I would challenge you all to another way of thinking....
If the "shop" isn't PROUD of their work --- and you look around a shop and all you see is a bunch of halfassed finished cars - in disarray... dusty... parts strewn all over the benches and under the car... IS THAT THE WAY YOU WANT YOUR PARTS AND PROJECT TREATED? Oh yeah ---- he's cheap per hour. But most likely you're paying his rent and food bill and not getting any work done...
When you look at pictures of shops on this forum -- (The Roadster Shop -- Ironworks -- Muscle Rods -- East Bay Muscle Cars -- Rad Rides by Troy -- BBT -- Holohans -- et al --- Sorry guys if I forgot to name every one of the GREAT builders on this site!).... do you see crap piles? NOPE. Do you see QUALITY FABRICATION going on? HECK YEAH! That takes SKILLS -- THAT TAKES TIME - TIME IS MONEY... These guys aren't doing this for $10 an hour... For the most part - they're not getting rich either.... they are doing what they love and making a living. I wish them all the very very best and have the highest respect for them and their employees. To me - they are gods.
So look around a shop and really SEE what is going on.... and how it's going on.... and SEE if the employees are WORKING on something... hang around a bit and SEE if they're doing it the way you want yours done or is it dent pullers and mud. Are the panels GAPPED (their is no spray for this YET but Doctor Renner and Ironworks are close to a formula!).... are they straight - is the paint flat and orange peel free... is the chrome / Stainless laying flat and tight to the body... is the motor clean and well wired -- IS THE STUFF PROTECTED from accidental damage..... or is the brand new shiny doohickey (the stuff you're looking at belongs to somebody!) filthy and beat up already...
In short --- PAY ATTENTION to more than just the "quote" or scope of work...
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