Advice Needed: Cracked Block and Piston Head

[Arsonism]

I agree with you there Pokey, I'm going to have a little bit of time when I come back to work on it. I started speaking with a few friends and I believe I have some contact info to start some dialogue here and there and that will hopefully make me feel more comfortable. I'm just hoping that this whole thing gets moving again soon, it's just been lingering over my head for far too long.

For this weekend, I'm instructing and facilitating sniper training so I'm just going to look forward to this and worry about it Monday. Seems like the one of the only advantages to the field is being able to put off some problems from time to time.

[Finnegan]

I'll +1 what Pokey said.

Also, FWIW, they could be putting you off to "paying" customers, or they could be delaying intentionally. They may figure at this point their best course of action is to put you off. They may be figuring you won't go the legal route because you haven't up to this point, if they just delay long enough you'll give up, or whatever legal remedies you have will have been lost. (Running out the clock.)

Get a consultation with an automotive legal expert now. My concern is that by not invoking your legal rights you're damaging your potential claim. The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. Consider that statement in light of where things are with the shop and your car.

I am not a lawyer, but you really need to figure out what your risks and options are given the time, effort, emotion, loss of use, and dollars spent are.

Prior to meeting with the lawyer, summarize all of the activities and dates, issues/mistakes, damages, and contact date, times, names. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good here. Just get a pretty good summary together, and go from there. It doesn't need to be perfect at this point. That will let you get the most out of your legal consultation at the minimal cost point. You don't want a lawyer pulling all that together for you at billable hours.

Your lawyer will provide you with counsel as to your best course of action at this point and what would be in your best interest financially and from other perspectives.

Get your ducks in a row and know where you stand. You may not need to invoke the legal route but it's well past time to get that lined up.

Do it now.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by pokeybritches

You're going to keep getting batted around until you reach a breaking point, and neither you nor the shop will like it when you snap.

[Vanne]

Shane, what Ron is saying is spot on mate, its definitely worth spending a hundred or 2 on some good legal advise mate, (not sure if you guys have free legal advise there) i just went though your whole thread again mate, and just reading this whole shamble of events is heart breaking.

as Ron said mate, get your ducks in a row, and sort this mess out.

really feeling for you here buddy.

[DEG]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

I'll +1 what Pokey said.

Also, FWIW, they could be putting you off to "paying" customers, or they could be delaying intentionally. They may figure at this point their best course of action is to put you off. They may be figuring you won't go the legal route because you haven't up to this point, if they just delay long enough you'll give up, or whatever legal remedies you have will have been lost. (Running out the clock.)

Get a consultation with an automotive legal expert now. My concern is that by not invoking your legal rights you're damaging your potential claim. The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. Consider that statement in light of where things are with the shop and your car.

I am not a lawyer, but you really need to figure out what your risks and options are given the time, effort, emotion, loss of use, and dollars spent are.

Prior to meeting with the lawyer, summarize all of the activities and dates, issues/mistakes, damages, and contact date, times, names. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good here. Just get a pretty good summary together, and go from there. It doesn't need to be perfect at this point. That will let you get the most out of your legal consultation at the minimal cost point. You don't want a lawyer pulling all that together for you at billable hours.

Your lawyer will provide you with counsel as to your best course of action at this point and what would be in your best interest financially and from other perspectives.

Get your ducks in a row and know where you stand. You may not need to invoke the legal route but it's well past time to get that lined up.

Do it now.

As usual...spot on advice. Please, never leave this forum.

[Vanne]

Originally Posted by DEG

As usual...spot on advice. Please, never leave this forum.

I hear he might be around doing some more building soon

[pokeybritches]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

I'll +1 what Pokey said.

Also, FWIW, they could be putting you off to "paying" customers, or they could be delaying intentionally. They may figure at this point their best course of action is to put you off. They may be figuring you won't go the legal route because you haven't up to this point, if they just delay long enough you'll give up, or whatever legal remedies you have will have been lost. (Running out the clock.)

Get a consultation with an automotive legal expert now. My concern is that by not invoking your legal rights you're damaging your potential claim. The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. Consider that statement in light of where things are with the shop and your car.

I am not a lawyer, but you really need to figure out what your risks and options are given the time, effort, emotion, loss of use, and dollars spent are.

Prior to meeting with the lawyer, summarize all of the activities and dates, issues/mistakes, damages, and contact date, times, names. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good here. Just get a pretty good summary together, and go from there. It doesn't need to be perfect at this point. That will let you get the most out of your legal consultation at the minimal cost point. You don't want a lawyer pulling all that together for you at billable hours.

Your lawyer will provide you with counsel as to your best course of action at this point and what would be in your best interest financially and from other perspectives.

Get your ducks in a row and know where you stand. You may not need to invoke the legal route but it's well past time to get that lined up.

Do it now.

Agree 100%. Very sound advice.

[pokeybritches]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

One of my all time favorite movies.

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by DEG

As usual...spot on advice. Please, never leave this forum.

Thanks. I'm very concerned to see where things are for a fellow forum member who also serves our country. The trail of excuses and deflection is so far beyond the pale it beggars belief.

I'm not going anywhere. The wife is never selling her car, and I have mine as well.

Originally Posted by Vanne

I hear he might be around doing some more building soon

Yep! Headers are going back on, new rear cans, aero, seats, BBK (done), bushings (done), new suspension, and "boring" maintenance stuff for the top and bottom end. I have 8 track days on the calendar through September.

[Arsonism]

As always I thank everyone here for the advise lent throughout this thread, it really has been my greatest source of support. I just got back from the field, and I'm planning on getting some of those items together soon. I'll keep y'all posted on the rest of the findings/procedures I go through next just to see if they're in check and if I am of course following good practicing procedures, that's what I want to keep at the forefront of all of this.

In the meantime, here's what I was busy doing all of last week (as an instructor).



(This is one of very few standing shots I've done, they had a hard time finding me with thermals on this one)

Originally Posted by Finnegan

I'm very concerned to see where things are for a fellow forum member who also serves our country. The trail of excuses and deflection is so far beyond the pale it beggars belief.

This is why I come here and why I'll always come back to this place even if the car doesn't stay in my hands for whatever the outcome. It's this caring community that also got me into these cars and makes me want to never give up on them. I'm hoping that with all the help and support here, this will be made possible and I'm willing to do whatever I can to ensure that.

[inTgr8r]

What a cool pic!!!!!
That's fantastic!

[DEG]

Originally Posted by Arsonism

As always I thank everyone here for the advise lent throughout this thread, it really has been my greatest source of support. I just got back from the field, and I'm planning on getting some of those items together soon. I'll keep y'all posted on the rest of the findings/procedures I go through next just to see if they're in check and if I am of course following good practicing procedures, that's what I want to keep at the forefront of all of this.

In the meantime, here's what I was busy doing all of last week (as an instructor).

[img]https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0...33&oe=57ECCEC6[/img]

(This is one of very few standing shots I've done, they had a hard time finding me with thermals on this one)

This is why I come here and why I'll always come back to this place even if the car doesn't stay in my hands for whatever the outcome. It's this caring community that also got me into these cars and makes me want to never give up on them. I'm hoping that with all the help and support here, this will be made possible and I'm willing to do whatever I can to ensure that.

I truly appreciate and am thankful for your service and sacrifice for our country and freedom. I stand with Finnegan in that because of your military status, these mechanics should be bending over backwards to get your car back on the road.

[Vanne]

Originally Posted by Arsonism

In the meantime, here's what I was busy doing all of last week (as an instructor).



(This is one of very few standing shots I've done, they had a hard time finding me with thermals on this one)

Man!!! That IS an awesome shot!!! PUN INTENDED

I gotta ask mate, something I've always wondered about... "Are those camo suits with all the ferns and stuff, or do you add all that stuff out in the field?? very cool if its the latter.."

[Arsonism]

Originally Posted by Vanne

Man!!! That IS an awesome shot!!! PUN INTENDED

I gotta ask mate, something I've always wondered about... "Are those camo suits with all the ferns and stuff, or do you add all that stuff out in the field?? very cool if its the latter.."

We most definitely add all that stuff in the field. There are a ton of techniques that come behind actually building a ghillie suit and the camouflage that is needed after you actually begin your stalk. Here's a good shot of the hood that I use before anything was added to it.



Then we would add jute to it so it would start to look something like this



It is then washed (bit of a traditional/ritual/rite of passage for young snipers) and the rest is added from there.

The above shots are ones that I hand sewed from scratch, it was an ordeal. I will never do that again... but I have another one which I use in conjunction with that hood that I've been issued more or less which is also what is in that photo.

As you can see in this one, there's considerably more visible jute than you can see in my photo (this is one of our section members).


Knight's Shot by Shane Weinstock

Opposed to this other member who had on a good amount of vegetation.


Richardson Position by Shane Weinstock

Anyways, the bottom line is we add both materials, and in some cases build the whole entire suit from scratch. You can see the set of pants that I made on this last photo (one last section member) who was borrowing my home made suit for the exercise.


Bowen's Loophole by Shane Weinstock

Here's a full shot of him in his firing position wearing the rest of the suit that I made. I'm still wearing my other pair in this photo as I try to walk in on him as he's being observed by our section leader.

Walking in on Bowen by Shane Weinstock, on Flickr

[Vanne]

Howly cows mate, thanks for the lesson, very cool stuff. Thanks for your service mate, if your ever in DXB, beers cold in my fridge for ya

v.

[Arsonism]

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

What a cool pic!!!!!
That's fantastic!

Thanks intgr8r, it was a blast to have him walk in on me. He took some photos about 20 yards out and you cant see squat. I was a bit surprised at how well I blended considering I didn't have any vegetation on my ghillie before we went out and he rushed me to get it all ready haha.

Originally Posted by DEG

I truly appreciate and am thankful for your service and sacrifice for our country and freedom. I stand with Finnegan in that because of your military status, these mechanics should be bending over backwards to get your car back on the road.

I can't thank you and everyone who's shown their support for me in this regard. It really does mean a lot to me and it is never unnoticed. Hopefully in the end they'll be proud to have helped out a service member, it's just tough to be this patient with them.

Originally Posted by Vanne

Howly cows mate, thanks for the lesson, very cool stuff. Thanks for your service mate, if your ever in DXB, beers cold in my fridge for ya

Anytime, my job as a Senior Sniper in the section is to teach and instruct so it really comes pretty naturally (that's my actual title with the military currently, which I think is hysterical). I enjoy doing it and I always enjoy sharing with people who find it fascinating. It's kind of like getting to set the record straight for all the misconceptions of what we do, but also to show folks just all the skills that we have wound up perfecting.


------

On the car, I believe I'm going to hand the reigns over to a recent friend of mine who has a good amount of free time while I'm away. He has dealt with a number of folks through his professional life in many different industries and knows a good amount of legal as well. I think it's my best shot to have him on as an intermediary and as someone who deeply cares about my interests as well. I just hope that the shop doesn't become more impatient with me and end up providing me with an inferior product or anything other than what I have paid for in-so-far.

[NickyC]

Great post Arsonism, fascinating work you do. Thanks for everything!

[Finnegan]

Good idea on the intermediary. That's a great angle!

You might want to look at a limited power of attorney to permit him to act on your behalf for this matter only. It's easy to do these days with legalzoom or nolo for forms and templates. That way the shop can't try to avoid action claiming your friend isn't authorized. (That's the shop's "thing"-delay delay delay.)

The great thing about a limited POA is you can make it specific around areas related to this repair, revocation, etc. It also sets scope and expectations for you and your friend which protects you both and the friendship.

[SaltyNC]

If your friend doesn't get anywhere, you can turn to your class and say, "And now, gentlemen, today's lesson will be to take out the tires on multiple vehicles in an urban environment. Our scenario involves an abandoned garage in an urban environment from deep cover and long distance." Just kidding!

Salty

[Arsonism]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

Good idea on the intermediary. That's a great angle!

You might want to look at a limited power of attorney to permit him to act on your behalf for this matter only. It's easy to do these days with legalzoom or nolo for forms and templates. That way the shop can't try to avoid action claiming your friend isn't authorized. (That's the shop's "thing"-delay delay delay.)

The great thing about a limited POA is you can make it specific around areas related to this repair, revocation, etc. It also sets scope and expectations for you and your friend which protects you both and the friendship.

I'll definitely bring it up to him, hopefully it doesn't require physical presence as we both won't be in town at the same time as I leave out tomorrow morning. Either way, I think he's happy to help, he's not recognized by any authority but does have extensive knowledge of laws and regulations pertaining to small business as he works with aviation quite a bit. I just hope the lack of emotional investment from him will help speed the process along and also keep my best interest while I'm away for the next two months. I truly would hate to lose him as a friend as he's been a wonderful guy and has done a ton for me in the short time that I've known him.

Originally Posted by NickyC

Great post Arsonism, fascinating work you do. Thanks for everything!

Absolutely! I really appreciate y'all's support, it's what makes what we do all worth it. Outside of the cool-guy/Hollywood stuff.

Originally Posted by SaltyNC

If your friend doesn't get anywhere, you can turn to your class and say, "And now, gentlemen, today's lesson will be to take out the tires on multiple vehicles in an urban environment. Our scenario involves an abandoned garage in an urban environment from deep cover and long distance." Just kidding!

Salty

I feel like someone is watching me from deep space ever since I graduated school thinking, "well that would be an opportune target for him... let's how this plays out" and they're secretly lurking on the forums. I'm sure I would get one of these first though

[Arsonism]

Gave the shop a call today and they informed me that the 3rd party machine shop would be done with the motor pieces this week and the shop was ordering the rest of the parts needed to finish everything else. I don't have any more details, it won't be done before the year anniversary, however maybe before I shove out for another 3 weeks. But, I'm not crossing my fingers just yet.

[wdb]

I'll cross a couple for you.