[V8] V8 Addiction!

[S_Matus]

Fellow Addicts -
 
(Register.com says the domain www.v8addiction.com is available for that much talked about V8 web site.)
 
I was first exposed to the V8 in November 2001. I was working for 4 months at my local Ford Dealer (Burt.com) while I was looking for another Tech Job. Colorado was hit EXTREMELY hard.
 
A woman traded a 1990 V8 w/97K on a "Ford Exploder".  We called them this during the height of the Firestone Tire fiasco.  The V8 was a vehicle that was clean and had low miles.  At the time the dealership gave her $4000 for her car, I bought it for an additional $200 (Dealer-Employee purchase).
 
Slightly Ranting, but within topic -
I have always been the primary mechanic on my vehicles.  I learned early on that I could not find a competent mechanic that would traet my vehicles the way I would treat it.  Case in point, I recently had my '99 F350 4x4 Crew Cab in to an "American Car Care Center" to have a simple alignment performed.  I thought that they are just doing an alignment and cannot do it wrong.  Well, the truck came back to me pulling right and steering wheel off center. That was not the big problem.  The alignment guy used (no Lie) a Big F'n Pipe Wrench to move my adjusting sleeves on the truck.  Nothing pisses me off more than when the improper tool is used to repair anything.  These sleeves looked like they were chewed on by the "Alien"(using both sets of teeth).  I complained to no solution,  Their explaination, "We do not have a tool that large, we checked in the catalog!"  This is why I do all the work on my own vehicles.  I WANT IT DONE RGHT!  When I do not have the right tool for the job I either
 buy it or I fabricate the tool myself.  I'll let a project sit for weeks untill I have the right tool for the job! 
 
This is ranting - 
In March 2000 (2 weeks before the Dot.Com Bust) I put a down payment on a Black 2000 Plymouth Prowler.  I planned to pick it up from the dealer showroom that next Saturday.  We  drove the car back home.  That night I inspected the car with the proverbial "Fine-toothed comb".  The dealer must use steel wool for car wash mitts. I complained to the dealer and got zero satisfaction from them.  I currently have a ball jount recall on this car and refuse to allow them to perform it.  I also had a bad dealer experience with the F350.  I had 8 service appointments in the first 12K miles. Ther was a long list of things that the dealer screwed up!
 
I bought the V8 immediately from Burt Ford and I found the AUDIFANS list. Knowledge about the procedure for a repair is just as important than the corect tool.  V8 at AudiFans supplied the knowledge I needed. I got my first copy of the Family Album and the V8 Repair Manual from Audi on Microfiche. I tore the car apart replacing all seals, gaskets and hoses that I could do without removing the heads.  I replaced all the fluids, checked all CVJs and brake components. I made the V8 roadable to the point I had complete confidence that I would not be inconvieienced. Well, the Trans went south 2 months after I put it on the road.  I became addicted to this car in the 3 months that I was reconditioning and driving it.  
 
My V8 has been sitting for almost 2 years now without being driven.  I did get a NOS Rebuild AYU Transmission just last month.  (Purchased from the same people that Dave Heads found his).  In all that time I have been reading this list and NEVER lost interest in this vehicle.  In fact I feel that I have grown more addicted to this car. I purchased Number #2 just 8 months ago. I'm not driving this one either.  This car is so technically advanced for its day that I cannot compare it against anything on the road for the same money.  V8s are addicting.
 
I have this list to blame for my V8 Addiction!  I cannot imagine how bad off I would be if I had been driving my cars all this time!
 
Scott Matus
2 '90 V8s




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