[MichaelB]

$12,000 to start is pretty low for a 3.2 rebuild. That is less than half the final total correct? Machine work is taking a long time these days, and parts, while available are not as straight forward to procure as it use to be. A year is simply not out of the predictable range (coming from someone who does this for a living, not just some poster throwing it out there).

Look, these awful recommendations like "go get nasty on the Internet" (What is with people using ratings as a weapon? Often times that just leads to incorrect slanted ramblings that are easily discounted. And think about this... Just maybe something is causing the delay that is not the service providers fault. And your petty nasty "review" then cast shade on a reputable business that now has to combat any result of that one star BS. Is that fair to the employees of that establishment that have families & bills they need to keep in check. No. Plus, who reads reviews? Only the kind of customer a business does not want).

Then how about the "Take a big friend with you" Do you think that actually works? Send someone in to my place, we all sporting guys that carry. You are going to look pretty silly standing there unprepared for that. Today is not the time to get in peoples face.

Those suggestions are simply not going to help.

Now to be rational, that might be the trick. Go in to Bobs and sit down with him. Ask what the delay was/is, and then afterwards put a plan together (like your 30 days). Jot down the agreement & let him know that you are still a fan (you took the job to him to begin with) but you need results. If his explanation suits you, then relax. If it does not, then have him explain it so that you DO understand. (Remember, you do not know the business like he does. Have him explain it. Do you really think he wants to hold onto your stuff for any longer than he has to? No he does not).

Work with him, but have an understanding. If it does not progress, then let him know you will be taking it away and that he will need to give you a final invoice reflecting that. Heck, he may want you to take it.

I have projects that go over-time. But I constantly communicate to the customers why. It is normally parts delays, (we have been waiting on suspension for a safari build from a reputable nationally known vendor for 5 months now) but often it is simply staff. One of my techs father died this week, he took the week off. Another had a daughter that needed tonsils out, and he took time off for that too. That put us behind for the holiday season period. Most reasonable customers understand on project cars that are not used for every day transportation.

So, stay diligent, and trusting until it is not explainable any-longer. If deadlines are not met (within reason) part ways. But be warned, places like Bobs are going away (then what are you non mechanical people going to do?). I would suggest you help him survive, not suffer.