F-Body Europe
http://forum.fbodyeurope.org/phpBB3/

Any good US garage ? - SHE'S BACK
http://forum.fbodyeurope.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=8082
Page 1 of 1

Author:  Camaro97 [ Thu May 22, 2008 2:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Any good US garage ? - SHE'S BACK

Hello,
I have to change the head gasket of my Camaro (because of a serious leak of cooling fluid) and I'm thus looking for a garage in the North-Eastern part of Belgium that could do this effectively but also for a reasonable price (this urgent repair was not on my budget for this year).
On some other occasions, I've already tried two official GM garages and I'm not satisfied at all (high price and poor results).
If anybody has a good address around Tongeren, Liege or Maastricht, please let me know.
Thank you in advance.

Author:  Chevroletfreak [ Thu May 22, 2008 5:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Any good US garage in the North-Eastern part of Belgium ?

Truthfully, if you have already had problems and are finding it difficult to trust any nearby mechanics, break in to it yourself. A headgasket is time consuming an will be labor (cost) intensive. You could complete it with very minimal costs and learn a lot in the process.....just my opinion. Unfortunately, I cannot help you with a trustworthy mechanic...except me...lol.

Author:  Camaro97 [ Thu May 22, 2008 5:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Any good US garage in the North-Eastern part of Belgium ?

Brian,
Thank you for your quick reply.
In principle you are right, but practically I wouldn't dare doing so because this car is full of electronics.
With my previous US car, I've done quite some DIY, but the motor was a bit more simple and there was more space for working around the engine.
Moreover, this is my daily car and during the works I will have to rent another car to go to work, so if my DYI lasts for longer than expected, it will cost me a fortune.

Author:  Camaro97 [ Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Any good US garage in the North-Eastern part of Belgium ?

Hey, I've found a garage.
It's been recommended to me by several members of a Belgian forum for US cars.
The place is :
http://www.dannycars.be/
My Camaro is now there for the replacement of the headgaskets.
Wait and see ...

Author:  Camaro97 [ Wed Jun 11, 2008 11:01 am ]
Post subject:  Any good US garage in Belgium ? - I HAVE TO GET RID OF MY CA

I'm on my knees ...
While changing the headgaskets, they found a problem to the head itself.
It has to be replaced and the price of the part is 2.000 USD.
I cannot pay that and I thus will have to get rid of the car.
I've asked the garage whether he can swap it for another old US car.

I'm distroyed. Apart from the head problem, this car is in a perfect condition and has a low mileage but I will have to sell it for peanuts. Nobody wants to buy such cars in Belgium, because of the high taxes.

Author:  Garry [ Wed Jun 11, 2008 1:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Any good US garage ? - I HAVE TO GET RID OF MY CAR :-(

Doesn't anybody have some used LT1 heads?

Author:  Chevroletfreak [ Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Any good US garage ? - I HAVE TO GET RID OF MY CAR :-(

Don't dump it. PM'ed!

Author:  Camaro97 [ Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Any good US garage ? - I HAVE TO GET RID OF MY CAR :-(

I've answered your PM.

Author:  Camaro97 [ Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Any good US garage ? - PROBLEM ALMOST SOLVED

Yesss !
The bank called me and they accept to finance the spare part.
I will probably have to eat spaghetti for the next 24 months, but at least my car is saved. :D
I will sleep better tonight because just the idea of having to get rid of that car was making me sick.

PS: Many thanks to Brian (Chevroletfreak) who offered to help me.

Author:  Chevroletfreak [ Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Any good US garage ? - PROBLEM ALMOST SOLVED

Welcome! Glad it worked out.

Author:  Garry [ Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Any good US garage ? - PROBLEM ALMOST SOLVED

Will you use it as an excuse to upgrade? ;)

Author:  Camaro97 [ Wed Jun 11, 2008 7:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Any good US garage ? - PROBLEM ALMOST SOLVED

Garry wrote:
Will you use it as an excuse to upgrade? ;)

I don't think so.
303 HP is enough for me because I tend to drive my cars to their limits and 150 mph is already a good speed (especially in Belgium where the limit is 75 mph).
And the brakes on the Camaro are not at all in proportion with the power of the engine. I should even say that they are quite poor.
Not even taking into account that beyond a certain point, the limiting factor is not the engine but the driver.
I'd like to avoid that my kids become orphans too soon ;)

Author:  Camaro97 [ Fri Jun 20, 2008 9:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Any good US garage ? - SHE'S BACK

Yesterday, I've got my Camaro back :)
The bill was 3.200 euros + 450 euros for the replacement car.
I will eat spaghetti for the next 2 years, but at least I can drive her again.
Pleasure has no price.

Author:  Garry [ Fri Jun 20, 2008 9:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Any good US garage ? - SHE'S BACK

Did you get to take the "defective" head?

Author:  Camaro97 [ Fri Jun 20, 2008 10:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Any good US garage ? - SHE'S BACK

Garry wrote:
Did you get to take the "defective" head?

Oups ! No, I didn't.
That would indeed have been a good reflex. Just to check ...

I will try to learn from this mistake.

Author:  BenZ28 [ Fri Jun 20, 2008 4:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Any good US garage ? - SHE'S BACK

So this was 3200 Euros for replacing the old heads with new ones for part and labor?

Author:  Camaro97 [ Sat Jun 21, 2008 2:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Any good US garage ? - SHE'S BACK

BenZ28 wrote:
So this was 3200 Euros for replacing the old heads with new ones for part and labor?

Yes, but just one of the two heads and both headgaskets. Plus the belt, the sparkplugs and the oil filter.

Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC + 1 hour
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/