A.G.A.R. 1970 Barracuda Convertible.....IMPORTANT UPDATE !!

[AH1S]

I'm not assuming anything. I'm basing it on what I have personally seen. I will have to assume that you worked off menu with Alan for your car I did not. I did ask Erik what He paid Alan for paint and it was about what I paid.

[slapshot]

Went to look at Eriks car last week. I am not an expert but you don't have to be. The paint was not acceptable. Alan should not have accepted the car from the shop. I'm surprised Alan who has a very good eye didn't notice what looked like crows feet impressions in the clear or the burn though the clear.

This situation really does weigh heavy on me. In the past I've restored dozens of cars for people from all over, and with the exception of this one car, generally I've had nothing but happy customers.

That is simply not true Alan, I was also unhappy with your complete restoration my car.
First off, I don't believe it was fair sticking me with extra costs for having to repair and replace parts on my engine after your engine shop's fresh rebuild of the engine had failed while you were restoring my car and still had it. The motor is still not right btw.
The paint job on my car is also unacceptable and it was disappointing to see the body lines do not match up between the doors and the fenders, and by quite a lot actually. I have to ask- why you would paint the car until you had them lined up properly? Aside from some minor runs in the paint, even more frustrating was finding the amount of dirt and dust in my paint job. I find it hard to believe you could not notice these flaws or this amount of dust bunnies passes your quality control.
Sure, I understand I did not pay for a 'sema' car show quality paint job but the cost of your body work and paint was expensive in my views and the dust bunnies could have been avoided. I had professionals look at polishing them out but unfortunately many of them are too large for a cut and polish and the car would need to be clear coated again. As you also know, the paint on the front valence was chipped, damaged and cracked. Surprisingly, you claimed that you noticed the damage when you picked it up from the body shop but decided to install it anyways. Why wouldn't you have had them simply repaint the panel, especially since they had damaged it? Instead you globbed the cracks up with nail polish...Seriously? How is that acceptable to anyone?

Alan, I can understand your missing some details, a few mechanical issues and minor flaws in your complete restoration which I have found but the body and paint issues are kind of big ones and something you really should take responsibility for. In my opinion you had to have noticed the fenders didn't line up well, the dirt in the clear coat and the damaged front valence- obviously- since you tried fixing it up with nail polish. In my opinion you should take my car back, make it right, send it back and stand behind your work. Do the right thing for ErikR too and get a better handle on your body and paint quality control.

[70 Challenger Lover]

A friend of mine builds race engines as a side business for play money. He told me years ago that the secret to having a successful business like that one is to pick your customers rather than the other way around. He said he learned early on to spot people who would never be happy no matter what and when he tried to make them happy, it always cost him in the end. Now he is very selective on who he will build an engine for and for 20 plus years he hasn't had any more issues like what you are dealing with.

[Shane Kelley]

A friend of mine builds race engines as a side business for play money. He told me years ago that the secret to having a successful business like that one is to pick your customers rather than the other way around. He said he learned early on to spot people who would never be happy no matter what and when he tried to make them happy, it always cost him in the end. Now he is very selective on who he will build an engine for and for 20 plus years he hasn't had any more issues like what you are dealing with.

Very sound advice. That's exactly how I operate with what little I do at home.

[anlauto]

I think the point people are missing here, is the fact that in my opinion when the car left here, it looked good.

AH1S I assume Kevin from NY ?
This is the first I've heard from you since the day you got your car back when the shifter fell out.   I'm very thankful for your opinion of Erik's car, I unfortunately have not seen the paint issues or pictures of the paint issues that the experts have found. You know my work and you say this is not of the same caliber, so I guess you're happy with your car ?

SlapShot ...I'm guessing Jim ? When a customer supplies engine parts and those direct engine parts fail, I really don't think I should be on the hook for that. I lost lots of money on that car trying to make the engine right for you. I'm sorry you're still having issues. I remember asking you to remove the valance and send it back, you refused, when you mentioned a crack in the paint I suggested clear nail polish to seal up the crack. This happened four years ago, how does it look today ?

So I've very sorry I do stand corrected....that's two unhappy customers out of the 25 or so cars I've done in the last ten years. Anybody else ?

Again, I've asked for pictures of the paint issues and offered to address the paint issues with the body shop here, but apparently that's not going to happen.

[anlauto]

A friend of mine builds race engines as a side business for play money. He told me years ago that the secret to having a successful business like that one is to pick your customers rather than the other way around. He said he learned early on to spot people who would never be happy no matter what and when he tried to make them happy, it always cost him in the end. Now he is very selective on who he will build an engine for and for 20 plus years he hasn't had any more issues like what you are dealing with.

Yes, no truer words have been spoken 

[slapshot]

Alan, Bob Karakashian came up with which parts to use for the engine rebuild which you had ordered. When the engine failed, Bob tried to help troubleshoot by taking the time to personally speak with both you and your engine builder. After speaking with Bob afterwards, let's just say Bob did not have confidence in either of you, and he felt you had kind of insulted him. Regardless, after the extra costs I had incurred it still is not right. 
I received the car with the valence already globbed with nail polish, you had patched it up- not me. I don't recall you offering me anything to deal with any of the body and paint issues other than suggesting I could put more nail polish on the valence. Again, why would you accept the damaged panel from the paint shop and install it on my car in the first place? Are you offering to correct the body and paint issues? The dust in the paint could have been avoided and I'm not sure why you would let the poor fender-door body line alignment slide..  I have only put about 40 miles on the car since I got it back.

[anlauto]

Jim your car goes on record of being one of my favorite restorations of all time.     Short version of the engine story, YOU supplied stamped steel rockers which failed in the first hours of operation. My engine builder then installed Harlem-Sharp roller rockers which you expected to get for free....wasn't going to happen.  Engine issues aside, I was extremely proud of the finished I car I sent you.
It's been four years, our story is over....You're unhappy, that's unfortunate.
It again boils down to level of expectations vs my abilities.

[nsmall]

Some customers will never be "happy" no matter what you do.  I am assuming this is Eriks car at one point?

https://forum.e-bodies.org/your-restoration-project-roseville-moparts/10/a-g-a-r-1970-barracuda-convertible-important-update/1935/30

[WCC]

I have no skin in the game re Alan, but have been getting a few cars restored over the years. One thing I have learned is that you need to understand where a person's skills lie and be comfortable with that. The other thing is you need to be close to your builder and regularly visit the car - it really is the only way to make sure you are happy and to resolve any issues before they get bigger. The third is there will always be issues but if both parties work together these can usually be dealt with amicably.

I once bought a restored car that looked awesome and even drove great. It was only a week or so after I bought it that the issues started to reveal themselves, so I can understand one would miss things by just looking at it on day one - perhaps the excitement got the better of me and I didn't realize the issues as one tend to be super optimistic with a new purchase, especially with a rare car with great paint and panels. I spent a lot of money and time in getting them resolved. I ended up with a great car but it took a lot of money. Was it worth it, probably not as I didn't get to enjoy the car the first few years as I should have. But, I did learn from it. I still have the car and would probably never sell it since I know what I have and have invested the time to get it right.

On the other hand I also had a car that was terrible to start off with and the restorer did a great job, although it took two years. It is a 1000 miles away from me so wasn't easy to get to see the car as much as I wanted to. I did get frustrated given the time it took and expected a much quicker turn around, but the guy is meticulous and his body work superb so I gave hime a break even though he didn't meet my expectations on the timing. Given the distance I probably would not use him again unless I just want body work as few around here does it better.

I also once had a shop owner tell me he can work on motors but would really get a specialist to do it. It was the right call and I'm sure he could have taken my money instead.

You live and learn and every build is a bit different.

I hope all the parties can find an amicable resolution and move on.

[slapshot]

Alan, I don't believe that's accurate but I can add that Mancini also had the same thoughts as Bob Karakashian did regarding your engine building issues, so I have to side with the knowledge of Bob Karakashian and Mancini over your engine building experience.
It is not unreasonable to be disappointed with finding runs, dust bunnies, a damaged panel and a body line that does not line up well. You had the ability to realize the body line was not great before it was painted, the ability to not accept a freshly painted panel that was damaged before you installed it and you had the ability to have a good look at the car and realize, wow- that is a lot of dirt in the paint job, before you shipped it to me. I doubt letting these types of paint and body issues pass muster would meet most expectations. What is unfortunate is that you did not stand behind your work or attempt to resolve the body and paint issues with my car. That just ain't right. I received the car from you December 19, 2015 and have put on about 40 miles- you still have the ability to take the opportunity and make things right. I would venture to guess you did not take the opportunity to make things right with Erik's car either since it sounds like lawyers are now involved.

[HEMICUDA]

Alan, I don't believe that's accurate but I can add that Mancini also had the same thoughts as Bob Karakashian did regarding your engine building issues, so I have to side with the knowledge of Bob Karakashian and Mancini over your engine building experience.
It is not unreasonable to be disappointed with finding runs, dust bunnies, a damaged panel and a body line that does not line up well. You had the ability to realize the body line was not great before it was painted, the ability to not accept a freshly painted panel that was damaged before you installed it and you had the ability to have a good look at the car and realize, wow- that is a lot of dirt in the paint job, before you shipped it to me. I doubt letting these types of paint and body issues pass muster would meet most expectations. What is unfortunate is that you did not stand behind your work or attempt to resolve the body and paint issues with my car. That just ain't right. I received the car from you December 19, 2015 and have put on about 40 miles- you still have the ability to take the opportunity and make things right. I would venture to guess you did not take the opportunity to make things right with Erik's car either since it sounds like lawyers are now involved.

Aside from the bodylines being a mile off, terrible body gaps and the fender dog leg not worked so the gills lay flat, it's perfect.

[Shane Kelley]

"It is not unreasonable to be disappointed with finding runs, dust bunnies, a damaged panel and a body line that does not line up well."

What's a dust bunny? 

[Car-nutt]

I have been doing business with Alan for the last few years, he has restored parts for me on several of my Cuda's. Every time I pick-up or drop off a part I am amazed at the work in progress. I have restored many cars in the past and the biggest problem I found is the paint and body work, no body man wants to take responsibility. One question that comes to mind is did the client come see the car before it was released? If he didn't, why not? after spending that much money why not give it a once over or hire an appraiser to go over the car. I have purchased many cars from the US and have had local appraisers look over the car before I purchase them. Just my thoughts.

[slapshot]

"It is not unreasonable to be disappointed with finding runs, dust bunnies, a damaged panel and a body line that does not line up well."

What's a dust bunny? 

Dirt and dust particles stuck in the paint...