Hello- I have a 53 Chevy half-ton pickup that has been in my family since the year I was born. 31 years ago, and it has a name, so I guess it really is a family member at this point. It isn't in great shape. I used to drive it in high school, but Dad left it sitting out when I went to college, until I got it back under a roof a few years back. Poor truck. I've always wanted to get it fixed up to be a semi-daily driver. Not to drive to work every day, but drive to the lake or to the hardware store or what have you. Not a "performance truck" necessarily, but not original restoration either - maybe a "cruiser" is the right word? Would like to see V8, automatic transmission, power steering, disc brakes, air conditioning, that kind of stuff. And of course nice interior and beautiful paint. So, I have this dream, but I am not a "car guy." Never have been - just didn't grow up with it. I work at a desk, not in a garage. But, I would still love to drive that truck again. I have been saving for years, putting money away towards this, and this year I will have the money I need for this project. I have my savings, a big bonus from work, and some inheritance money. I would like to think about moving forward with the truck, finally, after all these years. Let me get to my actual question. I've tried web searching some, but I realize I have absolutely NO IDEA how to find, evaluate, and select a shop that can do the kind of work I'm looking for, that can do it for a fair price, and that I can trust with my old truck. How the heck do you even start trying to find a shop to do a full rebuild project? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Wish I knew how to do it on my own, but I don't, so I'll gladly pay someone who knows what they are doing.
Welcome to the HAMB. I'm sure someone on this site can recommend someone in your area who can do good work , in a timely manner. There are a LOT of highly skilled restorers/customizers on this site. Go with good references. Don't expect good work cheap but you should'nt have to mortgage your house either. Good luck!
You can buy a finished vehicle cheaper than you can build one.....my 2 cents However since its been in your family that long its kinda a different story
One of the best things you can do is visit in person any local shops. We always like to talk to the customer face to face and show them the facility and employees before we work on their car. People can show you lots of great pictures and talk a great game over the phone/email. Try and go on a day the shop is working too, so you can see everything and everybody.
Go to local car shows and ask questions...like the previous poster said, go to the shop in question, is it clean and orderly?, are the other cars in there protected?, if there are piles of trash all around the shop and a state of disorganization, walk away. You want to hire a professional who takes pride in their environment and their finished product. Referrals from fellow hammers will be priceless, good luck!
Put some time in at local shows and cruise nights. Talk to guys there, they know who can do what you want. Generally stay away from a shop who's main business is insurance work, they are usually to busy doing that stuff to do your project in a timely manner.
I do this type of work part time. I also don't need to advertise, or look for work, and usually have a 1-2 year waiting list to get into the shop, so I am not trolling for anything, EVER! Most of the time, when I get phone calls to do work, I have to turn them down. WHat I tell them to do, is to go to local car shows, and cruise nights. Get friendly with the local rod and custom owners. Ask the guys with nicely done cars, who did them. It is also important to ask if the price was reasonable for the work done, was it up to agreed standards, was it done in a timely fashion, and on budget. MOST important....how long has it been finished, to see if repairs last. Of course you have to understand that almost ANY project will take longer and cost more than anyone ever estimates, so you'll always hear bad sories about that. But in the long run, you'll find out who is trustworthy and does good, reliable work, if you ask enough people. Esp. from the ones that have been in the hobby the longest time. They will know the good guys and the bad.
Lots of good advice here. When you do find a shop, be careful. Insist on visiting in person to check on progress. Take a car guy with you to check the work. There are bad shops that prey on people like you. I worked for a couple and could tell you some stories. Needless to say, I didn't work there long. I don't mean to scare you, but rather to keep you on your toes. Good luck with your project. Tom
i think you need first to have someone ***ess your truck,,maybe it only needs a tuneup, brakes and a new set of wide whites since you have not really mention the condition of the truck. Bringing it to a shop requires deep pockets, extra deep once you get a few more ideas how you want the truck to look and perform...Good Luck with it!
One thing you need to reconcile in your own mind first is the type of restoration you want. Do you want a frame off that every piece of the truck is m***aged to new or better (BIG MONEY and now afraid to drive). Do you want a mechanical restoration where the brakes, drivetrain, guages and accesories all work (kind of a patina original look but dependable). Then the body, most every vehicle ever made isn't as straight as you see at a car show. Alot to think about but make sure you quantify what you want as these things can certainly run a muck along your hard earned buck.
If you ask around enough, you'll find a good shop. Be prepared to spend $25,000 to $50,000 depending on how nice you want it and how bad the rust is.
Good advise so far. I would add, most quality shops work by the hour. No one can tell you what a restoration/ build is going to cost. If someone tells you "I can do all the body and paint for ** $$" without seeing it apart and striped their either guessing, or they are trying to hook you. Expect to invest 40 to 50 grand if you want it right and want it to last. Personally I wouldn't take it to anyone without a rotisserie.
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