HELP! I need advice on my 52 chevy car...

First off...hi! I have not been around lately since I am doing the work of three people at work and raising my son by myself...free time does not exist right now.

Now onto the car...frustrating to say the least. here goes

My 52 chevy is mechanically sound. New engine/tranny/rear-end/brakes...mechanically all it needs is new wiring and exhaust.
The mechanic wanted it to go to the body shop before he put in the wiring and exhaust...

I don't want a show car. This is going to be a daily driver and the mechanic said he knew a guy that was not great but could get the job done...he put me in contact with the guy and we worked out a deal. He said the work would take one month to complete.

he was too fill the trim holes, remove rust and dents and get the dash, door jams and window holes painted semi gloss black and primer the rest. then it would go back and get wiring, gauges, exhaust, fenders/doors/hoods put back on and the glass would be put in.

Then it would go back to the paint guy for the final painting (semi gloss black).

It looked good on paper. I saw pics of the work the guy had done and it looked nice.

well after three months all but four holes are filled. one dent on the lower fender still exists. the dash is painted and looks ok...has some dead spots though.
the area between the taillights and below the trunk is a problem...new metal has been welded in but there is a lot of bondo in there too and the shape is not right...if you look from above one side bulges out further than the other. the door jams are not painted.

The car is back at the mechanics shop as the body guy said it is complete enough for the rest of the mechanic work to be done...needless to say the car is NOT going back to the body guy (another live and learn experience I guess).

The mechanic says it would be best to get the body work finished first before doing the rest of the mechanic work...

Here is where the dilemma begins. If I go to another body place and have him finish what has been started and fix the back area I am going to be over budget on this project and it will be another year before I can move forward with the mechanic work.

The mechanic says he will wire it and do the other work now if I tell him too...

My thoughts are that I should have him do the wiring put the gauges in, put the electric windshield wiper motor in, do the exhaust (no side pipes since that will limit the ability to get to the rocker area), put the doors, front fenders, hoods back on (not much body work to do with them), take it to the glass shop and get the glass put in.

At that point the car is drivable and the body work I can get done as I get the money...and some I can do myself on the weekends.

What do you guys and gals think? Any advice will be helpful (except for the advice of do it all yourself...hehe I know I know...but that is not going to happen)!

Thanks,
Lotus
http://www.lotusfelcher.com/car.asp

 

Can you summarize that into a one sentence question so us simple minded, run-on sentence hating folks can understand.

 

It seems to be a lot easier to stay motivated on a project when you can at least drive it around the block. My car is still pretty rough but it runs and drives good, get a little low on cash and just drive it for a little while. Besides that my little girl (4yr old) loves to ride in it. Just my limited experience.

Thanks
Will Vaughan

 

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Can you summarize that into a one sentence question so us simple minded, run-on sentence hating folks can understand.

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I am bummed out and burned out sums it up in one sentence.
The mechanic buddy that is working on my car just introduced me to a guy that is going to finish and fix the body work on my car in a timely manner at an affordable price so everything is back on track.

 

Hi lotus it must be a bitch when that happens, as long as you can get at the work that needs done I would get her on the road .. .. I have been following the work on your car looks good

 

when i ran body shops i always hated working on cars that did not run. plus it make you feel better to beable to drive it 20 feet when you get pissed

 

Have the mechanic wire it and install the exhaust...then find a competent body/paint guy to finish it up when you can afford to...at least you'll be able to drive it in the meantime...and the mechanicals will be DONE!