Good Custom Shop?

[Skip Kag]

Hello, all. I'm looking for a custom shop to do a build on my employer's 70s era Camaro. He's wanting basically a modern car with an old-school skin; not a drag strip monster with unusable daily-driver ergonomics. Power of course is also a factor (I think he has a 502ci motor in there right now), but not at the expense of comfortability. Money's not nearly as much of an issue as quality.

You all seem to be the experts in this realm, so I thought I'd ask who you think I ought to contact. I really like that All Speed Customs Firebird you had featured; are they a good shop for something like this? In any case, let me know what you think.

Thanks for reading! You all have some sick cars on this forum; some of the best looking and performing I've seen anywhere.

[96z28ss]

Where are you located? I like to keep things close. Much easier to keep tabs on the project. Also quality and budget are usually a deciding factor.

[Skip Kag]

We're in Colorado Springs, CO; though I'm pretty sure he'd be willing to ship the car elsewhere to get it done if necessary. Cost isn't really a factor if he can get the right builder.

[ironworks]

I think there are a few things in life you just don't get a reference for from an online forum. There are a ton of shops that frequent this site that do great work and there is about the same amount that I would not let weld on my side gate at my house. But maybe I'm picky.

Picking a builder is a matter of meeting lots of people and finding some one who can deliver the quality you want at a price you understand it will cost. I always say every 20% nicer you want a car you better double the price for that given part of service.

Plus you have to be realistic about the parts cost and the labor to install them. Do a quick parts list and double the parts for a basic no metal work car and you will find a rough idea unless you want it nicer and again nicer still.

Distance does not matter if you can get on an airplane and open an email account. We do stuff for people all of the world just like many other shops. The distance thing matters more if you want to be very hands on. Some guys just want the end result and some guys want to be there to pick out every nylock.

The shops labor rate really means nothing unless they charge a lot and it takes forever to get something done. We charge 75 per hour now, but we have tools and equipment to allow us to shape sheetmetal faster then a guy who is trying to shape it over his tree stump and only charges 25 per hour. ( TRUE STORY ). It's all about value for the work done. Is there value in the rate his is charging?

Ask to see cars or projects in person and take some one smarter then you if you really don't know what your looking at. Ask to speak with previous customers or current customers.

Finally see how much dust is on the the cars currently sitting in the shop. Does the shop get work done or do they just run a storage facility. Every shop has inconsistent projects that start and stop, but is every project that way. And does the shop want to be paid before it does any work? If so be worried, they may need your money to finish someone elses car with your cash. It's the Hot rod shop ponzi sckeem. And it happens all the time.

Rodger

[Royalworks]

Roger is very correct. I agree with him 110% The last shop I worked at they didnt have any metal working tools. It takes forever to get work done with a vice, a hammer and a cut off wheel. So I bought my own metal working tools and lead example on how much faster and nicer the end product turns out. I like to set deadlines for my projects. That gives me an end goal. I dont like the "whenever it gets done its gets done" projects because they will never get done. Like most everyone here I document everything I do with pictures and a day by day calender that I write in exactly what I worked on at what time and how long. Customers dont like to be left in the dark on their projects wondering where $5000 went.

[EBMC]

Originally Posted by ironworks

I think there are a few things in life you just don't get a reference for from an online forum. There are a ton of shops that frequent this site that do great work and there is about the same amount that I would not let weld on my side gate at my house. But maybe I'm picky.

Picking a builder is a matter of meeting lots of people and finding some one who can deliver the quality you want at a price you understand it will cost. I always say every 20% nicer you want a car you better double the price for that given part of service.

Plus you have to be realistic about the parts cost and the labor to install them. Do a quick parts list and double the parts for a basic no metal work car and you will find a rough idea unless you want it nicer and again nicer still.

Distance does not matter if you can get on an airplane and open an email account. We do stuff for people all of the world just like many other shops. The distance thing matters more if you want to be very hands on. Some guys just want the end result and some guys want to be there to pick out every nylock.

The shops labor rate really means nothing unless they charge a lot and it takes forever to get something done. We charge 75 per hour now, but we have tools and equipment to allow us to shape sheetmetal faster then a guy who is trying to shape it over his tree stump and only charges 25 per hour. ( TRUE STORY ). It's all about value for the work done. Is there value in the rate his is charging?

Ask to see cars or projects in person and take some one smarter then you if you really don't know what your looking at. Ask to speak with previous customers or current customers.

Finally see how much dust is on the the cars currently sitting in the shop. Does the shop get work done or do they just run a storage facility. Every shop has inconsistent projects that start and stop, but is every project that way. And does the shop want to be paid before it does any work? If so be worried, they may need your money to finish someone elses car with your cash. It's the Hot rod shop ponzi sckeem. And it happens all the time.

Rodger

Very well said!