Help for new member with a Duster

Post by **MattH** » Wed Jul 18, 12 10:29 pm

New member Paul, who has not been able to post yet.
He has a Duster in Bedforshire, currently being worked on by a place in Hitchin, guy called Kit Larson (I think) who is meant to be a V8 specialist.
Car has been there 5 months, and it sounds like they are having Paul over.
They have rebuilt the engine but say there is a transmission problem, a leak plus it wont change gear. They alos say there is a lever coming from the trans but not sure what it does.
Also calipers they said they couldnt get new or fix but are finally getting a place in Watford to sleeve them. Paul is not mechanically minded but fears he is being had over and the job not being done.

I have suggested he gets the car out of there asap and get some help through here.

Calipers I am sure won't be too hard to source and fit.
Transmission. Without seeing car i cannot say but it sounds like the kickdown is the disconnected bit and that may cause lack of changing gear?

Questions :
Is anyone local to Herts / Beds still able to sort transmissions?
Does anyone know this place in Hitchin?

Any suggestions welcome, I will pass them on and try to help Paul with sorting it.

V8 Sam · Post by **V8 Sam** » Wed Jul 18, 12 10:35 pm

dont know of him or the firm, or the car.

but http://rareperformancemotors.net/

that guy is very good. and not that far away if he is after someone who knows there onions.

Mossy68 · Post by **Mossy68** » Wed Jul 18, 12 10:46 pm

Hi Matt
I hate to here these stories.
Drives me mad. Being self employed I believe good work gets work !
It's worked for me Havnt advertised since I left college

My Coronets at G S autos in Essex. Not really local but so Helpfull and really know their stuff. My box is being rebuilt at mo after some so called 'expert' ripped off the previous owner and screwed it !!!
Their number is 01708 767001
They won't do any work without contacting you first and giving a price etc.
Hope this helps
Gary

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Wed Jul 18, 12 10:47 pm

Hi Matt, what a nightmare! Feel sorry for youre mate, I hate it when stuff like this happens..... Im reliably told that Blue is your man for advice on transmissions and think hes pretty local aswell.... From the chat I had at Garys picnic he certainly knows his stuff. Turnip is a great contact for parts and tech advice, and again, as with Blue, very knowledgeable and helpful. Ade Worman is very knowledgeable and has helped me over the phone to upgrade my ignition. Loads of others on here who have forgotten more than I will ever know!!

Might be an idea to get car back then tackle each problem individually if you know what I mean. Ive found that as soon as I hit a snag and cant find a sticky on the subject, I bang a thread on and within mins advice and suggestions come flooding in..... Good luck

Cheers Steve

RobTwin · Post by **RobTwin** » Thu Jul 19, 12 2:24 am

Hi Matt

I've also been wondering about getting a trans done round these parts now Blue's hung up (or sold) his tools

Re the calipers, i spoke to Bob Harman at BHP in Watford before we got ours sleeved & reconditioned, but decided to go with PastParts in Bury St.Edmonds, as recommended by Jon Connoly. And they did a great job. Well, I assume they did, we havent actually used them yet

Dart Vader · Post by **Dart Vader** » Thu Jul 19, 12 9:24 am

Feel for your mate

Had a similar experience with my first car, bought it then waited 6 months for them to sort out the bits and bobs on the car

Had it a few weeks then gearbox started playing up etc, sold it back to them for what I paid and bought the Dart, also from them. I bought some parts and gave them to them for fitting, two months later I ended up going down there and putting them on myself. They then had the cheek to invoice me for the "work" I had done, never did pay it though as felt really cheated.

Same outiftt was working on a former members Chally, engine was out and in bits etc, he then gets a phone call to say they were shutting up shop. He had to come down and collect his car and engine bits, had to pass them to someone to finish the car, the original outfit they then asked him for money !! He told them were to stick it as they left him well in the lurch. Not surprised they shut up shop, they got a real bad name, and, once I knew more people with US cars more horror storries came out.

Quite agree, good work gets more work.

Get your mate to pull his car out or set a firm deadline and list of works !!

Dave999 · Post by **Dave999** » Thu Jul 19, 12 10:08 am

could try Mr Rutlidge......

no idea if he builds boxes but he's certainly able to fix em when scott breaks em

Dave

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Thu Jul 19, 12 12:22 pm

If you want a job doing properly.........Etc Etc

Demon James · Post by **Demon James** » Sun Jul 22, 12 10:44 pm

Matt H jogged me about this and its taken me a while to find the thread

I thought it was a car going to the nats so my ever patient better half Wend has been getting used to our new longer trailer round the yard this Sunday so we could help out

I now see it looks like Pauls car just needs moving for now, still more than willing to help cos if there is one thing I've learnt and appreciate from joining the MMA is the vast wealth of knowledge and help available

In my first year of MOPAR ownership this forum has saved me untold number of trips to yarn spinning garages

Oh and whilst I'm writing war and peace can I change my user name without causing confusion and upset

All I will say is that I was not entirely involved with my registration

Post by **TyreFryer** » Sun Jul 22, 12 10:51 pm

Let me know what you want it changed to.

Demon James · Post by **Demon James** » Sun Jul 22, 12 11:02 pm

Well now, let me think......... I'm a right posh gti me so the Jim part has just got to go

but I cant help feeling that "Lord James Ponthemsby Smythe" is a tad long