[king_midas]

That's a horrible story, but sounds par for the course within the hobby in its present state. Vampires, low-class schiesters, good 'ol boys everywhere. Craig Jackson is the devil, wringing his hands and counting his gold with greed in his eyes the whole time-- I'm surprised Rumsfeld wasn't on stage with him.

First off, what is the duration (in time) between when you took the car from them, and now (i.e.: Recognition of all the problems)? If it has been a while, you're screwed. This is because the shop will say that "It was fine when he took the car-- I don't know what tinkering he did, but we're professionals, and when he took delivery of the car, it ran like a top." Also, regarding the engine (compression, cam), you're also screwed, because it's reasonable to assume they built what you wanted. No engine specs for them in writing means you got what you asked for.... And, if all of your mechanical issues are due to 13:1 compression and a wild cam, forget recovering damages-- Get yourself some new pistons and a cam, and be done with it. Refer to the previous as to why.

If it's recent, your problem is going to be this-- If you didn't have anything in writing, it would be verbal contracts for all of the work. In such, the contract has been executed by both parties-- The shop performed the work, and you paid for it. At best, hire an attorney, and the shop will have to make you "whole" regarding the mechanicals that are non-operable; because it's a car, it must be safe, and perform normally under the guidelines of fitment of use in the operation of a motor vehicle.

Let's say you do get run over by the trucker in the intersection. If it can be proven that it is due to a mechanical failure that is the fault of the shop, and you have documentation that the shop did the fix and that you've informed them (in writing this time...!) of the problem previous to the squishing by the truck, they are liable. Document all known problems, and have your attorney let the shop know that the car is coming back, and it's not leaving until you're to receive what you contracted and paid for. Also, there are legal limits as to how long a shop can sit on your car-- Unless you don't (or didn't) pay for the work, a shop cannot have your car for an undetermined amount of time. In other words, these guys may take the car in, and choose not to do the work because they're pissed-- That is illegal. They must finish the work in a reasonable amount of time.

The other stuff (scratches, sun damage, bad/ugly fabrication) you're going to take it in the butt on, unfortunately. In such, the only thing you can do on that is build your own website, and tell other people not to go to that shop. You've been burned by bad businesspeople-- Learn and move on, and you can hope that karma catches up to them.

You know what they say about free legal advice...

Good luck.