> Okay people, NEED THE INFO here, you know?
> Sheesh. Why do companies make crappy stuff to sell to us? I mean, we
> don't need this! I have spent a LOT of time on this car, and now my
> parents are just ranting and raving about how bad a decision it was to
> purchase this car and try to fix it, yadda yadda yadda
At the risk of sounding like a manufacturer advert for only using genuine
parts, there is an important moral here - which obviously doesn't help the
vehicle owner in his present dilemma.
The cost to any LBC owner in terms of hard cash, project commitment,
frustration, barked knuckles, special tools purchase and all the rest - is
substantial when transforming a vehicle from a wreck to an anticipated
concours winner. I accept that getting the car on the road this year is
obviously better than waiting another few months, or even longer. You want
to enjoy it, to show it off, you want to admire it and you want to be
admired in it. Come on, acknowledge it!
BUT remember......
The vehicle is not in the bloom of youth. Many unseen things you didn't
check (because of haste, ignorance or you just didn't realise) could still
be too worn, while others might manifest latent fatigue failure when taken
out on the road after a prolonged and enforced hibernation of several
years.
Because of that, I implore all of you to look at project financing in a
slightly different light. Components needing renewal because they are
fundamental to the effective operation of the vehicle - and certainly
safety related items (brakes, steering, suspension, certain electrics)
should never be skimped on cost grounds. The stories are legion about those
who have tried to cut financial corners - and this is not a recent problem
- its been going on for years, yet every year people get bitten hard. For
your own sake, it is surely better to bite the financial bullet and a
further delay of weeks, months or even another year, to get a QUALITY
product rather than save a few pounds or dollars in buying something which
LOOKS okay - but almost certainly is not when put to the test. The total
long term benefit of spending even more than you planned but knowing you've
really got the best available (rather than the best you can afford) surely
goes that little bit further to ensuring your LBC (when finally finished)
truly will give you the pleasure you worked for so hard and so long to
ensure. In the restoration business, out of sight must never be out of
mind. My own little slogan with my cars is "If I can't see it at all - or
have the greatest difficulty getting at it - I get the best, preferably
OE."
John Macartney
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