Posted By: A34
Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 06/08/18 02:39 AM
Hey Guys,
What are your recommendations for a OE level restoration shop on the East coast, preferably in the Southeast?
Thanks!
Posted By: shakerjoe
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 06/08/18 05:21 AM
Posted By: 71birdJ68
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 06/08/18 05:27 AM
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.
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 06/08/18 05:46 AM
Some good suggestions, also look into
Mike Mancini's place
Posted By: DaveRS23
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 06/08/18 03:03 PM
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.
Posted By: gtx6970
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 06/08/18 03:31 PM
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
Posted By: A34
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 06/09/18 03:38 AM
Thanks, I'll reach out to some of these guys !!
Posted By: 68jim
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 06/10/18 01:44 PM
Posted By: steve70
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 06/10/18 03:31 PM
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.
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 06/10/18 04:09 PM
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
Posted By: MoparABE
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 06/10/18 11:21 PM
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.
Posted By: shakerjoe
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 06/11/18 12:11 AM
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.
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 06/11/18 03:27 AM
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
Posted By: moparjohn
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 06/11/18 05:27 PM
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
Posted By: DaveRS23
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 06/12/18 04:11 PM
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.
Posted By: A34
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 06/12/18 05:32 PM
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.
Posted By: LimeliteAero
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 07/04/18 01:11 PM
Regardless . make the decision to go truly OE or NOT,,,,,, BEFORE you have ANY work done
AND THEN DOUBLE YOUR BUDGET!
Posted By: sixpackbee
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 07/05/18 02:41 PM
For truly OE doubling wont do it. I've been at this a long time and in the past few years just finding NOS/assembly line parts is virtually impossible. Especially exterior trim, grilles ect. When found the prices often scare the heck out of most but the very well funded.
Posted By: BarrsRestoration
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 10/16/18 08:24 AM
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.
Sweet Road Runner, Jim. The body and paint look awesome. First time that I've seen it in the green and white color scheme.
Posted By: gtx6970
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 10/27/18 06:17 PM
For truly OE doubling wont do it. I've been at this a long time and in the past few years just finding NOS/assembly line parts is virtually impossible. Especially exterior trim, grilles ect. When found the prices often scare the heck out of most but the very well funded.
Agreed,
Finding the parts now would be a job in itself.
I talked to a cust a several years back needing an NOS red boot coil wire,,, his budget was $500 and still couldnt find one. I've lost touch with him so I dont know if he ever found one or not
Posted By: Runner1
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 10/28/18 10:58 PM
Without hesitation, I’d only choose mike Mancini!!! He’s currently restoring my car and I couldn’t be happier with the quality, accuracy and professionalism of his shop!
Posted By: hulmule
Re: Recommendations for OE level restoration shops in the East? - 01/07/19 06:23 AM
So as a couple of you have taken a rolling shell to this different company's what is a ball park number in getting a paint job? My car is rust free B body convertible.