Any business owners here?

LMAO, Oddly enough, I was 6-8 months in business and had a guy who wanted to make payments. Sure, X down and the rest at delivery. He tried everything to get 'payments' so he could have a badass rig.
That was the week I saw WCC and JJ getting that tat on his palm. I saw what he was dealing with, I know its TV, But same as I was. So that's where I came to be an ass about $ down, No bullshit!

What I meant about the lien, On custom cars, Is you need to line up another buyer(s) before you get into a problem needing to add a lien. If its a car work has been performed on, Yes a lien will be needed. That's where an office person comes in and you can keep working.

But on custom, You have the title. Or if not and its an old coupe that you will have to box the frame, You need the original title to do work and test it. You will need it for inspection to put it back on the road with all the modifications done. Also a new vin# might be issued when a car has been modified past X or you have boxed and done too much its no longer a 32' coupe.
You wont have this as much on custom, But late model cars and I forgot to add that in. I was custom only, But found myself fixing factory fuck-ups. You will need a bull pin as well so joe who cant afford to pay you, Cant use his extra key and come get his car at night. You don't want to park it inside, You will be liable for any damage or loss to it, If it were to occur. A paper agreement saying no pay, Will sit in fenced-in area until pay, Is needed. Remember, Customers think a TBS and CAI will add 25+ HP to their car, That's the mindset you need to get ready for.

In a lien situation I would contact them, Give them a week or two, Then go about it. IMO I would hire a office assistant. Good way to meet women lol plus you will have a person to answer the calls, Order parts and go file if need be. Having a lawyer, Accountant and assistant is a must when dealing with these things.
You will find time for court if it comes to that, But to go file, etc is money you are loosing not at the shop. In a sense, You need to stay busy to cover the short comings of the deadbeat.

This is where advisors and mentor(s) come into play and can tell you which path to take as every car and person is different. If you have a group to work for you on the shady side, It wont stop the flow of your work and business.
Where I say lacking, Is where advisors, Accountant and lawyer will help. The business side, I did not have this until I learned the hard way. A good office manager is a must IMO. I did not have that, I was me, Myself and I. I kept good records, Did everything by the book(ish), But didn't have the extra hands in the office as I was in the shop. I kept cash money, Had to upgrade on safe's three times lol. But that money could have grown somewhere or invested to grow.
Don't put the cart before the horse!

If he is good and will save you time and gain money, Its worth it. If you have to go look at his work, Like mentioned, And question it, Do you need that around? You could have very well taken your time on the whole project, Once and done to the best of you're ability. You can always subcontract him to do trim, Wiring and engine work. Pay him a % of each job, Depending on the job.
You don't sound like a guy who would be too happy when tomorrow joe comes for his car and has 25k cash to pay you, And said guy did something that's 'ok' but not your way. You either bite the bullet and call it done, Or the OCD in you will replace the section of problem and you just doubled that part(s) price, And its on you. IMO, Reading how you work vs. the guy working with you, You will end up tripping over a dollar for a dime.

If you are the boss now, You want to keep it that way. At 50/50, With $$ on the line, How good is his brake job now? Step above shade tree, Far from fluid, Just another mechanic with tools. Im pretty sure you can replace his work ethic with another or two guys who are trim/interior based and a guy who knows engines and how to wire in the MPFI, TBI, The cluster, Drive by wire etc. That keeps more $$ in the business/your pocket than splitting it. Whats to say this guy gets a good chunk of a car, Monday hes packing up and quit. Leaving you high and dry to finish whats in the shop.

The tool box comment poking fun for the fact you need them and if you are buying one, Better off with the bigger better one. The fire box's are kinda like a construction job/work box. Its a good thing to have, But as long as you position your box in a good area that will only catch heat and smoke, You will be fine. Extra protection, Get welding/fabricating blanket to cover it with. No tools means no work and every day is one closer to closing the doors.
On a good note, If said did happen, I know guys who have an extra welder they would let me borrow and compressor. Guys who are doing the same as you, Don't want to see you fail, So many will help and lend you tools to get back up and running. A cheap, Full set of metric's, 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2" will get you by, With cussing, To get some cash back into the account and re-buy what you have.
If you haven't already, You need to list any and all tools you have. That way you know if something was taken, Lost or left under the hood like me lol. Put that into a fire safe in the office along with copies to lawyer and at home. Cover you're ass is the main thing. Digital pic's on a jump drive help out too, Gives an idea of what type of shop you have and how its run. That way they cant say you left this on close to that, When you have designated areas and pic's to prove, they are full of shit.

The only thing I can read, In the lacking department, Is you wont go at it alone. Cant loose what you don't put on the table, Cant triple it either. But I don't know all the details of him and you, So that's why I recommend advisors and mentors too. That's about the only thing I can/will say for the fact, I don't know the area, Other guy or the true 'business' side needed. But you are not lacking much, You have a good length on most which is why you need to play the cards right.

Id say since capital is you, 80%+ is you, They are coming to you're place, You need to be majority holder at the very least. He, IMO, Is brining very little and will gain a lot off of you. Id just pay him more an hour or rate, Plus a more lax work environment with bonus's. You will be willy wonka and its your fucking chocolate factory, You need to run it, So it runs flawless and makes money.

Glad to hear flashy is not in the plan or close to it. That will further you along in the worst of economy and still have petty cash. Then again, Why would you buy it when you can build it lol.

Get a name and get it out there is key. Hold a cruise night, Best in class type stuff, Its all a write off, But will net new customers. Nothing wrong with building a rat rod, Selling raffle tickets, And sell it that way too. You can write off the difference on it as well but will open the business up.
Expansion should be in the first go round of the plan. Cant do it all from two lifts and a lot of bare floor space. Plus if you can find a replacement(s) for yourself in the shop, It opens up more commerce time for you to go around and promote.

My main thing, To pass on, So you climb and not freeze, Is opinions. Financial advisors, Lawyer(s), Accountant, Office assistant, Mentor(s) is key and cant stress it enough. You have to spend money to make money and to have all the eggs in one basket to start with, Will be a tremendous load off you in the shop.

Any way you go about it, Sounds like the fail rate is very slim unless underlying problems occur. Just use the best judgment you can and the decisions you make, Make them for tomorrow, Not today. Its down the road where good moves, Plan, And hard work pay off.
If you really want to buck the odd's on the custom side, Find a way to do with out a part, Or a part that will change the flow. That c-clip eliminator was 7-8 figure's worth of time and money, Done on the side. Tried and trued in socal rock crawling to drag strips and look how simple the eliminator is.
You cant re-invent the wheel, But you can make it roll smoother with less drag. All custom fabricators have small ideas of new and better, You have to find that 'one' for you and you will be set. Even if its the car itself, Flawless and streamline, Make your mark in the industry and strive everyday to hit it.

 

Tried to plus rep you but it won't let me. Fantastic advice, really. I have to run out but will reply later thanks again man.

 

Yogi, what do you think about a retrofitting an LS motor into a C3 vette with a FAST efi system and modern suspension and brake systems? Not period correct but it's a vette, fuck it. How badass would that be? I got the car and the money for parts, don't really care about the man hours at this point if it's gonna be a showstopper. That will set us apart.

http://www.fuelairspark.com/

 

I had to add that site to my fave list lol.

With the money involved in just parts, Do one mod at a time. That's going to need a 4l80E or better auto which I would do for the fact its more appealing and easier to drive control with the HP it will have.
The suspension is a must on any vette IMO. They come out of the hole on a sundial, Always have no matter the year.

This will be the shot caller if no corners cut. Buy if you don't have, Mock block for the mount relocation's. If only used once, You can always sell it or have it handy. Do a halo minimum, She will be quick.

Id buy a wrecked escalade with the ls/lq depending, But they used the same as a vette and so did the SS versions of Tahoe's. With a salvage rear hit or light roll, Long as you can drive it on and off a trailer. When done sell rest for parts or scrap for a little $$.

You can use some of their air ride components and bracket fitting. Plus you are going to need a beef axle. Go overkill, 14bolt with 4 wheel disc, Shave down the center section of the 14 or leave it be if room out back. FF it and the tubes can be narrowed cheap along with custom cut shafts.

Id run all SS lines, Fuel, Brake, etc that way its good to go for years for you or a buyer. Plus it looks real clean when done and routed vs steel line.
If you can, Use a poly gas tank or bladder cell in rear with custom fitted. Easy to spin off the nylon nut IMO, They are thick and handle heat/humidity well with pressure. Plus lighter is better.

The suspension part, Id go with air ride second being coil. The coil way, Outboard the shocks and 3 link it. With the power, The upper 3 link to a truss on the axle will have no wrap, minimal shutter/bounce, But can be fixed with the shock part. But its a solid body/mount/axle set up and the weakest ling, Is the parts you use.

Its a great ideal IMO, Only thing against, But the way you want to do it really don't apply, Is its a vette. Dime a dozen, But you still cant stop and look at each one lol. go with a hot hue's/house of kolors paint, Or my fave, satin/flat black. I also liked the flat blue mopar had on a few show/concept's they made.

Id get the HP it will have and what it will lay to the ground, So you can stiffen it even more to prevent twist. Its going to be a rocket if dialed in and hooks. Don't matter if you are on the street or strip lol. She will be touchy.
Its will turn heads and be top dog. Just make sure you keep it street worthy and be able to cruise in it. You could also add a eco/street mode and a max performance/strip switch with using ls tech? I know its more work on top of a ton, But would come in handy and add one more customization to the build.

Sorry, I look at the parts used, And throw down my own thoughts to get an idea of where you are going, So I can best understand. That and numbers givin, Safety first.
Not gonna lie, Im not too rod savvy, But I think the components you are listing, You are on to something good. Something that might be able to be retrofitted into many other cars of the caliber it takes. Then you are talking big $$ and making you're mark.

But are you talking the new zo6 type modern suspension or custom one off? I took it as custom IMO it will work out and tune better.

On another note, Found out today the guy I had balance and build my DS's and where I got most of my raw steel, Closed up and retired. I was out in the shop pissed and my dad said, Well hell, He was 85, Do you want him to work to and from the grave? Yes, I do.
You cant replace a guy with minimal education and the perfect skill metal work. But some think a paper educated guy cant do better and more, Yeah, I pay his high price to pay for his lack of high education bill. So the freeze continues on my 'brain fart' builds lol.

 

Nice, I'm going to have to reread that again tomorrow, kind of drunk right now and lot of information there. Really good information.

What I was thinking is keep it IRS and bag it or some good coilovers, get rid of the leaf altogether or fit one in from a C5. Probably fab a new IRS, I really like the 8.8's out of the 99-up cobras and they can hold a lot of power if built right. I'm not big on vettes but it's not my car, but I want to do something really nasty to get some eyebrows raising before I even go forward with this shop. So I haven't talked money yet, it would be nights and weekends and for my benefit, open checkbook for parts. SS lines for sure also. Harder to bend perfect but worth it.

Street/show car, so what I'm looking for is seamless and people going how in the fuck? I've never seen that before. N/A just CLEAN. Also want to do a ford coyote in something like a 51 ford. I love fuel injection dude, just fucking love it. And with a stand alone, wide band setup the sky is the limit.

I need to talk to the guy more, I'm totally down for a narrowed 14 bolt, mini tubs, whatever. But I just picture it bagged or adjustable coilovers and sitting on 18s, with some real road worthiness. Keep the interior traditional minus updated gauges and ecu controller.

Edit: also want to do a T56 6-speed. Keep it fun on the street :2thumbsup:

And that sucks about your guy. No other place to source? I'm trying to find that too, I have a place but still get raped for sheet tubing and bar stock. I guess once I start buying more and building more that will change. Hopefully. Shit is expensive.

 

Long winded sorry.

Yeah, A super 8.8 with eliminators would do the job. But nasty, A 14bolt under there, People will be like WTF, No way. Then to the hood they go to see why suck a strong axle lol.

Yes, Finally, A person who loves fuel injection too, Less my bikes and quads lol. Yes, I really want to jet to drive across country and through the mountains, Or fuel injection, Couple $$ more, But plug and play and no worries.
I like TBI, You can get almost any pound injector made and only two hehe, If you bore and port match, Port and polish the TB you can get over 800cfm. One 02 sensor and a stand alone per say piggy back computer. You can swap at any time and they are decent priced for FI related.

That would be sweet, Rocker up a C3, Under a state of the art vette suspension with bags or ? It will be a sweet build, The brakes are brembo IIRC, So you cant get much better than that.
Sounds like a good plan and a good car to use a mock design. if it works, Make a design and retro fit it to a cobra or stang, They have a good aftermarket and appeal from kids to old folk. The muskrat still has a market, Hell my sister has an 01'.

 

Not my style, kind of like vettes but almost nutted myself today. FE engine the real deal.

 

If you were (or are) a woman with a lot of money and wanted a second car strictly for yourself and for business purposes, what would you get? Has to be high end Euro, 'cute' and a sedan. She mentioned Maserati and Benz. I told her what I thought about that but I've been commissioned either way. I know there must be some people on here that read Car & Driver and all that shit, and keep up on the latest exotics and high ends. Talk to me.

 

Euro choices:-
Sedan ie saloon in Europe:-
Audi, BMW, Merc, the Maser etc

coupes:-
Aston, and the above, Bentley

Other choices:-
Range Rover, various Porsches eg 4x4, saloon, 2 door, various Jaguars (reliable too these days!)

There's also Infiniti and Lexus if you want Japanese.
Also depends on budget. I mean you can spend under 30k GBP on a BMW. Or
125k GBP on the Bentley etc. Or go pre-owned, with massive reductions.

By "cute" does she want something quite compact and sporty like a roadster?
That would suggest Merc SL, or the smaller Jag. Or even various Minis.

 

I'm not sure what she means by cute, but I know she wants a sedan or I should say 4 door since in Europe a coupe can have 4 doors. Just in case she has to drive clients around.

Already suggested Lexus and Infiniti for reliability, no go. No BMW.

I like the Maserati Quattroporte GTS a lot, but the problem with that is she'd have to drive 2 hours to Orlando just to have it serviced. Maserati is picky about service. I love the range rover sport but she has an 05 LR3 that I'm about to do 10k of work to getting it back up to par and she is buying this for herself. Newly divorced, big house, ex husband has a Panamera S, 911 GT3 and a new Suburban. Just silly money.

I'm going to suggest the Merc CLA, which optioned out on their site is ~45k. She doesn't need anything more than a 2.0 direct injected turbocharged engine and will have all the luxury without breaking the bank. I don't care how much money someone has, without some degree of discretion it might all go away. The CLA is a gorgeous vehicle, plus she can get the illuminated star which she will think is cute.

 

get something cool if you want new

 

Not sure how I feel about the Tesla yet, they are very nice looking though. And they just opened a dealership in this city.

One of my buddies got offered a job there. Crazy thing about that place is their toolboxes are on lifts that come out of the shop floor. Like a TV lift.

 

I know not euro but the Subaru WRX's are badass and will beat any 'euro' car hand downs in most classes. Smaller, Fast and fun, awd for rain, has four doors.

Or buy American, Get a SRT8 charger or 300m IIRC with the hemi. If you tune it correct and un-restrict all the bullshit and emissions, They will run hard and 150mph+ if needed/wanted.

To each their own though

 

Well the Aston Rapide is a nice 4 door. But pricewise way above some of the others. You may well have the Maser servicing issue. But I'd think a solution could be found with either - via the dealer network/something. My friend had his Porsche collected on a trailer for servicing, and he wasn't even far from the dealer.

I've avoided Merc since the merger, and the dealers became cowboys with servicing. Maybe they are much better now.

Jag have some terrific 4 door options. Also, I wouldn't rule out preowned and some of the special finance packages. Depreciation on some of these can be huge.