Need Recommendation for Restoration Shop

**Jean C.** · December 29, 2007, 04:01 PM

Re: Need Recommendation for Restoration Shop

Michael,
My suggestion is that you contact James West in Omaha and get his ideas. Should James not see your post and respond on this Board, you can view his profile on this site and send him an e-mail.
Best regards,
Charlie

**Larry M.** · December 29, 2007, 05:04 PM

Re: Need Recommendation for Restoration Shop

Michael:

In the midwest, two shops that come to mind are D&M Corvette Specialists in Downers Grove, Illinois, and Mickey's Car Barn Corvette Restoration in Crown Point, Indiana. Both have very good reputations. They advertise in the NCRS Driveline and also have their own websites. Check them out. I am sure that there are many others, but these are two that I can personally recommend.

Larry

**Charles C.** · December 29, 2007, 09:14 PM

Re: Need Recommendation for Restoration Shop

Michael,

Did you see the question (posted here on Dec. 24 at 9:59 pm) on the "cost to have a Corvette restored by a shop" and the responses? I have never handed over one of my Corvettes to a shop for a complete restoration and I found this post informative.

Charles

**Michael S.** · December 29, 2007, 10:09 PM

Re: Need Recommendation for Restoration Shop

Thanks Charles. No, I had not read the posting on "cost to have a Corvette restored by a shop". I just read the postings and I am suprised at the estimated cost to have a shop restore a C1 or C2 to NCRS Top Flight or Bloomington Gold. The hours for the labor was also a suprise but I guess I had not really thought it through on how much work it is to do a frame off restoration. I am rethinking on whether I really want to have a shop do a restoration on my vette now, especially when I know my wife will not ok me funding it with a second mortgage on my home.

**Roy B.** · December 30, 2007, 12:30 PM

Re: Need Recommendation for Restoration Shop

There is much a person can do him self to cut the cost of restoring a Corvette even if they have little knowledge, buying some necessary tools to do so, removing parts, sending parts out for repair and on and on. Having one person doing body and paint another doing mechanical . Having one shop do all seems to cost 75K and up. Even if you need to learn a screw drive from a hammer the time you save just removing parts and sending them out can cut the cost by 10K or more. The point is you get the feeling of hands on pride , learn something about your Corvette and save money, plus spread the cost over time so that you don't need a second mortgage on your house to get your Corvette back.

I don't see calling my self a hobbyists and knowing my Corvette if I have some shop do everything and just write a check.

**Michael S.** · December 30, 2007, 01:29 PM

Re: Need Recommendation for Restoration Shop

Roy, good points to consider.

With me, it is not a matter of knowing the difference between a screwdriver and a hammer. I am an engineer and I am confident I can do most of the restoration work on my own, with the exception of the body work and paint.

Time is what the issue is for me as I own an engineering firm which keeps me very busy plus I have a family I like to spend time with. In trying to get the car to NCRS Top Flight, I have to ask myself if I want to work on it a few hours each week and spend the next 3 years (or more) trying to restore it, or is it really better for me to have a shop do the work even if it is very expensive.

I believe you can be a corvette hobbyist, know your car, and have pride in it even if you have a shop restore it for you. With the shop restoration, you can still be involved, get updates, visit the shop, and ask questions during the restoration process so you know what has been done and you learn something.

Either way you go, with a shop or not, the good thing is that you are restoring a great classic car that you and many others can enjoy.

**Kenneth B.** · December 30, 2007, 01:49 PM

Re: Need Recommendation for Restoration Shop

I would recommend D&B CORVETTES in Stryker OH. 43557,WEB PAGE dbvettes@bright.net 419 682 1617
Dal has restored two Corvettes for me. He is one of the best restores in the country for NCRS/BG cars.He is fair & moderately priced as high quality restores go. Check out his web site.

KEN BARRY #7808

**Mike M.** · December 30, 2007, 02:31 PM

Have the car judged now

I would take the car to a NCRS judging meet and have it judged. This will give you a lot of information on what the cars needs. With the judging sheets you can start looking for parts you need rather then let a shop find them and tack on 10% or 20% at least. Then you can figure out where you want to spend your money. Handing your car to a restoration shop and saying I want a top flight resto done is like giving them a blank check.

**Roy B.** · December 30, 2007, 02:44 PM

Michael

I dint mean to discredit those that can write a check but you cant buy the experience and feeling of doing something your self. I understand people that don't have the time as you stated. I guess I meant people that have no connection to any car and are called investors. There is a difference which I see weather it's a Corvette or any car , we all have , the person that knows nothing about his car when asked about it. Which tells you and me their only into awards and the resale on their money.

**Kenneth B.** · December 30, 2007, 05:28 PM

Re: Michael

So just because a person dose not have the expertise,facility,& equipment to do body off doesn't mean that they are less knowledgeably about the cars. I have been in this hobby 35 years. I & most of the people I know that have Corvettes restored by a restoration shop know a lot about the cars. Most know every piece & part #. I hope this doesn't come to having to rebuild the motor ETC yourself. I doubt anyone has the expertise to do a 100% rebuild them self's.I hope we don't care who did what.If you can do it great,if not have it done. Who cares.

KEN BARRY #7808

**Roy B.** · December 30, 2007, 06:00 PM

OK Ken I give up

Have you ever met a person asking them about their Corvette or Car and realize they have no interest or knowledge about what they have."investors" That's who I'm talking about and are they bad NO, and not (you) I suppose I should never used the word "Corvette" person on this forum .But I've known people in the last 50 years when I started getting in to cars that are!

**Dick W.** · December 30, 2007, 06:19 PM

Re: Michael

Roy, unfortunately not everyone is mechanically inclined. When I was doing repair and restoration work I encountered several of these. They loved their cars with a passion, but were dangerous with any tool in their hands. These individuals are way ahead paying someone to do ALL their work. Just like the clock that an individual brought me a few years ago. He had tried to replace the lens, and in the process of doing that, he destroyed the case.

**Kenneth B.** · December 30, 2007, 06:34 PM

Re: OK Ken I give up

ROY
I agree with your premise that some people get cars restored to make money & don't give a rats about it. Anymore it's almost imposable to paint a Corvette yourself. Thank EPA. Even NCRS has caved to the money. They offer a service to BJ buyers that don't have any knowledge & get a report for a price. It's all about the money now sorry to say. Not like the old day but nothing is.
PS Dissuction is good.

KEN # 7808

**Edward S.** · December 30, 2007, 09:19 PM

Re: Have the car judged now

I think if the cost of having a shop do the restoration for you without having the wolf show up at your door - go for it. I know people that have done it themselves and lost so much time they could have used enjoying the car. The best of both worlds is to find a shop that would let you do some of the grunt work under their supervision. Don't know if many shops still let someone do that? Worth a try. The idea of getting it judged is a good one, getting some of your own parts would really save some $$$$$$. Good luck.

Need Recommendation for Restoration Shop

Need Recommendation for Restoration Shop

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