Finsihing and debugging is everything to me. I am not driving my convertible right now due to some minor issues I have not had time to check out and driving me crazy since we are in prime show season. It can take weeks to get one right, but your caveman highboy should have been simple and straight foward. Sucks to here that Greg, but I am sure you have already got it figured out. .

I'm more embarrassed than they are that I got taken to the cleaners.....


It's also the reason I have a fabulous shed right in my own back yard... after having repeated failures of shops doing minor work in the past... I, like you, can do all of this stuff 30' from my own back door. I choose this shop because they built the car originally.... and like a Boyd Coddington car etc... there is supposed to be some panache that separates a home built car from a pro build... Add to this that I had promised my BIL to do his car over and have it done for this season.... so wouldn't have time to do this one. I would have just fixed some of the issues it had but would never have done all that I had done. I would have just made it a nice little hot rod and had some fun with it. Now I'm going to change the license plate to something more appropriate -- like "SLUT" -- or "HASBEEN" --- or "A MESS"....

Or........ drum roll............ AMATEUR HOUR :woot:



TODD ----


I will fixeedededeededd it properly and in fine fashion. It'll take me half a day to straighten out what the "pros" couldn't.

Nothing an amateur mec-a-neck can't fix with a couple of open end wrenches and a screwdriver. It ain't rocket science.

MIKE ---

YOUR point is the one I've made repeatedly to STEVE.... "DUDE!" this is the simplest f'n car in the whole wide world to build! It has no power steering - no power brakes - it's a stick - it has no A/C - it has no windows - it has no top! - it has a motor - a body - minimal wiring - one electric fan - a radiator. So I ask you.... (rhetorical question).... can't a shop like this build a BASIC car? I know I can! My Nomad has every conceivable electrical device on the planet (thanks AL). It has A/C = big azz multi amp multi speaker stereo - remote door looks - power everything - automatic overdrive tranny... Trick chassis... I'd drive it ANYWHERE and HAVE for like YEARS....



I actually hesitated to post up my 'issues' -- because I don't want to cast a pall on the other very fine - very talented professional shops on here... well... that... and the fact that it's just plain embarrassing for me personally. But I also think that these things should be aired out so that others might avoid the same problems. And maybe others will raise their game and thereby avoiding not have this light shined their way...

DETAILS -- DETAILS -- DETAILS.... in the end -- all the fancy paint and chrome and doodads don't mean sh*t when you fail the details because that is what will be remembered the most.

If a shop sells something - takes the money - then they've got to ship on time when they say they will..... BTW -- I recently bought some stuff from YOU and it arrived SUPER FAST -- was the right stuff - and I can't thank you enough for that! We all witnessed what happens when you don't. It's sad - but it's the RIGHT THING to do. Ditto if a shop - any shop - can't perform... and puts out a shoddy product or does poor work.

If a shop wants to make it in this industry - and they want to charge top dollar - and they want a reputation.... well then... they have to deliver or suffer the inevitable fate. The death of a 1000 cuts. Dude... my knife is open and I know how to use it. :rofl:

Let's add to the list ---

The trunk lid won't stay closed....

They put residual valves in a car with the master cylinder that is UP under the dash.... no need for residual valves dude <spicolli style>.... it's the 21st century -- try reading up on some of this stuff.... DOH!

They don't "hurt" anything - but why bother with all the plumbing and the added fittings and time etc....

to add to the bill :D

Dang "DUDE" you beat me to the punch line.

Damn, when I read your first post (today) I was really hoping that you took the car - glad to see you did. No sense in prolonging the agony. Looking forward to hearing your reports on the car, after you get everything sorted out. Still a super sweet ride... :thumbsup:

I'll give you $5 if you put "SCABS" on the plate. :_paranoid

All kidding a side, this is an absolutely sh!tty thing! I think this type of thing happens way too often in the industry. (A version of it has happend to us) I know you can handle these repairs/fine tuning but had you been an average schmoe...

Poke! Perfect plate buddy! Oh gawd -- I almost peed myself laughing at that!

With me -- you know EXACTLY where I'm coming from -- I wear my heart on my sleave - and if you're on the wrong side - there's no question about where ya stand... I'm not saying anything here that I haven't said to their faces... and or emailed directly.

SCABS it is!


I totally agree that this seems to be the industry 'norm' -- and I also agree that a lot of the people (customers) have no clue how to fix this stuff - and or the time or the tools etc so they're completely at the mercy of the builder... Frankly - to me - they're not really "car guys" in the first place.... they're just buying themselves a trophy. Half those bozos can't even tell you anything about the car - except what shop built it... or they can spout "facts" - but ask a detail or about something similar or whatever and you draw a blank face. :lol:

I've been under the car a couple times this morning - which is when I noticed the 2lb residual valves -- and that just gave me a chuckle and a "oh well WTF".... but it is a tell tale for me. Clueless... and if you're clueless about systems that are actually quite important - then I start thinking "what else did you not do right"? Or "what else don't you know about"? DETAILS.

I will give credit where credit is due. The paint - chrome - fit and finish - details are 100% fantastic on this car. The welding - the styling clues - the "doodads"... 100% top notch can't get it any better perfect.

Too bad I'm embarrassed to drive the f'r down the road or take it to the drop in show at the local Harley shop tonight. My buddies would drop their jaws on the ground when they hear this thing grinding and whirling and screeching. To them - I could explain it all..... but to the 100 other hot rodders that heard it pull in -- all they're going to "see" is a giant bright red POS with some clueless bozo at the wheel. What I'd like to do is paint a sign on the door or trunk lid (that won't stay latched) is "Hidollar hiboy built by Steves Auto Restoration and "finished" just this week!

In fact that's a damn good idea -- I could leave it as is and hit every show with it just like that. Except I don't have the cojones to drive such a pile of crap, so I'll just have to get 'er done.

BTW -- The latest email from SAR is it's all those lousy f'n parts that are made these days.... nothing they can't fix! HA! Good luck with that.

JUST FOR YOU KENNY --- and STEVE (HRBS)





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