In a message dated Wed, 1 Aug 2001 7:03:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
IkeLevine@aol.com writes:
> I am the new owner of a 1974 TR6. I believe that the car is in fairly good
> mechanical condition and am currently "interviewing" garages where the car
> will be serviced. I would like a complete "checkup" to ascertain we stand
> from day one. What would you, the experienced owners of triumphs, suggest
> for a comprehensive auto examination?
I have to agree with others who have suggested joining a national club such as
VTR and the local chapter. In your case, that probably would be New England
Triumphs. See http://isis.mit.edu/~triumph/ for further information.
> I have chatted with three garages in southern Maine and they all have
> different hours (.5, 1 and 3) for this process. They also have three
> different hourly rates. What is the going rate for Triumph Mechanics?
Labor rates vary widely with Triumph mechanics as they do for any other auto
mechanic. I would worry less about that than I would about the shop's
capability. I'm sure you'll get several recommendations from NET members.
As for the time involved in the process, I think I'd toss out the .5 hr
estimate, simply because I don't see how anyone, even someone incredibly
well-versed in the TR6, could do a comprehensive exam and test of the car in
that short a time. It would probably take that long to simply check all the
lights and other "state inspection" stuff, shake a wheel or two and maybe pull
one or two wheels to check brake wear.
If you really want someone to thoroughly assess the car, I think they'd need to
to have it up in the air to inspect the chassis and suspension for obviously
loose and/or broken bits, possible previsous crash damage, etc. They'd probably
want to perform at least a compression check of the engine. I'd hope they would
want to drive it to check for tracking and straight and even braking; ominous
grinding, banging or clunking sounds from engine, gearbox and rear end; overall
performance; and how well it starts and runs from cold and hot conditions. (By
no means a comprehensive list, but I think you get the idea.)
I know a few people who MIGHT be able to "read" your car at 50 ft. and have a
good idea whether it's worth keeping or not. But realistically, I'd think an
assessment of this nature would be worth at least a couple hours of someone's
time.
--Andy
Andrew Mace, President, The Vintage Triumph Register
www.vtr.org
/// triumphs@autox.team.net mailing list
/// To unsubscribe send a plain text message to majordomo@autox.team.net
/// with nothing in it but
///
/// unsubscribe triumphs
///
|