Phil's Foreign Car Service
415 Route 46
Kenvil, New Jersey
07847
(973) 584-0161
http://www.philscars.com

 

Not more than a couple of weeks after I bought my beloved Campmobile, the engine seized.

I attempted to rebuild the original engine without much success. I then found an engine in a junkyard for 50 bucks.
When I installed that engine, it ran for only a few minutes and had a bad knock.

I then decided I would pay an experienced VW mechanic to build me an engine. I figured that way,
I'd not only be off the hook for all that work, but I'd have a warrantee on my new engine. I looked for a professional. 

I was aware of two "Volkswagen Specialists" in my area (at the time, Northern New Jersey).
Both of these guys had been around since my childhood. I had my doubts about the one closest to home
So I asked Phil Hunt, owner of, Phil's Foreign Car Repair (now Phil's Foreign Car Service) to do the job.

I presented Phil with two engines. One was the original
1,700cc, and the other was an 1,800cc engine I had picked up along the way. I asked him to
take the two engines and use the best parts to create a solid 1800cc engine for me.
This was to be a "turn-key" engine (meaning when I picked-up the van, I could just start it and drive).
 I told Phil I was in no hurry, but I wanted it done right.
Phil chose to take on the job himself. 

18 MONTHS (and $1,700) LATER , I picked up my van.
As I was starting to drive away, Phil flagged me down and told me to 'watch the oil consumption' as he used the
old piston rings! For the sake of those who are unfamiliar with the workings of an internal combustion engine, the piston
rings are probably the parts suffering the highest level of friction while costing less than most parts.
 Not only that, but despite telling me from the beginning that the price would
be a couple of hundred dollars less no matter what, I had to negotiate a "new" price.

A couple of days later, my then girlfriend, my kids, and her kids went on vacation.
I drove our Chevy conversion van, and my son drove the VW.

A few miles from home, the VW threw a connecting rod right through the engine case and
the engine set on fire! Once I got the fire out, I had the VW towed home and we all piled in the Chevy.

Upon my return, I called Phil (who, by the way had told me many times he "Stands behind his work").

After calling several times and getting an assistant who told me he'd "call back", I learned that
Phil had been in a motorcycle accident and would not be back to work soon.

Eventually, I asked one of his mechanics to talk to him about my problem and I reminded him
about Phil's promise to "stand behind his work". The assistant informed me that Phil just shook
his head when my engine was mentioned.

Silly me, I didn't have the heart to sue a recently crippled guy...