Now that my project is safely tucked away in a storage unit close to home, maybe I can help others to avoid my mistakes. I made so many that it's hard for me to pick a starting point, so please bear with me.
Check my thread in the resto section for a more complete telling, at least up to this point.
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=27173.01 - A project beyond my resources, taken to a general collision shop rather than a dedicated, established restoration shop. NO! DON'T DO IT!! toolate...
2 - A verbal contract. Oh brother, someone should have gone up side of my head with a 'clue-by-four'. Instead I helped pave a few more roads in H - E - double hockeysticks with my good intentions. After all the similar threads all over the net, you'd think I would have known better.
3 - My longtime Mopar friend Joey C. who was managing the shop at the time suffering a nervous breakdown. He left with little notice other than a phone call to the owner, Jerry H., who I had become friendly with - also Mopar through and through. I have known the fellow who next took over managing the shop, Johnny L., for a few decades as well - yep, also a Mopar guy. Unfortunatley he's a much better mechanic than manager.
4 - In the last three years, five different paint guys and a similar number of bodymen. As well being the manager during the week, he wrenches on the shop owner's Mopars most weekends effectively burning his candle on both ends.
Btw over the past year i've been the main travelling computer tech (not the only one but still the main one) at my own job while upgrading computer devices for the local State Employment Centers. Splitting my thoughts between work and all spare monies to my car had me burning the proverbial candle on both ends as well
5 - The above main personnel at the shop using me as a 'sounding board' over the past four years because i'm a good listener. Joey while going through the ups and downs of depression, Jerry because i'd known Joey for so many years, Johnny because i'd known him for so long as well as Jerry and Joey. I seriously considered becoming a smartass prick to all of the above except by now my car was totally apart and i'm really not that way so I nixed that idea. I continued to pave H - E - double...well you know.
Finally, enough really was enough. Two weeks ago my car was finally resting safely locked away. From the day I asked Johnny to turn my car into a roller to when it was delivered to the storage unit was a total of two months. I have all my parts, or at least those unique to my Special Edition -
- and i've pretty much decompressed from this soap opera.
Yeah they all had a part but none of this would have happened without my giving the go-ahead back in 2006
I'm now directing my energies to me, my house, and my truck. At work i'm my old happy go lucky self and soon i'll be back to the gym.
The Challenger will be properly finished in a few years after my finances are in better shape. This place, and forum members more numerous than I can recall, has always helped me. I'm not going anywhere and although it would be nice if I could help out through hands-on experience, i'll help as best I can.
Jeez, I hope all that made some sense
Russ
