Thanks for sharing your experience. I'll have to reread it a couple of times lol as I'm really frustrated regarding the Rover right now and it sounds as if you did a couple of tweaks to finally get your fix. And seeing as I'm not the most mechanically inclined I'll have to study it really well.

I was in a really bad mood this morning. I think I mentioned earlier in this thread that I bought a 'new' Jeep and had it for a month and someone took it upon themselves to ram the driver side door repeatedly (when I was parked in BFE away from everyone else) leaving numerous dents around the reinforcement bar inside the door. I was told that it would be a good candidate for PDR so I set up an appointment, the guy came over to my office yesterday and took a look at it. The body shop that recommended him said that it would probably be a $250 job. The PDR guy quoted me $500 and said it would take him at least 4 hours. I was surprised at how much it would cost as I already had a number in my head ($250) and he had stated that he could probably get 85% of the dents out. Hmmm... $500 for 85% and a door still with dents. Didn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Fast forward to today.. grouched out - I decided to stop at a different body shop that has worked on my Rover in the past and they quoted me $676 to fix it 'the old fashioned way'. Before I left, however, they told me that it may be a candidate for PDR and handed me the card to a guy that works on their vehicles. Apparently he works in Wisconsin and makes the rounds to our area for a week or so at a time. They said that he may be able to squeeze me in. I called him... it sounded as if he was busy but he said that he was in my area and could swing by to give me a quote. Turns out his afternoon appointment went to lunch, leaving him with extra time (??) and he could work on my vehicle right then.

He said 'tell you what.. if I can't get it all out I won't charge you'..

I asked, 'and if you can?'..

'a hundred bucks' he replied.

WOW.

He worked on my Jeep for a little over 2 hours and when I walked out it looked new again. I couldn't believe it. The guys at work razzed me to death over it sounding like a woodpecker clunking away at my car and driving them nuts for 2 hours but he got it done. Amazing.

.. and get this.. he charged me $50.

Of course I tipped him well. I was thrilled.. he was so nice and told me it was 'all about the smile..'

When I left the parking lot he had my colleague's hood up and was fixing a dent in his Audi.. haha.. traveling show...

Wish I could get someone to travel to my Rover and fix my woes like he did with my dents. Did I mention that I'm a big tipper?

 

Sounds a real bummer about the Jeep Christina. IMHO unless the D2 seriously overheated big time it's unlikely the block has cracked more like a head or liner, even with an alu block. Have you had any feedback from the garage yet?

 

Hi Offroad I'm to the point where I'm hating cars but all is ok. Things are starting to settle down at work now (thank goodness) and I got the piano moved into the house this morning so my garage is half empty

I'm moving the Rover tomorrow from one shop to the other. They said that they were working a week to a week and a half out so if I get it there tomorrow I should be good. Don't know if I should drive it though?.. thoughts? Coolant in oil can wreck the bearings right? thinking maybe I should get it towed..

How's life?

 

Towing much safer, without knowing what is going in there driving it is not a good idea.

 

Don't start it or drive it with coolant in the oil. Either tow real slowly it if it's local, but put the low lever in neutral and don't forget you'll have very poor braking and mega heavy steering. IMHO trailer it to the second garage as then there are no risks.

The temps are around 40C or higher tomorrow and for the week and we and the animals are feeling the heat otherwise no probs, even at my tender age lol.

 

Don't start it or drive it with coolant in the oil. Either tow real slowly it if it's local, but put the low lever in neutral and don't forget you'll have very poor braking and mega heavy steering. IMHO trailer it to the second garage as then there are no risks.

The temps are around 40C or higher tomorrow and for the week and we and the animals are feeling the heat otherwise no probs, even at my tender age lol.

​​​​​​​PS: just learn the new routine and found the smilies

 

I'm with Offroad. DO NOT TOW! Get it up on a flatbed, but if you have triple A they will stick the truck on rollers anyway. No way should any wheel be on the ground.

When you get a diagnosis, ask the guys what they would like to do. Rebuild it/Headgasket, new motor, or do the new LS Swap with a 5.3L. Some shops like to do this kind of work, some don't. I'd be torn between a Turner or RPI Engineering longblock, and the 5.3. The 5.3 would probably end up being cheaper even with the kit.

 

So this happened today...

First time ever in the 10 years that I've had her that she's been 'towed'.

 

Things are happening! Excited for you. I can see why you love the truck. I have always loved that color.

 

Thanks CollieRover I'm excited too! I got a little emotional watching her get loaded up onto the truck and hauled down the road. I'm such a sap haha. She's my baby... amazing how they can get us so attached. Here's to movement on the Rover front and hopefully news in the next week!

Edit: Funny story about today.. stopped at the grocery store after work and assessed the parking situation. Found a stretch of spaces facing the roadside with about 30 empty spots. I figured it would be a safe bet and parked the Jeep. I was in the store for about a half hour... when I came out a beat up, white, buick century with the driver and 2 teenage passengers came putzing along and slowed down. Seeing as I never swear (haha) I muttered 'Oh HELL no...' as the driver started to turn into a parking space right next to me. I had visions of doors banging the passenger side all to hell and quite frankly, I'm still traumatized by the scenario which was bestowed upon me in the past two weeks with the driver side door. I think I said 3 different variations of 'Oh HELL no..' lol and quickened my pace so that I was standing right there by the door when all 3 piled out of the car. The driver was arguing with her teenage sons about her parking job.. apparently they were saying something to her and she said 'what does it matter?' (I'm telling you.. she was parked cockeyed with the nose of her century close to my passenger door). I just stood my ground and used my lovely lady lumps to cushion any blows from her exit.

I mean, what are the odds? 30 car spaces and someone decides to park right next to me and have an argument regarding parking??? Talk about paranoid That's me!