69SportSatellite
Well-Known Member
Been there before...
It's a sad commentary that so many of us on FBBO (myself included) have run into similar problems. I went through the exact same issue with BOTH the bodywork and motor on my 1967 Mustang K-Code fastback. The shop building the engine was of course in dire straits soon after I dropped the engine off -- even though they had been in business for 20+ years -- due to a divorce....The money I had paid him was long gone, and my motor with all of its rare parts was half done. I ended up figuring out that I'd have to ransom the motor out, so I had a heart to heart discussion with him and it cost me an extra $1,200 to get it done. By this point, we were on a pay by task basis, i.e., the first $300 when the heads were done, etc. I wasn't happy about paying the extra $$$, but his landlord was ready to padlock the place, so it was either pay something extra or try to deal with the Sheriff after he was evicted. Happy to say the engine is done and waiting an install.
For the bodywork, same thing; established shop, owner got in over his head. I got a call one day from the foreman who told me the owner was months behind on his rent and the landlord was coming to evict them; plus the employees were all quitting "that day" due to having not been paid in weeks. At least the shell had been painted an all of my original parts were there. I hired a flatbed towing service who did high-end wrecker work to bring it home. The owner was glad to have it gone, I guess since it was one less headache for him. I'm probably out more than I want to admit on that one. But, I have my car at home, two-thirds finished.
I can always work a few extra months before retiring to recoup the loss, but given the rarity of the car, had it been damaged or "disappeared" I could never have afforded to replace it. My gut feeling was that this was going bad, so I got my car out ASAP and never looked back. I heard from a local Mustang parts dealer that others who didn't move as quickly ended up faring much worse.
If your instincts tell you it's time to pull the plug, my advice, based solely on my own experiences, it to get your car home....hard to accept, but so much better having your car under your own roof. Just my 2 cents.
Best of luck with this.
It's a sad commentary that so many of us on FBBO (myself included) have run into similar problems. I went through the exact same issue with BOTH the bodywork and motor on my 1967 Mustang K-Code fastback. The shop building the engine was of course in dire straits soon after I dropped the engine off -- even though they had been in business for 20+ years -- due to a divorce....The money I had paid him was long gone, and my motor with all of its rare parts was half done. I ended up figuring out that I'd have to ransom the motor out, so I had a heart to heart discussion with him and it cost me an extra $1,200 to get it done. By this point, we were on a pay by task basis, i.e., the first $300 when the heads were done, etc. I wasn't happy about paying the extra $$$, but his landlord was ready to padlock the place, so it was either pay something extra or try to deal with the Sheriff after he was evicted. Happy to say the engine is done and waiting an install.
For the bodywork, same thing; established shop, owner got in over his head. I got a call one day from the foreman who told me the owner was months behind on his rent and the landlord was coming to evict them; plus the employees were all quitting "that day" due to having not been paid in weeks. At least the shell had been painted an all of my original parts were there. I hired a flatbed towing service who did high-end wrecker work to bring it home. The owner was glad to have it gone, I guess since it was one less headache for him. I'm probably out more than I want to admit on that one. But, I have my car at home, two-thirds finished.
I can always work a few extra months before retiring to recoup the loss, but given the rarity of the car, had it been damaged or "disappeared" I could never have afforded to replace it. My gut feeling was that this was going bad, so I got my car out ASAP and never looked back. I heard from a local Mustang parts dealer that others who didn't move as quickly ended up faring much worse.
If your instincts tell you it's time to pull the plug, my advice, based solely on my own experiences, it to get your car home....hard to accept, but so much better having your car under your own roof. Just my 2 cents.
Best of luck with this.
