Oak Hill Automotive

I recently bought a 1975 VW bus with known engine problems. I went to Oak Hill Auto the next day because I wanted a VW expert to quickly and properly get me back on the road. I told the owner that I wanted it checked out fully and road ready as well as sorting out the engine problem. I told him it had the original 1800cc motor. I told the owner that the 3rd cylinder was bad and had no compression. After a week and a half, and after the motor had been completely torn down, the owner called me and told me that an original 1800cc motor couldn't be rebuilt, well it could but would be too expensive and take a long time. A mechanic that specializes in VW's should have known this beforehand. I wasted a week and a half and a lot of expensive labor. I had to order a rebuilt motor from GEX International and have it shipped to Oak Hill Auto. It took 7 days(5 business days)for the new motor to be installed after it arrived. Research I've done since says it should be about a 5 hour job, 5 days is unexplainable. Especially considering they did absolutely nothing as far as checking it out or making it road ready. I went to pick up my bus once contacted. When I asked for my old motor I got a bunch of hum-hawing around, and it's not ready, and pieces are everywhere, you'll have to come back. Felt like they were hoping to end up with my engine they'd spent a bunch of time completely tearing down. When I returned a week later to pick up my engine I was told that the owner I'd dealt with was gone, retired. I was also told that he threw away my pistons and cylinders. Those were my parts, and not Oak Hill's to throw away(or sell). My bus only lasted 58 miles after picking it up until it broke down. The rear shift coupler bushings fell out in my driveway. They looked like they were 20 years old. Totally deteriorated and caused me not to be able to shift. Every bushing in the front shift linkage was worn out and totally gone. These should have been replaced when the motor was out, but Oak Hill Auto did zero inspection or maintenance work. The bus was out of commission for 5 more days while I waited on the parts to show up. The bushings were installed and the bus then lasted another day before breaking down again. Had to get a tow home. This time I discovered the fuel pump to be bad along with the fuel filter being really old. Again zero inspection and maintenance from Oak Hill Auto. These items had to be replaced. 2 days after that the bus broke down again. Had to be towed home. This time I discovered the carb linkage cross bar had not been tightened down. The adjustment bolt fell out and left me on the side of the road. It was at this time I noticed that the air cleaner cover on the right carb was missing it's wing nut and just hanging there. The left air cleaner cover was also missing a wing nut. At this time I noticed a hose from the top of the right carb to a pcv cover on the motor. This cover was reversed and wedged in, with a 1/4" gap on one side and held with only one nut because it was so cockeyed. At this point I knew to start checking every nut and bolt on the vehicle. The 2 bottom engine mount nuts were not tight. 2 of the 4 engine mount studs and nuts were not even finger tight. Whoever installed my motor used different thread pitch nuts. They stripped my engine mount stud and never got 2 of the 4 mounts tight. They were so lazy or incompetent they said oh well and sent it out the door. They also sent my bus out the door with a really loud backfire. That was because they didn't bother to tighten down the carb linkage down bars and it was pushing excess fuel into the system. They sent it out the door without any of the dash or warning lights working. The throttle cable adjustment was nowhere close to where it should have been. The workmanship that my vehicle received was beyond pathetic. It's a wonder the motor didnt fall out in the road. They had my bus for 3 weeks(minus 4 days shipping the motor) to do a motor swap and it's taken me weeks to right all their wrongs. Oak Hill Auto will NEVER work on another vehicle of mine. I dealt with the father in this operation and then he retired after I picked up my bus. I contacted Oak Hill and my credit card company to let them know my experience. The son's who have taken over told me to bring it back but my vehicle was never in driveable condition long enough to make the trip to longview and by the time I had spent weeks getting it straight it was too late. My credit card company reversed the charges. The son who took over is now disputing my claims and fighting me over the charges. I was charged a super premium for an "expert" to work on my vehicle and they couldn't even be bothered to tighten down 2 of the 4 engine studs. The old man ripped me off and the sons are now backing him up.