Someone that has been a friend (until now) is a highly skilled fabricator. In October 2018, I gave him my 4Runner to start a coil over SAS, custom rear bumper build and some other to-dos. I knew that he would working this along with other projects so we agreed to 2-3 months for all of the items on the work order.

since then progress has been in fits and starts... sometimes going months with no progress. All of the tasks are in different states of progress but none are complete, still!! Thus, it’s not drivable and much of the steel is bare.

I’ve given him tons of leeway... he’s lost employees, had to move shops, had some urgent jobs come in, but my flexibility and patience has run out. I want my 4runner back and I want to enjoy it!

Additionally, I stopped by yesterday unannounced to check in. I found it sitting outside, the rear widow fully down and the inside cargo area wet from rain... he said he was out of town for a week and perhaps one of his employees pushed it outside last week (rained all week).

I’m at my wits end. I can’t drive it away, it’s incomplete and I’m at his mercy. Ive given him 3 weeks to complete all remaining work. He swears he’ll hit it, but I have no confidence as I’ve seen 6 other target dates come and go.

Looking for practical advice on what I can do here.

 

i don’t understand your question, “what to do?”. i’d bring my trailer to the shop, load up the runner, and take it! a winch or come-along would help.

 

To further explain... if I was to pick it up, I have nowhere to store a non-running vehicle, axles, etc. I have no garage space.... I live in Portland. It’s the rainy season. Grabbing it and letting everything get rained on makes it worse.

i guess I’m asking, what leverage can I apply? I expect most shops now will not touch it

 

I'd find an offroad fabrication shop and call them. See if they'll take the project on. It'll prob cost more than have your ex-buddy do it, but at least it would get done

 

This guy comes to mind http://northwesttoysllc.com/

 

I would totally help you out if I had my own garage space and I knew what the heck I was doing with fabrication, but, alas, I do not.

I have no useful input, but I hope things start to work out!

That is a tough spot to be in.

 

How much money have you paid this guy?
Does he have a bunch of your parts?
Are you looking for a way out or to get him to finish now?
If you have given him cash, then there should be no gray area, finish the work you were compensated for.
If he is a friend, have a heart to heart, and explain to him your crystal clear expectations.
Measurable progress, in a measured timeframe.
Then be down there ALL the time.
It sounds as thou you are really frustrated, which is totally understandable.
But it also sounds like you have no place to put the truck, unless you take it straight to another shop.
I would try to get him to finish the work, soon, and in the meantime, plan to move the truck if he hits his deadline with the truck unfinished.
Stuff like this sucks
Good luck

 

I feel for you; I had similar experiences at a few shops with different aspects of my resto in Portland and Vancouver. Just isn't worth the aggravation of leaving it there any longer in my opinion. If you have a driveway, I'd get it hauled there, tarp it, take pictures, then find a shop that will do the work in an agreed upon time frame. We've got some sunny weather on tap. If it's all fab work, find a fab shop; I don't think you really got leverage. If you didn't sign anything then neither does he.

 

Have you signed a document for the job?
How much money have you paid him?

 

I'd look into a storage unit for the parts for the interim until you can find a decent place to help you get this project running. Just my 2 cents.
either that or set some time aside to go hang out at his shop for a few days and pitch in to work on the vehicle. Then you can monitor the build and ensure it's getting done.
I'm only making assumptions of your available time.