I did a 36 Ford LT1 for a guy years ago. A custom shop had already had it for almost two years doing the basic body work and frame mods. They brought it to me in primer and it was my job to make the LT1 run, gauges, interior wiring, drivetrain, and brakes.
The owner was VERY anxious to get his car as the shop initially told him it would be less than a year start to finish. I intended to turn it around (in my spare time) in less than two months....and did.
However, it had to go back to the body shop to paint the firewall...etc. before I could do the final wrap up. The body shop then had it for another six months for two days of work.
When it came back to me to wrap up...I was getting ready to have shoulder surgery and told him I would take care of it in the next two weeks. He blew up, and told me "YOU WILL WORK ON MY CAR" in no uncertain words. Basically he displaced the anger with the body shop on me.
It really frustrated me, but I wrapped up and delivered the morning of my surgery.
Anyway, the body shop left it outside and got the opti wet. It started running bad. I finally found the opti problem and replaced it, then re-delivered to the body shop to finish up some other loose ends. They continued to leave it outside and wet the whole motor down again. I had to take it back in, clean every engine electric contact and replace several connectors...and put another opti on it. I made it clear to keep it dry (the body shop is on the beach as well).
I figured after all the headaches, I made about $1.25 an hour to do that rod.
The shop finally finished it and he then drove it for about six months only to sell it.
That was the biggest cluster I had been involved in and the car/owner was about 75 miles from my house making it a royal pain to deal with when the opti issues came up.
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