MR HYDE IS COMING TO LIFE

[garcmol]

I know today is progress report day. I hope he has that list for you, for his sake. And I hope he's lined off several things! Hang in there John.

[Dr Jkel]

We will see, I am still waiting on the list of parts needed and the labor functions needed. I have a sneaking feeling that nothing has been done this week.

My unlce has agreed to go and see him today and see what is going on since he lives 5 minutes from this shop. He said that he was going to pull him aside and talk with him and try and figure out a solution to this problem.

Maybe since he will be talking with a 70 yr old man he will be more receptive to Uncle Paul. Probably not a reall good idea if I go today, especially if nothing has been done which I suspect.

After talkiing with alot of people this week and wondering what could be done I found out that this industry is not regulated but the state, there is no licensure board to complain to, only the BBB, or news media and to be real honest I really just want my truck finished.

So I guess I will wait till I get the " Estimate" however long that takes, see what it says, see how much more money he wants and go from there, in all honesty that is all I can do at this point.


On a better note, the garage is coming along nicely, the siding is completed, roofing is done, just waiting on the grade work. Too much rain lately and the ground is saturated so can't really get any equipment in there to move dirt and get ready for concrete.

This weekend I will get it wired, Insulated and ready for sheetrock. They will start on that first on next week. The garage doors go on either Tuesday or Wednesday. Gutters will be put on today, so hopefully by the end of next week if the weather permits I will be able to pour the concrete for the drive and be ready to do a little landscaping and call that project done. SO all is not bad, LOL

[Dr Jkel]

Well Sports Fans After many e-mails I have received the final or what they call the final estimate. It has left me with 2 pages of questions for them and only took them a solid 3 weeks to complete.

Without getting into any particulars there are some difference of opinions that are gonna have to be ironed out before anything is even started. Lets just say it seems like I am being charged twice for some things and that ain't gonna happen.

I guess the threat of being sued for breach of contract was real enough for action especially when I copied and pasted the actual law, the consequences of breaching a contract and my intentions if he failed to live up to his end of the bargain. I am sure he had a lawyer look at it, and when I sent all the e-mail correspondance I had with the last e-mail, along with the law reference, the penalties, receipts of payment, his own e-mails I think they realized it was better to just finish the truck.

The funny thing about this is I never refused to pay, I just wanted a Firm completion date and a Firm price, which I thought I had but evidentially it was a guess by the looks of this last estimate.

Oh well I will wait on their response and go from there. But at least we have a little progress.

[garcmol]

I put a cutout video in your Jkel thread. Well glad to see he got the list to you! Now it's negotiating time? Can't see paying twice for something, especially if he did it wrong or not up to par with customer expectations as contracted.

[Dr Jkel]

Well my response probaly was not to his liking in the least but we will see what he has to say about that. The negotiations have definitely begun, problem is he really doesn't have too much bargaining power.

In all honesty I am not trying to be a D***, just want what I have paid for, nothing more and definitely nothing less. The funny thing is based on the labor hours minus a few obvious things he tried to add, it took him longer to do the estimate than it would have to finish the truck if he would have just finished it. Probably about 175 hours remain according to his estimate of real labor, not the inflate things he sent me.

So we will see.

The video was killer, that is why I love my Cut Outs, They are AWESOME.

[Dr Jkel]

Ok all, well those who have been following this thread, it looks like some resolution has been made on my truck.

After the shop basically understood that I had taped conversations and pictures that contradicted his own words, invoices that implicated him in double billing, e-mails in where the truck was promised to be finished, and a contract that he could not avoid, not to mention the facts of certain Alabama laws like " Theft by Deception", "Failure to Perform" etc.... and realized that ( I am assuming his attorney made it clear) it might be in his best interest to finish this truck pretty quick.

I have always agreed to pay for the parts needed to complete this truck, that was never in dispute. The labor cost is what I was disputing. When it was supposed to be finished FEb 28, 2011 I agreed on a labor price, just because he sluffed off, wasted time or was inefficient did not mean that was my fault that he drug around and didn't finish and when he submitted me another estimate for 18000.00 I just couldn't and wouldn't wrap my arms around that. He thought there was an open checkbook. HE was WRONG.


So as of last night, this is the total understanding. He understands the ramifications if he does not abide by this and in an ATTPEMT to be "Fair and Reasonable" ( What my attorney advised me would be the proper thing to do, and if he does not abide by will make him look really foolish in the eyes of any Judge) I have agreed to allow him to finish the truck 100% complete.

He has a timetable to be finsihed on Sept 2, 2011 at 9 am or the Judge will process the paperwork and move forward with the lawsuit, the District Attorney will then proceed further with his case and of course I would have to wait MORE.

So in the interest of "Fairness and being Reasonable" I will pay for the parts needed to finish the truck. ( this was never in dispute) I also agree to pay him 2000.00 labor to FINISH the truck 100%, everything working, 100% road worthy. plus any cost of service related to the completion i.e. front end alignment, Chroming cost for the rear bumper and exhaust installation.

On Sept 2 @ 9 am he will present the truck to an independant party for final inspection. If the independant inspector signs off that the truck is 100% completed to the standard of the build and everything works then I am obligated to take the truck and pay the 2000.00 fee for inspection, and labor. And all is finished.

IF the inspector deems the truck incomplete, then the truck will be removed from the premises, taken to another shop an estimate will be made to complete the vehicle and the Breach of Contract, Theft by Deception and Failure to Perform civil and criminal will move forward.

The Judge wanted me to give him ONE more chance to do the right thing and if he fails to complete it then he will face the consequences. I think he got the message.

SOOOOOOOOOO Hopefully, fingers crossed, lucky horseshoe and four leaf clover I will have my truck in 35 days.

[garcmol]

got my fingers crossed, horseshoe up and a 4 leaf clover in my wallet. Hope this is a done deal soon so you can enjoy the truck

[Dr Jkel]

This is what it looked like the last time I saw it on Feb 28..

[PQ]

Damn. That guy needs to go work for Savini.

Maybe you'll get to 'gaurd' him some day. Would't he just turn blue in the face to turn the corner in his new 'home' and see you standing there in uniform.

[mlee]

WoW... I'd be a little worried about hidden Easter Eggs... hope the inspector does his job... Glad you will finally be getting it resolved...

[Dr Jkel]

Originally Posted by PQ

Damn. That guy needs to go work for Savini.

Maybe you'll get to 'gaurd' him some day. Would't he just turn blue in the face to turn the corner in his new 'home' and see you standing there in uniform.

Oh he would not be a happy camper. I think once he realized that thye were not playing with him anymore and if he didn't do the right thing and pushed this to court, made them waste time and money on this that he wouldn't like the outcome. Funny thing is when you work in Law Enforcement you meet alot of different people, like DA's, Judges, Lawyers etc... especially after 20 years of working in a prison.

Originally Posted by mlee

WoW... I'd be a little worried about hidden Easter Eggs... hope the inspector does his job... Glad you will finally be getting it resolved...

Yeah Mlee I was initially worried about that as well, but I do not really think he would try something like that cause if ANYTHING happens it is Toast for him. The Judge told the arbitrator to make SURE it is right and DOT approved. The judge was still pondering how long of a warranty that he will require them to give me.

The REAL sad part is that they really do great work, the paint work is flawless, body gaps are tight and all the same, just getting them to finish.
I really think he opened his mouth originally and agreed to more than he bargained for and thought he could high pressure me into just keep paying more and more, but he is the professional and after 9 yrs and 92000.00 then it's all on him.

They have taken the joy out of this project, my uncles heath is OK but not the best in the world so it MUST be done soon. I am just hoping I can forget about all the BS once it is finally done.

It is kinda like the Savini wheel ordeal, you don't mind paying for quality but dont screw me over. There are currently 12 vehicle including mine in his shop, 9 are not happy with the delays including me, mine has been there the longest. I am afraid that if he doesn't get his act together then he will soon find the wrong end of the law.

You know some people are GREAT workers but the can not run a business, others are better managers. I think he does great work but can't run a business for nothing.

[Dr Jkel]

Well Ordered a Ton of things for the engine bay yesterday. Wires, Wire Looms, Hoses, Overflow tanks for the Power Steering and Radiator.....Boy Billet is PROUD of their stuff.

I should have a couple more orders 1 from Vintage Air for a couple of A/C fitting?????? Not real sure why I need fittings for a unit that is supposed to be complete but at this point I will buy a few fittings, 1 from LMC for little stuff like rubber bushings, vent window "Stuff" and a couple of odd and end things like Chroming Bill, Front end alignment bill, Exhaust bill, dyno tuning time and it should be done.

Tick Tock the clock is ticking.

[Berean]

Nice! I love that gen for GM trucks 1960-1966. There was a 1966 GMC rat rod for sale in my area. I wanted that truck soooo bad.

[Dr Jkel]

Made , hopefully my last, orders yesterday for the remaining parts needed from LMC and Brothers Truck parts.

Ordered some original style mirrors, kinda going with the resto rod theme, of course they are chrome. Tail lights are polished stainless, front and rear bumpers are chrome, hidden tail gate latches with no chains......all in all it should come out pretty good.

When I started this project the Torq Thrust wheels were kinda in, but now I am thinking they are kinda out. It has 18 x 9 on the front and 20 x 10 on the back. It gives it the rake I was looking for but maybe in the future I may go with one consistent size. Something I can look at in the future.


Here are the specs on the motor......... Not real sure about all this stuff and what it all means.

ZZ383/425 TECH SPECS:
Part Number: 12498772
Engine type: Chevy small-block V-8
Displacement (cu in): 383
Bore x stroke (in): 4.00 x 3.80
Block (P/N 88962516): Cast iron with 4-bolt main caps
Crankshaft (P/N 12489436): Forged steel
Connecting rods (P/N 12497624): Heavy-duty PM steel
Pistons (P/N 12499103): Hypereutectic aluminum
Camshaft type (P/N 12370846): Hydraulic roller
Camshaft lift (in): .509 intake / .528 exhaust
Camshaft duration (@.050 in): 222'c1 intake / 230'c1 exhaust
Cylinder heads (P/N 12464298): Fast Burn aluminum; 62cc chambers
Valve size (in): 2.00 intake / 1.55 exhaust
Compression ratio: 9.6:1
Rocker Arms (P/N 12367345): Aluminum roller style
Rocker arm ratio: 1.5:1
Recommended fuel: 92 octane
Ignition timing: 32'c1 total @ 3000 rpm with vacuum advance disconnected
Maximum rpm: 6000