Sad News

[craighill74]

I posed quite a bit ago concerning my restoration project of a family heirlum a 1966 ford f100.
This truck was first purchansed by my grandfather in 1966 as a special order from the factory. It has 158k miles on the chassy. The truck is in great shape it just needed a little bit of TLC on the little bit of rust and minor dents.
So to make a long story short we found a local autobody shop to conduct the restoration of the paint, body, chrome, and trim. After 6 months of no progress from the autoshop and excuse after excuse we decided to cut our losses and pull the truck out of the shop. When we asked where the chrome, trim, and emblematic were for the truck, the shop owner said he would "get ahold of us tomorrow" as time went on and we started to pin the guy down on where the parts where. Once we had enough he could not produce a receipt / company name / phone number or anything on where he took the chrome. So we have LOST IT ALL.

So I now am looking for some advice from you guys on where to get good quality replacemnet parts. I am going to need both bumpers, the grill, all the exterior trim, and the badges. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Also if any of you know of some good repitable shops to do the autobody in the norther california / nevada I would greatly appreciate any and all imput

[Bill W]

sorry to hear the bad news.... does the buisness owner have any kind of insurance and did you file a police report?

[BigMike]

Did you take a picture of it at their shop when you dropped it off? Make him replace it or sue him in small claims court.

[FORDMANLCRACKEL]

Did you take a picture of it at their shop when you dropped it off? Make him replace it or sue him in small claims court.

X2, he lost it make him replace it!

[noley99]

Did you take a picture of it at their shop when you dropped it off? Make him replace it or sue him in small claims court.

I would think you have a case even without pictures. Do you have a work order or some type of agreement with the shop?

[craighill74]

we have all the pictures and have filed the appropriate paperwork. The problem is that this guy is now already going to jail and his business has already gone into bankrupt proceedings. So our claim is also in line with all of his other creditors. So our chances of getting either the chrome or the money equilivent ranks between slim to none.

[Hunter's 64]

See if you can get the value of chrome in trade for some of his tools or equipment.

Danny

[therealjoeshmoe]

we have all the pictures and have filed the appropriate paperwork. The problem is that this guy is now already going to jail and his business has already gone into bankrupt proceedings. So our claim is also in line with all of his other creditors. So our chances of getting either the chrome or the money equilivent ranks between slim to none.

sounds like the sorry sob that screwed me over.. i swear you cant trust anyone nowadays! ive come to the conclusion i will do it all myself. it prolly wont be as nice as some but it will be solid and mechanically sound.. im just learning as i go and taking my time.. its kind of a way for me to relax on the weekends too.. i actually look forward to weekends in the shop now.. lol

[unibody madness]

You might be able to do a walk through with the local pd in order to see if you can find your parts. for all you know its just sitting there on a shelf or in a corner of the shop.

[Toyz]

Good points; I would certainly explore all avenues; the parts went somewhere illegally!
Joey, I agree 100%! I hear so many horror stories concerning well-checked out businesses; it's really alarming. Besides, doing it yourself does entail a high level of satisfaction; plus the ability to honestly affix the "Built not Bought" sticker .
Skip has one appropriate for Texans: "Rebuilt in Texas by Texans"!
Guess we will give him the benefit allowed those who "got here as fast as they could"; , even though he was unaware of the origin of the "Built in Texas by Texans" sticker which used to come as standard equipment on our trucks!
Paul