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Thread: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

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    Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    I'm sure you've all seen the adverts in magazines such as Classic Ford, Fast Ford etc etc where people have placed adverts claiming to be the best restorers in town. Before parting with hard earned cash, give these people a serious interview.Ask for references and testimonials from satisfied customers.
    I am raising this issue now because only in the past few months have I began to question the quality of workmanship that went into my car. It is apparent now that my 'Newly restored car' has been littered with old parts, more than likely items taken off old cars or worse still from a breakers yard. Not long after the car was returned to me, the starter motor packed in. On inspection it was found to be an old unit of a Ford Sierra. At the same time it was noted that the cam belt tensioner was old and almost seized, giving rise to a very shiny cam belt. The engine is a pinto but the radiator was from a cross flow with a bodged top hose. The ignition coil was 12 years old before it was fitted to my car. I think you get the picture? I'm not going to name and shame this Father and Son operation based in Tadley, Hampshire. What I will say to people in the process of investigating restoration companies, watch out for cowboys who maintain they know it all, when in truth they just chance their arm and hope nobody notices their shoddy work. Fortunately, I am on top of the work now

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    I think people have to much trust in a shop, my fathering law had his xr3i restored,

    Rust started to come through the new paint, engines had problems and cracked the thermostat housing and they aid they had fixed it and all they had done was bodge it with quick steel,

    On further inspection I've found the welding done was just patched over ect ect you get the picture

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    We have all been victims of trust at sometime or another. The best place for Escort restoration is The Escort Agency in South Wales. Their philosophy now is to repair individual parts to a high standard rather than use existing and increasingly hard to find old parts. For example, I wanted a pair of half shafts for an English axle. Rather than selling me a second hand pair, they asked me to send my old ones to them for restoration. Probably cost me more than I had hoped for but I am happy in the knowledge that they will see 20 more years of use!!

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    How do you "restore" halfshafts?

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    New bearings ?
    Big Wing sold and gone to be a film star

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    Quote Originally Posted by classicmad1962 View Post
    I'm sure you've all seen the adverts in magazines such as Classic Ford, Fast Ford etc etc where people have placed adverts claiming to be the best restorers in town. Before parting with hard earned cash, give these people a serious interview.Ask for references and testimonials from satisfied customers.
    I am raising this issue now because only in the past few months have I began to question the quality of workmanship that went into my car. It is apparent now that my 'Newly restored car' has been littered with old parts, more than likely items taken off old cars or worse still from a breakers yard. Not long after the car was returned to me, the starter motor packed in. On inspection it was found to be an old unit of a Ford Sierra. At the same time it was noted that the cam belt tensioner was old and almost seized, giving rise to a very shiny cam belt. The engine is a pinto but the radiator was from a cross flow with a bodged top hose. The ignition coil was 12 years old before it was fitted to my car. I think you get the picture? I'm not going to name and shame this Father and Son operation based in Tadley, Hampshire. What I will say to people in the process of investigating restoration companies, watch out for cowboys who maintain they know it all, when in truth they just chance their arm and hope nobody notices their shoddy work. Fortunately, I am on top of the work now
    Couldn't agree more.
    In 2013 I paid good money to a pair of clowns ( so-called experts ) to build a MK1 to my spec. Long story short, every area had faults, oil leaks from every part with oil in it, substandard work, inadequate components, eg single core radiator more suited to a 1 litre Fiesta. Had to get the head ( 2L pinto ) completely rebuilt by someone who knew what they were doing, had every conceivable error. When the 'box packed up I stripped it to find bits missing, really! Car was an amalgum of scrap parts. Exploited my trust and the distance between us. In fact I have a host of photo's in a gallery which I'm about to place on the net for all to see. Took all the fun out of the car to the point where I can barely look at it now.

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    I'm in the same condition with an engine builder who has had my head and cash for 3 years and when I can get him to answer the phone or a text he is in hospital.

    Yet people on other boards say they were down seeing him the other week.

    Also at the opposite end of the country and put the work his way based on BB recommendations.

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    You get what you pay for.also fancy adverts and hot air talk means nothing.view the work first hand .even fancy" looking"Repairs can hide shit bodges ...
    Last edited by Steve; 30-12-2016 at 17:06.
    .

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve View Post
    You get what you pay for.also fancy adverts and hot air talk means nothing.view the work first hand .even fancy" looking"Repairs can hide shit bodges ...
    You should get what you pay for, of course, but it aint necessarily so! If an invoice states "All mechanicals stripped, examined and overhauled as required", as mine was and it either wasn't done, or as in my case, was done by clueless idiots, you trust it was until it feels or sounds wrong or just plain fails? The irony for me was that I'd done this work myself in my teens/twenties but chose this time to pay for someone else's services. I assumed these two knew what they were doing. BIG MISTAKE! With the best will in the world, it's not easy to tell if a gearbox has a few laygear needle rollers or the selector rail interlock pin missing until it jams and the box is stripped! I do agree about not trusting fancy web-sites and well taken photo's. Lesson learned!

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    What were there hourly rates?
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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve View Post
    What were there hourly rates?
    A price was agreed for a finished project based on;
    A donor 2 door shell with engine, box, axle etc to my spec but as in my last two posts it turned out to be a mix of worn out, poorly assembled, unrestored parts. The cylinder head as an example, I asked for steel valve seats to be fitted. When I removed the head, which needed much rectification work, (15 additional issues which I can list, if you wish). it hadn't had the valve seats done as included in the price. They probably didn't expect me to discover this! Every area of the car had serious shortcomings, should have been a turnkey purchase paid for by instalments as work progressed. Fair enough. A word of caution here don't ever pay by credit transfer because if things turn sour, you're on your own. Another lesson learned. I understand that if you pay by credit card and you are in dispute they may help.

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    "All mechanicals stripped, examined and overhauled as required",
    the problem with that statement is its subjective, one persons idea of what needs overhaul isnt the same as anothers

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    Quote Originally Posted by Graham View Post
    the problem with that statement is its subjective, one persons idea of what needs overhaul isnt the same as anothers
    Granted Graham, but refer to my earlier post re.g/box. When I stripped it there was no locking wire on the forks, the interlock pin was missing, meaning I could select more than one rail simultaneously and 9 of the required 40 layshaft needles were missing, the shaft spacing sleeve was on the wrong rail amongst other faults and the box leaked oil into the bellhousing and clutch from the input shaft oil seal. surely it can't be "nearly" right. It either is or isn't! I simply cannot believe that the box was looked at all and if it was, the person responsible is clearly in the wrong job! subjective or not, what does "as required" quantify? Had I done the job myself ( which I have now done ) I would never have left this unattended.
    Last edited by Parablennius; 31-12-2016 at 13:46.

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    You would be surprised how many professional engine builders pre internet days got away with making massive mistakes on peoples engines. Their get out clause was always, it's a competition engine and you have driven it too hard causing the damage.

    The situation with THEDMAN I can't believe, the engine man's taking the piss, I can't understand how he's got away with holding your head and money for 3 years. You can kiss goodbye to that. Are you sure he's not dead seeing he has spent so much time in Hospital??

    The case with the gearbox I just think you had a bunch of Muppets attempting to do some sort of Recon job with little or no knowledge of was needed .

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    Quote Originally Posted by Forest_rallying View Post
    You would be surprised how many professional engine builders pre internet days got away with making massive mistakes on peoples engines. Their get out clause was always, it's a competition engine and you have driven it too hard causing the damage.

    The situation with THEDMAN I can't believe, the engine man's taking the piss, I can't understand how he's got away with holding your head and money for 3 years. You can kiss goodbye to that. Are you sure he's not dead seeing he has spent so much time in Hospital??

    The case with the gearbox I just think you had a bunch of Muppets attempting to do some sort of Recon job with little or no knowledge of was needed .
    Agreed
    Thing is these are a well known outfit, alleged experts to whom I paid thousands of pounds. The car was littered with faults/shortcuts. The gearbox is just one item that had other faults apart from those mentioned here. Honestly, you wouldn't believe the report I got back from the cylinder head! Forgot to mention that the clutch fork is made from 3 parts welded together. I kid you not!! I am not the only person that these characters have crossed, either.

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    Can't you name them?
    Pm me if not. cheers

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    They are n't bodyshell fabricators by any chance are they Parablennius?

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    Quote Originally Posted by davemk1 View Post
    Can't you name them?
    Pm me if not. cheers
    Rather not name them at the mo, although it will be clear that the red mist is still lingering. will PM you.

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    Quote Originally Posted by Forest_rallying View Post
    They are n't bodyshell fabricators by any chance are they Parablennius?
    No, but they do have a specialist angle!!

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    Name them bud,Save a lot of other guys some pain.
    Hope you get it sorted
    .

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve View Post
    Name them bud,Save a lot of other guys some pain.
    Hope you get it sorted
    Well, any sorting will have to done by me. I already spent a grand on the head, which was little more than scrap, plus rebuilding the 'box and hiring a space to use whilst I replaced it. Replaced the rad, ignition switch. Forgot to mention the wipers. The nearside one fell off the spindle first time out, it had been superglued back onto the spline, so, out with the whole assembly to repair at home! This is why in a post from way back I asked which bell housing I have because I need to order a clutch fork to replace the one that had been welded up from bits. No, I'm not kidding!! Problem is I've no facilities now and 40 yrs older than when I last built my own. I may post a link to a gallery which will be self explanatory. To be honest, I can't face the car now and feel like selling, but how can I ?? We'll see.
    Davemk1 did you get my PM?

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    Hello mate. Got you pm. I feel for ya, great expectations and real disappointment.
    hope you get it sorted

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    not the first time that i have read negative claims about a tadley father and son business , that was whitspeed.
    disclaimer - hearsay only

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    Whitspeed co.uk

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    Quote Originally Posted by alladdin View Post
    not the first time that i have read negative claims about a tadley father and son business , that was whitspeed.
    disclaimer - hearsay only
    These aren't the people I dealt with.

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    Quote Originally Posted by Forest_rallying View Post
    Whitspeed co.uk
    Not the people I dealt with.

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    Guys
    As a follow on to this I've started a thread in the Old school ford section about the bellhousing that's in the car. Please have a look and see if you can help. I need to order a new fork and pressure plate to match. I'm just prepping a gallery of my car, as it came to me, I'll post the link later. You'll know why I need a new fork when you see the pics.
    Thanks for your help.
    Last edited by Parablennius; 03-01-2017 at 17:54.

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    I would name and same so that no one else falls fouls of these TOSSERS

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    Quote Originally Posted by Sweetcorne View Post
    I would name and same so that no one else falls fouls of these TOSSERS
    Andy, there are always two sides to a story.
    The first post by classicmad has good advice, always check who you are giving your well-earned cash to.
    The issue that Parablennius could well be the result of him agreeing to a fixed price for his project.
    Maybe, just maybe the offending party you call tossers tries their best to get the car completed within budget.
    Just my 2 cents.

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    Quote Originally Posted by Miniliteman View Post
    Andy, there are always two sides to a story.
    The first post by classicmad has good advice, always check who you are giving your well-earned cash to.
    The issue that Parablennius could well be the result of him agreeing to a fixed price for his project.
    Maybe, just maybe the offending party you call tossers tries their best to get the car completed within budget.
    Just my 2 cents.
    Happy New Year Leon.

    Yes mate I know what you are saying However we seem to hear more and more of this happening nower days and not just in the classic car trade. People stating they can do this and do that.

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    That's nothing new Andy.
    With the internet and forums like this idiots claiming to be experts should be exposed.
    Just want to know both sides.

    Best wishes son.

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    Its sad to read these horror stories, I have been in the MK 1 Escort scene for about 30 years now.

    I would only use someone to work on my cars having had them recommended by someone I know.

    Likewise, I will only recommend people who I have used and am happy with what they did.

    If we stick to this the fraudulent and the incompetent will not survive.

    I am happy for anyone to contact me for advice, if I can help I will.

    I don't have an expert for everything but may be able to guide you.

    Likewise, I have lots of friends I trust with far more knowledge than me so I have a great big bucket of experience to draw from.

    I am not on here everyday but perhaps an e mail to me ... russ.pemberton@blueyonder.co.uk

    Keep The Faith.
    Last edited by Stringpants; 07-01-2017 at 09:56.

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    Quote Originally Posted by THEDMAN View Post
    I'm in the same condition with an engine builder who has had my head and cash for 3 years and when I can get him to answer the phone or a text he is in hospital.

    Yet people on other boards say they were down seeing him the other week.

    Also at the opposite end of the country and put the work his way based on BB recommendations.
    Bloody hell. Do you have any contacts nearer to the 'specialist' who can pay him a visit for you

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    Yes, several, but my next option is small claims.

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    Re: Beware of wide boys claiming to be expert restoration companies

    I'm getting nightmare flashbacks when reading parablennius' earlier posts on his dealings with a certain company. mine is a similar tale with the same outfit, it would take me hours to list all the problems and grief that they caused me with endless emails trying to resolve all the issues with the end result being a car that has cost me way way over what it is worth on the open market which I hate due to all the aggravation that came with it and well over 100 man hours I've also put into the car (prob nearer 200), the term "horse traders" springs readily to mind, to give you a flavour of how bad it got I was tempted on more than one occasion to scrap the car bear in mind I paid them strong money for it, I won't list the many problems because it will just piss me off again remembering them, the car is now roadworthy but I don't use it as I hate driving the thing

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