Important - Anyone Find Garrity?

perry951 · 05-22-2002, 10:19 AM

Ok kids, I have tried for many weeks now, daily, to get in touch with Garrity
to have my short block sent back to me. Last I spoke with him was 2 months ago
when he said the work was done, but was waiting on pistons. He also said he
would call in a day or so. After no call back, I started to call him and leave
messages. Myself, and others, have not heard from him, but his outgoing message
on the machiene has been changed several times. I know he has gotten my
messages.

Point blank, I want my motor. He has several thousands of dollars of my
property, and an agreement with me for work done. No one has been able to get
him via Rennlist, so I am wondering if any of you have the ability to track him
down?

I am just short of calling the police and reporting a theft, however, I want to
do all I can before that takes place, and give him every opportunity to make
good on this terrible situation. Please contact me ASAP with any information
you may have.

Thank you very much!
Brian Peck (Perry 951)

951carter · 05-22-2002, 01:51 PM

WOW!! That is not like Garrity from what i have seen and heard!

if you don't mind my asking, why are you rebuilding again? i have been away for awhile.

adrial · adrial's Garage

Engine fire
If you search over on Rennlist (http://forums.rennlist.com) on the 924/944 board you'll find his story, very well documented.

perry951 · 05-22-2002, 06:37 PM

Click the link in my sig. It has all you would ever want to know.

9:23pm... Ring Ring.
It is Garrity. I explained my displeasure on how long it had taken for him to return the call right off the bat, and he quickly says he has been out of town for a few weeks. I followed with "I've called daily for the last 2 months." His reply is.. "Huh." "Well the pistons aren't in." He could have cared less as far as I could tell. I really hope everyones praise of his work is true, or this has been a BIG waste of time and a lot of money.

Needless to say, the boxes are being shipped COD Friday morning, and he said he would call tomorrow with the grand total. He did say he is not accepting more work, and he is going to finish all the stuff he has there, a lot of it.

So, Garrity is in STL, call him tomorrow and leave many messages. With luck, he'll call back. Still cannot figure this one out. You would think that a call every day for over 2 months would ring a bell that I needed something. Guess not. Another chapter in the ill fated rebuild, I guess.

951carter · 05-23-2002, 06:24 PM

Well, I have been reading your site, i still have not gotten to the part about the fire as i was a little shocked when i read this excerpt:

>I noticed the new tensioner we installed looked a little different from my original. The idler gear on it was installed backwards, from the factory, causing the belt to wander off the centerline of the pulleys.<

From what I recall, you posted to this board looking for a solution. People were telling you that your engine was bent and you needed a new one, you were looking to sell the car, and I WAS THE ONE WHO TOLD YOU TO CHECK THE TENSIONER BECAUSE THEY SOMETIMES COME FROM THE FACTORY ASSEMBLED INCORRECTLY!!

Man, people with much experience and time invested in these cars, some professionally, some as hobbyists, come here to help others out for free, daily. A little thanks or recognition once in awhile would be nice. To say the least, I was quite shocked.
If memory serves you replied to the board that you reversed the idler but were not sure if that was the original cause of the problem as you did some other things at the same time. I KNEW that was the problem.

perry951 · 05-24-2002, 06:01 AM

Well Carter,

Sorry I did not come back and pat you on the back. What can I say, things were hectic and I forgot. To be honest, my father noticed the tensioner, not me. I was unsure if this was the cause, and if you read on, it was 1 of many problems. Things like bolts locking up camshafts, ring gears on the floor, many things.

And if it makes you feel any better, I post a lot on Rennlist as you know, and I post many solutions. I'd be suprised if I got recognition for 1 out of 100. If recognition was my goal, then there would be no use in posting. I like to help, not boost my ego.

THANKS CARTER FOR THE SOLUTION

951carter · 05-24-2002, 06:31 AM

still condescending, huh?

perry951 · 05-24-2002, 07:09 AM

Quote:

still condescending, huh?

No, not at all. I felt your post was a bit of a flame job, and I replied.

Again, you were right that the tendsioner was faulty, but there were some other contributing factors that needed to be taken into effect. I am sorry I did not thank you for it. Not muh else I can say.

AFJuvat · 05-24-2002, 07:31 AM

Was it ever determined what caused the fire?

AFJuvat

perry951 · 05-24-2002, 07:54 AM

The main lead for the starter was "welded" to the bell housing when I got it all apart. I inspected that very wire when the motor was out, and wrapped it with electrical tape because some of the insulation on it had cracked. All I can think is we pinched it somehow, or it contacted the bell housing in an area that was not insulated.

Once it grounded out, it got hot and burned the insulation/oil residue, and caught the main power and DME harnesses on fire. After that, the hood insultion went up.

I know it was not a fuel problem because the fire was not that hot, and burned for almost 5 minutes. If it was fuel, there would be nothing left of the car.

IceShark · 05-25-2002, 06:14 AM

Perry, you mean to tell me that you did all this work on your car, noticed CRACKED main power feed insulation and didn't replace the cable for a few bucks?!!!

You sure paid a pretty heavy price for that error in judgement. I don't know if you routed the cable funny to boot (which is what I originally thought you must have done) but it got me to thinking that it might not be a bad idea to put in a fusible link at the alternator and at the battery. Then this sort of disaster would never happen as every 944 out there has this potential disaster waiting to happen. And that wire insulation is getting old now.

perry951 · 05-25-2002, 04:15 PM

Hind sight is 20/20. I should have replaced it. The insulation was cracked by the lower torque tube bolt. It was not that bad, just cracked from age. I thought a liberal wrapping of good 3M electrical tape would be good enough.

Hang with 'em!