IML: Special Shops For Special Cars

[randalpark@xxxxxxx]

I have never trusted any of my Imperials to general repair shops. I 
establish a relationship with a specific shop first, determine if they 
are interested in working on Imperials, and go from there. Most chains 
are not designed to handle special cars such as our Imperuials. 
Imperials really are special.

Center Plane Brakes on 1956 through 1962 require special skills that I 
would venture to say will not exist in any chain shop. Tapered rear 
axle/drum assemblies present through 1964 are no longer common and 
likely to cause trouble for a run of the mill chain outfit.

Imperial suspensions from 1957 on require special skills, even if the 
shop is accustommed to repairing other Chryslers, Imperials are built 
differently and require different tools, parts, and skill sets.

Electroluminescent lighting repair from 1960 through 1963 requires 
special skills that are not present in most Auto-Electric shops.

For all other repair work, the parts needed usually can not be obtained 
easily enough for the shop to move the car in and out fast enough to 
make a profit. If the owner can't/won't do their own work, then the 
only alternative is to find a good shop. Shops that handle special cars 
are more expensive. They have to keep obsolete tools, hire specially 
skilled workers, and miantain higher standards of customer satisfaction 
since their market is much more limited. No one should expect to find a 
bargain price on getting a brake job done on an Imperial unless they 
plan to do it themselves. At todays prices, $850.00 for a full job 
including everything, which in book means cleaning and refinishing the 
backing plates, and a car that stops like new is NOT a bad price. 
Paying that for a car that won't stop is highway robbery. If you paid 
with a credit card, you may have recourse.

If we expect to drive specialty cars, we need to either learn to fix 
them ourselves, or pay the higher price necessary to keep the folks in 
business who can do it for us.

Paul W.

-----Original Message-----
From: sosmi@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 8:51 AM
Subject: Re: IML: Am I getting screwed?

We've flogged this subject quite a bit, and aside from the 
dissatisfaction, the substantial costs, and loss of faith in a major 
repair chain, I think one more issue is important.By insisting on the 
conditions I stated earlier, and having the management involved, just 
might prevent another improper repair being done that may result in a 
catastrophic event. I would like to think, my efforts to receive the 
services contracted for, and the "STINK" I made, resulted in a review 
of procedures, technicians, and management.But thats just me.Ya'll have 
a nice day, Dave.
 
-------------- Original message --------------
From: randalpark@xxxxxxx

> The shop of the same name in my town was set on fire by a disgruntled
> customer.
>
> If you drive an old Imperial, you need to find a special mechanic
> and/or shop that you can rely on. Some one from the IML in your area
> may be able to help you with this.
>
> Paul W.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: lupee@xxxxxxx
> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Thu, 18 Jan 2007 7:59 PM
> Subject: Re: IML: Am I getting screwed?
>
> I would not let Midas touch any of my vehicles. I really can't
> understand how they stay in business with their rotten reputation.
> Lupe,
> 64 Crown coupe
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: bogart3147@xxxxxxx
> To: mailing-lis t@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2007 11:35 AM
> Subject: Re: IML: Am I getting screwed?
>
>
> Midas was the man with the golden touch. Everything he touched 
turned
> to gold.Â
> Â
> Â
> -----Original Message-----
> From: fljoslin@xxxxxxxx
> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Thu, 18 Jan 2007 12:16 PM
> Subject: Re: IML: Am I getting screwed?
>
> What does the name Midas mean anyway? And for whom?
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Chris Strohmeyer"
> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: IML: Am I getting screwed?
> Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2007 10:00:57 -0800
>
>
> My experience was when I called around for a
> muffler replacement Midas was TWICE the price
> of a private outlet. I figured a chain store
> would be cheaper, well they're NOT.
> Chris Stroh meyer
> 67 Imperial Convertible
> ----- Original Message ----- From:
> To:
> Cc: "Woolf,Richard T(Contractor)"
> Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2007 9:37 AM
> Subject: RE: IML: Am I getting screwed?
>
>
> > Did they replace drums or turn them.??
> > Really need to know more of what they did.
> > If they replace the master cycl, wheel cycl
> > and shoes only, and adjusted them it should
> > not have been more than $400.00. If they
> > replaced drums then you could be looking at
> > $800.00 with the rest of the brake work.
> > Midas is the last place I would go to. Find
> > an independe shop with an older mechaic and
> > checck with them
> >>
> >
> >> If I wrote out all the details and the whole story it would take
> pages, so
> >> here is the brief summary. I took my '63 Custom to get new brake
> shoes on
> >> the front and the rear at Midas. They called me and said that I 
also
> needed
> >> 4 new wheel/brake cylinders. I don't know anything about brakes
> really, so
> >> when they told me I was leery. I mean, the car was stopping, 
granted
> it
> >> sounded like hell, but it was still stopping...if all of my
> cylinders had
> >> gone out would the car still stop? Whenever I went to pick her up
> last
> >> night I felt really uneasy about the whole situation, they just
> weren't
> >> giving me the comforting feeling that they knew what they were 
doing
> or that
> >> something was going on. They took her off the lift and had me test
> drive it
> >> because the brakes seemed mushy to them. I was scared to death, 
she
> >> wouldn't stop and we almost wrecked. I took her back and they came
> up with
> >> some crap about while bleeding the brakes in old cars sometimes 
the
> valve in
> >> the master cylinder will go out and that I needed a new master
> cylinder.
> >> The master cylinder was fine whenever I took it in there. That, 
and
> I just
> >> payed $846 for new shoes and the 4 wheel cylinders. I believe I 
was
> already
> >> screwed on the price, but I just want the input, advice and 
insight
> any of
> >> you may have. My boss told me that there wasn't a valve that they 
are
> >> speaking of. Please help anyway. I want to be prepared whenever 
the
> guy
> >> calls me about Ms. Pearl today.
> >> Megan
> >>
> >>
> >>
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> Fred Joslin
>
>
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