Re:DIY and value for money

[Jarmanhome@domain.elided]

CM Smith's comments on this topic in AD#679 really hit the mark with me, 
also.  Having owned all sorts of cars and some trucks over the years, and 
being no longer as brazen (nor flexible) as in my younger days, there's a 
limit for me as to what I'll take on.   If I can do it with what I have, or 
maybe buying one new tool (wheeeeee!), then I can save myself money and 
usually aggravation by doing it myself.  This is true especially for brake 
work, where Michael and I part garage company.  The only other person I'd 
trust my Alfa brake work to in recent years was Bob Vollner at European Auto 
Specialists in Cincinnati (was Skip Jone's Prestige Imports for eons).    My 
wife and young son were always out and about in the LS daily, and that car 
had to be right, as far as I was concerned.  Bob always left it right -- 100% 
so, unlike some of the flaks out there in regular dealerships (our Dodge 
Caravan service being a typical example).

I learned the hard way, in some cases, where to draw the line.  I never 
touched automatic transmissions, except a filter change here and there.  
Rebuilt motors, a couple of manual transmissions long ago, but I just don't 
have either the time or inclination to do that sort of thing now.  Now the 
first time the head comes off the Spider, it's going to Sperry, though.

A fellow asked me once why I didn't do the timing belt thing on the 24-valve 
LS we used to have, "have some fun" and save some cash too.  I replied that 
from accounts I'd read, there was little to no fun involved, at least two 
special tools (cam clamps and tension gage), and a stupid, tedious 
trial-and-error procedure.   I was not technically qualified nor prepared 
with the tools to do this job, besides Bob did it for a living, and therefore 
was really good at it!   The result was we paid to get the belts 
professionally installed, with new tensioners, idlers etc., and we left 
knowing all was well with the car (which it was).   That was well worth the 
money spent to me.

I'll do oil changes, brake work, some exhaust, and most all routine 
maintenance on the '91 Spider and my little Nissan go-to-work truck.   But 
A/C work, transmission or clutch jobs, and ALL the Dodge Caravan work goes 
outside (long-term warranty on the van- why fiddle with it and give them an 
"out" someday??).  That's how I approach it...

Dave Jarman
Lexington KY
USA
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