Thread: Recommendations For A Good Rod Builder/Painter, Within A State Or Two Of Iowa...

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...or, in Iowa. I have a chopped, twice "Z'ed", "B" pillars tilted, back glass laid down, slammed, primered, '40 Chevy Tudor Sedan. I want new flat black/primer/suede paint, hood louvered, some old school pin striping, and all details addressed (i.e. weather stripping, rubber, any necessary interior/exterior details, doors "de-rattled", etc.). The car is currently being driven, has very little rust and will likely need only a little body work (for rust).
It's already a very cool car but just needs some minor body work and new suede paint. I want it to be an old school street rod (not a rat rod) with nice, durable, suede paint and old school pinstriping along with louvered hood.
Current equipment includes: a 496" stroker BBC full roller engine, Edelbrock aluminum heads, carb, and intake, Scat crank, Comp Cams hydraulic roller cam, 700R4 tranny with stall converter, 3:70 posi, 9" Ford, Vintage Air, finished tuck and roll interior, etc.
I also will be ordering a Hilborn style (old school mechanical converted to electronic) fuel injection system and I will want it installed by the painter.
So, I'm on a quest for someone who can do it all and do what I've described above to a high level of quality and in a timely fashion where the car WILL NOT end up in "paint jail" for 6 months or worse, while the builder/body guy does insurance work. I prefer a pro with "substantial" experience...perhaps a full time rod builder, however, a part time pro with a good rep would do. It would be nice if the builder was in or close to Iowa but I will also seriously consider builders within a state or two from Iowa. Interested parties (or recommendations for restorers) PM me or post them on the forum. I'm looking to have the restoration performed winter of 2012, possibly sooner.
Thank you so much for your recommendations. I'm anxious to hear them.


Tom

I don't have any personal knowledge of him, but Dave Lane's shop is in Donahue, Iowa and he's done some awesome cars that we see in mainline magazines, including one or two for George Poteet. Might be pricey, but his work is top drawer all the way FastLane Rod and Custom Contact Information

Roger,

Thanks for the recommendation. I already checked with him a couple years ago and he only builds cars from scratch.

Tom

If ya want to bring it to Oklahoma, I could probably satisfy your needs.
Retired as a rod builder for over 40 years, still do 1 or 2 a year.
Have fully equipted shop. PM me if interested

Is that you, Carl? If so, I talked to you on the phone about a year and a half ago and you're still number one on my list (and I've looked at a lot of builders). A mutual friend from Florida very highly recommended you. Some things came up that have delayed getting the Chevy finished but my wife and I will be ready next fall (2012).
If it's not Carl I'll PM you anyway. Thank you for the response.


Tom

Originally Posted by bgblk40

Roger,

Thanks for the recommendation. I already checked with him a couple years ago and he only builds cars from scratch.
Tom

Really? That's a surprise based on some of the aritcles I've read about some of his projects. Maybe your's is too far along, and you're set on exactly what you want and it's not a good fit.

Originally Posted by DA34GUY

If ya want to bring it to Oklahoma, I could probably satisfy your needs.
Retired as a rod builder for over 40 years, still do 1 or 2 a year.
Have fully equipted shop. PM me if interested

Don,
I actually thought of you, but didn't know if Oklahoma would be too far out of range and didn't know if you'd want to jump into someone elses start.

Roger,

This car was originally "started"/built about 7 or 8 years ago. No one would be "jumping into someone else's start", LOL!! But you may be right about Dave not wanting to finish something this far along. I talked to him personally on the phone and he was a VERY nice. But I certainly understand why he might prefer either building from scratch or taking something in the early stages and finishing it.


Don,

If you'll PM me your phone I'll give you a call.

Tom

Talk with Gary Snyder, Snyder Auto Body, in Monmouth, Illinois. He painted my coupe. He's fast (He had my couple painted and assembled in one month.), he's honest, and he does very nice work. His shop number is 309-734-7342. Tell him I referred you.

Seen a lot of work inside this shop .

Hot Rod Chassis & Cycle - Addison, IL - 630.458.0808

Doubt a lot of shops will be interested in finishing someone else's project. It always ends up being a total nightmare!!! When "somebody else" started the project, who's to say what was done right or wrong, and no matter what, it all gets blamed on the last shop that touched the car!!!!! Going to be amazing to all concerned when the next shop discovers just how many things need to be redone. Plus, now with the electronics and EFI coming in it'll mean redoing fuel lines and system if they're done, or trying to put an EFI system into a car originally built to be a carb!!!! Been there, done that, still got the bruises!!!!!

Dave,

Believe me I know exactly where you're coming from. And, yes, I know more often than not there is much more that needs to be done than meets the eye. But I've owned this car long enough to pretty much know it inside out. There definitely is some body work to do, but compared to most cars at this stage there will be much less body work and there really is very little rust. I know the person that built the car very well. He is a top notch, very experienced builder dedicated to building street rods only. I purchased the car before it was completed and it is pretty much just a cosmetic project at this stage. The frame, sub-frame, running boards, etc. are in good shape. They had to be as it's been "Z'ed" in two places, the exhaust tucked up in the frame channels and it has a Mustang II front end. It goes down the highway straight as an arrow. The engine is a fresh rebuild and is in tip top shape.
I'm already reconsidering the Hilborn EFI idea. The thing that attracted me to it was purely its "old school" look. I want something different and a little more retro looking than the standard 4 barrel carb sitting on the intake. But it needs to be streetable and dependable. I don't want to be going down the highway with a glitchy or undependable EFI system. So, I'm still looking at other options like dual quads (not that they're totally trouble free).
I had a great and very informative conversation with Don last night and he gave me several things to consider...and reconsider. I'll be staying in close touch with him and doing some more research. Thank you, everyone for your responses. Please feel free to add any more. I would be interested in anyone's experiences with dual quad setups. Thanks again.

Tom

Tom--you are not that far from Monmouth. Give Gary a call. I live just 25 miles from Monmouth, and I'd be glad to show you my '32 if you would like to see Gary's work.