divemaster5734
Full Access Member
Long ago, in a land far away, I foolishly believed I could buy my way to the vision I had for a truck I had just bought.
Armed with that woefully misguided arrogant assumption, I found a "professional" shop that had a con-artist and thief owner.
After many months and many thousands of dollars, I was left on the side of the road with my two sons waiting for a tow truck, very thankful I was able to put out the engine fire on our way back from fishing, which also the first use of the intended purpose for the build.
By then I had grown suspicious, and had the truck towed to my home.
The following week I discovered that shop had closed it's doors, the large multi-bay repair building was in foreclosure.
It was then some of the many allegations came out, hordes of other customer complaints surfaced, and I discovered several items that I had paid for repair/upgrade that had only been made to appear new parts were installed, when in fact the old parts had been wire brushed to look new under a brief casual glance.
I only mention this because they worked on every area of the engine, running gear, and suspension, and as I keep going deeper into this resto-mod I keep finding things they did that are beyond anyone with an ounce of integrity could ever even conceive.
It took 13 years before I had the time to undertake the work myself and start the diesel learning curve.
Fast forward to yesterday, I plan to complete the rest of the work,( axle swap, hydro brakes, exterior body seal, all remaining interior work)in my garage, which means I have to drive it about 17 miles from where it is.
The check out drive for the new engine and zf swap revealed a death wobble @40mph.
Hoping to save a $200 tow bill and not spend a lot of money on the old 10.25 axles that are going away, I took a look at the sway/steering stabilizers.
The shop did a 4" Superlift 1 ton kit install, and charged me for new 4" lift stabilizers.
The first picture is the passenger front.
I put less than 500 miles on the truck after the lift kit. There's obviously a couple more miles on those bushings than that.
Also, as you can see, the top of the bar end was broken, the brake was just inside of the outer sleeve.
Looking closer there appear to be poor welds connecting the upper to lower bushings.
A close up of the lower bushing, looks like a 12 year old forgot to prep or turn on the MIG gas.
Drivers side. The pieces are welded, but they look mushroomed out, perhaps from a hard landing?
I've never had it off road, and before last month, never even locked down the front axle.
It really doesn't matter anymore, other than I'm trying to grasp the depth of that shop's deceptions.
I can't wrap my head around sending a customer's vehicle out knowing there's a loss of control potential that could result in catastrophic results just to make an "easy" buck.
Armed with that woefully misguided arrogant assumption, I found a "professional" shop that had a con-artist and thief owner.
After many months and many thousands of dollars, I was left on the side of the road with my two sons waiting for a tow truck, very thankful I was able to put out the engine fire on our way back from fishing, which also the first use of the intended purpose for the build.
By then I had grown suspicious, and had the truck towed to my home.
The following week I discovered that shop had closed it's doors, the large multi-bay repair building was in foreclosure.
It was then some of the many allegations came out, hordes of other customer complaints surfaced, and I discovered several items that I had paid for repair/upgrade that had only been made to appear new parts were installed, when in fact the old parts had been wire brushed to look new under a brief casual glance.
I only mention this because they worked on every area of the engine, running gear, and suspension, and as I keep going deeper into this resto-mod I keep finding things they did that are beyond anyone with an ounce of integrity could ever even conceive.
It took 13 years before I had the time to undertake the work myself and start the diesel learning curve.
Fast forward to yesterday, I plan to complete the rest of the work,( axle swap, hydro brakes, exterior body seal, all remaining interior work)in my garage, which means I have to drive it about 17 miles from where it is.
The check out drive for the new engine and zf swap revealed a death wobble @40mph.
Hoping to save a $200 tow bill and not spend a lot of money on the old 10.25 axles that are going away, I took a look at the sway/steering stabilizers.
The shop did a 4" Superlift 1 ton kit install, and charged me for new 4" lift stabilizers.
The first picture is the passenger front.
You must be registered for see images attach
I put less than 500 miles on the truck after the lift kit. There's obviously a couple more miles on those bushings than that.
Also, as you can see, the top of the bar end was broken, the brake was just inside of the outer sleeve.
Looking closer there appear to be poor welds connecting the upper to lower bushings.
You must be registered for see images attach
A close up of the lower bushing, looks like a 12 year old forgot to prep or turn on the MIG gas.
You must be registered for see images attach
Drivers side. The pieces are welded, but they look mushroomed out, perhaps from a hard landing?
I've never had it off road, and before last month, never even locked down the front axle.
It really doesn't matter anymore, other than I'm trying to grasp the depth of that shop's deceptions.
I can't wrap my head around sending a customer's vehicle out knowing there's a loss of control potential that could result in catastrophic results just to make an "easy" buck.
