RK Motors Joe where did your $80K go? Seriously where?

Well a couple boys took another peek at the 67 Camaro. Identified the front end was new. Which I told them was purchased prior to sending it and sent along after it reached it's first destination. Two front inner fenders were new and everything else seemed to be from the original car underneath except for a few bolts and fuel and brake lines, possibly a gas tank which was not a custom one by any means. So, I wonder where did the CEO's money go? Couldn't have been in the body, it was a straight car to begin with. The interior is not anything fancy, I mean the headliner is just basic factory without any lighting or customization. It does have Viper seats or i asked for Viper seats. Granted the wiring took some time, adding power windows and doors and re-doing the doorhandles to be shaved because they supposedly didn't know it was agreed upon at the first shop. But where did all his overrun costs come from? I don't see it and the billing invoices which I paid are bundled charges and not itemized. Hmm, I could go with 90 hours for interior, wiring headlight doors( those can be a bugger) but I don't see anything special about paint and body it's already chipped in a couple places I don't think it would be if the base coat and clear coat were really good stuff. My other cars are dramatically better painted and fitment is better on my $33,000.00 mustang. I suppose if someone else is footing the bill you could make up extra charges and what not to pad your own pocket. I wouldn't think that would be the case here, surely not. If anyone has ideas where a renovations major cost overruns come from please chime in.
Speaking of overruns, I ordered some hood hinges and a radiator closeout panel today to help with the engine bay that was supposed to be upgraded but was not as clean in appearance as the original cars was. Got a good bit of work to do in there to be able to open the hood at a show
and not get crushed by every other small block entered. Looks okay if you like OEM engine
compartments, but not for a restomod/pro-touring car. Just have to look around and see what others have done out there for a small block, carbeurated engine compartment. Suggestions are welcome on that. An engine swap is not on the table at this time. Maybe after my Eleanor another shop is doing gets finished.

RK Motors 67 Camaro Restomod Renovation

The camaro was picked up last Monday and release papers signed off on as "completed" before the car was allowed to be removed from the shop in Ohio.
The results of the inspection by two separate classic car mechanics so far are as follows:
Power steering lines connected backwards
No Brakes; Brake lines never bled(4) no brake fluid in reservoir
Emergency brake not adjusted after install
Transmission casing missing 1 bolt;2bolts not torques
Transmission fluid plug missing
No transmission fluid
No gear fluid; casing not torqued
Tubular A arms not torqued
(tire shop requested front end be torqued before alignment)
No exhaust(noted at pick up as last thing to complete)
Tie rod ends not torqued missing cotter pins
Oil filter not replaced from when engine was painted in 2010
Fuel line crimped in rear
Fuel line missing 2 brackets
1 rear shock mounted upside down
1 rear spring loose
8 holes in rear floor pans exposing dynomat not filled in
No window trim attached
Missing front windshield trim mounting clips
Missing 1 corner molding trim piece
Drip rail moulding trim not attached
2 windshield wipers found under front firewall cover
Top mount radiator hose leaking
No hose to radiator overflow catch can
Glove box not functional lock comes out with key, won't open
13 exposed loose wires not run to anything
A/c not burped or charged
A/c lines zip tied to fender
Fuel gauge non functional
Battery cell dead
Hood alignment off won't close without chipping paint
No windshield wiper assembly
Reverse lights not wired
No lights to dash gauges
Drivers side door speaker cover falls off when door closes

Thats all for now. Will be traveling this week and unable to work on the car, going to check out a couple of Cuda's I'm interested in possibly purchasing. Will follow up if Allen, Mike or Robert will be working on it while I'm away. Stay tuned as the RK Motors 16 month renovated 67 Camaro gets completed at home.

Have you got a story to tell?

If you have a story to tell let's by all means get it out there! I know I have heard some amazing ones in talking with people from all over the country. If the classic car hobby is to continue and grow in the future there should be an avenue to direct people where to go and what to steer clear from. It's awful for someone to get totally turned off by a bad experience and not enjoy the classic car hobby. I have met so many endearing people along the way and wish everyone could have the same positive experiences. If all the good people in the hobby of collecting, showing, owning, maintaining and building could get together as a community the hobby could be something fantastic for future generations. So tell your story! You might just save someone the pain, aggravation and hard earned money of getting mixed up with the wrong builder, dealer or restorer of classic cars.

R_ Motors and the 1967 Camaro Restomod Renovation

HRB bought a 67 Camaro show car from Florida that had been Restored a couple years prior and shown at local shows in the state. After receiving the car and driving it just a handful of miles it was apparent that it could use some upgrades. Research was done, people were spoken to, and the decision was made to send it to BOSA. A contract agreement was made including the specific items to change and the estimated cost projections both low and high. The car was sent in the Spring of 2010. The time estimate given was 3 to 4 months. The owner decided to sublet out the work to another shop he had dealings with that he said was very reputable or he would not have sent the car to them. The contract items to be taken care of were:
Grigio Avalon Paint Exterior
Satin Rally Stripes
Wet Sand
Polish
Prep Paint
Materials. Labor 270hrs

Custom Paint Engine Bay
Custom Paint Engine
Air Cleaner
Detail Engine Bay
Re-route hoses and wire configurations
New brake lines
New Exhaust System
New components. Labor 60 hrs

Touch screen unit in dash
Viper front seats
Power door locks
Power windows
Console with cupholders
New seat belts
Restyle dashboard
Carpet
Paint dash trim, restyle interior
Labor 62,5 hrs

Repair headlights
Eliminate floor speakers
Re-plumb fuel system
Install E-Brake. Labor 37.5 hrs
Total Labor: 430 hrs

This contract was accepted and altered within limits by shop sublet to do the work.
Alterations included:
Shaved door handles
Alarm
Ghost stripe instead of rally
Black out chrome
Paint wheels

The car was fully funded in July of 2010 with 3k added expense from original contract.
In September of 2010 the car was taken away from the sublet builder and taken to BOSA in Ohio.I only found out about the car being moved from stumbling on a news article in the local newspaper when searching for BOSA news on a new computer with a different search engine than previously used. Noone contacted me about moving my car, apparently the company owner Joe was moving his business to a new state down South. I emailed the owner and he assured me everything was fine and the car would be complete by the end of the month.September 2010. In August of 2011 the car was still not finished and I was notified it would be moved to North Carolina to have exhaust finished and final pictures taken in a photo shoot. I thought about how the time the car was moved before and how I was told it would be completed by the end of that month and how it was now 11months later and I still had no car and decided to go get the car. I emailed all the parties involved stating I had secured a driver and would be there to pick the car up on Monday, August 14. I emailed them on the 13th of August after receiving word of the move on August 11,2011. The response from Joe the owner of the business was you can pick up the car completed in North Carolina the next Saturday after the photo shoot. I replied I had secured a driver and would get it from Ohio on Monday The 14th, I would complete it at home. There was no response to that email. Therefore, That's exactly what I did, to the surprise of the employees at the shop. I was helped to gather parts from the old car and fix a couple noticeable flaws seen while the car was on the lift. After the dust was blown off, We pushed the car out and had to winch it on to the trailor since the steering was connected improperly. The shop was instructed not to release my car, my property, without the signing of a release. The first of which was extremely lengthy which I did not sign and told them it was absurd and I just wanted my car that was paid for some 13 months prior. I then had to speak with Frank from the main office and tell him it was absurd and to revise it to came to pick up his car period. I had to sign off that they completed the car and any prior contracts were void and any leGal issues would be heard in North Carolina court. I wasn't asking for money back, just my car! I had had enough of the excuses, lies about completion dates and how they were upside down on the build and had money out of pocket in the project. I just wanted my car back after 16 months of patiently waiting and hearing nothing about it unless I inquired or they needed money for invoices. The car is back home now and I will post how the finishing of the car is going