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Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? #2505750
06/07/18 10:39 PM
06/07/18 10:39 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,158
God's Country - Etowah, TN.
A34 Offline OP
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A34  Offline OP
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Hey Guys,

What are your recommendations for a OE level restoration shop on the East coast, preferably in the Southeast?

Thanks!


God Bless America, Our Troops and Their Families !

DEO VINDICE
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? [Re: A34] #2505796
06/08/18 01:21 AM
06/08/18 01:21 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,997
Long Island, NY
shakerjoe Offline
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Long Island, NY
How far do you want to go? I sent my Cuda to Clark Classic Restorations in Greenville,NC...I gutted the car completely, gave them a roller, I restored and rebuilt many parts here at home(NY), they did the paint and body, came out beyond my expectations...really unbelievable. I rebuilt some major components and brought them down for them to install because I only have a small one car garage. They'll do whatever you want, very easy to work with. I researched them thoroughly for 3 years before I pulled the trigger with them. Everyone that has seen the car has just been blown away, they did their work, but I did mine too. But they gave me everything and more than I asked for. PM for more details if you want, do your homework. Good Luck.

IMG_6148.PNGIMG_2500.PNGIMG_0486.PNG
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? [Re: shakerjoe] #2505799
06/08/18 01:27 AM
06/08/18 01:27 AM
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Morristown Tn.
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71birdJ68 Offline
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Another one would be Lee Hodge in S.C. What ever you do, don't go to the guy in Kingsport, he cost me around $4000.

Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? [Re: A34] #2505806
06/08/18 01:46 AM
06/08/18 01:46 AM
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Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline
Mr Wizzard
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Spokane Washington
Some good suggestions, also look into Mike Mancini's place


Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? [Re: A34] #2505849
06/08/18 10:12 AM
06/08/18 10:12 AM
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Posts: 4,443
Morristown Tn.
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71birdJ68 Offline
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Morristown Tn.
PM sent

Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? [Re: A34] #2505866
06/08/18 11:03 AM
06/08/18 11:03 AM
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Benton, IL.
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DaveRS23 Online rolleyes
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http://troyangellyrestorations.com/

A very good and well respected shop here in deep southern Illinois with lots of Mopar experience.

Nice people to do business with, too.


Master, again and still
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? [Re: A34] #2505884
06/08/18 11:31 AM
06/08/18 11:31 AM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,346
It's a dry heat
gtx6970 Offline
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It's a dry heat
Truly OE ?

You will be hard pressed to beat Mike Mancini.

Nothing against the others mentioned here. I'm not saying these others cant do it. ( Troy Angelly has by the way )

Regardless . make the decision to go truly OE or NOT,,,,,, BEFORE you have ANY work done

Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? [Re: A34] #2506109
06/08/18 11:38 PM
06/08/18 11:38 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,158
God's Country - Etowah, TN.
A34 Offline OP
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A34  Offline OP
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Thanks, I'll reach out to some of these guys !!


God Bless America, Our Troops and Their Families !

DEO VINDICE
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? [Re: A34] #2506502
06/10/18 09:44 AM
06/10/18 09:44 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,029
Southeast Virginia
68jim Offline
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Southeast Virginia
Another recommendation for Clark Classic Restoration in Greenville, NC. Walt and his crew did my Road Runner almost 10 years ago. I provided the body as just a shell and it turned out awesome. There are plenty of pictures on the website so you can see the process.

Jim's Car 021.jpgBodyshop2c.jpgBodyshop13d.jpgP7311721.JPG
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? [Re: gtx6970] #2506527
06/10/18 11:31 AM
06/10/18 11:31 AM
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MA
steve70 Offline
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MA
Originally Posted By gtx6970
Truly OE ?

You will be hard pressed to beat Mike Mancini.

Nothing against the others mentioned here. I'm not saying these others cant do it. ( Troy Angelly has by the way )


Mike finished my 340 Duster in time to take it to MCACN where is was very well received. The car will be displayed in his both at Carlisle if you want to see his work close up.

HotRodarticle.JPGcoverfront.jpg

1970 Challenger T/A 4 speed
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? [Re: A34] #2506542
06/10/18 12:09 PM
06/10/18 12:09 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline
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Spokane Washington
Also keep in mind that often times the difference between a true "O.E." restoration, and a really nice "show-field" level restoration comes down to available parts. If you show up for judging at an O.E. judged event (Mopar Nationals O.E. etc.) you won't likely score top honors with reproduction parts all over the car. It may look perfect to a typical onlooker but NOS or production line parts with proper date codes, finishes, etc. are what separates an O.E. car from the rest. The tougher parts for most cars often come down to wear parts like tires, shocks, belts, hoses, etc.

My point? Don't expect the shop you choose to magically come up with the parts you need, most will rely on you for most or all of that aside from available reproduction parts. Some will try to help with a parts locating service option at a cost (usually a heavy one) as it can be a very time consuming process. .02

Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? [Re: A34] #2506573
06/10/18 01:24 PM
06/10/18 01:24 PM
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Sacramento CA
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Morty426 Offline
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Sacramento CA
What Scott said

Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? [Re: A34] #2506745
06/10/18 07:21 PM
06/10/18 07:21 PM
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Posts: 116
MAIne
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MoparABE Offline
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MAIne
I think Mike Mancini is very tough to beat. He gets true OE in the purist, most strict sense of the meaning. I've been to his shop and the work is incredible. I've seen his all-out OE cars and like Scott said, the parts choice make a huge difference. When it's done right, it's like a page out of history. On the down side, you can't drive a car like that! Mike gets my vote as #1. and he's probably the friendliest anyone could deal with too.

Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? [Re: MoparABE] #2506766
06/10/18 08:11 PM
06/10/18 08:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,997
Long Island, NY
shakerjoe Offline
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I met and spoke to Mike Mancini a few times and discussed my car with him, he obviously could do the job to the utmost scrutiny, another name that comes to mind is Roger Gibson and Frank Badalson. I've spoken to Frank also and bought a few of the smaller detail parts for a OE type resto, which i tried to replicate, on my budget, knowing I would never have the car judged. I'll agree with what Scott say's, I did have him restore my carbs which took me 18 years to find(correct dated '71 carbs), I also searched out and installed as many NOS and date coded parts and restored myself or had restored as many of the original parts on my car...list too long to name here. I went with CCR for a show quality glass like finish with all the overspray touches, with all the paint dabs and finishes and detailing I documented during disassembly and as much judging info I could muster that would pass with most of the hardened mopar afficionado's looking at the car at a show, even show field such as Carlisle or the Nat's. Would it pass a tear down by Frank B. or Dave W.? Not a chance, but I drive the car, on a cursory glance...I have the #'s alternator, radiator, distributor, carbs, NOS power booster and M/C, ballast resistor, repro battery, all M&H harnesses, repro hoses, plastic clamps, shocks, but my OE dash restored by MM at Instrument Specialties, all correct finishes on front end and inspection marks, rear end completely done and new stamps and paint dabs, I'd probably do pretty good up to the AM/FM CD bluetooth radio and Alpine speakers in dash mounted in custom bracket under single speaker cover, dual Blaupunkt 6x9's...I made concessions as far as making it a great looking almost OE resto. That all being said, I'd have to say for the OP that Mike Mancini, Roger Gibson, Frank Badalson if you're going for all out concourse judging, not that CCR can't do it, they just don't have the name recognition yet I guess, though they did win at the Nats I think with a Superbird...but a friend of mine did pick up on a item that the judges missed, and he supplied them with the corrected Superbird only item.

Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? [Re: A34] #2506829
06/10/18 11:27 PM
06/10/18 11:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline
Mr Wizzard
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Spokane Washington
In defining the criteria for an O.E. restoration by my definition would be O.E. judging at either the Mopar Nationals or Dave Wise's ICCA O.E. judging. Both systems use multiple judges to scrutinize the car in extreme detail for many hours while on a lift etc. most cars have a possible score surpassing 3,000 points depending on the model and optional equipment. As compared to a car judged at MCACN where every car is sitting on the ground and gone over in a very short time period by the judges, receive a much more abbreviated judging, and the cars can score a maximum of 1,000 points. They call the cars at MCACN that achieve high scores "Gold" cars, but that isnt "O.E. Gold". it's a much lower standard which allows participants a much easier avenue to achieve "Gold" than it would be achieving the award in a true O.E. program.

I've had multiple people ask me for references when it comes to restoration shop choices and my standard answer usually includes this: If the shop has produced a restoration that has accomplished O.E. (Bronze/Silver/Gold at the Mopar Nationals) then they are then qualified as an O.E. capable shop. So, when it comes to achieving true "O.E." there are likely a number of other shops that could PROBABLY achieve it if they were supplied the right parts to get there, some customers just don't bring them the tools (parts) to accomplish it.

All that said, what shakerjoe said above is the case with almost everyone, basically that truely reaching the O.E. level is not thier goal, they just want the car to appear that way with compromises according to parts cost or availability. Just depends on what your true goals are for the car.

.02

Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #2507035
06/11/18 01:27 PM
06/11/18 01:27 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,452
N.W. INDIANA
moparjohn Offline
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N.W. INDIANA
I agree with most of what has been stated in this post but would like to add some personal information. It will be very difficult to achive an O.E. level car today unless you have been buying and storing away the proper ASSEMBLY LINE parts and in some cases early NOS parts. You also could buy a car that was never finished by the previous owner and have the parts needed come with it. The Mopar Nationals was the place to go for years for OE Mopar judging. That has changed as that long time original group has retired and several changes since than that effect the criteria and change the results. The MCACN show has been real popular for all makes for judging. But here is the BIG misconception at that show, the vast majority of the entries go through their CONCOURS 1,000 point judging. Later many owners and others turn these results into OE results. It is not the MCACN shows fault as they clearly state CONCOURS on their certificates. There is a very small group at the MCACN show that goes through vintage certification but I think that is more for survivors than restored cars. I don't know much about it because I've never entered a car in that.
I have attached copies of both our Mopar Nationals OE GOLD certification under the old group from 2010 and the MCACN CONCOURS GOLD certification also from 2010 for our Charger Daytona.
MJ

JUNE 4666.JPGJUNE 4665.JPG
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? [Re: moparjohn] #2507488
06/12/18 12:11 PM
06/12/18 12:11 PM
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Benton, IL.
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DaveRS23 Online rolleyes
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I did an OE Cert car......once. The parts were near impossible to find then, let alone now. And it took 2 years just to get into the program at the 'Nats. So you had to 'time' your resto to that schedule.

Then I realized that I really couldn't drive the car. The roads were always too wet or too dusty or whatever. Running through water at any speed would cause hours of cleaning under the car if the car's status was to be maintained.

So I eventually sold the car because I couldn't really enjoy driving it.

As a side note, it takes 95 points for Gold status. My GTX got 94.75. rolleyes








Master, again and still
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? [Re: A34] #2507510
06/12/18 01:32 PM
06/12/18 01:32 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,158
God's Country - Etowah, TN.
A34 Offline OP
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A34  Offline OP
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Great information as always!! Thanks guys.

Special thanks to the guys that PM'ed me with additional info.

It's easier to have a OE level resto guy do a lesser quality resto than it is for a non OE level resto guy to step his game up. beer


God Bless America, Our Troops and Their Families !

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Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? [Re: A34] #2507646
06/12/18 07:43 PM
06/12/18 07:43 PM
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Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline
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Spokane Washington
I agree!

Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? [Re: gtx6970] #2517316
07/04/18 09:11 AM
07/04/18 09:11 AM
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LimeliteAero Offline
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Originally Posted By gtx6970


Regardless . make the decision to go truly OE or NOT,,,,,, BEFORE you have ANY work done


AND THEN DOUBLE YOUR BUDGET!

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