[devilsfan]

Originally Posted by [__--MUD--__]

You never know what your getting into when you start a project like this. My ride as of today has been in the body shop for 16 months. Its a combo of me adding additional **** to the build, and my buddy being a little slow on the work thats over my technical abilities. But that comes down to cost. I'm paying pennies on the dollar to what a regular customer would be charged. If I was paying full retail price, that **** better be done in a timely manner.

One thing I've learned from this situation. Its done in alot of industries. I will never start another project unless I have an agreement as such. Agree on a price (I will cover extra unforseen parts cost, not labor), agree on a set time frame for the project to be completed. I want an absolute worst cast senario on this time frame. If you think its going to take 2 weeks, I'll give you a month. But at the end of the agreeded time frame, if the project isn't done...I'm docking $50-100/day untill its complete. You have to adjust the penalty to the size of the project...but you get the idea. This is not unreasonable. If someone isn't confident enough in their abilities to give me this, then I dont want them working on my ****.

BTW, all the fabtech steering components that come in the lift are only tierods...and those can be used on non lifted trucks. They are feeding you a line of **** on that.

I didn't catch what lift you are getting...but you need to inquire about the brake lines. W/ the 6" fabtech, no extended brake lines were included. Installers usually just disconnected the brackets and hung the lines. You stepping up to 12", you absolutly need extended lines. You will want to order Crown brake lines. http://crownperformance.com/ It is a 6 piece kit for the hummer. They dont list 12" off their site, you will have to call them. You will feel the difference eliminating the rubber lines for the braided stainless steel. Really tightenes up the brakes- lines dont balloon up like the rubber does. You also have wheel sensor wires that will need to be extended. Make sure they just dont remove the lines from the clips and just let the wires hang. That **** needs to be securely attached, even if it means someone needs to spend the 20 minutes to drill and tap some new attachment fittings on the components. Dont settle for zipties!

Cost is one of the reasons I went with this shop (in addition to reputation). With the quote they gave me, and based on the best internet prices I found for parts alone, labor came out to be around $1500 for EVERYTHING. That's $8K less overall than the other shop in town. I see no reason to dock them based on circumstances that they can't control and honestly, they're pretty frustrated with the entire deal as well (my truck has been occupying a lift and screwing up other projects they had on tap). They're as ready to get it done and out of there as I am. They didn't plan ahead on some parts that probably should have been ordered, but what's done is done at this point. I'm covering the cost of the extra parts but not labor. And they're out about $2K as it is from the rental car - if not more. This thing has turned out to be a no-win for anyone until it's done.

Had a Fabtech steering upgrade in addition to the basic lift.

No worry about the brakes, I'm having the entire system upgraded. I will inspect it once it's done, tho - thanks for the tips on the lines.