40 replies to this topic

[lxsstorana]

I'm sure this has happened to everyone, whether you own a torana or not.

You pay good money to have someone fix/modify your car and they do a poor job. Or you buy a car with certain expectations on quality (as they told you) and they let you down.

This is not aimed at anyone in particular but just giving me the opportunity to blow off some steam.

As many people would know I'm restoring a SS torana with a 383 chev (unfinished project).

I've fixed so many things on this car that the former owner paid top dollar for that he would be horrified (not his problem now but mine) but none the less, bad workmanship.

Well this was the last straw. I am getting the car ready so I can start the engine and thought I would do the final checks such as distributor, spark plugs, fuel etc.

The distributor cap looks fine from the front.



But once I remove it, I see what it looks like from behind



Well that was it for me, "What sort or idiot does this?"

A quick trip to Rare Spare and I have to order in a $60.00 MSD distributor cap which arrived the next day. Not cheap but MSD are supposed to be good but before I can fit the new cap I have to fit the existing problem. And I repeat again, the former owner paid big dollars to sort everything out.

The distributor is too close to the firewall. It is under extreme pressure and cannot sit flat on its mounting.

So out come the hammer and angle grinder and about 30 minutes later the problem is solved.





Well thats my gripe, I'm sure you guys can top this or tell us about similar events.

Mick.

P.S. I'm going to update my members project plans and talk about some good news soon.

[TerrA LX]

I try and do most of what i can myself to avoid dissapointment, but yeah, just when you think you have seen it all, along comes another.
Good luck with the progress.

[lakeside]

Workmanship, most people wouldn't know what is was

[Tiny]

Hooly Fricken DOOLY!

That's WAAAAY worse than what we found on my car! That's... incredible!!

[TerrA LX]

OMG, these guys run a business lol.

[lxsstorana]

I'm glad I'm not the only one this stuff happens to.

Mick.

[MRLXSS]

So the fix to fit it to fit was break the dizzy cap? ARE YOU SERIOUS?>?? OMG!

[rodomo]

Old skool
Vented cap, goes with vented points.

[TerrA LX]

I'm glad I'm not the only one this stuff happens to.

Mick.

It really does sadden me the stories I've heard and the actual situations I've seen over the years and alot of the time the consumer does not have a leg to stand on.
I think we would be all better off if these traders did not exist.

[lxsstorana]

So the fix to fit it to fit was break the dizzy cap? ARE YOU SERIOUS?>?? OMG!

Yeap, that was the last straw that pissed me off, and if you weren't checking these things you would never know.

I don't know alot about chev motors in torana's but I have alot of room between the radiator and the front of the motor. I reckon the mechanic sat the motor too far back into the engine bay. I would have moved it 50mm (2 inches) forward then you would have much more room.

Anyway, I not moving the engine so it was easier to modifiy the firewall and gutter. The gutter was grinded a little bit before I attacked it but I had to take another 7-8 mm out of it. It also reshaped the firewall and put a slight curve into it (about 10mm further back) so everything should be good now. Just needs a little bit of filler and paint.

[TerrA LX]

^ it will handle better where it is, so all good imo.

[Tiny]

I think that's a fairly standard problem for a chev into Torana Mick, but yeah.. your fix is the RIGHT one!!

Cutting a dizzy cap.. who the HELL would even THINK of that!!


Slydog:
I've got my line lock installed in my rear brake line... when you flick the switch (DO NOT HOLD THE BRAKE ON WHILE ARMING) it closes the solenoid which isolates the rear brakes from pressure hence giving you full control of the fronts.

The NORMAL way of doing it is to put it in the front brake circuit so you hold brakes on... Hold the button which locks the front brakes ON while you do the skid.. release the button and off you go.

When you activate your line lock, do you have your foot ON the brakes (Thereby locking pressure IN the rear brakes and locking them on!). If so.. try it with foot off the brakes, THEN activate it!

Cheers

[Statler]

Is that one of those 'lightened' dizzy caps?

I've heard about them! LOL

[76lxhatch]

Depends on the intended use for the line lock - not much good on the rear if you don't have enough feet to operate the brake pedal

[antelopeslr5000]

About 15 years ago, I paid an auto electrician good money for a general tidy up/hide the wiring in the Torana and wire in a new MSD 6AL and a Mallory Unilite distributor.

Below was the end result.

[Litre8]

Holy crap, looks like it was performed by a 3 year old...

[antelopeslr5000]

I ended up repairing the wiring mess myself. It's only a temporary repair but at least it's safe.





I know all auto sparkys shouldn't be tarred with the same brush but I've done a lot of repairs for friends/family becuase of dodgy work performed by auto electricians. Most of the faults are from poor soldering. I think they must be taught "Bigger the blob, the better the job!" when it comes to soldering.