Shop Build Rides

[GregWeld]

Since I was mentioned in another post --- I'll toss some stuff in the room for you to think about.


#1 -- Go with a shop that works on the kind of car you're going to build if you can find one. Familiarity with the parts - suppliers - quality - and job at hand will help make the process smoother.

#2 -- These jobs are like house remodels... YOU and the shop must understand there is no way to have X Ray eyes and know what's under the paint etc... and costs can mount up quickly when you get in there and find bad stuff.


#3 -- It always happens - to everyone - when you're doing these projects when your buddy says --- DUDE! You know what would REALLY BE KOOL?? Or you get on these boards and see what others are doing. So in other words -- PLAN YOUR BUILD AND BUILD WHAT YOU PLANNED. Or be prepared to have delays and costs that go with those changes.



#4 -- This is a HOBBY -- do you enjoy the journey? Do you understand what this costs in terms of not just cash - but time? Do you want your car done next week - or are you ready to just wade in and keep at it until the car is ready? I have a buddy / friend that spent 2 million dollars building a car and he's never taken the car home even though it's finished years ago... HE loves the process he really doesn't care about the car once it's done. He's already moved on to the next project or two... MOST OF US AREN'T THAT GUY -- but you may be surprised at what kind of guy you are... the process -- or the "get 'er done" guy. Etc. The trouble is -- most of us don't know who we are.


#5 -- Money isn't everything - but you don't know that until you're actually writing the checks. Building a SEMA quality car is just huge money.... if you think that's the quality you're going to get - and your budget is 35 grand all in all done.... OH and you only actually have 10 grand now.... FUHGIDABOUDIT. If you can write a 10K check every month for a few months and then maybe when it gets to paint - write a check for 20/30 grand -- oh yeah! Then it need upholstery and that's another 12/15/20 grand..... So what I'm saying is --- make damn sure you really understand what you're getting into. I hope you can do this and that you LOVE the process and the finished product.


RE: BRIZIO

He runs a business -- it just happens to build hot rods.

He completely understands what it takes to build these cars - they've done 10 gazillion of them.

His shop has specialists -- in other words - a guy that just does plumbing - another guy does the floors and firewall fab - another guy that does sheetmetal fab work - a guy that just does chassis. Ya get the picture? Each guy does the same thing over and over - with various changes but they're set up to work without interruption and with all the right tools and skills etc. The chassis guy doesn't have to go out and figure out how the crossmember sets in.

We had a conversation about what I wanted to build - we looked at lots of pictures - we got a plan. That plan has not changed.

I gave them 50 grand a year ago the middle of June. That ordered the body - motor - trans - frame rails.

When those arrived - I gave him another 100 grand. So call that last September/October.

The car has chassis - chassis mods - rear end - front end - grill - motor - trans - all plumbing - fuel tank - dash board - gauges - body - top - glass - A/C - one off wheels - tires - one off hood - and hood sides - louvers - custom tail pan - complete exhaust headers to tailpipes.... and is now in paint shop.

I have not been asked for another dime despite my asking if they need "more". I was told that they'll need more when paint is complete - and of course then it gets wired and upholstery. So while I don't know what that is - I have a good guess and this isn't the cheap guy. So I think the car will be finished for EXACTLY what we discussed a year ago.... as in like within 10 grand or so.

His shop rate is 105 per hour....

Think about that! That's the best of the best shop rate.


$105 an hour - is he "efficient"? Can he do in an hour what the $35 an hour guy takes 3 hours to do? My guess is he is. Why? Because he sticks to what he knows and his shop is set up for. The total of my "custom" touches are frenched tail lights and license plate - custom grill (done a zillion times) and fancy wheels (also done before so they're really 2nd off instead of one off).

Here's what's even more important to me. I knew exactly what I wanted - and I'm building exactly that. The shop can order parts and just keep on truckin'