Week #127

I've always heard that bad crapp happens in 3's... it must.  I haven't had the best luck lately.

It started with the zinc phosphated stuff coming back crappy... that was bad news #1.  Next was a really big blow.  Back in October I sent some cast parts off to be re-chromed.  This included the front fender "eyebrow" mouldings and all vent window related parts... the leading edge of the frame, the vent glass lower channel and all pivot related items.  I should have known something was up when they kept giving me completion dates and never met them.  Finally, after over 4 months, I get my stuff back.  At first things looked OK but after the shortest amount of inspection time it was clear they had tried to cover up some grand error.  One of the eyebrow mouldings was absolutely useless.  They had tried filling in some holes with weld, had busted off some tabs and just plain ruined the part to a point that it cannot be used.  The other side is useable but I still have an issue with it.  These parts were nearly usable as they were before I sent them.  Numerous calls and conversations with this place got me nothing but excuses.  Even the vent window leading frames were buffed down to a point to where the "detail line" that runs down the middle is completely gone.  I understand that detail is lost when getting cast pot metal pieces re-chromed but these parts were practically usable as they were.  All I asked them for was a refund of the $75 it cost for the one eyebrow piece.  The only action they would take was to offer to plate another piece for me... NO FRIGGIN WAY.  I truly believe they either damaged or lost my eyebrow piece(s) and it took them some time to find some to repair and send back.  Either way, I'm faced with sending another pair off to a more reputable place for re-chroming... another $150-$200 bucks!  I'm even considering looking for another set of vent window frames, maybe I might be able to find a real nice original set that does not need re-chroming.  I have written my complaint to the BBB.  My complaint only addresses the bad part and how it was handled.

Alrighty, bad thing #3.  Knowing I was going to get my newly re-chromed door parts back I pulled out the door glass for inspection and cleaning.  My memory was jarred after looking at all the scratches the 2 pieces of door glass had.  I seemed to remember that I was supposed to get some replacement side glass.  Well, it just so happened that there was an auction on eBay going for "68-70 Bbody tinted glass".  The auction text read "no scratches or vibrator marks, excellent condition".  Seemed like my needs had been answered.  I won the auction at $128 but the parts were in Ontario and shipping was a healthy $35.  $163 didn't seem like too bad of a deal for "scratch free" glass... no sir-ee.  When I opened that box I could have thrown that first piece of glass right through the... well... the window.  This stuff was the most scratched and gouged shit I had ever seen.  It was much worse than my original glass and frankly I was pissed.  I immediately emailed the guy with my complaint.  Although his first couple of responses just irritated me even more, he agreed to take the glass back and refund my money.  Hopefully he will do the right thing and help out with some of the shipping but I'm not holding my breath. 

All in all, depending on how much of the re-chromed stuff I use, I am potentially out up to $750 bucks in the above 3 bad experiences.  I blame myself on the phosphate thing as I should have been very clear as to what I was expecting back.  The chrome plate thing I also take partial responsibility.  I should have gone with a known reputable outfit and not tried to save a VERY few bucks.  The eBay thing caught me by complete surprise.  I have had excellent luck with eBay auctions.  This is actually the first bad experience in close to 230 dealings.

On to some more upbeat stuff.  I have decided to install the engine, transmission and front suspension as a unit from the bottom.  To do this I needed a dollie that would hold all that as a unit and that would be movable as I wouldn't get to actual engine itself for a while.  I sketched out what I was thinking and planned out the unit over the week.  I borrowed my buddies Port-A-Band(saw) and cut all the pieces from scrap steel I had laying in the corner.  Also, I just happened to have a fairly heavy duty set of castors in a box up in the attic.  This was one project that would not cost me a penny... WOO_HOOOO!!!!.  The dollie went together fairly quickly.  The stands that hold the "K" member are offset just a bit knowing that once the engine/trans assembly are attached and ready to be installed in the car, the whole assembly would need to rock back on the stands.  Hopefully all the transferred weight will be directly over the main support and all will be well.

For the second time, I pulled out all the parts related to the front suspension.  This included all bolts and bushings.  After taking inventory I realized that I was missing one of the nuts that hold the lower control arm to the "K" member.  I will continue to look for it but if worse comes to worse I can just go with a couple of new hi-grade nuts from the hardware store.  I have gone round and round with how to refinish the upper and lower control arms.  I'm so sick of worrying about it that I'm just going to take them to be powder coated and be done with it.  All the cast pieces will be painted with a POR15 product called "Metal Mask".  The color right out of the can is a bit light to be cast-gray so, at the direction of the tech at POR15 headquarters, I will add some urathane black to it until I get what I think looks close to right.

So right now I have all the crusty hardware on the bench ready for cleaning, blackening or zinc plating, all the suspension parts are on the floor waiting for me to address and the "K" member waiting for it's role in the whole affair.