Some people have emailed me privately asking for an update on a topic I posted to this forum on 6.24.99. The topic was whether I was morally obligated to pay for a repair on a Chevelle I recently sold. Here's the link to the original post for those interested: http://www.chevelles.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/002886.html

So here's an update: The father who bought the car and the son who presumably thrashed it would only speak to me through the wife/mother. I told her to not call again unless I can speak to one of the two guys. I think they know better than to call because I've not heard from anyone since the beginning of July.

According to the wife/mother, I sold them a Chevelle which had a bad engine. They took the car to a mechanic and he told them (according to her) that the engine needs new torque. "Oh really?" I replied. "How much new torque does it need?" I asked. She responded, "All of the torque is bad and it needs to be changed." "So," I said while not trying to laugh aloud, "are we talking about a couple of cans of torque additive, or are we talking about a full case of new torque? NOS torque would be your best bet, but you may not find any easily these days unless you go the black market route." She became frustrated and told me that the car was loaded up on a flatbed tow truck and they planned to tow it to my house (3 hour drive) to have "my guys" work on it. “What guys? I don't have a pit crew?!” She insisted that I pay for the repair (approximately $1,000) and threatened legal action. I reminded her that her husband signed a bill of sale that read "Car is sold 'as is' and with no warranty whatsoever." Then I asked to speak to him. She went to get him on the phone, but he "was too tired from working all day" to speak to me right then but promised to call me the very next evening. That was a month ago and I haven't heard a word.

Not much of an update but I think they are finally out of my hair. Thanks to all who offered advice to my original post. Now log off the Internet and go check your Chevelle's torque. It might require changing, or flushing, or bleeding. or...whatever it takes to rid your car's engine of bad torque!

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Robert

www.classiccarlot.com (http://www.classiccarlot.com) (15% discount for my fellow Chevelle owners!)

Hey if you got some spare can's of torque lying around, I'll take a Six Pack of the heavy duty stuff. If it's NOS then I'll trade for it!

Glad to hear that it's resolved.



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The proud owner of a Canadian 64-SS with ZZ4 Power!
Team Chevelle Gold Member #37
Canadian Classic Chevelles & Beaumonts Member #350
WebSite http://www.magma.ca/~ssoltesz/steves/steve1.htm

How about Team Chevelle goes in on a bulk purchase by the 10,000 gallon http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif

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Francis Taracido Gold# 201 :)
Sniper0666@aol.com
History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of man.
Oh No! You Know She's Got To Go!
Go Go Quadzilla!
members.aol.com/sniper0666/page/index.html (http://members.aol.com/sniper0666/page/index.html)

Oh man rstoltz! that was a good laugh. Some people.
It's people like that who make a good argument for birth control.
Glad it's over with.

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Bob
Email: bob70@chevelles.com
My Chevelle: members.aol.com/rdcnh/70index.html (http://members.aol.com/rdcnh/70index.html)
Team Chevelle Gold Member #169
New England Chevelle & El Camino Assoc. #085

Can I add enough torque to make my 283 launch like a big block or would it only be safe to bring it up to a 350 level? The father/son team that bought my 70 paid me a visit Tuesday. I hated to see my baby in the hands of a 17 year old, but he came by and showed me all that he had done. My car is in good hands.

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Philip Valentine
Team Chevelle Member #42 GOLD
philip@chevelles.com

The muffler bearings were rattling and the lead was dripping from the flywheel,went out to the garage and dug up a couple cans of torque addative that i had stahed when they outlawed here in calif. but now runs grtat...
Glad its reasolved, nothing like living a nitemare......have a good day Gene.......

You may have to switch to synthetic torque. I read an article in Torque Monthly magazine that OTEC (Organization of Torque Exporting Countries) is considering a proposal to lower the production of torque in order to stabilize prices.

Ahh...Good old Torque additive. Hell, I ran the L6 on straight Torque one night and darn near gave myself whiplash I from the lateral acceleration.

Some friends and I used to (actually still do) take great pleasue in convincing non-car people theyneeded the most insane things. 2 of the best are the Battery Primer (works like a capacitor in order to give your starter more push) and switching "Winter Air" for "Summer Air" in order to equalize the humidity levels in your tires.

Yes, we have gotten people to fall for both.

Kurt, still looking for a radiator cap for his 72 VW bug.

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The 68 Chevelle info page. [last updated Nov. 30, 98]
http://www.geocities.com/~68_chevelle/Chevelle/Info.html
Email: Kbyfield@terracom.net
T.C. Gold #6
A.C.E.S. #1352

Are you sure the "Piston Return Springs" were installed properly, or maybe the headlight fluid was low.

Did you use the left-handed gangler wrench when you put the torque back in? It's the only way to do it right!

Where can I get me some liquid torque? Ha HA
Great story!

Byfield; Your not a mechanic are you? http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif

can that be used with a full-race cam ?

Why would anyone with no mechanical knowlege spend 11k on a 30 year old car? It sounds like they are just plain stupid. How do stupid people ever acquire that much cash?

If I knew nothing about cars and I wanted to surprise my son with a $11k 30 year old car, I would at least have it checked out thoroughly. Maybe the problem would have still slipped by, but at least I would know that the seller wasn't pulling a fast one.

I think you are a very good person for even considering helping them out. I would have done the same thing: consider it, and then say no.

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Jameel Qazi
#'s 67 SS



[This message has been edited by jaqazi (edited 08-06-99).]

Jason: No, it's worse that that. I work for State Gov't.

Kurt

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The 68 Chevelle info page. [last updated Nov. 30, 98]
http://www.geocities.com/~68_chevelle/Chevelle/Info.html
Email: Kbyfield@terracom.net
T.C. Gold #6
A.C.E.S. #1352

rstoltz,
Funny story! It really isn't your fault. It was sold as is, no warranty. They should have checked the torque level before buying. Which reminds me I need to pick up some plutonium to fuel the Flux Capacitor in my 67.



[This message has been edited by Joe454 (edited 08-06-99).]

i heard if you Rub full-stregnth Torque on your joints that it relieves pain also? is this true? if so i would like to try it but im currently using all my torque in my little 307.

oh also just give her a can of blinker fluid to get her off your back

Ohhh..so torque is something you add to the motor...here all along I thought it was a specific type of bolt, I mean why else have a specific wrench for it.

rstoltz,
You did the right thing! "AS IS" is exactly that! I hate to use this term but...Kudos for sticking to your guns!
Fred

I think the only torque problem that Chevelle had was the WIFE! And when she heard that bad boy fire up, she asked her hubby... "Why is that thing so loud?" The dad not listening to her (of course)..."WOW! WHAT TORQUE" her "HUH"...him "TORQUE AND LOTS OF IT!" "Oh" she replies, "how much?" Dad..I dunno, they probably spent $1000 to get that kind of torque!?!" Mom..Well, we better get that S.O.B. to fix it!!.. Dad being confused replies in typical, husband working on the car style,"YEA,OK, WHAT-EVER" turns to his son and says with a smile COOL HUH? When you drive a Chevelle no matter what shape its in, B/B or S/B, whether it's your first or fourteenth, you will always get "Smiles per Miles

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[This message has been edited by Cardiac (edited 08-06-99).]

Doggoneit!!! As far as I can tell, you've got to smuggle torque in over the Mexican Border to get any in Texas! Would any of you kind souls spirit a couple gallons to me?

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!

Dave H.
Houston (HOT!) Texas

Anyone ever replace the nitrous in their tanks with torque? I bet your car would fly!. I remember when they first came out with Torque, Kids were adding it in their 4 cyl engines and putting the big blocks to shame.

Man, this has got to be one of the funniest post I've seen. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Of course I dont ever worry about scratching my paint job when I work on my car... I use Liquid Wrench!!! And when the spec calls for 25ftlbs I pop open a fresh can of Torque and mix it with my liquid wrench! Good post!!!

Robert:

Thanks for the update. It was great to hear what happened and I am glad that you didn't back down. You did the right thing. (isn't hindsight great?)

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Morris "moepoe" Porter

Aces 2674
'70 L34 Chevelle SS396

just read the original post cars are cars they break it doesnt matter if they cost 100$ or100000$if we knew when we could all save on repair bills as for your obligation if you know in your heart you didnt misrepresent the car no obligation if you did misrpresent the car you wouldnt care anyway again no obligation the car was sold as is caviet emptor