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Vintage Elite in Melbourne, FL

Road Rat

Road Rat

FBBO Gold Member
FBBO Gold Member
Local time
11:11 PM
Joined
Apr 18, 2017
Messages
390
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817
Location
Florida
Hi, First time post, I've been lurking around bbodiesonly for a year or so and recently joined. I'm having a Dana 60 built for my Satellite by Joe at Vintage Elite or Driveline works. He seems like a knowledgeable guy and helpful. On that strength I placed an order for the diff. Now he's past due on delivery won't answer the phone, text or email. I'm to the point of contacting my credit card company before its too much later. I'd like to get along with the guy but circumstances aren't heading that way.
Has anyone else had dealings positive or negative with this guy? Id appreciate any input. Thanks
 
I've bought some used parts from Joe a year or so ago, and he was fine to deal with.
 
I actually sold Joe some parts when he was still up north in the NY/NJ area. Seemed like a nice guy who knew his stuff. It was an in person cash deal though so no idea how he does other business.
 
Road Rat said:
Hi, First time post, I've been lurking around bbodiesonly for a year or so and recently joined. I'm having a Dana 60 built for my Satellite by Joe at Vintage Elite or Driveline works. He seems like a knowledgeable guy and helpful. On that strength I placed an order for the diff. Now he's past due on delivery won't answer the phone, text or email. I'm to the point of contacting my credit card company before its too much later. I'd like to get along with the guy but circumstances aren't heading that way.
Has anyone else had dealings positive or negative with this guy? Id appreciate any input. Thanks
Click to expand...


Welcome aboard and thanks for joining the Forum!

1. Silly question; Have you gone to Vintage Elite Drive line works and asked him what is going on?

PS: Dana 60 for a Satellite huh?
BIG DIFF
You running a Hemi?
 
super-bee_ski said:
Welcome aboard and thanks for joining the Forum!

1. Silly question; Have you gone to Vintage Elite Drive line works and asked him what is going on?

PS: Dana 60 for a Satellite huh?
BIG DIFF
You running a Hemi?
Click to expand...
Thanks all for the replies, yes he does seem like a good guy or I wouldn't have dealt with him. Physically he's 550 miles from me so going there is a little difficult. I just heard from him though and he set up a date for delivery. I hope every thing works out. Yes I'm running an mild older street hemi around 500 hp with Tremec 5 speed. The 8 3/4 originally in the car has a bad seal, sure grips shot and sounds like a bucket of bolts. Time to upgrade and replace.
 
Road Rat said:
Thanks all for the replies, yes he does seem like a good guy or I wouldn't have dealt with him. Physically he's 550 miles from me so going there is a little difficult. I just heard from him though and he set up a date for delivery. I hope every thing works out. Yes I'm running an mild older street hemi around 500 hp with Tremec 5 speed. The 8 3/4 originally in the car has a bad seal, sure grips shot and sounds like a bucket of bolts. Time to upgrade and replace.
Click to expand...
Hmm
That old Hemmy should get you to his shop 550 miles pretty quick!
Wink Wink!
Oh, I clearly see the dilemma you are in
I thought he was Local
I only know guys who have dealt witn:
1. Dr. Diff
2. Currie

Currie is doing my Max Wedge rear
Yup, I see your concern
Keep in communication with him, that is all I cam say
Keep us posted okay?
 
Send Mike aka bb50070charger over there to ask around

Seems shady so far
 
I had a great transaction with him.
 
Thanks for the input from everyone, it's good to see positive things said about him. He seems like a good guy when you do get to talk to him.
 
Road Rat said:
Hi, First time post, I've been lurking around bbodiesonly for a year or so and recently joined. I'm having a Dana 60 built for my Satellite by Joe at Vintage Elite or Driveline works. He seems like a knowledgeable guy and helpful. On that strength I placed an order for the diff. Now he's past due on delivery won't answer the phone, text or email. I'm to the point of contacting my credit card company before its too much later. I'd like to get along with the guy but circumstances aren't heading that way.
Has anyone else had dealings positive or negative with this guy? Id appreciate any input. Thanks
Click to expand...
i had joe balboa at elite vintage auto remove my 8-3/4 (narrowed) and narrow a dana 60 410 gear detroit locker install new drive shaft he had my car 6 months !!! he ran a new fuel line changed lower control arm bushings ....disk brake kit front and rear... all new brake lines and master cyl....new clutch now the THE PROBLEMS AFTER.. MASTER CYL STARTED PURGING BRAKE FLUID out of the fill cap vents... and the pedal low and spongy .. I HAD TO PAY RICKS RODS TO RUN NEW BRAKE LINES DUE TO THE FACT HE USED TUBING THAT WAS SMALL AS A MATCH HEAD (VERY TINY ) ALSO RICKS INSTALLED another NEW MASTER CYL now the brakes work ....he put the front end back together with bad lower balljoints.. both sides... and swears they where good .(THEY WHERE SHOT).. he tells me my alignment shop is lying . i asked him if he sees ANY PARTS THAT DO NOT LOOK FRESH TO PLEASE REPLACE IT ... HE WELDED ONE SHOCK MOUNT on my dana housing CLEARLY IN THE WRONG PLACE... AND TRYED TO PASS IT OFF AS GOOD... i noticed it when i had the car back home 100 miles away ..UP next a weld on the ladder bar to the dana housing breaks (never even got on it hard) still in break in period...AND I HAVE A MILD 400B ONLY UNDER THE HOOD i call him send a photo.. he comes to my house trailers the car to his shop and fixes it.. now the DANA REAR HOWLES LIKE HELL AT 40 MPH CRUSE he says its my fault due to the 410s gears and hard mounts HIEM JOUNTS LADDER BARS & COIL OVERS I SAY ...BULL **** TO THIS.... HE TELLS ME TO PISS OFF meanwhile i call... text.... email ....even have another b body member who joe did a rear end rebuild for say he will ask joe to call me.... and NOTHING A FEW DAYS AGO IM ON CRAIGS LIST AND I SEE A AD SELLING MOPAR STUFF OUT OF MELBORNE ..I FIGURE IS JOE I REPLY TO THE CRAIGS LIST AD.... DEAR JOE GROW A PAIR OF BALLS AND CALL ME..... AND POST MY NUMBER.... I DO NOT GET A CALL FROM HIM BUT HE WRITES A MANIFESTO BACK BLAMING ME FOR EVERY PROBLEM ...I SPENT THOUSANDS OF HARD EARNED DOLLARS AND PRETY MUCH GOT F***ed ****watch out for him*** i gave him every opertunity to contact me ...offered to even bend over and pay for a redo... still get nothing.. i am done... sooner or later i will see him at a mopar event or will be in the area of his shop and **** will hit the fan HOPE YOU HAVE BETTER LUCK
 
I've never had any problems with Joe . I gave him $10k and he delivered as promised. I've been to his shop alot as I do alot for local mopar guys and Joe's the man around here with the goods . I will say he has been backed up . I helped him out a few months back to catch him up (his helper is a young kid)
I will go personally and see what's up but don't worry you'll get what you ordered even if I need to build it my self!

I know of bobo and joes problems I can't speak as I truly don't know the whole story. I know bobo s car came back to get fixed because of a gear set failure or something . But I can't commit much more as I don't know the facts .
 
Bb70charger500 said:
I've never had any problems with Joe . I gave him $10k and he delivered as promised. I've been to his shop alot as I do alot for local mopar guys and Joe's the man around here with the goods . I will say he has been backed up . I helped him out a few months back to catch him up (his helper is a young kid)
I will go personally and see what's up but don't worry you'll get what you ordered even if I need to build it my self!

I know of bobo and joes problems I can't speak as I truly don't know the whole story. I know bobo s car came back to get fixed because of a gear set failure or something . But I can't commit much more as I don't know the facts .
Click to expand...
Might be a good idea to ask Joe what the facts are. By Bobo's account, it seems like Joe would have had to do pretty much everything wrong, which I don't think is his style. One or two things wrong okay, but all this stuff? Something smells fishy. Better to drag the garbage out and see what's really going on.
 
This just one photo that should lower the FISHY smell some ... I will get on my desk top and load some more .. this is the ladder bar and Dana axel housing weld failed anybody else who has a axel perches ladder bar brackets welded by elite vintage auto ... hope this does not happen to you he did pick up the car and re-weld it and dropped the car off think of what could happen while power shifting ?
IMG_2122.PNG
 
So he welded the axle housing but didn't repaint it when he was done?
 
What you see in the above photo is a BAD WELD that did not penetrate at all silver line is where the lousy weld once was ... it let go and pulled apart 1/4 inch... who ever else has axel perches ladderbars etc welded by the same shop (elite vintage auto) better keep an eye on them.... Hell maybe I was the only one... before I posted any of the **** I tryed every other means to get it worked out and was willing to pay if I had to if my side of the street wasn't clean... all Joe balboa had to do was return my call one of many over several months not to mention the emails and texts I was very cordial and nice from the very beginning while my car lived in his shop I think it was nine months total to get the work described above done which was ridiculous amount of time and I work with my hands for a living and earn every penny the hard way when I spend that kind of money with a Mopar only shop and a Mopar only mechanic I surely thought I would get it done right I told him over and over do not save me any money I want everything done the right way the first time at all cost i'll..... bet any 100$ he had shop boy work on my car and didn't even work on it himself and hence the problems I'm having rant over
 
Joe has left a trail of upset people behind him over the years
just with his parts dealings
proceed with caution...
 
Just a update on joe balboa elite vintage auto in Melbourne fla ..finally had the Dana 60 joe custom built for me pulled apart.. the caps where on the wrong sides believe it or not almost —0– preload I had it put back correctly by Modifcations Unlimeted same gears new bearing put together CORRECTLY and now enjoying driving my 65 coronet with —0— howl from the Dana ... can’t wait till I’m anywhere close to his shop it 2 hours from me both ways so I can drop in and have a talk ...it will be in unpleasant for him to say the least be ware anyone who deals with this a hole .. rant over ..
 
Old thread but I wanted to chime in...

I dealt with Joe this past summer to build me a custom 8.75 (3.73 with tru-track) for my 72 RR. He was very informative and offered many options for my build. He updated me regularly through its completion. Took longer than expected but he's a busy guy...what can you complain about. All in all I had a good experience with him and would recommend to others.

I understand you had a bad experience but it doesn't mean he or his business should be slandered for it. He's not a robot - hes human - and humans make mistakes. Move on.

My $0.02
 
I also have dealt with Joe a couple of times, 8 3/4 sure grip rear end and a 440 build.. neither was done fast, but so far seems they were done right.. if you want something built in hurry, Joe's not your guy.. if you dont mind waiting and you want a good result, He is very knowledgeable and detail oriented . His biggest problem is he works alone and hates to turn down work, gets backed up a lot, if he says 2 months.. plan on 4. I would rather wait and know it was done right.
 
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