Supporting local shops..... hmmmm....

You have to remember that 80% of dudes and 99% of women know nothing about cars or anything mechanical for that matter. To them a belt being replaced is magic. Most of the time these shops just don't have to worry about anyone calling them on their abuses.

We won't even get into all the perfectly good parts that get replaced until they find a problem.

You are so right. I can't even begin to tell you the number of people I've run into lately that don't know a bolt from a light bulb. Just amazing. And the Mrs still to this day is amazed that I can put an engine together and it runs. Like the bozos on an assembly line are much more than trained chimps.

Then there are kids like my wifey poo here, older of the two daughters, she grew up being a daddy's little helper, so her first hubby never did shit, and so she took up what slack she could, after we dated/married, her oldest son learned a lot working with me in construction, my son too for that matter, like one job were the bathroom was so rotten out the joists are all toast and so my son was dragging 2x12's into the room as I am standing on the dirt cutting and laying them in working toward the bathroom door, then put down the 3/4 PTreated plywood...a year later, my son says he was nervous during that operation, I just laughed, saying I have jacked up entire wings of a house to plumb the thing up, huge PIA....

then thre is the electronics, me building a computer here on the kitchen counter while wife is cooking dinner, then wiring various house and auto projects, wife has learned a LOT just looking over my shoulder, she knows by instinct what tools to hand me for any task at hand, I have rebuilt about 4 auto trannies, fixed many a engine, replaced the one in her Escort, rebuilt the baths, kitchen, reframed, moved walls, replaced the breaker panel, at this point wife can do it all too, except the really heavy shit....I dunno, just grew up playing with stuff, electronics to mechanics, then home construction...never gave it a thought...:smash:
 
The best way to find a good shop is word of mouth. Us old timers KNOW who is reputable and fair. I trust NO chain stores at all.:thumbs:

There is a tire/autoshop near me called Beroth tires...about 6 locations I think. Anyway I ask at the local vette club where I can find a shop that can actually align a C3...they recommend this shop.

They charged me $80 bucks to do a front and rear alignment to my specs. They had a guy there who did the job and man it was perfect.

Since then, I have had 3 sets of tires replaced at this shop as well as a brake problem fixed that I couldn't figure out....all at reasonable/competetive prices.

The $90 bucks alignment was my first visit....they knew how to get me back. They knew that the extra 100 to 150 or so that other places were charging was nothing compared to getting me back.:thumbs: (Goodyear tire wanted 80 for the front and 150 for the rear)

The place is always busy with "regulars". They even will drop you off or pick you up...they gave me a quick ride over to the local greasy spoon so I could have a bite while they worked on the ride.
 
The best way to find a good shop is word of mouth. Us old timers KNOW who is reputable and fair. I trust NO chain stores at all.:thumbs:

There is a tire/autoshop near me called Beroth tires...about 6 locations I think. Anyway I ask at the local vette club where I can find a shop that can actually align a C3...they recommend this shop.

They charged me $80 bucks to do a front and rear alignment to my specs. They had a guy there who did the job and man it was perfect.

Since then, I have had 3 sets of tires replaced at this shop as well as a brake problem fixed that I couldn't figure out....all at reasonable/competetive prices.

The $90 bucks alignment was my first visit....they knew how to get me back. They knew that the extra 100 to 150 or so that other places were charging was nothing compared to getting me back.:thumbs: (Goodyear tire wanted 80 for the front and 150 for the rear)

The place is always busy with "regulars". They even will drop you off or pick you up...they gave me a quick ride over to the local greasy spoon so I could have a bite while they worked on the ride.

They sound like the new local garage that I deal with. Very helpful, fair prices and willing to drive you home if you need to leave your ride there. Customer service the good old fashioned way!
 
I just had the 81 evacuated and recharged with R-12. $150.00 cash. Radiator fix and flush. $50.00. Hal has been my hero forever it seems.
 

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