Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop

[mdbeck1]

That's a shame Thomas. I'm sure if you'd done it yourself it would have been damn near perfect.

Pete

What do you mean "near perfect"?


okay, okay, so back in the early days he didn't get ALL the switch plate screws clocked properly...

 

[Lyndon]

.
.
.
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okay, okay, so back in the early days he didn't get ALL the switch plate screws clocked properly...

^^^^^

Had to laugh out loud then.

Thomas is going to get you for reminding him of that.....

Lyndon

South West Sydney

 

[Johnny Generic]

^^^^^

Had to laugh out loud then.

Thomas is going to get you for reminding him of that.....

Lyndon

South West Sydney

Nor did he get the switch plate level.

 

[BB767]

......

okay, okay, so back in the early days he didn't get ALL the switch plate screws clocked properly...

Nor did he get the switch plate level.

That was years and years and years and years and even more years ago*#&%!!!!!! You guys have minds like steel traps don't you?! Like an elephant you never forget!

You never forget a small; check that - minor transgression like leaving one mind you, just one - all by itself - little itty bitty switch plate cover just the barest, minutest, teeny weeny amount out of level and you'll remember that detail about the shop forever and ever!!

That's the first thing folks ask about when come for a shop tour....."Great to be here, thanks, now where is that wonkie switch plate cover I read about? I just gotta see that sucker for myself! Can't believe you did that Thomas, really just can't believe it!!"

Sheesh that's like landing a 300,000 lbs (136077.711 kg) aircraft day after day, week after week, month after month year after year so incredibly smoothly the passengers don't even know you've touched down, but the one time you really plant it on the runway (and you pilots out there know what I mean--p-l-a-n-t it!).........boy oh boy everybody remembers that one!!!..... "Hey Thomas, remember back in 2002, Geneva Switzerland, it was a Tuesday, they were using the Kines One Romeo RNAV Arrival to a VOR DME Approach to Rwy 05. Man you had all the step downs nailed, on speed, configured- text book all the way and then WHAM you realllllly dropped it on. It was like we were shot down we hit so hard! Wow, I don't think I've ever felt a landing that hard you just crushed it on. Surprised it didn't register on the Richter scale back in the USA, you just up and smacked the runway on that one."

Yeah the one time, that's the one they remember. Hope your memory is that good when the the test rolls around......you're gonna need it!!!!!

All in good fun Thomas

 

[bulletpruf]

That was years and years and years and years and even more years ago*#&%!!!!!! You guys have minds like steel traps don't you?! Like an elephant you never forget!

You never forget a small; check that - minor transgression like leaving one mind you, just one - all by itself - little itty bitty switch plate cover just the barest, minutest, teeny weeny amount out of level and you'll remember that detail about the shop forever and ever!!

That's the first thing folks ask about when come for a shop tour....."Great to be here, thanks, now where is that wonkie switch plate cover I read about? I just gotta see that sucker for myself! Can't believe you did that Thomas, really just can't believe it!!"

Sheesh that's like landing a 300,000 lbs (136077.711 kg) aircraft day after day, week after week, month after month year after year so incredibly smoothly the passengers don't even know you've touched down, but the one time you really plant it on the runway (and you pilots out there know what I mean--p-l-a-n-t it!).........boy oh boy everybody remembers that one!!!..... "Hey Thomas, remember back in 2002, Geneva Switzerland, it was a Tuesday, they were using the Kines One Romeo RNAV Arrival to a VOR DME Approach to Rwy 05. Man you had all the step downs nailed, on speed, configured- text book all the way and then WHAM you realllllly dropped it on. It was like we were shot down we hit so hard! Wow, I don't think I've ever felt a landing that hard you just crushed it on. Surprised it didn't register on the Richter scale back in the USA, you just up and smacked the runway on that one."

Yeah the one time, that's the one they remember. Hope your memory is that good when the the test rolls around......you're gonna need it!!!!!

All in good fun Thomas

Reminds me of story about the flight attendant who announced, after a particularly hard landing, "please remain seated while the pilot taxi's what's left of the plane to the gate..."

 

[MetalMangler]

Reminds me of story about the flight attendant who announced, after a particularly hard landing, "please remain seated while the pilot taxi's what's left of the plane to the gate..."

Or the one "Once the pilot has finished carving his initials in the runway..."



MM

 

[Hemihead2]

(Or the one "Once the pilot has finished carving his initials in the runway...")

Or "Please remain seated until Captain Kangaroo in the cockpit hops us the rest of the way to the gate"

 

[rjcsandiego]

As Navy flight crew on a P-3 after one of those landings someone would grab the first aid kit, run to the cockpit and ask "anyone hurt up here?"

 

[mdbeck1]

What do you mean "near perfect"?


okay, okay, so back in the early days he didn't get ALL the switch plate screws clocked properly...

That was years and years and years and years and even more years ago*#&%!!!!!! You guys have minds like steel traps don't you?! Like an elephant you never forget!

You never forget a small; check that - minor transgression like leaving one mind you, just one - all by itself - little itty bitty switch plate cover just the barest, minutest, teeny weeny amount out of level and you'll remember that detail about the shop forever and ever!!

That's the first thing folks ask about when come for a shop tour....."Great to be here, thanks, now where is that wonkie switch plate cover I read about? I just gotta see that sucker for myself! Can't believe you did that Thomas, really just can't believe it!!"

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.
.

All in good fun Thomas

You know that since you do so much stuff so good we have to find SOMETHING to harass you about.

 

[56vette461]

Thomas.

You have created pilot story monsters from seemingly benign GJ junkies.
But wait, Did you hear the one about the guy driving the Nash Rambler ........

 

[Bob Heine]

As with all things in life, five hundred Atta-Boys are completely cancelled by one Ah $hit!

 

[markviii]

Keep him humble, guys...

(it's all in fun... and it adds to the content of the eventual quest)

Chris

 

[stillp]

Sheesh that's like landing a 300,000 lbs (136077.711 kg) aircraft day after day, week after week, month after month year after year so incredibly smoothly the passengers don't even know you've touched down, but the one time you really plant it on the runway (and you pilots out there know what I mean--p-l-a-n-t it!).........boy oh boy everybody remembers that one!!!..... "Hey Thomas, remember back in 2002, Geneva Switzerland, it was a Tuesday, they were using the Kines One Romeo RNAV Arrival to a VOR DME Approach to Rwy 05. Man you had all the step downs nailed, on speed, configured- text book all the way and then WHAM you realllllly dropped it on. It was like we were shot down we hit so hard! Wow, I don't think I've ever felt a landing that hard you just crushed it on. Surprised it didn't register on the Richter scale back in the USA, you just up and smacked the runway on that one."

Yeah the one time, that's the one they remember. Hope your memory is that good when the the test rolls around......you're gonna need it!!!!!

Hey, I think I was on that flight! Can I sue?

Pete

 

[stillp]

I was on a flight from Faro (Portugal) to BHX (Birmingham, UK) in rather gusty weather. We were about to land, maybe 20 feet above the runway, when a gust skewed the plane sideways. The pilot just sort of threw the plane down at the runway, and we hit hard enough that things broke loose in the galley, overhead lockers sprung open, and an undercarriage tyre burst. As we were taxiing the pilot said "Sorry about that rather firm landing folks, but we got hit by a cross-wind, and I thought you'd all prefer that we hit the ground wheels-first".

Pete

 

[BB767]

......Keep him humble, guys...


Chris

You need never worry about that Chris. Not only do I consider myself humble.........(sigh) unfortunately I have much to humble about.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

I was on a flight from Faro (Portugal) to BHX (Birmingham, UK) in rather gusty weather. We were about to land, maybe 20 feet above the runway, when a gust skewed the plane sideways. The pilot just sort of threw the plane down at the runway, and we hit hard enough that things broke loose in the galley, overhead lockers sprung open, and an undercarriage tyre burst. As we were taxiing the pilot said "Sorry about that rather firm landing folks, but we got hit by a cross-wind, and I thought you'd all prefer that we hit the ground wheels-first".

Pete

Gusty cross winds can be some of the greatest challenges to land gracefully in. All my flight training was done here in the central Illinois where gusty winds are rather normal so they never especially bothered me. Passengers really do need to give the crew a little slack when mother nature is having a snit. Much was we wish otherwise, sometimes down and dirty is the best we can do. It's definitely an art, not a science.

In the "old days" flying 727's, the unofficial standard of a hard landing was how many passenger emergency oxygen masks did you knock loose. While I was assigned to Air Micronesia, I was flying at night with a new captain, who was flying for the first time into Koror Palau (ROR) -actually Babeldaob, in the South Pacific,

https://www.google.com/maps/place/B...2!3m1!1s0x32d564a8fa2c2a2f:0x492e5ba6b527c8e3 .... you'll have to zoom in to see it.





Granted it's a short runway with no ILS and the lighting is not the best, but he dropped 47 of those masks loose when we hit, but no damage to the aircraft structure or tires. So far as I know that's still the record. The 'ol 727 was a tough old bird universally loved by everyone.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

SSS - Part II

Not quite sure how I got side-tracked with me in a 727 cockpit in Palau? It seems you just never know where this thread is going next. Sorry 'bout that.

So continuing on with my convertible top saga. A couple of weeks after the frame went back to California for corrections, I received word that it was "done" and had been shipped to Coffman Corvette. I had it shipped directly to Coffman's because if there was still a problem with the frame assembly, Clint would be able to detect the problem or, as it turned out, problem(s), plural and perform corrections as necessary.

The folding top assembly on a Corvette uses a plastic/nylon type bushing on the folding joints. These joints are secured with what are essentially very large rivets. Clint me called right after he received my "corrected/restored" frame to tell about a problem he spotted. The problem was when the California company had replaced the rust pitted and rotted metal header bow sections with new metal. They powder coated all of the new metal after it was installed.....but that had resulted in the previously installed bushings from the first "restoration" to melt because they were left in place during the 400º F powder coating process.





The pictures seen above that Clint sent are not the best, but you can see the melted bushings mushed out in the joints. Why was I not surprised but there were other problems too.



Here's a picture Clint sent showing a rust-through hole in the metal that hadn't been replaced....but it was powder coated! And there were still more problems with this "corrected/restored" top folding frame assembly.



Clint's shop has Corvette body and window jigs for checking convertible top assemblies to make sure all the various metal parts have all the right bends and angles for proper fitment. That allows them to insure correct fits of the glass to the frame and of the frame to the car body. Shown from right to left, he has body jigs for C1 Corvettes, those made from 1953-'62, C2 (my cars) 1963-'67 and C3, 1968-'82.



Here's a plexiglass jig of a door window glass to check fitment of the frame to the glass.



Unfortunately my newly "restored" top frame assembly failed this check.



When my newly "restored" convertible top frame was installed on the body jig (this is the right side showing)...



...(this is the left side showing), you can see the large door window gaps on both sides that were a result of the top frame assembly not having been "restored" correctly.

The upshot from all this is the frame assembly would have to be disassembled, the damaged bushings, some additional metal bows replaced and the metal frame reshaped correctly. I did call and talk with the owner of the first shop and sent him pictures of his latest work. He of course wanted the frame sent back to him for another "correction" but I politely declined any further services from his company. 2 attempts at doing the job correctly were enough for me. No refund to me of any sort was made because he was still willing to correct his mistakes and pay for all shipping. At that point I decided to cut my losses and let Clint Coffman and Coffman Corvette take over.

Coffman Corvette is newly located...





... in a magnificent, turn of the century building that once was home to...





... the North American Watch company. The original owner of the watch company build the factory with living quarters for his family on the top floor of the factory. The family had their own private elevator. The watch business was so good they ran 3 shifts, 24 hours a day. Living above at the factory let the owner keep a close eye on operations.



We'll take a look at Coffman Corvette through that front door next time in Part III. Please check back. Thanks everyone.

Thomas

 

[mybigwarwagon]

Wow how much alcohol was involved I that top "restore".

 

[Redwolf947]

Thomas, I cant speak for everyone but I'll try. I think we all like the different stories you tell. Be it automotive, aviation, wood working, grounds keeping etc... Please don't hesitate to tell all those stories. I know I enjoy them.. Too bad about having to mess around with that frame so much.. But it turned out Great..
Thank you for sharing..
Mike

 

[stillp]

I think I'd have been demanding a full refund from that first cowboy.

Pete

 

[BB767]

Shoddy Workmanship

One of the reasons I brought the subject up was to show how, even with due diligence, you can get caught up in this sort of thing. That California company has a long history (over 20+ years) of doing exclusive Corvette convertible top restorations. This wasn't their first time to the rodeo.

Before sending them my frame, I talked with the owner on 2 occasions regarding his company's standards and the past history of his company's work. He seemed particularly proud of the fact that, as he stated, none of his past top frame restorations had ever had a single judging point deduction from incorrect or poor work. That's even stated on their web site. This included cars being judged by The National Corvette Restoration Society (NCRS) or cars judged at Bloomington Gold, arguably the 2 most exacting judged Corvette events in the country.

In light of that, I'm at a loss to explain how I got such shoddy workmanship not once but twice, especially after being told he would personally intervene the second time to make doubly sure it would be done correctly. He stated that no refund would be forthcoming since he was still willing to make any necessary corrections, all I had to do was ship it back to him. I agreed to that the first time but not a second. By then I had lost all faith that his company would be capable of doing the work correctly.

I don't want this to be a company bashing post, that's not the point. This sort of thing happens all the time with various car restoration companies, engine re-builders, paint and body shops etc. I know there are untold horror stories out there much much worse than this one. BTW, thanks everyone for not posting all of your own sad sagas, that might get really depressing! Point being do your homework but even then you might get caught short. The world is not a perfect place much as we wish it were otherwise. This was a first for me. I had to essentially pay twice for the same work and that can get expensive. I just feel very fortunate Clint Coffman was willing and able to intercede and make all the necessary corrections.

Watch for Part III where I go behind the front door of his shop and show how he righted all the wrongs on my frame. Additionally he's re-purposed an old building, a subject near and dear to my heart!

Thomas

 

[gasgas17]

If you paid by credit card, I would be filling a dispute with the credit card company. It only takes 10 minutes to due online. No way I could bring myself to pay for that job.

 

[CoopVA]

Glad they are making things right for you with the top. Been going through something similar with some custom bumpers...

 

[stillp]

Re: Shoddy Workmanship

I don't want this to be a company bashing post, that's not the point. This sort of thing happens all the time with various car restoration companies, engine re-builders, paint and body shops etc.

Yes Thomas, all companies can make mistakes, but the truly great companies are those that go the extra mile to make up for the mistakes. I've worked in some customer service roles, and if my company had performed so poorly, then failed to put the job right, I'd be issuing a full refund together with anything else I could do to make the customer feel good about the company. This isn't just good customer service, it's pragmatic - apart from the loss of reputation, a mistake like this could lead to a claim for the cost of having the damage put right by another company.

Good luck with it. Third time lucky!

Pete

 

[Vernmotor]

I am 1/2 hour from Coffman Corvette.. Re reading the light switch cover screw clock Made me laugh for 5 mins !!

 

[bulletpruf]

Re: Shoddy Workmanship

One of the reasons I brought the subject up was to show how, even with due diligence, you can get caught up in this sort of thing. That California company has a long history (over 20+ years) of doing exclusive Corvette convertible top restorations. This wasn't their first time to the rodeo.

Before sending them my frame, I talked with the owner on 2 occasions regarding his company's standards and the past history of his company's work. He seemed particularly proud of the fact that, as he stated, none of his past top frame restorations had ever had a single judging point deduction from incorrect or poor work. That's even stated on their web site. This included cars being judged by The National Corvette Restoration Society (NCRS) or cars judged at Bloomington Gold, arguably the 2 most exacting judged Corvette events in the country.

In light of that, I'm at a loss to explain how I got such shoddy workmanship not once but twice, especially after being told he would personally intervene the second time to make doubly sure it would be done correctly. He stated that no refund would be forthcoming since he was still willing to make any necessary corrections, all I had to do was ship it back to him. I agreed to that the first time but not a second. By then I had lost all faith that his company would be capable of doing the work correctly.

I don't want this to be a company bashing post, that's not the point. This sort of thing happens all the time with various car restoration companies, engine re-builders, paint and body shops etc. I know there are untold horror stories out there much much worse than this one. BTW, thanks everyone for not posting all of your own sad sagas, that might get really depressing! Point being do your homework but even then you might get caught short. The world is not a perfect place much as we wish it were otherwise. This was a first for me. I had to essentially pay twice for the same work and that can get expensive. I just feel very fortunate Clint Coffman was willing and able to intercede and make all the necessary corrections.

Watch for Part III where I go behind the front door of his shop and show how he righted all the wrongs on my frame. Additionally he's re-purposed an old building, a subject near and dear to my heart!

Thomas

That's too bad. Every time I read a story like this, I am less and less inclined to farm out work, unless I absolutely have to. I may make mistakes doing it myself, but I don't have anyone else to blame for shoddy workmanship, and specialty work is often an excuse to buy new tools!

 

[oldschoolbob]

This top frame was only used a few times and it was stored for over 40 years. The part I don’t understand is how it got so rusted and bent out of shape. I would think it would have been in pristine condition like the rest of the car.

Is it possible that the frame you received is not the one you sent?

 

[BB767]

This top frame was only used a few times and it was stored for over 40 years. The part I don’t understand is how it got so rusted and bent out of shape. I would think it would have been in pristine condition like the rest of the car.

Is it possible that the frame you received is not the one you sent?

Bingo! I was wondering when someone would pick up on this. Unfortunately this thought didn't occurred to me until several months had passed by after the top had finally been completed.

If you take a look at the pictures of the frame assembly in its original state, the metal frame rails all look to be in really good condition. The top, as you point out, was in storage for more than 40 years and was in overall pretty good shape. There are no identifying numbers on the frame assembly and it never occurred to me to put any identifying marks on it so once it left my possession I could never identify that frame as mine. At the time this was all happening I just wasn't thinking that way. It wasn't until later that I started wondering why my metal was in such poor condition. As I said, with no numbers or identifying marks and no quality, details photographs I can only speculate and have no wish to make accusations. You draw your own conclusion as I have drawn mine. Thus the title of Part I - a Simply Sorry Saga.

I've put it behind me, learned a valuable lesson and moved on. As you can see, Clint and his crew did outstanding work on the top. Live and learn.

Wiser Thomas

 

[oldschoolbob]

Actually that was the first thing I thought of when I saw all the rust in the first post. But, (like you) I didn’t want to accuse anyone of making a swap on propose. But unlike you I would have inspected it and noticed the crappy repair and rust and called the top guy and asked it this could have been sent to me by mistake. I would have told him there was no rust on the frame when I sent it. It could be just a simple mistake – maybe he received two frames at the same time and got them mixed up. Or maybe he is unscrupulous and changed your pristine frame for his old beat up POS.

There are people out there that will get to you every time they can. My step son had his muffler replaced last week and asked if they had Maganflow mufflers. The guy got one from the back and put it on the counter and told him if cost 35.00 more than the other muffler, but he wanted the Magnaflow.

He went across the street for lunch a when he returned the Maganflow was still on the counter and they were just taking the car off the rack. He looked and the muffler was not Magnaflow. He told them to take that junk off and put on the correct muffler. Five more minutes and he would have never known.

In this age – trust no one.

 

[A35Plt]

I can't think of a faster way to destroy a business than by doing **** work on something for BB767. This Epic thread has a bazillion followers and now the word is out about the shoddy work this guy did...
Back when I had my shop even though I had other mechanics doing most of our work I made it a point to inspect the plane before it went out of the hangar, no matter if it was a oil change or a annual inspection. Good companies and owners are fanatical about great customer service.
-Robert

 

[slickgt1]

I can't think of a faster way to destroy a business than by doing **** work on something for BB767. This Epic thread has a bazillion followers and now the word is out about the shoddy work this guy did...
Back when I had my shop even though I had other mechanics doing most of our work I made it a point to inspect the plane before it went out of the hangar, no matter if it was a oil change or a annual inspection. Good companies and owners are fanatical about great customer service.
-Robert

I was thinking the same thing. You mess with BB767, you mess with garage journal. Not good for business I would think.

 

[stillp]

I don't know much about Corvettes, but I guess the owners talk to each other, and I'm sure this story will go around. If I had any shares in that company, I think now would be a good time to sell them.

Pete

 

[charlief1]

This reminds me of a situation we had over at Trubobuick.com. One of the members took his car in, to have his T tops repaired. G body chassis are know for rust issues in T top models. The vendor (National level) doing the repair didn't remove the interior while welding in the new metal and caught the interior on fire, melting the car to the ground. The vendor claimed the fire started under the hood, but the pics prove other wise. The vendor in question is the largest employer in the county he resides in, so the fire inspector agreed with the vendor. The fact that his whole family's employed by that vendor didn't influence the report one little bit I'm sure.

I learned a long time ago to mark my parts before sending them out because of a set of heads. There's no way that 5 sets of heads could be cracked in the same place but that's what the machine shop told me.

 

[stillp]

On the other hand, someone somewhere is singing the praises of that company - "I sent them a bent and rusty POS, and it came back looking like it had hardly been out of the box"!

Pete

 

[oldschoolbob]

Thomas, you have taken this very well. It would just gripe me to know my pristine convertible top frame is being used on someone else’s Corvette.


This is my tale of woe.

Years ago when I was into air cooled VW’s I picked up an almost new “AE” engine case that I was going to use to build my dream engine. A year or so later I found a guy that built and raced VW’s. He built several engines for other guys in our club and came highly recommended. I talked to him a few times and told him what I wanted for my dream engine. I agreed to his price and delivered my engine case. About a week later he called and told me my engine was ready.

When I picked it up the first thing I noticed was it was not my “AE” engine case. When I asked about my case he told me it was warped and he couldn’t use it. I told him I wanted to take it back and maybe get a refund. He said it wasn’t any good so he threw it away. Now this guy had stacks of VW engine parts in his garage and he threw out my engine case? Nothing left to do but pay for my engine and take it home.


Once I got the engine installed it ran very badly. I called the engine builder and he agreed to look at it. He worked on it and told me the carburetor was wrong. I took it home and replaced the carb. That didn’t fix it. I re-jeted it and still not right. I got disgusted and took the engine to another builder. He took it apart and found the case was shot. This was about a year after I had the engine built the first time. I felt I had no recourse so I had the second guy build another engine using another case and most of my original parts.

The second engine ran great and I never had another problem. But I feel that my original “AE” case is still running in someone else’s VW.

I doubt this will make you feel better but at least you’re not alone.

Bob

 

[gazza]

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?fo...op - Page 455 - The Garage Journal Board&txt=
Thomas, looking at this photo it looks like the frame will never meet the glass due to its shape, as others have mentioned can you compare your new refurbished frame with another genuine one for the correct year? then you will know for sure if you received your frame back.

 

[Sanddancer]

I think you should name and shame.

After all, someone else considering this company, doing their due dilligence, searching for references just as you did would come away with the exact same, reassuring, impression that you got when you did yours. Who knows whether this sort of thing is common and happened before, but gone unreported prior to you contracting them.

 

[56vette461]

Thomas, first of all I would like to express my regrets for the poor quality of workmanship and service you experienced from a California based shop.

I'm one of those corvette owners who has followed this same company for several years but never used them. I am also from the same town they are in and although I no longer live there, I do have many friends in the car clubs who are there.

My recent experience is that I recommended this shop, based on earlier representations of good work, to a friend. I helped take his 69 vett to the shop and then we waited. Three weeks late on the delivery, but the metal frame they built was a good fit. The cover however was cut wrong, it was to tight for the frame and would not fit to the windshield. The rear window insert was not correct and the seam above the insert was in the wrong position. This would not allow the top to to stretch correctly to fit into the lock position nor fold correctly as it was lowered into the storage well.

I have a frame for my 56vett that needs restoration and I will be looking else where for the work. I may be looking at Thomas for the contact of his shop for that restoration work. And as Sanddancer says, others are hearing of similar stories and the word is getting out.

 

[BB767]

I am 1/2 hour from Coffman Corvette.. Re reading the light switch cover screw clock Made me laugh for 5 mins !!

Thinking back about it and it gets easier all the time to laugh at my poor, feebly efforts to straighten that stupid switch plate cover. Time heals all wounds but it was really, really, really annoying at the time. I mean really annoying. I had hoped to accurately convey the absolute, total, completely insane frustration I felt when I was battling with that cover. You can have a certain pride in your abilities and being able to reflect back on a job well done..........except in this case.

I fought the cover and the cover won!

Moving on Thomas

 

[BB767]

I don't know much about Corvettes, but I guess the owners talk to each other, and I'm sure this story will go around....

Pete

Pete, I expect Corvette owners communicate among themselves maybe more than just about any other automotive group out there. The Corvette Forum

http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/

...and the NCRS...

http://www.ncrs.org

are arguably two of the prime sources of information and intercommunication among Corvette owners. Indeed, the length and breath of information available from talented and knowledgeable individuals there is amazing and greatly adds to the ease and enjoyment of owning those cars. They are the Garage Journal equivalent of the Corvette world.

Thomas

.....

I learned a long time ago to mark my parts before sending them out .....

Charlie that's something that, before this, would never have occurred to me to do in a million years. It would just be unthinkable that I would have to do something like that. However we live and work in the world as it is, not as we wish it to be. I now know better.

Thomas

Thomas, you have taken this very well. It would just gripe me to know my pristine convertible top frame is being used on someone else’s Corvette......

Bob

Bob, I've learned a long time ago to let go of things I have no reasonable control over. I choose not to become a bitter victim over it. It's unfortunate that it happened and I'll be wiser in the future. Let go of the past and look forward to the next adventure.

Thomas

.....
Thomas, looking at this photo it looks like the frame will never meet the glass due to its shape, as others have mentioned can you compare your new refurbished frame with another genuine one for the correct year? then you will know for sure if you received your frame back.

That's a good thought gazza but I just don't think it's worth the effort. I now have a folding frame in perfect, top NCRS condition, it was just a round-about way to get it. Whether it's my original frame or not just doesn't matter at this point. Annoying as it is, I cannot do a thing about it so I don't dwell on it. I hope that by bringing the subject up, my friends here will give some thought on how to keep it from happening to them. Thanks for your comments though, I appreciate it.

Thomas

I think you should name and shame.

After all, someone else considering this company, doing their due dilligence, searching for references just as you did would come away with the exact same, reassuring, impression that you got when you did yours. Who knows whether this sort of thing is common and happened before, but gone unreported prior to you contracting them.

Sanddancer I completely understand the urge to do so but I won't on a public forum. There are always two sides to every matter and without the California owner able to respond and explain his side I don't think I should be bandying about his identity publicly. Now privately, that's another matter. I've already shared my experience and thoughts with others who have contacted me about recommendations and I've been very candid and frank about the whole sordid tale. As you can see from the next post, the word is getting out.

Thanks for thinking of protecting others.

Thomas

Thomas, first of all I would like to express my regrets for the poor quality of workmanship and service you experienced from a California based shop.

I'm one of those corvette owners who has followed this same company for several years but never used them. I am also from the same town they are in and although I no longer live there, I do have many friends in the car clubs who are there.

My recent experience is that I recommended this shop, based on earlier representations of good work, to a friend. I helped take his 69 vett to the shop and then we waited. Three weeks late on the delivery, but the metal frame they built was a good fit. The cover however was cut wrong, it was to tight for the frame and would not fit to the windshield. The rear window insert was not correct and the seam above the insert was in the wrong position. This would not allow the top to to stretch correctly to fit into the lock position nor fold correctly as it was lowered into the storage well.

I have a frame for my 56vett that needs restoration and I will be looking else where for the work. I may be looking at Thomas for the contact of his shop for that restoration work. And as Sanddancer says, others are hearing of similar stories and the word is getting out.

It is interesting to note that you were able to zero in on a northern California shop even though I have made no mention of where in California it was. When Al Knoch was trying to install my fabric top, he asked where I had the frame work done. When I told him he just shook his head and said he's starting to see a lot of screw ups coming out of there. No question they have done quality work in the past but it seems that ship has sailed. From yours, mine and others who have had problems, how can they possibly stay in business?

Al recommended Coffman Corvette to get my frame corrected and I have to say, based on my experience and my visit to his shop, Clint's commitment to doing top quality work for the Corvette community is impressive. He's made a major investment in equipment...



...and securing a physical plant to house his company. This 50 ton press is just one example of what it takes to make parts correctly. Watch for my post on his operation.

Thanks for sharing your comments.

Thomas