The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Need Mechanic/legal advice

I am from ILL if that makes a difference. I dropped a 53 GMC at a transmission shop after I bought it because the previous owner had put in a 350 trans it had a leak, plus the motor mounts had been jerry rigged for a 350 and they needed to be done right. The mechanic said he would do all the work at once and promptly dropped the transmission out, to take the motor out to replace the mounts.

It has now been almost a year. I have done everything except violence to get him to work on it and he keeps promising 30 more days....worst of all, it sat in his lot all winter and it had zero rust when I brought it in to him, was 90% restored!

I need advice, is there legal options? I can't have it moved, the tranny has been dropped and if I get him po'ed he will do the job and I guarantee the problem won't be fixed...looking for advice

Just go in with a trailer and take it out of there. Have a constable with you as protection for both of you. May have to go to a justice of the peace to get a court order.

yea what Mr. Huston said plus 2 thugs with ball bats and you caring a shotgun. Just get it out of there.

Since it out a 350 trans. not that heavy to carry throw it into back of truck after you get it home and just take it to a rep. shop. The motor would be easy to just jack up now and install your own. Or get the premade one (tube)and install. You can do it.

popcorn The Truth is Out There (I Have a lot of patience but not to that stuff)

If the tranny is out, make sure you brace the back of the engine before you make a break for it.

Sounds like I do need to alert the cops first...maybe bring them with

Definitely take them with, they'll be happy to supervise the situation once you explain it to them..Good Luck

charge him for impounding fee,, lie a buck a day,,Fred

Sad that people can't do honest work these days

Doc,

You have a right to show up at his door and demand an immediate return of your property. I think you should do this, and a police officer would be a good idea.

You DON'T have the right to trespass to pick up what is yours -- you can't just walk back into his shop and grab your stuff.

Brian

First make a demand. Tell him you want everything back and that you want a date that you can go in and take everything back. If he does not agree then contact the police. After you get everything back take him to small claims court and get him for everything you can think of. One year is to long. Your to nice. Cecil....

Send me, like another Stovebolter did, to go and take pictures of his property, then use it in court.

First, and most important, see a lawyer! A few bucks spent on legal advice will seem like a drop in the bucket if you're up against an experienced scam artist. While it is tempting to go off on the guy, you'll only make your position hard to defend. He could be held liable for depreciation or damage to your truck while it was in his care, but he might also have a claim for parts and/or labor before he releases the truck. A legal beagle can save you a lot of grief!
Jerry

Have to agree with HRL. Dealt with a lot of JP's and Magistrates. Get a lawyers advice they look at situations completely different from the average person. They don't see in black and white only vaing shades of gray. What the mechanic has done to you is wrong however you want to protect yourself with good advice before the situation gets any further. Good luck

Yup, I agree, stab the SOB with a sharp lawyer. Good luck and keep us posted.

Let me know if you need someone reliable to do the job, I know someone down your way that does that kind of work.

HotRod Lincoln stole my answer. I say talk to a lawyer. This doesn't seem like too complicated of a situation, so it isn't like he'll be billing you for hours upon hours of work. The amount you save in both money and headache would make a legal professional well worth the up-front cost.
If you're not willing to deal with those bottom feeders, then make sure you talk to the police or go to small-claims court before you go nuts on the guy. There's no reason to go to jail on account of his being a jacka$$.

Ditto the above... Contact a lawyer, I you have any documentation or a signed work order, have it handy. You cannot just go on his property and get it. He can turn around and say that you haven't paid him for the work done, and place a mechanic's lien on your truck.

Maybe the simple thing to do is to stop in and see the shop owner, write him a check for the work done(or cash, get receipt), and be prepared to take your truck right there and then. Bring along a friend and a flatbed. If you go in there all sorts of pissy, you'll get the same in return. Good luck and keep us posted...

Andy

Watch out that the little bastard doesn't slap a mechanic's lien on your truck! A lawyer is mandatory here, as well as your local law enforcement boys. Did he give you a written estimate and a job completion date? Did you leave any additional parts for the job? He has to provide you everything the truck went in there with, period. If not, you sue in small claims court for the missing items, plus "$X"/day for him keeping you out of your truck. When you go to get your stuff, a cop and a couple of big, ugly, mean enforcer friends on your side help bunches!!!

Rotten SOB's like that deserve to have their crainial cavities permenantly inverted with their rectal cavities

Likely the inversion has already taken place you just can't tell the difference with some people

I would talk (nicely) to the mechanic first. If he hasn't done much work on it, he probably doesn't want it there. Ask him what it would take to have it returned and if it doesn't seem reasonable, go to the lawyer.
Scott