Print the value of index0
  • Report:  #1086238

Complaint Review: M&J Restorations Santee CA

M&J Restorations, Santee CA, Mark Davis 1951 CHEVY 30,000 Dollar Restoration Ripoff Santee California

  • Reported By:
    1951 Chevy Fan — schenectady New York
  • Submitted:
    Sat, September 21, 2013
  • Updated:
    Fri, October 26, 2018

I contracted the service of M&J restorations to perform a complete off frame professional restoration on a 1951 five window Chevy pickup. The 3$0,000 spent was for services only and does not include parts. Total cost

was well in excess of $79,000.

All started well and continued until the truck was to be delieved.  M&J had over one year to restore the truck.

The truck was built in California and the plan was to pick it up and drive it to Florida. Due to "delays" and strong suggestion by Mark to have the truck shipped it was not driven to Florida. This was a good thing as it would not have made the first 200 miles.

After delivery and closer inspection issue after issue started to surface and continue to date.

It is quite obvious that M&J does not have the expertize to properly build a high end classic car.

Mark is an average boybuider painter but has real problems with real mechanical assembly work. This is mainy due that all his workers are completely uncertified and should not be working on tasks that besides being expensive to fix could lead to serious failure and possible personal injury.

This is based on two issues of many. After about 300 miles of driving we had complete failure of the rear brakes.

Lukily this happened in our drive way and not a 60mph. The root cause was that Mark did not tighten the caliper to the axle and they became loose and completely came off the axle hub.

Brake problems continued as we noted that breaking was extremely inadequate. We had disk brakes all around and 11" rotors up front. After discussions with Fatman it was noted that due to Marks complete misundestanding of hydraulics he had installed an improper master cylinder (piston size) he believes that a bigger piston will give you more stopping power. We had to replace this improper component with a proper master cylinder.

The story continues, very expensive custome wheels were installed with the rear tubbed for at least 11" tires.

Mark was asked tie and tie again to properly measure the offset. He manged to get this wrong and noe the tires actuall rub when I hit a bump. It will be quite costly to replace these wheels.

The front started to behave strangely after 1000 miles. After inspection the control arm bolts where the shocks mount were completely bent. Mark ahd not used the required sent bolts by Fatma which need to be grade 5. Had used cheap stainless steel bolts which could have failed. Deadly at 60 MPH.

 

The issues go on an on and on. After a $79,000 dollar build I have spent close to $7,000 on rework all due to incompetence. Mark will not come good and will continue with his well reherased repertoire of excuses.

Bottom line, M&J Restorations should not be in the high end restoration business. Don't let this company turn your dreams into a very expensive nightmare.

 

Below find a brief summary, let it be a lesson to you. Attorney fees are expensive and Mark knows this.

 

 

 

 

1951 Chevy Rework

Known

                             

M&J Restorations

                               

21-Sep-13

                                 
                                   

1)

 

Dropped Shipping Box on New Motor

 

Broken Spark Plugs

 

Came shipped like that

 

New Spark Plugs

 

15

             

Damaged Distributor

       

New Carburetor

 

620

             

Damaged Carburetor

       

New Distributor

 

150

                                   

2)

 

Lights Burn Fuses Instantly

   

Grounded Light Bulb

               
             

Bulf Forced into Socket Broke Tab

No Explanation

   

4 hrs troubleshooting

300

                                   

3)

 

Signal Light LED don’t work

   

Poor electrical connection

No Explanation

   

4 hrs troubleshooting

300

                           

Remove guages to access

 
                           

Connections

   
                                   

4)

 

Door rubber seals  not as per design

 

Loud windage on passanger side

Don’t worry about it

 

Buy proper seals

 

400

   

Stick-on

                     

and install

   
                                   
                                   

5)

 

Guages Controller Box installed

 

Cut cab drivers side  wall and installed outside

Don’t' worry about it

 

Will need to reinstall

1000

   

outside cab

     

Sensitive electronics

       

and seal cab

   
                                   
                                   

6)

 

Rear tires rub fenders

   

Incorrect offset measured to purchase

My guy measured wrong

 

Need new wheels

 

1500

             

wheels

                   
                                   

7)

 

Complete Rear brake failure

   

Calipers not tightened to hubs

Forgot to tighten and locktite

 

All new components

600

             

Damaged calipers, brake lines, parking brake

Bolts

     

Re installed

   
                                   

8)

 

Brake master cylinder incorrect

 

Not enough pressure build up, need smaller

No understanding of hydraulics

New master cylider

 

500

   

for application

     

bore diameter

 

during specification

   

with smaller bore

   
                                   

9)

 

Front window leaks

     

Need to reseal

 

They all leak

   

New Seal Job

 

400

                                   
                                   

10)

 

Passenger door key doesn’t work

 

New tab sent to be installed

You don’t need it

   

To be installed

 

200

                                   

11)

 

Passenger door does not close right

 

Bad components bad alignment of

No comment

   

Disassemble and realign

300

             

striker

           

Replace

     
                                   
                                   

12)

 

Rear end leaking

     

Replace yoke seal

 

bad component

   

Replace seal

 

150

                                   

13)

 

Front End Swing Arm Bolts Bent

 

Need to replace all swing arm bolts

No Comment

   

Improper weak bolts installed

350

                           

Not Fatman Suplied

   
                                   
                                 

6,785.00

                                   

                                               

 

 

 

 

3 Updates & Rebuttals


Frank

schenectady,
New York,
United States

MORON

#4Author of original report

Fri, October 26, 2018

You are Moron

Look at the Pictutes

You are  a disgrace to the Classic Car Industry

Go have another drink

Should be in Jail for all those bolts coming loose that can cause a fatality ever heard of a torque wrench?

Of course not, you don't even know how to write

Shody work he does..all came appart by competen people all good now after another 10 grand yas a*****e

 

 


Nico Balboa

schenectady,
New York,
United States

You're a Moron

#4Author of original report

Fri, October 26, 2018

You're a complete Moron and a disgrace to the Classic Car Industry.

Look at the pictures..any fatalities yet due to your incompetence?

Go have another drink.

Someone should be in jail for such shoddy workmanship

 

 


BF

Myrtle Beach,
South Carolina,
United States

Your Wrong

#4General Comment

Sun, September 23, 2018

 Mark built you one of the coolest trucks I have ever seen. Your wrong! You raced a one of a kind show truck then complained about it. Plus you were cheap and did not accept the truck in SD so you never inspected. Your an a*s hole! This is a one of a kind truck that only Mark can build and he has built many. If you want a million dollar truck than please pay for it. You got a great deal on one of the sweetest trucks I have ever seen! BF

Respond to this Report!