NJ Warning & Advisory

[BLACK MOON]

Has anyone dealt with 'Classic Auto Parts & Accessories Auto Restoration'? They are located in Middletown New Jersey. The previous owner of my 63 spent $3,389 on electrical work in 2002. I was shocked when I looked at the invoice and really got ****ed this week while disassembling the 63 for restoration. This appears to be one of the biggest rip offs in Corvette history. For more information please pm me. I'm going to try to scan this invoice and post it here for your review. Needless to say this injustice is too old to correct but feel I need to post this advisory.

 

[paintdaddy]

Do they have a website?

 

[Rowdy1]

I've lived in NJ all my life and I can't say I've ever heard of them. Unfortunately, there are all too many places that will take the owner for a ride.

 

[BLACK MOON]

They are in Middletown, NJ.

 

[Rowdy1]

I saw that, but as I said, I've never heard of them. There's more and more "specialty" shops opening all the time.

 

[BLACK MOON]

Paint Daddy,
I don't see a website on this invoice. It's a stunning document but no website. They replaced the only wiring harness replaced was the dash. Fo$3,300 they could have rewired the entire car.

 

[paintdaddy]

Ill have to agree its no easy task replacing that harness but $3300 sounds on the high side.

 

[Rowdy1]

That's a massive ripoff. I bought the Painless 18 circuit harness for the 62. Has everything, marked and color coded, VERY nice package for around $250. Had a friend put it in, every wire is now new, headlight to tail light and everything in between. I also bought the ground block kit for $25, well worth it.

 

[paintdaddy]

I heard the painless kit was far from painless.I will say this,in my opinion the wiring is the most labor intinsive part of a restoration.Rowdy ,you say you had a friend install your painless kit,if your friend would have kept track of the hours actually involved in installing that kit,it would be well over what you might estimate.I agree$3300 is on the high side but I think some people sometimes seem to think that the labor is the easy part and the parts are where the money should be spent,which is exact opposite of what the reality is.

 

[Rowdy1]

I agree with part of your response, wiring "can" very intense and costly paying by the hour. I don't remember exactly how many hours we put in it, I did as much as I could with a very basic knowledge for it. I changed out all the sockets and mounted the ground blocks etc. I'll have to ask him how many hours he would say it took us. He being at the top of his class graduating from Wyoming Tech. said that of all the wiring he's done, he felt that the Painless kit was the best he'd used. As I said, every wire is color coded and actually marked for its intention and while at school, all the projects they built used Painless. Everyone has an opinion about things and I'm sure who ever told you about their experience with Painless was just that, an opinion. Much the same as my friend, "his" opinion. For myself if I were ever to do another wiring, or should I say, have it done, I would not think twice about what one I'd use. Just "my" opinion.

 

[Gerry]

Hi Rowdy1,
I also have lived in NJ (Sandyston, a little north of you) all my life. I have a few friends that also used Painless Wire kits and they really liked them. However, if you keep track of the time spent it adds up quickly, especially at labor rates of $100/ hour. To chew up $3000 (about 30 hours), seems way too much but this is NJ.

Best regards,
Gerry

 

[Rowdy1]

Hey Gerry,
I know where Sandyston is, nice town, still very country like. I'm not in disagreement with how quick it can add up paying a high labor rate, especially a wiring project that's very time consuming. The point I was trying to make was I was very pleased with the Painless people and their product. Maybe I'll run in to you this summer at a cruise or a show. I often take rides up in your neck of the woods.

 

[Gerry]

Hi Lou,
Very country up here. I agree that painless is a very good product for a difficult job. I hope to see you sometime up here when weather breaks, always looking for a good cruise or show. Do you ever go to the Chatterbox, up Rt15, (formerly Sonny's) they have great cars there saturday nights.
Gerry

 

[Rowdy1]

Looking forward to it. I haven't been there since the name change but I rarely missed a Saturday when it was Sonny's. I also do McDonald's in Newton on Friday's, they get a big turn out.