Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Repairin' the 308 (section 4 of 6)

[robert_h_bowser [at] juno.com (robert_h_bowser]

I didn't really expect Symbolic to do anything other than a CYA response.  I 
was just venting.  It is irritating to go out of your way to take the car 
somewhere expecting to be rewarded with a quality job and find you could have 
taken it anywhere and gotten the same crappy job.

Part of the reason I like these old Ferraris is that they are so simple, 
really.  All the damaged sub-frame members are simple mild steel box section 
tubing available at the local metal supply place.  I'm simply constructing a 
new frame subsection and going to weld it onto the frame member (using a MIG 
welder).  I did have to fabricate the support plate that runs along the outer 
edge joining the upper body panel to the lower valence (modified Z-cross 
section about 8 inches long).  The frame structure on these cars is fairly 
low-tech.

Being so simple, I am amazed that someone took so much time to do such a shitty 
job on it.  Doing it correctly probably would have been easier.

I'd never think of doing something like this on my Corvette (or any newer 
Ferrari).  Everything on those is either cast, forged, or a special alloy.  But 
these old Ferraris are more like kit cars with exotic engines.

Bob

-- Adam <flatcrank [at] gmail.com> wrote:


On May 21, 2008, at 11:10 AM, robert_h_bowser [at] juno.com wrote:

> I just can't say for sure what Symbolic did, or did not do.  It  
> could be that they simply repaired the sheet metal portion and  
> ignored the rest.  I did send them a letter indicating my  
> displeasure, including pictures of the shoddy work.  Guy called me  
> and said basically:
>
> 1.  This happened before he joined the company and they didn't have  
> good records of what exactly happened.
>
> 2.  He believes the damage shown was all existing, and an insurance  
> adjuster must have come over to view the damage and refused to cover  
> the cost of fixing it.
>
> Maybe, maybe not.  I don't ever remember being informed of anything  
> like that, but, it was four years ago....and...of all the things  
> I've lost, I miss my mind the most.....

Bob,

I'm pleased to see you've gotten down to the component level and the  
photos look like you're well on your way.  Is it possible to work from  
new parts or is it a matter of fabrications?

I guess it was becoming obviously inevitable that Symbolic was going  
to distance themselves from the job.  Perhaps they can at least offer  
to help with at-cost parts and maybe something like a free balance and  
alignment.  Maybe I'm being optimistic.

These "polished" excuses remind me of a similar situation where my  
impression was "this guy is far too polished and well-rehearsed in  
dealing with customer complaints -- he must be dealing with complaints  
like mine far too often."

Good luck.

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