My JL-8 Camaro in bodyshop forever????

[iluv69s]

So I went to the bodyshop that was supposed to help get my car ready to paint....2 YEARS AGO!!!! I arrived today to see my car is a workbench...The paint was stripped over a year ago and now its starting to rust again. The drivers side window was down and there was more dust all over my car...both inside and out...boy was I bummed out....I talked to the owner of the garage and told him I would do the car myself...Spring is coming ya know!!!
So I started to take the front end apart and I will go there daily to restore the car myself. Thought you guys would like some pics before I take it totally apart.
Obviously the carb is wrong(I have the right one)..but I think most of the other components are mostly correct.

Hopefully, i will get the car painted sooner than later!!!
Keep ya posted...

[iluv69s]

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[iluv69s]

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[iluv69s]

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[iluv69s]

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[iluv69s]

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[iluv69s]

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[iluv69s]

pic 8...is this the right date???

[iluv69s]

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[iluv69s]

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[iluv69s]

pic 11..the cars been repainted, but the firewall appears original...the letter T is ateast in 3 places...i guess thats normal?? I did not even realize the all the stamped letters were there until i looked at the pics as they barely show to the naked eye..

[iluv69s]

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[iluv69s]

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[Mr. Chevy]

Thats the problem with some of these body shops.. Seems like they put the old cars on the "back burner" while other quick, fast money, jobs come through the door.. You have to stay on top of these guys, call and stop by often. Seems like you are being a pest but this is the only way this stuff gets done sometimes, unfortunately..

Good luck with your project..

Rich

[iluv69s]

last pic....do you guys think I should keep the car totally original?? The car now has a cowl hood, although it did not come with one...and I was originally thinking of adding the RS option...?? Now thinking otherwise...???

[iluv69s]

Wowwwww...2 years of auto body dust really has made for some crud on the frame and motor...Im not gonna do a frame off just yet...The car ran great when I brought it to the shop, so I just want to paint it now and detail the engine and frame the way it is...Whats the best way to clean this crud off??

[napa68]

Has the air cleaner been off all the while? I hope not!
Tim

[KENNY_PASCOE]

ANOTHER BODY SHOP HOSTAGE. HOPE ALL GOES WELL FOR YOU... KP http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[jl8dale]

I would get it out of there and find someone interested in actually working on it.
Does this car have any documentation? Any pics of the rear axle code and engine stamp?

[MosportGreen66]

I'd pull it out of there asap. I don't care if this is the best body shop in the history of body shops, thats horrible business practice. You're not waiting for a life saving transplant here, move on, get your Camaro back.

[x Baldwin Motion]

Any shop that treats it's customers cars like that dosen't need, want, or deserve the business. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bs.gif

[68CamSS]

Had the same problem with a GN. Took it to a body shop for basically a paint job. Excuse after excuse. Finally after 14 months car was finished. After cleaning it up for countless hours,it was still blowing dust out of air vents 2 years later. Under the dash never got cleaned unless you wanted to tear everything down. With hard times the way they are, there should be plenty of shops to go to. I would get the car out ASAP

[L89DRMR]

Good luck with your car. I would remove the car as quickly as possible even though it may be convenient to stop by to work on it there. The shop doesn't deserve to even look at it. Stock would be my choice for the restoration. Adding the RS option to a rare JL-8 Z-28 is the last thing I'd consider. Looking at the shop photos, you probably already have your headlights hidden behind some doors anyways!

Keep us posted.
Dave

[70-SS/RS-L78]

Collision shops and restoration work do not mix...
Hopefully that car was put in epoxy after it was stripped.
Read this post...
http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=9327

[lwkitt427]

THAT IS SAD THAT THEY HAVE TREATED YOU THAT WAY

[HiHorse]

[ QUOTE ]
pic 8...is this the right date???

[/ QUOTE ]Your build date would most likely have the small font.

[iluv69s]

[ QUOTE ]
I would get it out of there and find someone interested in actually working on it.
Does this car have any documentation? Any pics of the rear axle code and engine stamp?

[/ QUOTE ]

I found someone interested on working on my car...MEEEE!!!

I have owner history back to original selling dealer...I actually have spoken to original owner's brother...He was with his brother when they picked the car off the dealer's lot...it was either this car or a red Z with the x-ram in the trunk....They picked this car and soon after bought a x-ram over the counter......which I actually could have got with the car when I bought it for extra monies...I did buy the 2 original x-ram carbs, but did not pay the extra for the intake????.....years ago....duuuhhhh
I have to get some pics of all the stampings....the motor is a late 69 dated CE block, but seems to have all the correct original components...I know the trans and rear are original though..I checked the numbers years ago right after I bought the car....I'll post some pics once I get them...maybe later today as I am going to work on the car....

[iluv69s]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
pic 8...is this the right date???

[/ QUOTE ]Your build date would most likely have the small font.

[/ QUOTE ]

is this the date of the booster??? Im not too sure...it does not make sense to me...and does the master cylinder look right?? it looks a bit newer than the rest as though it may have been replaced at some point....

..also the little sticker on the wiper motor has a 6A on it...would that be correct on a 5E car?? I figured it would be before the car build date...? Thanks

[JRSully]

I have been down this road:
1. car shows up at body shop , owner of shop "eager" to get going on it
2. Daily collision work starts piling up, your car gets pushed aside with owner stating " as soon as we get some time we'll get back on it" never happens
3. workers at the shop (who probably would do 99% of the work) have 0 interest in your car and are gone @ 5, if the owner tells them to do something on it, they will, if not they won't even look at it, now it starts collecting dirt and parts from other cars on top of it.
4. You start complaining to the owner that nothing is getting done and he gets pissed off listening to you. Now you have disgruntled owner and employees having less than an enthusiastic attitude towards you and your car
5. Years go by and it is still not done, parts start disappearing because in those years customers/people in the shop will know what is it and start snooping around.
6. Thought you might save some $$ by having a local body shop handle it, years continue to go by and you still have no car

Bottom line- get it to someone who will finish it timely, correctly and treat you with respect. It may cost a bit more but you will be DRIVING and ENJOYING your car instead of driving to the body shop to make sure nothing has been done. I went through this nightmare and it never works out. My.02

[Jonesy]

Your booster is dated 325th day or Nov 21st. Seems too early for a 05A car.

[jl8dale]

The master cylinder is not original. It is a common replacement item from the local auto store.




[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
pic 8...is this the right date???

[/ QUOTE ]Your build date would most likely have the small font.

[/ QUOTE ]

is this the date of the booster??? Im not too sure...it does not make sense to me...and does the master cylinder look right?? it looks a bit newer than the rest as though it may have been replaced at some point....

..also the little sticker on the wiper motor has a 6A on it...would that be correct on a 5E car?? I figured it would be before the car build date...? Thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

[Ambrola]

I had my 67 RS completley restored in 6 months. As long as I kept the money comming, they stayed on the car.

[HiHorse]

[ QUOTE ]

is this the date of the booster??? Im not too sure...it does not make sense to me...and does the master cylinder look right?? it looks a bit newer than the rest as though it may have been replaced at some point....

[/ QUOTE ]master cyl can be early 1969 version, check under it for casting number and date code on front boss. ...Your date on booster is 325 which is 325th day of 1968 (if you check back of tab you will see part number stamped 9204, or sometimes 920 because font is large and 4 didn't make it on.) For reference my Camaro has build date of 12B with booster dated 330 and date on master of 343...your date would likely be to early for your car but because the booster is dated prior to 5C wood still make it OK?

[x77-69z28]

the booster on my 05A z-28 is a small font and is iether 102, or 120. i dont have the car with me. not sure on the master, although i thought that they all came with the 309 master with bleeder screws, but the jl-8's didnt have a metering valve. check with brian henderson at super car workshop. he is awesome, and do yourself a favor.... do it once, do it right, and be done with it. imho.
buddy

[chevelleheart]

I feel for you ! This Bodyshop Eager,stall , delay, stall defer, take the car to a new shop is so so sad to hear.

[parkbrau]

Your lucky you still have parts on the car. I'm not accusing the shop of theft, but sitting in there for 2 years....lots of parts could have been removed. Your lucky that isnt the case.
Remove the car and DIY. The two years lost could be made up in no time.

[SuperNovaSS]

I call it paint jail. It seems like paint shops are good for one job and trail off after that. I wish I could find a shop that could do what they said they would, for the amount they quoted, in the time frame estimated. It would also be fun to ride a flying pig http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif.


Jason

[x Baldwin Motion]

[ QUOTE ]
......... It would also be fun to ride a flying pig http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif.
Jason

[/ QUOTE ]


get your saddle!!!

http://www.portigal.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/600px-pink_floyd-animals-frontal.jpg

[copo69]

It seems most collision shops tell you they know what you want,top notch work, then it sits and finally after enough complaining or work gets slow they jump in and usually hurry it but expect payment for a meticulous job. What dealership sold your car when new?

[resto1]

I understand the problems with the body shops. I own a restoration shop myself. I've been doing it for 20 years
I would be glad to help anyone with there project or if
any questions.

[BARNFOUND YENKO]

[ QUOTE ]
I feel for you ! This Bodyshop Eager,stall , delay, stall defer, take the car to a new shop is so so sad to hear.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep paint prison is for the birds. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

[iluv69s]

[ QUOTE ]
What dealership sold your car when new?

[/ QUOTE ]


I dont recall off the top of my head.....and I'm in Colombia(S America ) at the moment...but when i get back home I'll look in my papers...If I remember correctly, it was in Iowa??? But Ill post it next week...Id be interested to see if anyone is familiar with the dealership. Ive never tried to contact them....

...and noooo..Im not drug trafficker....hehehe

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif

Just came for the sightsssss....nothin like a brown eyed girl!!!! hehehe

[daleone3]

I worked in a shop that was notorious for this, get the car out as soon as you can. worse case is this guy is a bad business man overall and does not pay his taxes (this was the case with a local shop) and state or feds come in and drop padlocks on the doors and you have to fight to get your car. There is no reason that you should have to go there to work on it, get someone local and get it out. This is the problem with bodyshops in general. We would use the money from cars that came in to buy parts for cars that had been there for weeks (collision work mostly). On occasion they would take in a resto and fleece the customer out of the initial "get started" money. I watched the owners kid cut quarters off a nice 68 camaro and every time the owner came in to check on it, they would clamp on quarters to show him the progress. this went on for almost a year before he pulled it out. As a matter of fact, he did the same thing to me on a 67 Gran Prix I had, I somehow thought things would be different for me but I got treated the same crappy way. To this day, I give him the one finger salute when I see him.
good luck but bottom line is get your car away from them.

[firez]

Get the car out of there before you need a lawyer to get it back from creditors . I have been through the same thing and spent a lot of money to get the car back after locks went on the doors.

[resto1]

Yes its hard to find a shop you can trust. Alot of shops use restorations for fill in work. You need a restoration shop not a combination shop. Make sure that shop can document there work. For Example at my shop we provide the customer with the date, what was done on that day and how many hours it took. Also we provide pictures in every statement and no money up front. One thing we see all the time even out of restoration shops is, they quote you a price to get you in the door. Remember if they quote you a price the car is on a budget. So ask yourself what corners
are being cut to meet the quote. Also break down there quote, Example: Price quote of 6400.00 minus 1000.00 for materials. That leaves you with 5400.00 divide that by shop rate, say 45.00per hr. = the project would have to be done in 120hrs. Ask your self if the project could be finished in 3 weeks.