MR HYDE IS COMING TO LIFE

[Dr Jkel]

Changed Photos of the bed since I got a better picture, the pic above shows a little better what it really looks like.

[Dr Jkel]

Update 3-3-11 Body panels are going back on for the final time which is a good thing. Of course we ran into a snag. Once the bed was installed the rear of the truck just didn't look right with the roll pan on it, so I decided to put the rear bumper on it since I had already bought a new one.

WELLLL that didn't look to good either, turns out that once you shave the front bumper and suck it up to the body that you need to do the same to teh rear, the front bumper is straight, the rear bumper is curved. SO the we decided to put the roll pan and the bumper on it just to see how that looked.

The look was better but still the curved rear bumper did not look so good on the back of the truck. Well months back he had bought a parts truck just in case we might need something we couldn't buy but it was a fleetside truck, well that time had come. A fleet side rear bumper is straight the problem is that the ends of a fleetside bumper do not have the curved ends to wrap around the rear fender like the original look which will still look funny :(. The problem is that the rear bumper has a profile and if you try to make something you have to have the exact same profile, luckily the front bumper on the fleetside has the exact same profile but has the curved ends, the rear bumber has the step in the middle of the bumper.

So what they did was take the center section off the rear bumper of a 1963 fleetside truck, take the end sections off the front bumper of a 1963 fleetside truck and mate them together. The bumper was shortened about 2 inches to makes it fit correctly, then the brackets were shortened so that the bumper could be sucked up to the body like the front.

A lot of trial and error yesterday but the results were amazing and I was actually impressed when he sent me a picture of the tacked up version last night about 9:00 pm.

They are going to TIG weld it today, grind, sand, polish and whatever else they have to do to get it ready to have it chromed. Send it out tomorrow to the chrome plater and it should be back Monday, maybe sooner. I was kinda skeptical about that time line since chrome shops are usually really slow and take weeks but since this shop sends him so much business he is going to do a quick turn around and get it back

But all the body should be assembled by tomorrow afternoon, everything re-cleared and polished and next week the mehcanicals completed.

Here is a picture of the last mock up look that he sent me so I could see how it would look with the curved ends. Very crude, I show this so when you see the finished product you will be impressed.

[Hylton]

Not sure what I like more, the car or the garage....




Something similar is on my "got to have" list despite a big garage on the house. What is the slab behind the garage for?

[Dr Jkel]

Hi Hylton,

Now you can kinda see the Firebird, The slab in the back is for the boys to play basketball and when they get tired of that I will frame it up and have a good storage area. It is 20 x 20 so it is big enough for them to play and will definitely be big enough for a good storage room.

The walls are 12' so they will be big enough for a lift and 42' wide is big enough for my boat , Truck, Camaro and still have room to work on Kelley's Firebird.

The siding should be completed either today or tomorrow along with the roof, so it is coming along. The garage on the house I am able to put 4 cars in but it's really tight, this way I can put my show stuff out of everyone's way.

[Dr Jkel]

Well My Friday visit has came and went.

To say my patience is wearing thin would be an understatement at this point. I fianlly decided to take my Uncle and little boy Drew with me so they could see what I have been talking about for years.

Of course my little boy was excited but my Uncle and I were a little more down to earth with our observations. The truck was together in appearance which you will be able to see in the few pictures I took, but pictures can be deceiving if you take them at face value.

Since this is 4 days past the deadline my tolerance for BS is very limited and my " Niceness" is very limited. Whle the truck appeared to be assembled it was only eye candy since the bed was just sat on the frame and held down by 2 of the 8 bolts.

I counted nine places that are going to need touching up with paint which is the whole reason I thought they took it apart on Feb 25 to re-clear and fix some things.

So to say there is alot of work to be done in an understatement, wiring needs to be done, brake lines need to be ran, motor still needs to be fired up and checked and then the interior needs to be installed.

I guess I have to decide on my next course of action and see what my options are at this point. I was sure hoping that it would not come down to this but it looks like I will have to spend more money to get this hing completed, this time paying lawyers.

But at least I got to see what it is supposed to look like.

The back bumper issue has been fixed,had to take a rear bumper of a fleetside 63 with the ends off the front of a 63 and mate them together.

[Darth_Emma]

In the world of modding, things are rarely done on time. But what is more important is that it is done right. I know it must be frustrating right now for you, but it's going to be so cool when it's finished. Take a deep breath and have a beer.

[BigDan]

Originally Posted by Dr Jkel

So to say there is alot of work to be done in an understatement, wiring needs to be done, brake lines need to be ran, motor still needs to be fired up and checked and then the interior needs to be installed.

I thought the owner put 2 guys on getting the engine running early last week. What happened, did the 2 guys quit or give up on trying to get your turnkey crate engine fired up? Everything you mentioned that still needs to be completed still sounds like A LOT of work and at least another 3 weeks considering wiring and all the little finish work is a PITA. That doesn't include all the extra paint work and the future scratched paint from installing hard brake lines with out ant sort of body protection. The next time you stop buy you should put painters tape all over the vehicle to stop the scratches.

[Dr Jkel]

Originally Posted by Darth_Emma

In the world of modding, things are rarely done on time. But what is more important is that it is done right. I know it must be frustrating right now for you, but it's going to be so cool when it's finished. Take a deep breath and have a beer.

Em,

I truly understand that things may take a little longer than expected but after 9 years my patience are gone. I think I am being fed a bunch of BS. Basically what he has done for the past 2 weeks is string me along knowing he would not be done, all the while taking my money consistently stating that he would make the deadline and " Don't worry , I will be done" Only last week did he come up with the scratch story.

Originally Posted by BigDan

I thought the owner put 2 guys on getting the engine running early last week. What happened, did the 2 guys quit or give up on trying to get your turnkey crate engine fired up? Everything you mentioned that still needs to be completed still sounds like A LOT of work and at least another 3 weeks considering wiring and all the little finish work is a PITA. That doesn't include all the extra paint work and the future scratched paint from installing hard brake lines with out ant sort of body protection. The next time you stop buy you should put painters tape all over the vehicle to stop the scratches.

That was the story he gave me 2 weeks ago and all signs pointed that way. Whn I looked at my truck Friday, I took my Uncle and little boy because I was under the impression that I would be seeing alot more " Completed " than I did. Because they were there was the reason I didn't act like a complete fool.

While I did see the basic shell of the truck what appeared to be assembled it only looks assembled. The bed only has 4 bolts loosely holdy the bed on the frame, the gas tank has not been mounted, no brake lines ran, no rear calipers installed. As you can see from the pictures the rear wiring is just hanging down and has not been completed.

None of the door assembly has taken place as far as the window, regulators, wiring for the power windows, window channels, window rubber etc...


I see alot of work that needs to be done, now the kicker is he wants more money, yes more money. After spending nearly ALOTof money he isn't getting anymore money. The agreement was for him to be completed Feb 28, 2011 and now I will hold his feet to the fire on this. On way or the other he will finish this truck or pay the price.

[Rockslam]

Time for a good ole ass whoopin'

[Dr Jkel]

Originally Posted by Rockslam

Time for a good ole ass whoopin'

Trust me the thought has crossed my mind, but since I work in a prison i really don't want to reside there and probably the only thing keeping me from it at this point.

It is actually kind of funny. The laws are not on the consumers side in situations like this, basically breach of contract law, not really a whole lot can be done. So I sue him and he files bankruptcy, I still have nothng except lawyer bills, he opens the same shop under another name and comtinues on. I have no recourse.

I have tried every angle to try and get him to do the right thing, anger, threats, sympathy, money, nothing really works. Tooo bad my cousin Vinny, LOL wished I had a my cousin Vinny. I guess people like his are all over and so are shops like this but one thing is for sure, some way some how I will get my satisfaction.

The real sad part of the whole thing and what really upsets me is he is stealing my joy.

[Darth_Emma]

Sounds like it's time to take your truck to another shop and cut your losses.

[Dr Jkel]

Originally Posted by Darth_Emma

Sounds like it's time to take your truck to another shop and cut your losses.

You are correct Emma. Right now I have a lawyer checking my legal options to see what my rights actually are before I do anything. Once I take my truck I will have to have set in motion what I am going to do legally by either trying to sue him for breach, putting a lein on his business.

I can either sure him for failure to perform or breach of contract from what I am being told, but we all know how lawyers are so I really have to make sure of what I am being told at this point.

One thing I know for sure is my sanity is not worth this, cause bad thoughts are creeping into my head and that ain't good .

The other problem with this situation is finding another shop to finish this who knows where they will be and what that will cost in the end. Most people do not want to take over something in the middle or near the end.

I guess at this point I am just looking over my options to see what I can do, but to say that I am frustrated, aggravated and really just pissed off would be putting it lightly.

[garcmol]

John, I know you are in construction. Now, how many half built homes that builders walk away from would you as a builder buy up and finish? I'm not trying to be a smartass, just sayin' that going from one shop to another might be a very expensive and time consuming option.

I know this truck is very special to you and has decades of memories but you remember waiting for the Camaro after you ordered it, right? Seemed like an eternity for delivery day to come, but it did and the wait was worth it ~ and was almost forgotten.

I hope it gets finished soon and turns out just the way you want it to. I'd love to see it in Atlanta in April! My guess is so would A.J.!!

[Dr Jkel]

Originally Posted by garcmol

John, I know you are in construction. Now, how many half built homes that builders walk away from would you as a builder buy up and finish? I'm not trying to be a smartass, just sayin' that going from one shop to another might be a very expensive and time consuming option.

I know this truck is very special to you and has decades of memories but you remember waiting for the Camaro after you ordered it, right? Seemed like an eternity for delivery day to come, but it did and the wait was worth it ~ and was almost forgotten.

I hope it gets finished soon and turns out just the way you want it to. I'd love to see it in Atlanta in April! My guess is so would A.J.!!

Norm,
I don't think you are being smart and I value your opinion as I consider you my friend.

It is ironic you bring up the homebuilding experience as I have had to go more than I would like to count a finish up someone else's mess. Here lately too many builders are just walking away and not honoring their commitment.
I checked with the state and 38% of homebuilders did not renew their licenses this year and alot have filed bankruptcy due to this wonderful economy we are in.

The great crossroads of life is where I guess I am at on this. You are correct in your statements that if I go and get my truck it will cost me MOAR money since no one will want to take over something like this, especially in this line of work.

I talked to 3 shops this week about that very thing and 2 could really care less and only 1 was more than willing to even look at it, even though I sent pictures, explained what has happened etc.....

I have talked with lawyers about my legal rights and that is really open for interpretation and of course if you can get it into court ( who knows when) will depend on the mood of the judge on the day of court.

I just find it very hard to believe and understand that when a business writes out a contract and agrees to a price and a deadline that nothing can be done if they do not live up to their end of the bargain. The frustrating side of this is that it has taken 9 years, not 9 weeks, 9 months but 9 years and I have been patient through all his BS.

So now he really knows I am PO'd, right and tells me he "Thinks" it can be done in 3 weeks. For the sake of areguement let's say I agree and we move forward and in 3 weeks he says, " Hey I tried but I need another 3 weeks" this could literally go on for months with him, all the while draining my bank account and me wanting to do some thump therapy, which is not the answer.

Right now he is SUPPOSED to be getting me a list of the parts that is required to complete the truck ( this ought to be interesting) get me a list of the labor functions that has to be performed so I can see what exactly has to be done and a cost associated with each and a total to finish it.

Once I get that then I will see what it says and decide what to do. Bruce has a statement about spending money that I like and he says " He doesn't mind spending money as long as he feels that he isn't wasting money" I feel like he is charging me to do the same things over and over, but I guess it is like you said I need to decide what I can live with and go from there, but it definitely is not worth going to jail over.