macrohard

I have had the vette in for paint since October 2017. Estimate was 30-45 days and it has now been over 6 months.

This is a body shop that takes on some project cars, but it's bread a butter is insurance covered fender benders, so the vette takes a back seat when the shop gets busy. I am also getting a great deal compared to other shop prices in San Jose, Ca.

It's 90% done now(body, primer, paint, some re-assembly), but the remaining assembly, and re-work is taking forever! I keep checking up and they say its ready, but twice now I have gone to pick it up and there are still parts unpainted, not assembled, or not correctly installed.

Does anyone have some polite "motivational" words they have used in the past with good results for a similar situation?

I would prefer to keep the car in 1 piece. Thanks!

vettebuyer6369

Using motivational words towards a body shop in possession of your car is a terrible, terrible idea.

Suck it up and find something else to do in the meantime.

Wee

You said you were getting a good deal....So maybe offer up a few extra hundred if they get it done by a set date....Tell them you want to schedule a carshow.

It looks finished to me....

Brian

Mooser

That's why it's called sending your car to Paint-Jail

Mine did 2-long but that's another story...
M

Tonio

Texting and other tech doo-hickey distractions have turned body shops into gold mines. It's a wonder how any of them take on these long-term space-sucking projects. My LT-1 has been sitting in the body shop for 3 months now. They haven't touched it yet. Too busy with insurance claim work. I get it; money talks.

The13Bats

Hum, i have had two times this type thing hit me,
in one case an inspiring tech another a long term now ex friend "promise" my car done in a week or so a month tops,
After nearly a year both times,

It took threats of legal action to get the tech to free my car to me, fully paid but unfinished and damaged,
The ex friend i just had to go ****** it, with even far more damage,

Trust me you cant movtivate these types, egos big as mountains fragile as glass, excuses are useless and in some cases they will find obscure yet asinine ways to even blame you,

Cut your losses, retrieve your car, that too might **** them off,
Finish it yourself or
But they dont care and wont about anything you say at this point.

Haggisbash

I would pay up less some for what isn't done and either finish it myself or find someone you can trust to do it.

macrohard

Thanks for the feedback. Perhaps money does talk. Sounds like the best option, so I guess I’ll work that angle.

Priya

That's kind of how I feel about it.

Before I decided to do my car myself I went to a whole slew of shops for an estimate on painting it. The vast majority said they don't do complete paint jobs and were really snotty about saying "no", acting like I was a bitch for asking.

Rescue Rogers

Get it out of there. They may just do a rushed/crappy job to get it out of their hair. A short time wait is well worth another shop that cost more.

av81

I had my Camaro in a body shop for a year when I tried to get them on it to get it done they blew through it in two weeks , then I had to bring it to another body shop for a repaint the second shop took a month and it came out great , I would not push them to hard you could end up like I did.

Mr D.

Suck it up or pick the car up as-is, those are your only two options.

raven1708

I am kinda in the same situation. I dropped my car off back in August 2016 to have a new press molded front clip installed, and complete repaint. Still waiting.... Got a very good deal on the paint job, the trade off was it will take a while (almost 2 years is a little too much i think), But on a positive note it gave me a lot of time to hunt down all the correct parts i needed for my car. Hopefully by end of summer it will be on the road.

car junkie

There is a special place in hell for most body shop owners, at least I hope there is.

v2racing

Consider yourself lucky your car is this far along in only 6 months. It could be far worse! Check my thread of what can happen and did to me.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...y-painter.html

Mike

wer2xu

O man, the best way out of this is go pick up the car and get it out of their shop. Don't throw more money at them, setting money on fire will be just as effective.
Sounds like you are getting what you paid for, but yeah cut your losses and move on.

Priya

Having re-read your post...If that is your car in the picture and most everything is painted it would be tempting to take the car out and get someone else to finish it off.

If you do decide to go that route, beware that there is a very good chance the body shop won't put much effort into rounding up your various parts, bits, and pieces and you'll be leaving without some of them.

Way back when I was driving my 4 speed Torino, pushed in the clutch and when I let it out the car was like it was in neutral. I took it to a transmission shop and they told me it needed a new clutch. I found that hard to believe as I'd only put perhaps 2000 miles on it since the clutch was redone. I decided to take the car to another shop so they loaded th trans and bits and pieces in the trunk. When the other shop tried to reassemble there were various bolts and bits and pieces missing. I'm pretty sure that what happened was that when I pushed in the clutch the linkage got stuck on the headers and wouldn't let out the clutch. The headers I had were made for an automatic and it it was a tight squeeze in there with some selective denting of the headers and so on to get them to work.

macrohard

Sucking it up is no longer an option. 10 year solo-resto project and the last 6 months in paint are torture. I spoke to the owner and offered additional money, but he refused (odd), but he did give me another pick up date next week. Finger crossed, we'll see what happens....

stock76

I have a neighbor that owns a body shop. He is in the process of restoring a C-2 in his home garage.

He does not accept classics for restoration or paint at his shop because they specialize in collision work.

He said restorations are a different animal entirely and they are not set up for that kind of work, and customer. He turns them down and explains why when they come in.

I have a feeling if you take your classic to a collision repair shop you may as well be prepared to wait. They have to cater to the insurance companies first as their bread and butter.

stingr69

Its called Paint Jail for a reason. No, you do not get out early for good behavior. I brought one in while the shop was going out of business and the owner had NOTHING else to work on. Took like 11 months total and we had to move it to his home shop in middle of the job when his building finally sold. It got finished, but nothing I ever did could move it along any faster.