Thank you for all the suggestions, you've given me plenty to think about...

Ha, Hey Todd it depends on how often your seen at the bar!


I guess IMO it doesn't matter weather it be way up by Jakes, down by Franks or across to the Cali. shops. Its who your going to feel most comfortable with after reviewing there "sales" pitch. Keep in mind just because there local doesn't mean you'll save money. Don't hesitate venturing outside your area.

Says the guy who lives in Wisconsin but is having a car built in Cali :)

You're right though. Local doesn't always mean better. I'm speaking of course in gross generalities. Do your research like you are doing and see what makes the most sense and will work for you.

WSS ---

If you live in Wisconsin -- you WANT to have a car built somewhere WARM so you have a good reason to go THERE!!
:rofl: :rofl:

My point exactly, I don't have to show up every week to babysit. A couple of suggestions to look for when inquiring no matter how many builds under there belt or reputation. Some of the best shops out there at times can not fulfill commitment.

Be honest with your projected budget up front, have the shop give you a general breakdown on the anticipated costs you plan to do. Keeping in mind most shops are billed hourly but at least there's some direction as funds flow. If your planning on doing an all out custom try to get rough ideas hourly wise up front on the custom stuff then multiply it times 3 (J/K) it will enable you to go for it or look at possible different ideas to bring cost lower.

Find a shop that either sells there own product or may be a good vendor on product whether it be frames, suspension, engines etc. Most will be able to discount deeper on utilizing there product or main suppliers in your build.

Make sure the shop can handle another project. Of course most want as many in house projects on going to keep the doors open but the last thing you want is a shop that is says there committed, you put funds down and the project sits for 6 months. However I do feel the better shops always have a waiting line so my suggestion would be to at least give a portion payment showing your committed and then send the car there when there ready. Make sure you have a contract stating funds returned if the shop prolongs the wait so far out from what you and the shop projected and agreed to.

Find a shop that has the proper equipment needed to do the tasks, whether it metal work, paint, etc. If these tasks need to be outsourced it may cost you more. However some shops have certain subs they keep "in house"

If by any chance your vehicle becomes dormant for a period of time until your gathering more funds, verify if there's any storage fees. Most will be willing to work with you as long as your progressing on and off.

My biggy- Find a shop thats efficient! When overlooking shops on there billing rates this is huge. Just because one shops rates are lower than the other doesn't mean they'll complete efficiently on the hours it takes. The lower rate shop may end up taking twice as long as the shop that 20 bucks more an hour. In the end costing you twice as much.

In ending- HAVE A CONTRACT in writing. Don't be shy to review it with your lawyer. Keep in mind any contract can be changed up front and worded that you both can comply to. If no lawyer at least have somebody review it that has gone through a build before.

I can go on but these are just a few, Good luck.

Greg, I have no time to catch sun LOL My first time in CA was the ONE time I visited Rodger over Thanksgiving. Ive been everywhere around the world but ironically CA never fell into place and I even have relatives all over that state. Im trying to find more excuses to go but timing is always off. Besides we have these things here behind the farms out in the cheese country next to the beer tent down the street from Harley Davidson called tanning beds, I use them to cook my WI. brats.

A lot of good ideas here. References from previous customers would be a big one to look at. I have seen way too many horror stories on here of "shops" not getting the car completed in a timely manner, or worse yet, getting in way over their head on builds they are not capable of doing.

That's a great point - about getting in over their heads - both CUSTOMERS and SHOPS... there's a huge difference between "metal work" and "body work" (to me) - Metal work means spending hours making the metal work paint ready - Body work means (to me) getting it close and skimming it with some bondo (nothing wrong with this by the way - if it's a skim coat).... IMHO very few shops are capable of real metal work - so if that's your expectation - be prepared to pay - and make sure you see that other cars in the shop are getting this done... but if you take your project to a "body shop" and expect to get metal work... you've got a big mismatch going. Similarly if you're expecting to only pay body shop prices - and take it to a real metal working shop - you might just be in way over your head.

I'm going to say one other thing that I've seen... even from my friends... the "bigger D*** syndrome". Guy gets his car in the shop - sees what "others" are getting done - so they try to go from bodywork and paint - to full on build and have no idea what this is really going to cost. Then they end up mad at the shop... and never finishing the project.

I'm sorry - but if you're doing a full on custom build - and you have to ask what it's going to cost - you're in over your head already. So I would say to make a plan - and stick to it - and if body and paint work was what you started out with... and that's your budget - then just do that and leave the custom stuff to those that can really afford it.

Personally... I'm so happy that there are people in this hobby that will just write huge checks and build the ultimate stuff... We all love these cars... Just don't hawk your house in order to try to keep up with them - 'cause you're going to fail... LOL

I think the other thing I see all the time -- is a guy starts out to build a "nice driver" -- then ends up with a friggin' "show car"... with 40K paint job... and there it sits in his garage because now "it's too nice to drive"... There are people that can afford to go out and just hammer on a 40K paint job. Great! Glad they're doing it - it's way kool... You just have to stick to your guns and build the car that you wanted to... and don't get sucked into something that goes out of control.

Very good advice Greg. Balance and controll while keeping things in perspective. I find myself struggling with that all the time. I am on a good plan now but getting here was NOT easy and it would have gone sideways in a hurry without the help and advice from the members here.

Know what you want and can afford and make sure they match. Know what you are paying for and agree on a decent timeline. These are NOT seven day builds.

Make a plan and a budget and make sure they match, then stick to it like your life depends on it.

If you follow the advice of the experienced guys here (ie:not me) you will do fine.:cheers:

I agree, another good one.
But I would take it a little further by not looking only looking at previous customers but ongoing customers. With the economy as it is customers with past builds might have been with a shop at better times. It is always best to ask for "on going" customer references. Don't hesitate to ask the reference what you don't like about the shop your inquiring. Most likely its just little quirks that that customer doesn't care for but could have no meaning to your personality.
Besides considering your asking for reference on this forum and most likely your findings will bring you to some shop that chats here. If there's bad most likely its been posted.