HPI Customs Customer Projects.....

[64pontiac]

Thanks Banditdave! We will keep posting stuff like this, we have alot of non- over the top cars!

[BanditDave]

Originally Posted by 64pontiac

Thanks Banditdave! We will keep posting stuff like this, we have alot of non- over the top cars!

Don't mention it....you in particular do some phenomenal work on people's prized toys. I was involved in a vendor/builder horror story that hasn't ended in over 7 years to the point where it is difficult to trust people at times.

But coming here and seeing the work that yourself and many of the other shops do, transforming people's trainwrecks into treasures is a beautiful thing to see!

You push others to look beyond their comfort zone of what they would normally do to a car and give them ideas of how to personalize their rides a little more than the other guy.

Keep it up man and thanks again!

[64pontiac]

Getting burnt on a project is Extremely hard to deal with, and there are lots of people that go through it....even from a shop side we get burnt too! It sucks, but don't give up on the hobby! Like you said, there are a ton of amazing shops and vendors that really have their heart in it.

What kind of car was it???

[67autocross]

I saw the 68 Camaro back when Tyler started fixing the rust, all I can say is great job!

[BanditDave]

Originally Posted by 64pontiac

Getting burnt on a project is Extremely hard to deal with, and there are lots of people that go through it....even from a shop side we get burnt too! It sucks, but don't give up on the hobby! Like you said, there are a ton of amazing shops and vendors that really have their heart in it.

What kind of car was it???

It wasn't a car...it was an engine project I was doing with a shop that we entered in the first ever PHR engine masters challenge. I was still in college at the time and took additional student loans to fund it. We went all out on it because I wanted to win...lightweight everything, gas ported pistons, coatings out the arse, knifed crank, cryo-freezing block, crank and rods, and unfortunately took a risk going with a flegling head company that no longer exists to supply the heads. Got this hot shot porter who apparently wasn't what he cracked up to be and hogged the living crap out of the ports...ok great...350 cfm with ZERO port velocity....oh and did I mentioned when we torqued the heads down they cracked??? He ported too much and there was a core shift so basically it was down to the wire and a comedy of errors. I have well over $20K in this from all the attempts to get it there. This was an Olds engine btw, so make every 2X the price.

I don't talk to the guy anymore...last year I just basically gave up trying to get the engine back and sold off everything he did any work on for me...paid off all the loans and left it in the past. We were once friends and honestly I would probably talk to him if I saw him but I prefer it just be over and behind me and close that chapter in my life....

It is a MUCH longer story but you get the idea....haha

I still plan to one day re-enter the EMC...

[64pontiac]

Thanks 67 autocross!

Wow that is quite the "short" version! That really sucks. sorry to hear it. I think you should get back into it though!

[64pontiac]

Heres some other stuff thats been going on around the shop.

This is the engine bay (a little much, but we just did some of the components!) of a 76 ventura that a GM dealership built up here for a customer of theirs. We did alot of cnc machining, the air intake, ac plumbing, and custom billet tail lights.


We have been doing a bit of work on a 77 trans am. Tons of rust repair, had to use quarter skins, and the last shop BUTCHERED the quarters so had to get a donor car for the upper quarters and flush welded the lower skins on. New door skins, lower door framework, floor pans, trunk floor, wheel tubs.

Car now has Hotchkis suspension front and rear, and some basic SSBC brakes.



Another 67 Chevelle in! This one for a complete rewire with American Autowire, Afco rad/fan combo, new brake booster and plumbing, and redoing the old ladder bar setup with a new rear end too. Also some custom dash work and some 3 inch stainless exhaust!


For the 55 AME Belair frame we are building, a custom dual intake for the LT1 (still needs to be properly polished), and becool rad module with nicely hidden wiring.