.
VERY clean car, but I noticed a few things right off the bat, windshield replaced, as there was the sealer seaping out of the seams, so I couldnt put the ant in the middle of the windshield. Windshield had NO rock chips in it too.

Underhood was nice, no signs of damage.
Then walking around the car, I noticed a wave by the rear pass window...
Looked close, and I saw the sandblock marks around the rear pass window... started knocking on it.. and the co worker was like WTF are you doing...
I said listen... tin tin tin... tin tin tin... THUD THUD...
BIZONDO! yup, she was wrecked. I believe the mileage to be correct, as the interior was VERY NICE, and original. I didnt bother to pop the trunk, but wish I did.
But im guessing that the low mileage had to do with the accident also.
When he came to pick it up, he was like... "my car is gonna be mad at me"
I knew why too, it was raining. He said the car hasnt seen rain in 15 years and that its the original paint.
I didnt have the heart to tell him it was a wreck. Not my place either. Let the 50+ yo retired guy enjoy his car.
Too bad, it was a sharp looking ride.

[CletusFD3S]

poor guy. got owned.

[CleanLX]

huh, as long as he's happy!......but clueless..

[Zephyrefi]

I like the Buicks from that body style better.

it may not have been wrecked. a friend of mine bought my '82 Regal and when we went to tear the vinyl roof off, we found that they attached the rear quarters directly behind the quarter window. it was body filler on both sides. i imagine they clean this up on cars without the vinyl roof, but didn't bother on ones that had it. Mine may have been in an accident too, i know it had been repainted, but i thought i'd mention i found something like that too.

[Spiral]

Yea, cars have a good amount of feeler used in them from the factor, the bodies arent one huge hunk of steel, they have to patch them somewhere. Im sure the guys car was repainted but Ive seen new cars at dealerships where you could see sand marks, most the time this is caused by scratch marks that the primer should fill, but primer does shrink as it cures and it will go into these scratches thus allowing you to see scratch marks through the paint.

[Stormwalker]

When I redid my car, it was amazing how many things I smoothed over and fixed, which were there from the factory. I suppose though that the seams and things like that can get uneven with settling and age too though, so it was probably worse when I got my hands on it than it was 18 years ago when it was new.

[SVT5LITER]

I would have been pissed if I walked back around the corner and someone who was s'posed to simply be installing my alarm, was dick'n around and knokcin' on the side of my car to see if he could find bondo. Is that part of the installation process? Just curious.

Beyond that, the factory paint for those cars wasn't all that great. I had a buddy that bought his new in '88, and he got half the car repainted under warranty due to flaking in spots. They'd only cover part of it though, so he chipped in for the other half to have the whole thing painted again.

[Drunko McMoppo]

I would have been pissed if I walked back around the corner and someone who was s'posed to simply be installing my alarm, was dick'n around and knokcin' on the side of my car to see if he could find bondo. Is that part of the installation process? Just curious.

Why would you be pissed? Anyways customers aren't allowed in the shop and the installation charge isn't hourly so what's the big fucking deal. Don't be an ass. You know it's not part of the installation process. It's the part where a car enthusiest is looking at a nice looking car.

[2 beer]

I would have been pissed if I walked back around the corner and someone who was s'posed to simply be installing my alarm, was dick'n around and knokcin' on the side of my car to see if he could find bondo. Is that part of the installation process? Just curious.

Beyond that, the factory paint for those cars wasn't all that great. I had a buddy that bought his new in '88, and he got half the car repainted under warranty due to flaking in spots. They'd only cover part of it though, so he chipped in for the other half to have the whole thing painted again.

Not to flame or anything but lets just say you worked in a Shop. . . . And someone brings in their 03 cobra and all you need to do is say change the oil. You cant tell me you wouldnt take it out for a test drive if the customer is not around. and dont even lie and give me bullshit that you wouldnt. Anyways I dont know think knockin for bondo is nearly as big of deal

[ACRucrazy]

Umm, i used one knuckle and very lightly tapped the side of the car by the rear window.....
I wasnt making a fist to see if i could leave imprints on the side of the car... the waves were already there.....

Part of the instalation process is a pre and post checklist, walk around the car and not any functionality/cosmetic issues.

If I were the customer I think id be more pissed that the car was repared then to see a proffesional installer tapping lightly on the rear window area.

It was quite obvious.... you could seeeeeee the sand block marks in the paint... IE they ran parallel with the top of the rear pass window, and verticle with the side of the window... like a big T

I work on 5-10 cars a day, and have been doing it for the last 7 years.
I know what to spot, I know how to treat a customers car.
Im not some punk kid taking the customers 88 vette for a spin cuz i think its fast.

The Rush- I know your comment wasnt directed at me, but Ive worked on several cars, boats bikes and semis, Prosches, Vettes, old classics, old ferrari, RHD Jag, not once did i miss treat or take one out for a spin, not once would I think about it. Its not mine to mess with. And If someone did the same to mine, id be FURIOUS!
Last week I spent an hr hardwiring a Radar detector in a nice old guys 00 C5 Vert.
He was VERY persistant on my taking it for a spin when I was done.
I had to be very kinda and I think I said thanks for the offer but thats ok about a dozen times. VERY nice deep throaty sound to it, and he even admited to doin about 140 with the top down. He took off like a bat out of hell too, kinda cool to see some 60+ yo doin that.

Anyways, it was a very sharp looking car, and I did a VERY good alarm install on it.
They customer was nice and very happy, I was just as bummed as he woulda been to find out that it was repaired. First thing I thought when I saw it was WOW a nice survivor. I told a co worker im gonna feel bad tapping into wires and cutting the starter wire on this car.

It was that nice.
:rotate:

[SVT5LITER]

Why would you be pissed? Anyways customers aren't allowed in the shop and the installation charge isn't hourly so what's the big fucking deal. Don't be an ass. You know it's not part of the installation process. It's the part where a car enthusiest is looking at a nice looking car.

Hey junior, the grown-ups are discussing on a forum, so just shut the fuck up.

[SVT5LITER]

Not to flame or anything but lets just say you worked in a Shop. . . . And someone brings in their 03 cobra and all you need to do is say change the oil. You cant tell me you wouldnt take it out for a test drive if the customer is not around. and dont even lie and give me bullshit that you wouldnt. Anyways I dont know think knockin for bondo is nearly as big of deal

No flame taken, I expected it, and I've got thick skin.
For one, I'd never let anyone ever change my oil, period. I know you were just using that as an example, but no, I'd do my job, and get on with it. But it's attitudes like yours that would keep me away from whatever automobile service you'd be performing, that's for sure. You like the rides that come in?? Go buy your own

[SVT5LITER]

Umm, i used one knuckle and very lightly tapped the side of the car by the rear window.....
I wasnt making a fist to see if i could leave imprints on the side of the car... the waves were already there.....

Part of the instalation process is a pre and post checklist, walk around the car and not any functionality/cosmetic issues.

I'm familiar with the checklist, I've had alarms installed before. Didn't see the box to be checked that said to check to see if it had bondo in it or not. I realize I seem extreme saying stuff about that, I know this... but that's me. You're a professional, I assume you had no rings/jewelry on? Either way, I understand you *lightly* tapped on the car in a few spots, and maybe that would not have bothered that gentleman, but I would have been the customer from hell to you in that situation.

If I were the customer I think id be more pissed that the car was repared then to see a proffesional installer tapping lightly on the rear window area.

It was quite obvious.... you could seeeeeee the sand block marks in the paint... IE they ran parallel with the top of the rear pass window, and verticle with the side of the window... like a big T

If I was the customer, I'd be pissed about the prep too... If it was at the body shop! ... not the alarm installation shop

I work on 5-10 cars a day, and have been doing it for the last 7 years.
I know what to spot, I know how to treat a customers car.
Im not some punk kid taking the customers 88 vette for a spin cuz i think its fast.

I'm not discrediting your installation skills at all, so I hope I'm not coming across that way. If your customers are happy, then all is good. I s'pose I might be 'happy' too when it was finished, if I didn't see you do that to my ride.

Anyways, it was a very sharp looking car, and I did a VERY good alarm install on it.
They customer was nice and very happy, I was just as bummed as he woulda been to find out that it was repaired. First thing I thought when I saw it was WOW a nice survivor. I told a co worker im gonna feel bad tapping into wires and cutting the starter wire on this car.

It was that nice.
:rotate:

I would have been bummed too, that's too bad. There are some nice ones still around, but I've run across some that were flat out SHOT too. Fenders flappin and all. They rotted out worse than Fox Stangs I think. Know what I've seen a couple times goin' to work? Remember the Pontiac version of that? The Grand Prix 2+2 (think it was)? Ran across a guy a couple mornings that had the areo-coupe style 2+2 GP, and it looked really clean. There's a car you don't see everyday!

[ACRucrazy]

Areo coupes are pimp.
GM had to build a certain amount to meet the requirments to use them in Nascar. Both in the Monte and GP platorm.

Wanna know a rare car.... the CORSICA HATCHBACK!! hott with two TT's!

Sorry if you woulda been the customer from hell.
I woulda just pointed it out to you that you just bought a wrecked car and left it at that. I really dont think it was that big of a deal, if I did, I wouldnt have thought about doing it. But you have a right to disagree, and thats ok

Meh, im a car guy, I treat everyone elses as if it were mine. I dont wear jewlery, use a seat cover, and leave my shirt un tucked to cover the belt thats required by dress code.

Oh well, it was a nice looking car anyways.

[SVT5LITER]

Areo coupes are pimp.
GM had to build a certain amount to meet the requirments to use them in Nascar. Both in the Monte and GP platorm.

yep, I remember. They were insanely priced compared to the regular coupes.

Wanna know a rare car.... the CORSICA HATCHBACK!! hott with two TT's!

Haha... yah I never got that :idiot:

Sorry if you woulda been the customer from hell.
I woulda just pointed it out to you that you just bought a wrecked car and left it at that. I really dont think it was that big of a deal, if I did, I wouldnt have thought about doing it. But you have a right to disagree, and thats ok

and there's where our buiznass would have ended

and leave my shirt un tucked to cover the belt thats required by dress code.

"dress code" Doesn't your tie ever get in the way?