Gator Squared

[sumran]

Originally Posted by pat386

just stumbled on this hope it gets painted soon! good to see more locals!
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Thanks. I hope to meet you sometime. I think the paint will get done fairly soon. every time i go by they have done significant work. They are tired of looking at the truck and want it done. I think they will get color on the jambs and interior this week. They also need to get the front of the bed box and the back of the cab painted so that the bed can go back on the truck.

[pat386]

Definitely! M-f most nights I'm in alachua. Weekends ocala
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[sumran]

The truck should be out of paint this month. They are working on it steadily and it is ready for the booth. The gate is a little rough on the inside bottom. The outter skin is fine. They are going to hit it with some rust treatment and spray all the way to the bottom edge with bedliner. They are using the thinner type so it will not cause a problem with drainage or closing.

As time has gone on, they have discovered more damage and previous body work than we expected. I didn't know any better as the truck didn't look that bad on the hoof. They are the pros and looked at the truck before they quoted the job. I didn't talk them down on price because it was a low number. I tried to make life easier by buying replacement parts and minimizing the amount of paint area (headliner, etc.) Sounds like my truck and one other vehicle he has been working on have convinced him to stick with insurance work in the future. Wish the process had been smoother and less costly for both of us.

I bought a set of hammers and dollies for body work at the pawn shop yesterday. If I ever do another vehicle, I will at least do my own metal work and initial body work. I don't know that I will ever develop the skill set to do complete paint and body work, but I will definately carry the ball closer to the goal line than I did this time.

[sumran]

I will soon find out if the old saying, "The pen is mightier than the sword" is true. I dropped off a letter at the paint shop yesterday telling the owner how I felt and providing a final deadline. The truck is ready for the booth but is not getting in. The weather has been less favorable lately and the painter does not have a climate controlled booth. They have quite a few vehicles backed up.

If the truck is not finished by the end of the month, I will be picking it up and taking it somewhere else. I hate to do that because I will lose money and gain heartache. But I can't wait forever.

I would definitely recommend having a written agreement with a completion date to anyone that gets paint work done. I have seen how they behave when there are contracts and penalties for not meeting the completion date. The behavior is vey different than what I have experienced.

[pat386]

Good luck man! I hope it works out for you. Kind of ridiculous because without the customers, they're not in business, so why treat customers to this?
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[Restrorob]

Hey Randy.....

How did you make out with the prison ???

We need a update here friend !

[sumran]

The truck is still in. I have been so busy with other things that I have left it. During the last three months it would only moved from paint prison to driveway prison. I think the guy is actually going to spray it in the next few days. It is depressing him to have it in his shop.

If it is not done by the time my schedule clears a bit, I will go snag it and take it somewhere else. If it gets done, so much the better. I haven't had time to even be on the site lately. Of course it would be a higher priority if I had a truck to play with.

[Restrorob]

Well DANG Randy..... It's a cry'n shame "body shops" can't stick to their word, I can relate to it suck'n the enthusiasm out of us.

Hang tight and hopefully it will be home soon, I'm still look'n forward to seeing it when I come get those other windows.....

[sumran]

Not out of jail but there is progress.
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[sumran]

Sorry for the lousy cell phone pic's. It was dark in the shop. The paint looks better in person.

[Smoke_Dog]

OH LORD!!!! My friend who attends College there< is going to be hard to deal with when she see's that truck riding around!!!!

[sumran]

Originally Posted by Smoke_Dog

OH LORD!!!! My friend who attends College there< is going to be hard to deal with when she see's that truck riding around!!!!

These colors match everything in Gainesville.

[durty harry]

Randy , that looks fantasic !
Is the same warden doing the work ?

[sumran]

Originally Posted by durty harry

Randy , that looks fantasic !
Is the same warden doing the work ?

Yes. I actually went by the shop to tell him I was picking it up to take it somewhere else. I was shocked when I got there to find paint on the truck. The owner (warden) was not there so I didn't get to talk to him. He has painted the most difficult parts. Hopefully, that means he will soon be done with the rest.

It would be a thrill to start storing all of the truck parts that are clogging up my house ON MY TRUCK. The shed, the garage, part of the back yard, two closets and a corner of the dining room are full of parts.

[durty harry]

Any Updates on progress?

[sumran]

I need to go back later this week and check on it. Sadly, I expect I will be loading it on a trailer and taking it to another painter. I will add this one to my list of things in life that I can't understand.

[durty harry]

What a shame .

[J Knight]

WOW! March will be 2 years in paint prison and still not finished. Bummer

[sumran]

Originally Posted by J Knight

WOW! March will be 2 years in paint prison and still not finished. Bummer

That's right. Hard to believe. I hope my new tires don't have dry rot by the time I mount them!