Regional Shops

[TANKMASTERJ]

D and D Specialty Cars Van Buren Arkansas.
Dale and Stacy Downs own it. Many many deep pocket customs in there shop. I only had them do some sheet metal such as custom hood vents I purchased on PTF from Frank V. Everything else was strip car, repair rust around windshields front and back, and the paint job.
I personally did the floor , frame rails, mini tub, and trunk floor. I also Installed my speedtech front and rear along with roll cage etc before going to D and D.
Although with any shop you could nitpick or complain of this or that. They are a good shop with very high standards. I think I had no idea going in the cost. And when I saw what I thought was poor systematic approach or organization costing me I was disgruntled. But in there defense they are used to people dropping off there ride with a very very deep pocket and picking up it completed. I was trying to do all I could myself to save cost.
Like many of you starting expecting to build a car for X budget, 100k 150k or whatever. ( I started with a car I had 50 in and thought another 75 would do it.) Not even close. Live and Learn.
My own not having a well executed plan and list on the front was my own doing.
They did an OUTSTANDING job on metal work and paint work.
My biggest complaint was items like them stripping the car at significant cost when you could media blast for a fraction of the cost. Only reason I say that is I am a water tower construction business and and we abrasive blast everything so I can speak from personal experience.
Or when they stripped and blasted the car they didn't do the inside of the doors. ( I should have had the written plan) Or rear quarters which I sanded down and coated when I got it home.
Again I don't believe I communicated exactly what I expected and they weren't used to a guy not just going all the way but stopping them at certain points saying this is good enough or let's cut here or there whatever.
The shop owner told me on the front end he doesn't like to media blast cars except for door jambs and windshield channels and hard to strip areas because of warping and sand everywhere but that he would go as little or as far as I wanted to go with the building. And they do allow you to hit it hard for a month or two and take a break financially before getting back on it.
The stripping just cost about 5 times what I expected. ( Like 13 or 14 grand) . They even stripped the back side of fenders and hoods and valances, stuff you could abrasive blast far cheaper. Again not the shop fault but my lack of knowledge.
I'm staying all of this not to bash D and D any way at all.
PLEASE HEAR ME! I'm saying all this to praise them for attention to detail, and that there methods of thoroughly doing every little phase has got them where they are today and that for all of you going in on the front end just make a list of wants, NEEDS expectations, BUDGET and then quiz the shop extensively and write those answers of communication down and STICK to your plan. After those interviews WRITE your plan down and give to the shop and then you both communicate and modify as time goes on.
I DIDN'T DO THIS. I communicated with them via phone, text, email, and we never had any disagreements what so ever I just didn't have a well thought, well written plan.
I see now how important that is.
Scope CREEP. Is everyone's enemy on these car builds.
This shop won't give you an estimated price but only charges 50.00 per hour Labor plus Parts. Very cheap as far as hourly rates are concerned.
Shop is VERY clean and organized. From chassis, wiring, custom leather, flush mount, build you headers, whatever they are very capable.
. I've been to several LS fests. Many car shows, auction, etc. I've seen very few builds that top the quality of D and D Specialty.
D and D Specialty Cars Van Buren Arkansas to 479-474-1114.

[Gonzostyle]

Realized this is "southern states" part of regional shops. I will move to more appropriate thread

I have a few projects that I want to work through and just don't have the time to do body and paint right now. I am in Northern CA, looking for a body shop recommendation in the N. CA, Southern OR, Reno NV area. I don't mind traveling a bit for a good shop.

Thanks,
-Jeremie