[Chevelle_Nut]

Dear Restoration Shops,

I have just gone through a long restoration, much of the work I did on my own but I sublet-ed the body and paint and interior to shops, both specialized in Chevelles and are well known in the Chevelle world.

The body and paint shop was awesome. The owner gave me an estimate, came in under budget, did it on time and communicated weekly with me if not more and when ever there was a question he texted me. I provided all of the pictures I had, the car was an unmolested car with everything original. I felt like I was at the shop watching work being done, heck he even had a YouTube of the car being primed.

The interior shop was not a wonderful experience. The car took 1 month to get done, The interior had a special color for certain trim pieces and I specified the color, even provided the paint. The owner decided that the color I told him was incorrect and painted it to what he thought it should be and then argued that because the seats had been reupholstered in the past 50 years the color was changed. I have original parts to prove my case but he would not listen. Over the 12 years of restoration I saved in baggies every piece of hardware. The shop decided not to use the hardware I provided and used incorrect screws. The headliner was not trimmed properly around the back glass and the sail panels were not installed correctly. I found pieces of trim where the originals were provided and were not used. The door panels were improperly installed and the kick panels not screwed in. Both door panels have nicks in the vinyl, the drivers panel was not fit properly.

So not to cause a stir I removed the back seat, package tray, speakers, sail panels and trim, a pillars and kick panels and repainted them to the correct color. I replaced the new sail panels and package tray. I trimmed the headliner properly and installed the back glass trim correctly. The hardest part was repainting the package tray trim under the back glass, it was the correct color from the body shop but the interior guy changed it. The original rear seat back bolts were provided to him and he used replacement bolts. The roof trim has now been installed properly but one headliner bow is not and I am not sure how to correct that.

Please restorers listen to your customers, many of us bring stuff to you because of lack of time or equipment to do so. We know our cars and know what we want. Talk to us, text pictures, communicate. If you have a question, ask. The car is the owners, not yours. Take your time to install things properly. You can tell a person who knows nothing about their car and somebody who has lived and breathed it. Word will get out when poor quality work is performed, good work will be praised.

Fortunately, I can fix things but there are many who can't. Will I do business with both shops again? Yes but the interior shop in a limited capacity.

Thank you for listening.

 

[cheveslakr]

Good post and I'd also add, as a customer to not commission the first guy you visit without first hand examples of their work. One thing I've noticed is when a vendor or shop gives you an attitude, or appears insulted by your questions, walk. Those who have nothing to hide and are proud of their work are happy to let you see it and speak to their customers if possible.

 

[swampy 6x6]

HI
Feel`n your pain my vehicle is revisiting the panel shop again 3000miles 23yrs later to finally to have the panel repaired /realigned ,nose cone to hood gap [nose is twisted downwards ] . Oh yea forgot about the scraper tool that was used to stick the exterior body trim on . Deep scratches under ALL chrome & stainless trim .
I would not use the panel shop again, general panel work ok but to miss a twisted nose cone kinda sucks . Although paint still good and only 1x rust bubble after all this time .

Off to a different panel shop this week in fact should be 4-8 weeks all refreshed with luck !!! [doing alot of other work ]

Business places and employees need to take more interest /care but its amazing they still survive .

 

[Leadhead]

You're more forgiving than I would be.... I would never use that interior shop again.

 

[71350SS]

I'm with Leadhead find a new shop that will work with you not against you.You might have to drive a little further or something but you'll be happier in the long run.

 

[Chevelle_Nut]

I'm with Leadhead find a new shop that will work with you not against you.You might have to drive a little further or something but you'll be happier in the long run.

Oh, don't worry I will. I drove 500 miles each way to the body shop. He can also do interiors etc, he is going to restore my Midnight Bronze 72 in a couple of years.

 

[kmakar]

I'm sorry it happens to anyone, but I'm afraid it happens in many trades. When I was a general contractor I did many repairs of work done by others. If you can listen to your client and see their vision, both parties will be happy. When I worked on any job, I did the work as if it were my own personally. It's a shame many don't understand such a simple thing.

 

[swampy 6x6]

Hi
I send my chrome 1500miles one way because the job is done by 2 generations of family 30-40 yrs experience . Only others are 12 or so businesses but there experience would total 30yrs between them .

Due to no panel prep [front bumper Tacoma Hilux] It was painted 3x before it was finally replaced with another new b/bar sprayed and prepped at a different shop . It would peel off when driving LOL,, LOL No care attitude

 

[Pete 67]

Dear Restoration Shops,

I have just gone through a long restoration, much of the work I did on my own but I sublet-ed the body and paint and interior to shops, both specialized in Chevelles and are well known in the Chevelle world.

The body and paint shop was awesome. The owner gave me an estimate, came in under budget, did it on time and communicated weekly with me if not more and when ever there was a question he texted me. I provided all of the pictures I had, the car was an unmolested car with everything original. I felt like I was at the shop watching work being done, heck he even had a YouTube of the car being primed.

The interior shop was not a wonderful experience. The car took 1 month to get done, The interior had a special color for certain trim pieces and I specified the color, even provided the paint. The owner decided that the color I told him was incorrect and painted it to what he thought it should be and then argued that because the seats had been reupholstered in the past 50 years the color was changed. I have original parts to prove my case but he would not listen. Over the 12 years of restoration I saved in baggies every piece of hardware. The shop decided not to use the hardware I provided and used incorrect screws. The headliner was not trimmed properly around the back glass and the sail panels were not installed correctly. I found pieces of trim where the originals were provided and were not used. The door panels were improperly installed and the kick panels not screwed in. Both door panels have nicks in the vinyl, the drivers panel was not fit properly.

So not to cause a stir I removed the back seat, package tray, speakers, sail panels and trim, a pillars and kick panels and repainted them to the correct color. I replaced the new sail panels and package tray. I trimmed the headliner properly and installed the back glass trim correctly. The hardest part was repainting the package tray trim under the back glass, it was the correct color from the body shop but the interior guy changed it. The original rear seat back bolts were provided to him and he used replacement bolts. The roof trim has now been installed properly but one headliner bow is not and I am not sure how to correct that.

Please restorers listen to your customers, many of us bring stuff to you because of lack of time or equipment to do so. We know our cars and know what we want. Talk to us, text pictures, communicate. If you have a question, ask. The car is the owners, not yours. Take your time to install things properly. You can tell a person who knows nothing about their car and somebody who has lived and breathed it. Word will get out when poor quality work is performed, good work will be praised.

Fortunately, I can fix things but there are many who can't. Will I do business with both shops again? Yes but the interior shop in a limited capacity.

Thank you for listening.

I understand your plight, but you should've conveyed this to your interior guy before you let him do the work instead of ranting about it here after you corrected his f%@$ ups. If he didn't agree to your suggestions, see ya....find another shop. No f$^%ing way I let someone change my interior colors because they don't agree with my color choices.

 

[Chevelle_Nut]

I understand your plight, but you should've conveyed this to your interior guy before you let him do the work instead of ranting about it here after you corrected his f%@$ ups. If he didn't agree to your suggestions, see ya....find another shop. No f$^%ing way I let someone change my interior colors because they don't agree with my color choices.

Oh, I did and he said it looked good. It did not look bad but it was not correct and I had prepped the car already for the correct color. Not asking me prior is the big thing, I tore that car down to the frame and know it was 1000% unmolested or changed, IMO it was a rare find. Sure, it is just a Malibu but I have 2 of them, same year, same engine. Both are unusual colors and I like it that way. The Placer Gold with Jade Green accents is correct, with the rarity of Placer Gold cars the color combination is not well documented. 50 years ago there were a wide variety of interior combinations unlike nowadays where you get Grey, Tan or Black.

Here is a picture of the car the day I got it in 2009. Note: the vinyl top is incorrect and was added at the dealer.

Here is an example how the Jade Green was deeply embedded into the Placer Gold

Here is the car today:

 

[Pete 67]

Oh, I did and he said it looked good. It did not look bad but it was not correct and I had prepped the car already for the correct color. Not asking me prior is the big thing, I tore that car down to the frame and know it was 1000% unmolested or changed, IMO it was a rare find. Sure, it is just a Malibu but I have 2 of them, same year, same engine. Both are unusual colors and I like it that way. The Placer Gold with Jade Green accents is correct, with the rarity of Placer Gold cars the color combination is not well documented. 50 years ago there were a wide variety of interior combinations unlike nowadays where you get Grey, Tan or Black.

Here is a picture of the car the day I got it in 2009. Note: the vinyl top is incorrect and was added at the dealer.

Here is an example how the Jade Green was deeply embedded into the Placer Gold

Here is the car today:

That's a sweet car.

 

[daveschevyparts]

That's a sweet car.

Am doing one that will be very similar when done. No vinyl top, white interior, rocker and wheel housing mouldings, and 14 x 7 kidney bean rally wheels.

 

[Freddy Mercado]

Nice write up! I agree 100%!

 

[vortec710]

My experience...upholstery guy did a nice job, but charged $3500 to do an El Camino that I supplied the door panels, arm rests, headliner and carpet. THE THING THAT REALLY PISSED ME OFF WAS THAT HE CAUGHT THE FRONT BUMPER WHILE BACKING IT OUT OF HIS GARAGE AND MOVED THE WHOLE FRONT END OVER ENOUGH TO DAMAGE THE FRESH PAINT WHERE THE FRONT BUMPER CONTACTED THE FENDER. Unfortunately I drove it home and parked it in the garage for the winter season and did not notice the damage until several weeks later, no recourse but I'd enjoy giving him a solid kick in the testicles if I ever see him again.

 

[Leadhead]

That sucks man.

 

[Humberd]

It’s always a good idea to do a walk around before and after with notes , That will keep them honest