How to document a DIY engine out

Take pictures with LA Times newspaper in front showing date of work.

 

As long as you can provide a plethora of high quality pictures and all the receipts, you shouldn't have a issue.

 

Do much kidnapping, Bruce?

 

It's all about convincing the potential buyer that you were competent in doing the work. Some might not be able to be sold if the records don't have a dealer name on them. Don't let that stop you from working on your car.

 

Maybe do something similar that airplanes have to document service history which is a log with mileage, description of work, parts used, date, signature of the person doing the work.

When I change oil on the airplane (which is allowed by the FAA for owners), I do a log entry and that is all is required to keep me legal and FAA happy.

 

I was thinking the same thing!

Maybe spell out "355 Engine Out" with cut out letters from various magazines too.

 

I was also thinking set up a video camera on a tripod. Even if you don't move it around to document specifics it would make a great time lapse clip also.

 

Even if an engine out is document and looks to be done properly if this was done by an unqualified person meaning a weekend hobbiest personally I would not consider that acceptable and would need to adjust price accordingly.

Sorry folks I am being honest. I know so may here are extremely brilliant people but when you go to a restaurant do you cook your own dinner?

I am saying I seen great mechanics miss stuff right in front of them simply because it's new to them or working too fast or on autopilot. A good mechanic will check things we would not even think of looking at

 

I work wearing nothing but a thong, be careful what you ask for LOL

 

Lol. How would that look in the time lapse I wonder?

And to your point on DIY. I agree on the residual value of it at resale.

 

Ask Plugzit he is the one who taught me the thong trick LOL

 

If I were looking at a car which last had a DIY major I would consider it as needing an immediate major. Sorry, you can document parts, not quality of labor.

 

You guys are probably right.

What is sad is some folks here can do a better major on a 355 than some Ferrari dealers and ind. shops.

In the end, if you do not plan to sell for 4 - 6 years, who cares?

 

If they would let me? Yes. Maybe they would learn something

 

That's funny.

 

Tim, you might not want to document that with pictures.

 

Amen. I do all the cooking in my house, wearing a leopard thong

 

You don't need a newspaper anymore, just use an ipad with the cnn homepage or any other major news source.

 

Makes it easy to lube things.

 

We are talking about cars right?

 

I've been around long enough to see and experience major f ups from service departments. After so many times of being screwed, I finally had a breaking point. Since then, I've been building engines and chassis myself. It's not like it takes mystical powers to work on a car. With that being said, I would trust my work over a shop any day.

 

Incorrect Sir

Lube yourself and slide all around under the car, lubricants are your friend

 

+1

 

But would I? If you want to sell you car, who are you to me? Some guy in F Chat who claims to know what he is doing but has no credentials? What you want to do to your own car for your own motives is fine. Not putting you or any DIYer down. Just saying that although I know you have a beautiful car and hang out here, I have no idea of the quality of work you do. It's like anything else. You have to do due diligence. I can do that with a shop. Not so much with an individual.