Well, the car appears lighter than before. Let's look at the positives here boys.

Looks like a nice setup.

He's pretty active on Instagram. Not sure how much you will find there, but it's a start.

Always see the sliver lining don't you. Well done brother.

'BW Dub' truly does Curtis. :thumbsup:

Another back handed compliment. I am starting to like these. :D

Now that would be rock bottom. I think I can make it there if I try hard enough.

Yeah I am something else huh. :lol: Hopefully I will make the 8 steps forward soon to get back to even Steven.

Oh, and you are one of my few inspirations for NEVER QUITTING! :cheers:

I know that man. And yes he is old.

Thanks Rusty. I might need to rethink my situation if you "get me" :lostmarbles:

I have indeed learned more than a few valuable lessons here. And it's about cars themselves... and the builders/shops... and it's about you (me) as the owner/hobbyist. Lots of moving parts and just one of them not being right can really derail things. Sometimes it's about keeping up with your buddies.

I drove my fairly simple budget oriented car mostly as is for nearly 2 years upon buying it. Made some key "pro touring" changes/upgrades and it was pretty good to go. I got bored with it. The power. Everything. It no longer "scared" or excited me in a certain way. Sure, it was capable, but I wanted more. Remember, I had owned and daily driven more powerful cars than this so it was not surprise to me. Then it started getting a little stupid. My life is a little more conservative now (married, 1 kid) than when I first bought this car, and yes that does play a role in the bigger picture here. But then you started discussing shops and the constant delays/lack of progress with the car and those are issues pertaining to the shops directly. But the background is important and often times sets the stage - for better or worse.

While your quick assessment of the shops list Rodger is not terribly out of left field, there is no real need to get into specifics with each shop it's been at up until now. Most of that info can be found in this anti-epic thread if one is willing. I take responsibility for my complicit role in everything -- I am not one of those guys who claims he is always right and nothing is ever his fault. I am no mechanic. I am excited to work on this car (and drive it of course) once completed, but the serious work will be performed by trusted friends/local shops -- and there is good reason for that -- financial, safety and personal reasons are on that list.

Since you asked, here is my quick list of valuable lessons learned. Some are obvious and preached often, maybe some not so much.

Trying to stay local when choosing a shop makes sense for obvious logistical reasons, but don't force that issue if the right "fit" is just not there.

Productivity and efficiency (functions of experience) are KING -- not the bill rate.

Being the guinea pig for a shop is dangerous business. Take their track record of COMPLETING things seriously.

Personality and communication should mesh at a certain minimum level. Don't have to be best friends, but a working relationship is key.

Creative control - discuss this up front on any custom work. Do you trust them to just get it done in the best way they see fit? Or how involved do you want/need to be?

Don't let the cost of shipping a car to the right shop deter you from doing so -- it may save you thousands and be the right fit when all is said and done.

Trust your instincts. If it ain't feeling right, it is likely to not get better. Cut losses and run.



In sum, I could not be happier to have my car at Jim Pettigrew's place in Nascar country. Only looking forward from here.

P.S. Chad -- I love a good solid Panzer tank chassis. I'll see you at a CA track in 2016... maybe 2017. :cheers:

I know you dont' want to get into the problems with your shops, but I just can't understand how you could go from a fairly completed chassis and front end to ripping EVERYTHING out. Was there really some super serious fitment issue or radical mis-alignment ?

I do 100% of the work myself, and I'm not always happy with my "shop" either. So there's that.

when you have the choice of having to compromise suspension geometry due to factory sheet metal and another mans design or tearing it all out and build the suspension they way it needs to be, the later is the smarter choice. Albeit the more expensive choice but it will be worth it in the end. Honestly I don't know one shop that would finish any car that was started in another mans mind. onward and upward

Vince probably knows more of the dirty laundry than I have aired out here. I bet you would also agree Preston if I had the energy and willingness to post more. I just don't see it being fruitful. Onward and upward is right.

It did come down to fitment and then safety. When I started this version of the car in 2012, I was not married and a not yet a father, so real safety was not a driving force (to a degree, it wasn't completely ignored).

Lots of things (from different shops) were done without a lot of thought or experience in how it would function and actually work. My fault in that was too much blind faith. I have blind faith in Pettigrew because he deserves it and it is warranted via his real world experience.

FYI, the front sub is not getting completely redone, just modified a bit and then reattached, similar to Payton's (we have the same sub).

To me, tying the front and rear together is the biggest gain and improvement here with the perimeter (tank) chassis. It addresses a number of issues I had always wanted to do, but now the time was just right, for the reasons Vince has touched on.

Probably me but he'll come around! Garrett says thanks Uncle Weld. :cheers:

Can't you hear the SB2 noises he is making here? I can.

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/f...pszdfnaipq.jpg