A Day at the Erskine "Fiat Rehabilitation Center & Hospice"

[supplyguy]

Accepted Mr. John Erskine's generous offer to visit his Fiat Rehab & Hospice Center (his words!) with my recent eBay purchase of a '71. It's more like a Fiat spa. I arrived at 0900 Monday and I am sure that while he was welcoming me and shaking my hand, his other hand popped off my windshield wipers, rotated them 10 degrees, and reattached them properly so they weren't bumping the cowling below. Popped the hood, and within minutes he has tossed me a new upper radiator hose and some clamps to swap out, while he slices my other hose and issues me a new "T" flush valve. Pop the trunk, I pull the fuel sender, John checks the grounds and connections, reassemble, and my fuel gauge works. And we are 30 minutes in! The car goes up on the lift and I see the ugly side. Lotta oil. The only rust is a soft spot under the gas pedal, patched by John quickly with fiberglass and POO-15(?) and a line of rust under the battery. He then has me remove a part I cannot name, that includes I think a crossmember, rubber spacer, and attachment to the transmission, and replace it with a good one harvested from the transmission garden just outside the garage. Very hard to get the good one back in place. Remove a guibo bolt (?) to make some room. Still struggle. Mr. Erskine patiently points out I have reassembled the brace pretty much upside down. We get it right and it goes in fine. Replace the guibo bolt and he doublechecks my work. I have put it in from the wrong direction and we get it right. Would have clipped the previously assembled brace. I feel like an idiot but he complains not at all. Break for lunch and Mrs. Erskine joins us and we talk about our journeys around the world and almost not at all about Fiats. Back in the garage John shows me my rear calipers are failing, replaces the non-stock coat hanger supporting the muffler with a real bracket, and points out the work I need to do with tired bushings and worn out ball joints. He points out I have unidirectional tires - and one is mounted backwards. Apparently I have a screendoor spring working my clutch. It's 3pm and I have to head back to Virginia, but not before he adjusts my door and gives me a needed piece of trim and a rear seat back I need to retrofit 3pt seat belts. An absolute gentleman and great conversationalist who succeeded with his objective - help a noob gain some confidence that while this neat little car needs some work, with the right tools, and patient expert advice, it's all worthwhile. I chaired an important meeting today at work and got a kick out of how much grease is still embedded in my fingernails. What a hoot!

[georgeramos]

great story! thanks for sharing and to Mr Erskine and folks like him who are so generous and enthusiastic! I never thought a machine could bring so much goodness into my life.

Bella macchina!

[courtenay]

Wow - what a day!! And you got to come home with dirty fingernails too. It doesn't get much better. Mr Erskine sounds like quite a guy. Wish he lived down the street from me.

[baltobernie]

It is difficult to over-estimate the value of guys like John and their contribution to a cause. Sure, we've got three independent, Fiat-centric garages in the area, but a "non-profit" source like Erskine is a godsend to enthusiasts of a vintage marque. We've had Tech Day at his shop, he organizes the most popular drive in our area, last year started a Wounded Warriors drive for Fiats and Alfas, and was absolutely essential in my (and many others) restoration of these great cars.

I wish you had a guy like him down the street, too. Maybe it will be you in a few years?

[leeputmanjr]

Great write up!

I lived in Arlington Va from '98 to '03, and I cry everytime I realize I never managed to find these DC Fiats guys...

Keep the updates coming, it's good reading

-Lee

[supplyguy]

BTW - My sense also is John would be terribly uncomfortable with this whole thread, so don't bust me (I think he prefers a different forum). Many of the repairs we made were things either broken or about to break that one would not be aware of until something else goes tragically wrong. Consequently, fixing them results in no noticeable improvement, and the efforts could largely go unnoticed or unappreciated. I did not want John's help to go unnoticed.

[RoyBatty]

I am another one of what sounds like many that have had a great experience in dealing with Mr. Erskine.
I have his number in my cell phone contacts. Fortunately I have not had to pester him much at all in recent times.
Way to go John.

[jfrawley]

Not only is John great at helping us fix our Fiats, he's a hell of a tour guide as well. Me, Baltobernie, and John E spent a spectacular couple of hours today blasting around the back roads near the Chesapeak Bay. After we broke all of the speed limits there, he then found us a great little Irish pub for lunch. A true friend and a wonderful asset to those of us with vintage Fiats.

[westy64]

Well, gentlemen, I find this post 2 days before Ieaving France for a blitz travel to DC, to visit my daughter studying there for a year.
And my first stop will be a visit to John Erskine and his fabulous garage.
I have already been helped by John on a few used parts purchases being kindly sent overseas to me, at friendly rates.
What I read here is what I felt when talking to John. A great help. A generous man.
I look forward to shaking his hand, unfortunately without my car, but no doubt I will receive lots of high value advises.