Originally Posted by 1984 camaro (Post 282310)

I had a so called builder for chatsworth ca. that done a mini tub and a custom engine bay. The engine bay was on the cover of hot rod, Yes it looked good but there was about 5 gallons of mud to shape the engine bay which at sema show was starting to crack, The list goes on The rear axle and rear rails were a total sh*t job the shocks were angled up over the axle and when the car traveled down the shocks would bind on the housing in fact just from trailering the camaro the shock adjusters were worn away, The top and bottom bolts were mount 90 degrees from each other and when the traveled the shock rods would bend, He also messed up the axle seals. Now the engine bay some of the welds were so weak I pulled out one panel by hand. He clearanced for the wipers but they hit and would not work. The firewall had holes into the interior so his fix was to fill them with foam spray but that still had some leaks, In fact I washed the car and more water was in the car than on the floor. the best part was the hood would not close since he made a custom radiator cover and it was a little to high and hit the hood. This list goes on and on.
This was a $50,000 bill for this work so big money does not always get a good job. I needed to post this so you fellow car guys stay far far awayfrom this builder.
I have the car back and cut the floors out and the engine bay. It is sucky feeling walking by the scrap bin and looking at my $50,000 and knowing its about $30.00 of scrap iron.

Randy

Originally Posted by 1984 camaro (Post 282310)

I had a so called builder for chatsworth ca. that done a mini tub and a custom engine bay. The engine bay was on the cover of hot rod, Yes it looked good but there was about 5 gallons of mud to shape the engine bay which at sema show was starting to crack, The list goes on The rear axle and rear rails were a total sh*t job the shocks were angled up over the axle and when the car traveled down the shocks would bind on the housing in fact just from trailering the camaro the shock adjusters were worn away, The top and bottom bolts were mount 90 degrees from each other and when the traveled the shock rods would bend, He also messed up the axle seals. Now the engine bay some of the welds were so weak I pulled out one panel by hand. He clearanced for the wipers but they hit and would not work. The firewall had holes into the interior so his fix was to fill them with foam spray but that still had some leaks, In fact I washed the car and more water was in the car than on the floor. the best part was the hood would not close since he made a custom radiator cover and it was a little to high and hit the hood. This list goes on and on.
This was a $50,000 bill for this work so big money does not always get a good job. I needed to post this so you fellow car guys stay far far awayfrom this builder.
I have the car back and cut the floors out and the engine bay. It is sucky feeling walking by the scrap bin and looking at my $50,000 and knowing its about $30.00 of scrap iron.

Randy

Originally Posted by skatinjay27 (Post 282371)

wow, that sucks...
?? http://www.bentcustomandperformance...._84camaro.html ??

Originally Posted by SLO_Z28 (Post 282374)

I saw that car at SEMA a few years ago and I didnt see any bondo cracks. Could be the same one though. One beast of an engine. I remember a video interview of the owner and he joked that he had 15 cars and he had to borrow his girlfriends car to get there.

Originally Posted by SLO_Z28 (Post 282374)

I saw that car at SEMA a few years ago and I didnt see any bondo cracks. Could be the same one though. One beast of an engine. I remember a video interview of the owner and he joked that he had 15 cars and he had to borrow his girlfriends car to get there.

Originally Posted by Steve1968LS2 (Post 282368)

I don't think anyone has said not to use small shops.. hell, most of the good shops I know ARE small..

I think the point is to not just shop based on price and really reasearch before doing business with any shop (big or small).

BOS has 5 guys.. JCG has 3-4 and there aren't even that many guys at the Ring Brothers..

Originally Posted by Steve1968LS2 (Post 282368)

I don't think anyone has said not to use small shops.. hell, most of the good shops I know ARE small..

I think the point is to not just shop based on price and really reasearch before doing business with any shop (big or small).

BOS has 5 guys.. JCG has 3-4 and there aren't even that many guys at the Ring Brothers..

Originally Posted by Steve1968LS2 (Post 282292)

This happens at Best of Show all the time..

Guy comes in.. want's a quote.. let's say it's a full tilt stip, fix and paint.. they quote $20k (just a number I picked)..

He comes back saying XYZ down the street will do it for $8k..

Well I'm sure they will.. but you will get $8k worth. Hell, on a NICE paint job you can spend $4k and up on materials. On a second get they just painted the clear alone was well over a grand.

But people buy on price and then gripe about the quality instead of buying on VALUE.

The shop has gotten quite a few re-dos and aborted projects that were gettting hacked by some other low-bidder shop.

cheap, good, fast.. pick two.. lol

People also forget that that a high-end "show finish" cut and buff can take 40+ hours.. But they expect that show finish even with thier $8k paint job.