Garage Borrowed - 6 weeks and counting

[BobRip]

My wife's cousin's friend asked to use my garage to repair the clutch in his 69 Stingray. He figured about one week and in my mind I figured 2 weeks. It has been over six weeks. He has had to put in a new clutch, send the transmission out for repairs, and now have the new drive shaft shortened. I asked him to remove it this weekend so I could change oil in my van. Also leave it out of the garage for a week so somebody else could do some minor work. He said OK, but then begged off for a "few more days". So today I changed the oil out in the cold. It was not really that bad, but this is getting redicilous.

I know I am probably being too nice to the guy, but I don't want to over react. My though now is to let him finish, but never let him use the garage again. Oh, this has a non Chevrolet engine, transmission, and drive shaft. So everything is custom and must be modified one after the other. He is not poor and works as an engineer. I am interested to hear what others would do in this situation.

 

[wedge40]

Bob looks like you've learned a hard lesson.. And I believe you're old enough to know better. I'd be royal pain in the backside and call everyday asking when he is going to get the car done. And give him a dead line.. Not out of there by then you'll have it towed. He will have choice of where it gets towed, but it will get towed.
Like you I'm a nice guy and hate when I get taken advantage of.

Wedge

 

[Combustix]

"My wife's cousin friend" enough said right there. Good luck

 

[murphy1244]

Always remember the old Irish saying" No good deed goes unpunished"

 

[murphy1244]

Always remember the old Irish saying" No good deed goes unpunished"

Where does he park the car?

 

[Soundguy]

if you reasoably believe the car will be mobile in another week.. I'd bit the bullet and let him finish.. and then never let him step foot on the property again...

 

[horsinaround]

Is he working on it every day, or once a week?
If every day and really trying to get it done but the job is blowing up... I understand might go easy on him...
If he is just dilly dallying... push it outside.

 

[flyerdan]

"My wife's cousin friend" enough said right there. Good luck

X2 Looks like your garage has been "occupied", and we all saw how well that turned out.

 

[crbr]

I am interested to hear what others would do in this situation.

LOL... surely you don't mean that? I say loan him your tractor too...

Age-old lesson that has been tossed around for as many centuries, as weeks he will stay in the garage.

Family gratuities never work out. Never. It's like loaning money to family, never expect it back.

Garages are no different. You'll be changing oil outside for a long time... never expect it back.

Me? I'd go move the car where it was entirely out of my way and mostly on it's way off my property, in no uncertain terms.

$0.02

Good luck.



.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

We don't let anyone use our personal garage just for this reason. We have enough of our own equipment and if we need to work on something I don't want to have to worry about someone else being in the way. My brother isn't even allowed in there but thats because he never puts tools away and leaves his garbage where ever it falls. The nicer your garage the more people want to use it so unless their real close friends who you trust just learn to say no. If they can afford a play car like the one you described then they can afford to build a simple garage of their own.

 

[wdchyd]

Bob "Ripped"

I had the same happen to me several times (at work) but insisted they push it outside when they were NOT working on it.........the vehicles were collecting leaves, snow, ice....:laughing:

One moocher took a year to complete the truck repairs (rebuilt engine, trans and other junk)

Never again......I have the bay for my convience, not theirs......

 

[BobRip]

Is he working on it every day, or once a week?
If every day and really trying to get it done but the job is blowing up... I understand might go easy on him...
If he is just dilly dallying... push it outside.

He has worked on it everyday when parts have been available. Sometimes parts take a week or more to turn around. He will get here at five pm and work till midnight or later. I place no fault there. That is why I have been so patient.

 

[BobRip]

Where does he park the car?

It has been on my lift for six weeks!

 

[Robert_in_NY]

It has been on my lift for six weeks!

I expect once I get a lift installed in my garage I will have to turn more people away. I only have a few friends who I would let use my garage and their closer then most of my family and would be there to help me if I ever needed them. But their the ones who would never ask to use my garage, I would have to beg them to use it.

 

[BobRip]

We don't let anyone use our personal garage just for this reason. We have enough of our own equipment and if we need to work on something I don't want to have to worry about someone else being in the way. My brother isn't even allowed in there but thats because he never puts tools away and leaves his garbage where ever it falls. The nicer your garage the more people want to use it so unless their real close friends who you trust just learn to say no. If they can afford a play car like the one you described then they can afford to build a simple garage of their own.

He has borrowed his bosses car for the past six weeks. He does not have another car, but is thinking of having a second Corvette. I am surprised that no one has suggested billing him for garage time. Any suggestion on a rate.

 

[Bob77064]

The car will stay in your gargae. Until you put your foot down and tell him the car has to go or you have it moved. It's just like the friend who wants to move in for a couple days.

 

[The Haymaker]

I tell them "My shop is a mess and will need a large amount of cleaning before the vehicle will fit."

I've never had an offer yet to clean my shop yet.

BUT, I am having that issue with a dirtbiker friend that has not place to store his bike. Did it for him last year, and it showed up on it's own this year. Next year I may tell him my insurance rep told me I had to remove it. So, anyway, guess that make me a sucker too.

 

[dusty3030]

Put it on Craigslist with his phone number.

 

[Soundguy]

i had a co worker that had moved here from up north.. he had a 26' box truck full of 'mobile machine shop' equipment he wanted to park at my farm.. said I could use some tools.. etc.

for me it would have been a hassle. for one thing..the value of the tools and my insurance.. and since he wanted it in my pasture.. if / when he needed it, i'd have to go round up animals and whatnot. not to mention, he's likely be over at my house all the time..

I just begged out of it for insurance and possible zoning issues..

 

[Garybake]

With that many different manufacturer parts installed you know that it is going to be in constant repair.:confused2: If he gets it out the door to test run in no unceartain terms I would let him know he overextended his welcome and never ask you again.
Gary