I called House of Hotrods on the recommendation from a mechanic that is retiring. He recommended…read morethem as he is retiring and I needed someone competent to work on my 1969 Double COPO Camaro Berger Tribute. I spec'd this car out, had it custom built and bought most of the parts direct from two sources that provide high quality parts that are either NOS or OEM quality. I furnished over $60,000 in parts. So with the background, back to House of Hotrods. I called to see about having the heater box and all contents replaced. I have all the correct parts, not cheap, bought from the two sources above in the last year. This includes a brass and copper heater core and all gaskets and new mounting clips and rubber. I spoke with Beth, who explained they will do NO WORK with customer furnished parts. They are unknown quality, or something to that effect, is what she told me. She was going to have her boss call me. To date no one has called me. I am unclear if that is the owner or the shop foreman. My car is a nut and bolt full restoration. It was built to my specifications, is a life long dream come to life, and I don't just put cheap parts in it. I am attaching photos so all can see.
So here is my take on this business, having gone through having the car built, sorting out all of the gremlins that the builder did not address in the build and getting it to where I can drive it anytime I want in warm weather. So what this business is saying, in MY OPINION, is that they want to control purchasing and installing parts from THEIR vendors, who I don 't know, add their mark up to the unknown quality (unknown to me) part, and install it. Anyone who does a full restoration on a classic car does it as a labor of love. A car they have dreamed about for years, literally. These people may do good work, I never got the chance to find out. But they fall short in customer service, keeping a simple promise to return a call, and not even looking at what parts I am supplying. I promise they are NOT cheap.
Why do you want to let any vendor take your right to determine what parts you want installed? They get paid for labor, and not the standard shop rate, it is much higher than that. I accept that, am willing to pay it. The car in the pictures should be proof of that. I have never gotten a warranty in any of the work done on my Camaro. Nor do I expect one, including this repair. I simply want quality work and to have heat in the coming winter. I am going to reference this experience to any one I talk to. Everyone who wants to know about restoration process and who I DON'T recommend. I don't recommend House of Hotrods. Find a builder who will build your car the way you want it. With the parts you want to use. After all it is YOUR car.
