tube chassis: Build Time

Hey anyone, i am slowing having my tube chassis built for my colorado. It is being built at a buddies shop on a frame table. It is a fairly basic suspension setup. Its a heidts IRS, mustang 2 front end, and a power mustang rack. Now my question is, how long realistically should a real shop take to build a complete rolling chassis. Minus the brake, fuel and air lines. I have supplied everything, and in january it is going on three years. Im starting to get a little ticked off, and wish i would of brough it to someone that icould trust that would build it alot quicker, and pay a little more to get it done. ill try and post a pic of what is pretty much done after 2 years of building. it may not load though. But either way it seems a hell of a long time to me to build something fairly simple. thanks
 
cory

THERES NOTHING JSUT SIMPLE ABOUT AN IRS, MUSTANG 2, ECT. BUT 3 YEARS IS A LONG TIME. HOW MUCH IS DONE?   IVE SEEN FULL FRAMES BUILT WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS TO ABOUT A YEAR DEPENDING ON WHAT SHOP, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WORKING ON IT, AND IF ITS BEEN PAID OFF OR IF THE OWNER IS MAKING PAYMENTS THE WHOLE TIME. IF ITS A FREE/FRIEND JOB ITS USUALLY NOT ON THE TOP OF THE PRIORITY LIST AT THE SHOP.

Edited: 10/9/2009 7:49:01 AM by iLLblazer

Umm 3 years? Pull your truck out of there man.  It all depends the amount of hours he's putting in per day and how involved the build is but even if he worked on it 5 minutes a day for the last 3 years thats 90 hours LOL. I'd say 40 to 50 hours tops for a rolling chassis. Since he's your buddy he may be cutting you a deal on the labor in which case it often wont be priority #1 if there's other customers paying full shop rate.  Add a little more hours for the IRS, didnt catch that part, but an M2 setup is straight forward. Either way 3 years is far too long unless there is something you arent telling us.

3yrs is frggin crazy for a customers car. now my personal truck has a round tube chassis and its going on 3 years but you know why? same reason yours is, it doesnt get worked on!!

hey im in your area.. what shop is building it??!!?!?

---------------------------------------------Originally posted by AVTekk3yrs is frggin crazy for a customers car. now my personal truck has a round tube chassis and its going on 3 years but you know why? same reason yours is, it doesnt get worked on!!---------------------------------------------Haha yep my blazers been off the road for 6! yay for running a shop! LOL

yea it defintely was never on top of the priority list, but there has got to be some work done. I need to get some pics uploaded of it soon. I know he keeps telling me he's taking his time so he doesnt waste any tube, and make sure everythings perfect. I understand that, but their is also a line where work needs to be done as well. I wish i would of never brough it to a friend, and just either built it myself, or found a reputable shop in the michigan,ohio area. The shop is called xotic designs. He does do nice work, but we were never going for ultra fancy with the tubing. pretty straight forward. here are a few pics of about 8 months ago.  http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c276/nvrendn/frame/

I think the biggest unanswered questions are: How long did he tell you it would take? How much of the cost have you given him?  If he said 2-3 years then you knew from the beginning. If he said 3-4 months then you have a problem. Regardless, you may just need to cut your losses and take what is done to someone else. If nothing else, you can look at is a colorado laying body with nice paint was a super rare occurance 3 years ago, now they are still rare but the bar has been set my plenty of others that have come along in the last 3 years.  as Joel has said, at 5 minutes a day over 3 years, assuming 5 days a week working 50 weeks a year is 62.5 hours... should have been enough time for it to be done by now

Holy Shit, 3 years and this is what he's got to show for it? Has the frame been sitting in this same spot the whole time? Sounds like a total waste of a frame table if you ask me... from the looks of that last picture it looks like the front half isn't even started yet? It also looks like the entire thing is just tack welded together... He's worked on that frame for no more then a week or two tops, certainly not 3 years worth of work layin on that table. I'd either tell him you'll pay extra to get it done in the next couple months or you'll yank it from the shop and go someplace else. Absolutely no reason to have it for that long, but again, i don't know the whole story or the situation...      

I was just going to ask what shop was doing it, till i read xotic. thats your first mistake, just because you have the tools ( thanks to mommy and daddy ) and you can afford to pay people to work for you doesnt mean you can fabricate.. i rebuilt a mazda that they did, and holy crap gaps in the tube work, the sheet metal bed  was just plate welded on top of the original bed, and the quality of craftsmanship was not there.. you should take it to Mailloux Chassis & More 1688 County Rd Suite 22, Emeryville N0R 1C0, ON

p: 5197275505  he does some kick ass work, but youll pay for it. I cant stand xotic/7th