In my experience, one just has to find the right craftsman.  There are excellent mechanics, excellent paint and body shops, excellent exhaust shops ................ .  There are bad ones.  It takes time and effort to find the good ones.  I have an excellent mechanic in Darrel Cook of Norman, Oklahoma.  A really good body shop is just a mile from my home, where excellent work at a reasonable price is done.  When I needed a new muffler, and was far, far from home, I found a shop I trusted and they sourced and installed a muffler that is doing a great job.

For those who want to do their own work, I applaud that.  But please don't condemn all commercial workers.  There are plenty who do good work and take pride in it.  And we who find the investment in tools, time, effort not worth it are glad to have them.  I do small jobs that I am comfortable with, but I take advantage of the good people I find for more complex or demanding work.

mcneely

---- JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> For that kind of money - I would do it myself. Might take a while - but
> it would be right what I finished. That's my biggest problem with the
> crafts - crappy workmanship. Dedication to the craft is minimal in most
> places. You can still find it -= but boy does it ever take some digging.
> I've had to fix to many jobs that were plain crappy. Live through to
> many horror stories.
>
> Just like my muffler nightmare - my problem - but it's gonna be right
> when I'm done, no questions asked. The muffler will not fall out in the
> street!
>
> I bet Jim is happy with his home paint job. He knows it's right.
>
> John
>
> On 8/13/2013 9:11 PM, Jason wrote:
> > I wouldn't expect much for under $3-4K in terms of quality.

--
David McNeely