Not a build thread, but a REFURB thread.....

[bluestang67]

I will be honest and say i like the second set a whole lot better .

[youther]

I will be honest and say i like the second set a whole lot better .

I agree 100%. There is no comparison.

Just a few notes about Steve.

He has talent. It just needs refined. I honestly believe that if it had not been for the untimely death of the instructor things would have been different. Mr S would have gave steve direction and kept him on track. I just think that steve got in over his head.

[bluestang67]

He does have talent maybe a few more years with HRP would bring him inline . I would even like to apprentice with him .

[youther]

So the story continues..................

After all of this I have my heart set on the red, white, and blue flames. I take the car to several autobody people that I know to get estimates for painting the car. I also was looking for someone that could do flames and that had a good reputation for custom painting. I am told of a guy named Chris and he does custom painting. I call him and he comes by to look at the car. I tell him my horor story and how the car got to where it is.

Chris tells me that he would prefer to just do the flame work and let someone else prep the car and put the base back on it. I tell him that that is fine. Chris then proceeds to advise me of something that is just plain freaky. He tells me that he has been hired to be the new vo-tech teacher when the new school year starts. I'm like....OMG What are the chances?! I've never met this guy before and he tells me that he is going to be the next vo-tech teacher. I immediately have concerns about letting Chris do the flames. He assures me that he will do the work and the kids will not touch the car.

So now I have to find someone to get the car back to primer and then paint the base. I find a guy to paint the base and take him the car. It's August 07 and I tell him that there is no major hurry, but I do want to have the car on the road by spring 08. He tells me that no problem he will have the car done in a month or two. I reply SUPER!

[bluestang67]

This is getting freaky .

[youther]

Sorry for not finishing the story quicker....LOL!

I go by the bodyshop and they have sanded the car and removed the THICK layers of flames within a week or two of me taking the car over. I'm thinking at this point that was quick I should get my car back pretty quick. NOT!! LOL!

I go by another time and my car has been pushed back in the corner and they say that they have been covered up with other stuff and will get back to my car soon.

To make another long story short I finally get my car back 5 months later in Jan 08 with the silver base on it.

I then do something that I never thought would ever happen again, I take it back to the vo-tech center. LOL! Again Chris assures me that the kids will not touch the car. He also tells me that he will have the car done in about a week.

[youther]

The best luck that I have had yet with the car, Chris true to his word gets started on the car right away. This guy truely knows what he is doing and also has several cars that have made it into some national magazines.

[youther]

FINALLY the paint is done. It's Jan 08 and spring is fast approaching. Next to the upholstery shop.

Here is a pic of the car as it looked as it entered the upholstery shop.

[GulfCoastGasser]

So if you don't mind us all knowing, what was the final damage ($$)?

I know you said the first job was a 20/20 job, but it really didn't look all that bad. Not car show quality but ceratinly better than many folks back-yard attempts.

But I know your pain I have a very similar story with my first classic car - 1959 Edsel - and a local country shop. I will spare you the details, but 6 months later and a few thousand dollars poorer, I took my car back in much worse shape that it had been delived to the shop and was thinking about legal action. A very bad experience for my very first project! But like they say, "What doesn't kill you will make you stronger!"

[youther]

The first paint job I had over $2500.

Then I had to pay $2100 for the new base and $1500 for the flames.

With a grand total of $6100 and some change between the two jobs.

Then I probably bought another $2000 worth of new parts to go with the new paint...

[GulfCoastGasser]

The first paint job I had over $2500.

Then I had to pay $2100 for the new base and $1500 for the flames.

With a grand total of $6100 and some change between the two jobs.

Then I probably bought another $2000 worth of new parts to go with the new paint...

Ouch! But it looks like it was worth it and if you are happy, then the cost was cheap.

Incredible Car. You should be crazy proud!

[Rickomatic]

The first paint job I had over $2500.

Then I had to pay $2100 for the new base and $1500 for the flames.

With a grand total of $6100 and some change between the two jobs.

Then I probably bought another $2000 worth of new parts to go with the new paint...

Plenty of money, but you forgot your time. I know that is worth plenty. I hope that the paint is the way you want it and it stays shiny for a long time!

[youther]

Plenty of money, but you forgot your time. I know that is worth plenty. I hope that the paint is the way you want it and it stays shiny for a long time!

Good point......time and about 10 years off my life......LOL! My wife was to the point also to where she was tired of me worrying and being aggravated all the time too. She said "put the brakes on it and I'll help you get it painted somewhere else".

[youther]

So on with the interior. Ripped everything out and started from scratch. The old interior was one solid color and made of a velour like material. You can see the old seat beside of the new seat below to get an idea.

Also when I bought the car 4 years ago it did not have a back seat in it because it was tubbed out, so I decided to have one put in it for my boys to ride on.

Below are pics of the begining of the rear seat.

[youther]

Getting ahead of myself...LOL! Here are a few pics with everything ripped out. You can also see where it is tubbed in the rear with these pics.