[V8] Old Content - T-belt Parts Rant! (Hee-Hee!)

[Professor GT gmail]

I've sourced my T-belt parts from various online vendors, sticking with brand name bits, and Ive had good luck doing it that way. Sounds like Blau is using a "one size fits all" part that falls short for our V8s.

Recently I picked up idler and tensioner rollers from FCP Groton for the ridiculously low price of approx $12.00 each, not the usual $50-60 each. Figured I'd take a chance and give it a whirl. I believe it was a closeout, and the best part was that they were quality brand- name (non Chinese) bearings. Sorry, I don't remember the brand but I do remember that they were from Japan. Funny, when I was a kid, anything labeled "made in Japan" was total JUNK! How things change!

I also recently found oil filters for $3.00 each on Rock Auto. I ordered 20, and a few were Purolaters, and the rest were OE Mann filters! That was another good find.

Rant On:

Anyway,  I'm also not of the "replace it all" mentality with respect to doing a t-belt job. Some guys will throw every single related part at the engine whenever they do a t-belt, saying its cheap insurance against a "premature" failure. For the individual doing his/her own work thats a personal choice. For the hired shop, thats a great way to run up the bill so they can be sure to cover their rent for the month, and that's a read sad way to run a business!

( I love stirring the pot! LOL!)  

Remember, those are the guys who charge voluminous prices for anything they touch, giving all other decent techs who have a conscience a bad name.

Quite frankly I'm surprised they don't  just say, "Hey, instead of doing the t-belt repair, why not just replace the engine?"

Point is "over-repair" is still a rip-off, no matter how you try to justify it. If it walks like a duck, sounds like a duck, looks like a duck ................

So, if the t-belt rollers on the engine roll smoothly they stay, if not they get replaced, and so on down the line. Each part gets the proper inspection/check and gets serviced accordingly. No blanket replace it all mentality here. 

Sure those "Do It All"  guys can find 101 convoluted ways to justify their actions and thereby pick your pocket, but there is a certain honor that goes along with the responsibility of being a real mechanic, wherein the better part of valor automatically precludes such nonsense. 

Oh, Pardon Me! Today to be politically correct we call them "Technicians", .......... lest we hurt their fragile little feelings and call them Mechanics!

 ("Technician" - is just a badge, and as the real guys said in Blazing Saddles, "We Don't Need No Stinkin' badges!" LOL!)

"Mechanic" works just fine for me, thank you! 
It harkens back to the days of good, hard working folk who took pride in what they did, how they did it, and how they treated their customers, with the utmost in respect and honesty.

Remember, don't fix what ain't broke! 

"Technician" sounds way too clinical anyway.

But ......... but ..........but ........ wait a minute, yea, yea that's it, "Technician" sounds more sophisticated, so hey we can charge more! 

And that's the name of that tune!

So, go find yourself a good "mechanic" to get your car fixed right, and your dignity left intact.

As they say, there's a ass for every seat, so let the technicians live off the rich folks.

If you are a good "Mechanic" my hat's off to you! I'm glad you are part of the family!

I feel much better now.
Keep the faith!
Rant off.


Readyyyyy...........Go!


ProfessorGT ;>)
(Sent from my iPhone4)