How to respestfully apply pressure and not make things worse on engine build

[nge]

My new 451 motor and my Charger has been at a mechanics shop for 4 months and there has been no movement other than removing the old motor. 
I visit the shop every 2-3 weeks and it has come to apoint where they wont look me in the eye when i visit.  I know the mechanic, but he has become distant. Other cars are coming in and getting repairs ahead of me.
I still think he is the best around, and he has otherwise been outstanding, so I dont want to make things worse. 
I am starting to blame myself, and second guess every thing I say to him.
Bottom line is that I need some advice from those who have been a a similar situation, or those who are mechanics ... on how to respectfully get things moving again
thanks
nge

[moparnation74]

Was there a timetable set?  Is there a financial issue or plan set up?  Do you or did you have issues with the mechanic?
Four months and no work done, I would take my propety back and find someone else. 

[Aero426]

What work was to be done, and what were the arrangements to perform the work?        

Was it taken on as a "fill in" job, or a normal shop job?

Have you simply asked, "why are you not working on my car?"

[tan top]

 sorry never been in that situation , so I cant offer any advice , on that score ! as im luckly enough  or   (unlucky   ) depending which way your looking at it , to beable to do everything my self ,

now why would he be ignoring your car  ,

1 could it be his business is not going as well ,  & not  making  money as well as expected !   & all these other cars that are getting done , he can charge more labour rate because of newer cars with electrics computer faults etc   they are being charged more , so more profit , or  cash paying customers  

2  good friends of friends or family  members etc   ,

3 using your car as a fill in when not busy

4 waiting for parts & or a machine shop ?

5  have you paid any money up front ?

6 have you had any cross words with him

7 did you say im in no hurry for the car

[RallyeMike]

If its been sitting for four months with the expectation they would work on it, how can they be great? Customer service is a requirement for that. I don't understand why you can't just ask for a timetable for when it will be done  

[Ghoste]

Is it just an engine swap?

[nge]

I did pay 50% up front, when I ask if he needs more, He says "Not yet".  
No, I did not set a time table, but i never had to (with him) in the past....so I never got burned by him in the past.
Im not sure about the "fill in work" part.  
I cant really take it to anyone else because that really would make things worse.
I consider him great beacuse we has alwayd been the the best trained, most honest, guy around.  his work has always been excellent.
so I have no past track record of disapointment, but these last 4 months have been very awkward between us

[Ghoste]

When you say the last four months have been very awkward, how often do you stop in and what questions have you asked so far?

[nge]

First couple of times, stopped in every friday & I asked if i needed to make a payment, and how things were going, dropped of some parts etc.
Once I saw they were not stopping to talk with me I began to  visit every other friday and and just asked how things were going. Now or the past 2 monthsor so its been every 3rd friday & they always say I'm next in line, but they never want to stop and take a moment to speak with me.

Now....When i was younger I would have said something stupid out of frustration and made everything worse.....I'm in the old delemna of " not taking out your frustration on the airline ticket agent because the only person that can get you on that plane home is the ticket agent!"....so begin with end in mind.

I just think anyting I can say to him would be taken as pressure or an insult.

[Ghoste]

Just what work are they supposed to do?

[nge]

Find and rebuild a 440 short block (done before car was dropped off)
Remove old cracked 440 from car.
Remove heads, intake and exhaust manifold, and accessories from cracked 440 and transfer to new rebuilt 440 block
Install new engine and road test

[Dino]

As long as they can keep your job on the back burner, they will.  The smaller jobs that roll in and out make money faster.  He's not going to touch your car until the good paying jobs stop coming in which case your car is a something to fall back on.  As soon as he starts work on it he'll be asking for more money.  It's time to set up a short meeting with the boss.  Give him some options: do the work and do it now, or return my things and my money.

He may be good at what he does but there are others out there who can do this work with ease.  Heck you can do it if you have the tools and space, its not that hard.  There is no reason to be treated like this and take it.  This is not how business is done.

[Homerr]

The vibe I'm hearing is that you are approaching this with your tail between your legs.  Stop it.  Putting this guy on a pedestal isn't helping you out.  And his past work is an indication of ability, but it doesn't tell you what is going on with him today and it doesn't get your car done now.  Stop making assumptions that this guy is working in your best interests.

Time to gain some control back.  Make an appointment with the owner with the specific agenda known up front that you want to talk about the schedule for your car and when it be complete.  Don't get in to any specifics on the phone, save it for the face to face meeting.  Go meet with him and work out milestones that he will accomplish and tell him you will need a bill at those times.  You pay and then work continues to the next milestone.  Take notes and write things down.  Rewrite it out at the end if it isn't clear and offer a copy at the end of the meeting.  

This is all business 101 stuff.  If he had it together as a businessman everything would be clear between the two of you.  Maybe he's got personal issues, staff issues, marriage issues, health issues - those are all his problems, don't make them your problems.

As the client you should also be clear before dropping your car off what is the schedule and expectation for your car.  Since that didn't happen just correct things or pick up your car and get a full refund for any work not done.

[nge]

Got it!
thanks!

[Ghoste]

I agree, he may be a great mechanic but those are not difficult jobs.  It could have been done in a day.  It doesn't mean treat him like a dick but it is time to ask him nicely for a firm date or does he prefer that it get done somewhere else now.

[john108]

I had my engine built by an excellent mechanic/machinist.  I dropped the block off there November 4, 2013.  I picked up the completed dyno'ed engine late last July 2014.  It felt like it took forever.  He does work for various racing teams and a lot of dyno work.  I tried not to interfere with his work load but called often.  They were very friendly and we got along very well.

[Ghoste]

A good complete job can certainly take some time especially in a busy shop but this is a case of swapping heads and intake onto another block and sliding it between the fenders.

[Aero426]

It doesn't mean treat him like a dick but it is time to ask him nicely for a firm date or does he prefer that it get done somewhere else now.

This.   Exactly.   

[green69rt]

One thing I've learned over the years is... do not do business (including loaning money) to friends and relatives.  It's a sure way to lose friends or cause family squabbles.  I think you are at the point that you need to be straight up with the shop.  Ask them if they would rather have you take the car somewhere else and get it out of their shop.  If so then ask for your money and take it.  If they won't refund then you're in for a long haul of trouble or you can just right it off to a learning experience.   Don't forget about any parts you may have delivered.  Sad to say, some may be missing......

[comet_666]

I had a similar issue but it was when the car was in getting painted. I called him and showed up one day and we chatted like always then I told him I wanted the car in a month and I asked him if he could do it and he agreed. I pretty much had to show up once a week to keep the project going and he ended up being 2 weeks late getting it done but if I had not pressed him it would still be there.
My advice is to call him 2x a week and stop in 1x a week but get a firm date from him. If he can't or won't do it then tell him you will need a full refund and you will have someone come and get the car and move it elsewhere.

[1965gp]

I went through this when my painter had my wife's TA.

I knew that if I demanded it be done by a certain date the next one would cost more.

The happy medium I found was to pick an event and told him that I really wanted to put the car in it. That kind of set the timeline and he didn't want to disappoint. I just asked what his realistic time table was and if he thought we could make the deadline. No pressure as it was a fill in job and I like working with him that way.

It wasn't that he didn't want to do it- was just a case like others said- the small jobs take priority.

[Brass]

This guy is probably prioritizing other cars people rely on for their normal transportation.  Understandably, they are quicker jobs he can turn around to get them back on the street.  Still, he needs to make adequate progress and your money is as good as theirs.  If he can't make reasonable time and an honest effort to work on your car - take it back and find another solution.  Don't let it be implied by your silence that this is okay.

[troy.70R/T]

I have delt with theses type of people before. You dont want to piss them off cause then your afraid they will half ass your engine rebuild. Pull up to the shop load your car and parts up. Take them to someone else and get your money back. If you have to go to court to get your money back do that. Consider the friendship over and move on with REAL friends.