This has been a great conversation, thanks everyone. One critical factor is the shop is a 2 to 3 hour drive from my home so getting a chance to see what is going on is not very practical since I am working and I have other obligations.
Here are some closing remarks for now:
I can tell you the body shop guy doesn't really care about my dad, if he really did he would have gotten the car done in 1/4 of the time, he has had the car for 3 years for goodness sakes and promised to complete everything in 6 months to one year! He picked up the car from me in September 2012. I took back the rolling chassis and did all the mechanical work in December of 2012, unfortunately that was the year my mom passed away, he took the rolling frame back in March 2013, at that time saying it would be done in 3 months... I have been in the emergency room with my dad six times in the past 2 years and I call this guy each time and say come dude we got to get this done!
I've held up my portion of the agreement, i.e. every time he asked for money I have paid him, I boxed up all of the needed parts, mounting hardware, labeled everything carefully, included installation detailed drawings, purchased new parts when needed. From time to time he tells me he doesn't have parts and I tell him "yes you do" and I show him the list of inventory for all of the parts I provided to him. Then he says he has "misplaced them" asks for me to send him a copy of the list and finds them eventually. I suggest if you do use a third party, keep good records of everything and have them sign and acknowledge receipt. This has been critical in discussing project status. On his side I understand it must be hard to keep track of 100 plus projects he says he is working on but my job isn't easy either...
As I said communication is his down fall so I proactively stay in touch, I call, text or email regularly; quarterly to monthly at first (year 1 and 2), then every two weeks or weekly (year 3) now it's almost been daily because I am so angry at his progress and everything. I just keep my foot on or up his butt hoping that he will get it, this is important. I know this is uncomfortable and he tells me "I get it" but the son of gun just doesn't get it done. When I checked his references back when this association began, all of them, I called four past customers, said he does good work and gets cars done quickly which is half right. I guess the references he gave me were not randomly selected... A little side note, I went to visit him in January to check out things and our conversation got a bit heated. I was telling him about all of his broken promises and his lack of follow through and my disappointment. He stops me and tells me if I keep talking to him that way he was going to kick my butt right there in front of all his staff. I told him that's not going to happen, I am 6 foot 3 inches, 200 lbs. and in pretty decent shape he is about 5 foot 10 probably 230 lbs. and not in that good of shape... I say "really, you want to mess with me when I am bigger than you are, stronger than you are, I work out at the gym regularly and on top of all that I am really mad at you?" I am not a violent guy really and I have never been in a fight in my life but I had to call his bluff and he changed the subject rather quickly.. LOL
I am going on a trip at the end of the month and I told him I want my car delivered body work completed between June 18th and June 20th right when I get back. I have paid him everything because he over charged me in his last bill that I paid to him, I discovered his error in accounting for his labor hours because he "forgot" he had sent me one invoice twice, changing the dates did not get by me, so that last payment hammer is not available to me. I chose these dates first because it is a reasonable amount of time for him to get things wrapped up and I did not want the car sitting at my house while my kids were home and I was away however, June 20th is my parents wedding anniversary June 21st is father's day, I think my dad will be pretty stoked to see the car at least almost ready to drive on that weekend, IF THE CAR IS ACTUALLY DELIVERED!
I am sure I'll have lots of questions when I get the "little girl" back and I begin finishing the assembly. After three years I hope I can remember where everything goes and I am praying the engine will run and the transmission works in the hast to get all the work done and get it back to him I did not attempt to run the engine! Looking back now I could have taken my time....
I really appreciate the support from everyone, at least somebody understands me, probably the craziest story ever told!
Hi Guest!
Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
STOP!! Never post your email address in open forums. Bots can "harvest" your email! If you must share your email use a Private Message or use the 
smilie in place of the real @
Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
