Well, disappointed to inform the community, I have cancelled my attendance at the Ford National's being held in Carlisle, PA.
This decision as a result of two separate incidents regarding body damage incurred by the exhaust shop that I was referred to, in order to repair my damaged flex pipes (mentioned / pictured in the opening post of this thread).
So here's what happened, I confirmed the exhaust leak I had recently heard, was in fact coming from the failure of the 3" Flex Pipes installed on my 1st of it's kind ever to be fabricated DP's.
I had taken my car to my mechanic pal of 10+ years, in order to get the car up on the lift itself, to inspect further. Thus where that pic originated from.....
No biggie there...... so I searched around for a shop that would replace the failed pipes respectively.
Now I have never previously done business with this exhaust shop I went to, but since they were willing to undertake said repairs, even though there may be some Emission's Compliant "issues" (read between the lines) with my SHO, I felt ok to have them do the work, as they came referred.
So I am holding tight in the Customer Service area, watching the tech drive my SHO up onto their (drive-up) rack, in order to inspect what work I am telling them needs to be done. Two other tech's place large pieces of wooden planks (they look like 2x8's) in order to help minimize the angle of which the car needs to clear that custom lower front chin spoiler of mine.
So they do so, and as the car is being driven up, I hear a very distinct audible "crunch", I see the two outside tech's yelling out loud to the 3rd one driving my SHO "ok, it's ok, go slow, slow....."
They get the car up on the rack successfully, inspect the failed, 3" shorties, and then motion for me to come into the shop area with them. I see no physical damage to the car (whew) and then the one tech says "yeah, sir, your flex pipes are blown, you'll need to replace these". I kind of chuckled and replied "Yes, I am aware of that, that's why I am here, duh".
So the tech replies with the following: "Well, we should install 8" Flex Pipes in order to prevent this from occurring a second time, but we would have to order them. These parts are not here at the shop, but located at an off-site warehouse. They could be here by late tomorrow".
So I'm like "ok, no problem, go ahead and order them".
I return to the customer waiting area, and watch the three goons drive the SHO back OFF from the rack. Well it turns out, the crunch crunch noise I heard was apparently the wood planks they used (during the initial driving UP ONTO the rack) had begun to crack under the sheer weight of the car alone. But apparently they didn't break completely.
So they felt it was ok to RE-USE these exact SAME wooden planks when reversing the car off of the rack. Yes, the same one's that had began to break when the car was on it's way UP onto the rack.
BAD IDEA!
They get the rear axle off fine, but the very moment the weight of the front axle drives onto the planks, I hear a secondary crunch noise, followed by a super loud, solitary "BANG!".
Oh sh!t I think to myself..... so the three amigo's look at the car, while cursing at each other. Then the owner of the facility walks over.
The wood planks cracked completely while the car was on it's way down, and the car slammed onto the rack.
The lower under cladding piece broke completely off, and the left front fender became damaged at it's mounting point to the frame. The left front fender also had a crease, or a bend in it, midway up the panel, most noticeable near the faux side vent piece.
Here's some pictures of said damage:
So now, mind you, I'm a little miffed, but the owner is quick to exclaim that he will pay for any / all necessary repairs, and asks for the name of my body shop.
As a result, I leave knowing that at least it will be paid for, and now my next concern immediately transitions to my body shop, and what their availability is, to get me in like ASAP.
So I go there, get the estimate (a tick over $1,300) but am told they are booked solid, and the soonest they could get me in, is Monday, June 16th.
Crap, crap, crap.......
So luckily (or not) I was scheduled to work and as such, this entire incident noted above, was able to be somewhat placed out of my mind, as I was thrust into dealing with other people's problems, other than my own.
I get a call from the exhaust shop, advising the new, replacement, 8" Flex Pipes have arrived, and ask me if I could come in before Saturday. Sure I reply.
So I head back over there a second time, in order for them to perform the necessary repairs.
This....... if you could believe...... gets even more interesting.
So I arrive, and the owner of the exhaust shop meets me outside, and says "Hey umm, today, I'm going to have you drive your car up on the rack, and I'll guide you".
I kind of laugh in his face (yes, rude, I know) and say to him "I know what you're trying to avoid, but you do understand that it doesn't matter who actually drives the car up on the rack right?" I then proceed to tell him I have no qualms about doing so, but reiterate to him, that by working under his direction, the shop is, or would be, still liable for any further damage incurred.
So as I move into position, I observe him to place wood planks / boards (new 2x8's it would appear) in front of the rack. I pause, place the car in PARK, and ask the owner if he thinks, given what happened just two days prior, if repeating this same action, is advisable......?
The exhaust shop owner quips "Yes, it will be fine, I've been doing this for over 30 years, I know what I am doing, I am the owner, my guys from the other day, simply had it wrong and didn't know what they were doing".
So I shake my head in disbelief, but proceed at his direction anyhow.
Driving ever so slowly forward, the very moment the front tires make contact with those dubious wooden boards, I hear a semi-prolonged "rip" "crunch" followed by a "pop".
The owner turns pale, frantically yells to stop, and then belts out a loud
F@CK!. Loud enough that all of the customers waiting in the waiting area, turn towards the shop to look over at my car.
I ask one of (the several) employees who've now gathered around my car, many of whom were there two days prior.... "what happened?".
They report that the lower front chin spoiler came completely off.
I then let out my own rather loud, solitary
F@CK! of my own and proceed to exit the car.
After observing the chin spoiler damage, I then begin to take control of the situation. I notice that the spoiler itself is not damaged per se, however it appears that it just simply popped off from, the channel of the lower portion of the OEM Front Bumper Cover where it had been mounted.
I start telling the minions to grab a couple of floor jacks so the car can be simply jacked up (in place) so that I can then disconnect all of the necessary clips, bolts, etc. so as to not cause further damage. The owner looks miffed now, but allows his workers to do as I've instructed,
I jack up the car. I crawl under and then proceed to disengage everything and place the parts into my car. I had to cut all the wires to the LED underglow (even though I asked specifically of the vendor who installed them, to place in line quick connects / disconnects).
I reassess the car, and tell the owner "Well, what's done is done, might as well just flip'n drive it up onto the rack and fix those flex pipes as not much more could happen at this point you know".
So the owner proceeds to drive the car up on the rack, and they raise the car into the air. As the owner and his minions begin to cut out / torch / remove the old flex pipes, I inform the owner that when the work is completed here, I intend on driving immediately over to the body shop, to have them add on the additional damage.
The owner stops dead in his tracks, and tells his workers to stop.
The owner says to me "You know, I'm not comfortable working on your car anymore, it's too much of a liability, I want you and your car out of my shop".
I look at him puzzled, and reply "I am still willing to pay you to perform the necessary repairs, the car's already up in the air, there can't possibly be any reason to stop work at this point".
The exhaust shop owner then reaffirms his decision (to stop work) and asks for the phone number to my body shop. To which I provide him accordingly.
I overhear him speaking to the body shop on the phone, and a portion of the conversation involves him explaining he's only going to pay for the original damage incurred on day one, and NOT for any of the damage that occurred the 2nd day (with the chin spoiler).
He disconnects and looks at me and says "ok, looks like your car is off the rack, you can leave now". I was completely beside myself. Total shock. Having overheard his conversation with the body shop, I inquire how he planned on paying for the secondary damage? He goes to the shop, and returns with the brand new 8" Flex Pipes and places them onto the counter and says "Here 'ya go, this should cover it".
I laughed (yes, a 2nd time, rude? Meh..... at this point I didn't care). I asked "How do I know what these cost, in relation to how much EXTRA it will cost me to get the chin spoiler remounted?"
The exhaust shop owner says in a more stern voice "I really don't care, now get the
f@ck off of my property".
I was speechless. Literally.
So now I have a damaged car, and flex pipes that have NOT as of yet, been repaired, along with a couple of new 8" Flex Pipes that are essentially acting as paper weights at the moment.
Here's the pics of the secondary damage:
As you can see, unlike when I hit that raccoon a couple of years back, the channel on the lower portion of that bumper cover, is still intact. So I am confident the chin spoiler can be remounted without much to do.
As a result of all of the aforementioned, I have chosen to withdraw my attendance from this year's Ford Nationals Event, and have already cancelled my tickets, as well as my hotel.
At this point, my focus is centered on getting my car repaired, but also beginning the search of a new exhaust shop that can perform the repair / replacement of the flex pipes accordingly.
Sad, sad, sad news for me........
Anyone have any idea on what a brand new set of 8" (double walled) flex pipes cost?