Restoring a classic car raises many questions, and we have answers. Below are answers to many common restoration questions, but we always encourage customers to email or call us anytime to chat! 

Where is your shop located?

• The V8 Speed & Resto Shop is located in the heart of the USA, 1/2 hour from St. Louis, MO, in Red Bud, IL
• 817 S. Main Street, Red Bud, IL 62278 (314)783.8325

What do you do in your shop?

• We perform complete restoration services, ranging from simple classic-car maintenance to full rotisserie, show-quality restorations, custom car designing and building, hot rods, and much more.
• We currently have 31  people on staff, including dedicated metal fabricators, mechanics, body technicians, painters, interior technicians, parts restoration technicians, detailers, video / TV production, photography, web development, and administration.

How much does a restoration cost?

• While often asked, it is impossible to predict the total cost of a restoration when considering the numerous variables of a project Including parts choices, and quantity of work.  These variables are discussed in detail as we work with the customer to learn their goals.   Unfortunately, we cannot have any responsible discussions about costs without seeing and inspecting the car in person in our shop. 

Factors affecting costs include:

• Condition of vehicle
• Type of vehicle
• Quality of restoration desired
• Types and amount of modifications
• Desired time-frame of job
• Choice of and Availability of parts for vehicle

These and many more elements determine the overall restoration cost, but we can assist in the planning of your project to help your vision come to life.   

Can you help me plan my restoration?

• Planning and Project Management are two very important parts of the restoration process, and we work with the vehicle owner to create a solid plan and then stick to the plan to prevent additional time and costs.   

How do I get my car to your shop?

• Vehicle owners are free to bring the car themselves, or we will help find transport options to deliver the car.
• Vehicle owners are responsible for packing their car and/or parts safely for transport.   Should a vehicle be returned to the owner disassembled, the owner is requested to supply or pay for packing materials, moving blankets, crating, tie-down straps, or other items needed for safe transport.    An enclosed trailer is also requested.   The V8 Speed & Resto Shop is capable of protecting and loading a vehicle for transport, however the standard shop rate will apply along with any additional materials such as blankets, crating, protective foam, or other materials required.  

What if I do not have a vehicle yet, can you find one for me?

• We can assist with locating a car.   We provide vehicle location and inspection services for customers for a finder’s fee.

How long do restorations take?

• Depending on the factors listed earlier, restorations can take months to several years.

Do you do modifications?

We perform many kinds of modifications to meet the customer’s needs. These include:

• Custom car design and building.
• Custom metal fabrication
• Electronic fuel injection installs
• Modern engine installs & tuning
• Air conditioning systems
• Custom interior, consoles, etc. 
• Overdrive transmissions
• Custom exhaust
• Audio, navigation, and entertainment systems
• Improved braking & suspension systems
• Performance modifications
• Body fit enhancements & custom work
• Safety improvements
• Complete interior restoration & custom work
• Complete restoration project documentation and photography

… and many more!

Do you complete stock original restorations?

• Yes.  We can return a vehicle to as-new condition or modify it as the customer wishes.

Do you work with other shops?

• We perform most of the restoration services in our shop.   We have had customers request that certain stages of their restoration be done by other shops during the process.    While we are generally OK with this, it must be noted that if a partially completed restoration project leaves our shop to visit another, the vehicle has left our control and we are not responsible for the other shop’s work or damage incurred on the vehicle.   This can include paint chips and scratches, “un-doing” of our work for another shop to perform tasks, loss or breakage of parts, changes in our design or installation of parts, other shops not working to the same quality standard as our shop, etc.   The customer is responsible for the time necessary for our crew to package and load the parts and vehicle should it leave our shop.   We will photograph the entire vehicle before it departs to have an accurate description of condition and completeness before it leaves so the customer can be sure of the status when the vehicle left our shop.    Likewise, we will document the condition of the vehicle when it returns to our shop for completion and alert the customer of any issues found that occurred out of our possession.  

How is billing handled?

• Once a plan is in place, we request a pre-payment for parts to purchase to help us start the process. This amount will be different for each project, but the money is used to help cover the initial parts orders, or material costs needed to begin the job.
• Our shop sends invoices to the customer every week to ensure that our shop and our customers are in constant communication and “on the same page.”  We charge a shop rate for time, parts and materials are additional.  Parts may incur a shipping charge. 
• The invoices are generated from our Technicians’ time entries as they work, so there is great detail on our invoices.   However, we are always happy to provide greater detail or explanation of services should the customer request it. 
• Due to our weekly invoicing structure, payment is expected upon customer receipt of invoice.  If payment is not promptly received, work will be suspended and the vehicle will be placed into storage until the customer account is brought to current status.   Pre-payment terms are available to prevent customers from accruing a balance with the shop.  
• We understand there are times when a project needs to be “put on hold”, and we will gladly work with customers who let us know in advance that they foresee a work stoppage.   Should a customer fail to submit payment in a timely manner, we will make arrangements to place the vehicle in local storage at the customer’s cost of $150.00 / month until the balance is caught up or a solution is agreed upon.   This protects the customer from incurring any additional labor charges while the vehicle is in storage.   We are flexible and are always willing to work with a customer to help ensure the project is completed to their expectations.   
• Accepted payment methods include cash, check, or online payments through credit cards and e-checks.   Paying by check or cash is preferred.  Echecks  have  a $3.00 fee . Credit cards are convenient, but there is a service fee charged to us which we in turn add to your next invoice. The average fee is about 3.5%.
• If you click on the view and the pay invoice button “Debit card” is underlined in green, you can select bank transfer or credit card by clicking on the words.  The bank transfer option allows you to enter your checking account info and pay by check online.
• Our shop labor rate is subject to change during the lifespan of a project. In the event that our labor rate changes, any project that is within ninety (90) days of completion will be exempt from the rate change. If it is determined that the project will require longer than ninety (90) days to complete, the owner will be notified of the labor rate change prior to invoicing. Our employees are our greatest assets. This adjustment allows us to provide competitive compensation and benefits, fostering a motivated and skilled workforce that is dedicated to meeting your needs effectively.

What happens if I have a question about something on an invoice?

• Should there be a question about an invoice, we encourage customers to contact the shop as quickly as possible to resolve the matter.  We understand there are sometimes items on invoices that require clarification, and we encourage our customers to review and question the invoices upon receipt to make sure everything makes sense and appears correct.  We are always eager to provide greater detail or adjust for billing errors should they occur.   

Do you sell parts?

• We are authorized retailers for many industry-leading automotive part manufacturers. We sell everything from restoration parts to performance parts to replacement repair parts.

Who supplies the parts for my car?

• Our policy is that the V8 Speed & Resto Shop sells the parts we install on cars built in our shop.   Consider the following:
  • We build LOTS of cars, so we are dealers for all the major restoration and performance parts. We work very hard to build relationships with the dealers to get great quality parts and service. 
  • We KNOW the parts. Many times, there are several options for restoration or performance parts, and we know the “good ones” to use. The wrong choice can equate to additional labor time making something fit or work properly, where the right choice can be a huge time saver.
  • When we order the parts, we can track the parts. We maintain a highly detailed spreadsheet for each car in the shop. We log all the part numbers, suppliers, date ordered, order status, shipping date, tracking numbers, and arrival date when they reach the shop. If there is ever a problem, we can track, return, or exchange the parts quickly.    
  • Incorrect parts are delivered to our shop far more often than one might think.    This can come from mis-labeling at the factory, a part not meeting our quality standards, a broken or damaged part, or a variety of other reasons.   Depending on the supplier, returns can be quick and easy, or a drawn-out process requiring constant back-and-forth communication.   Customer supplied parts can add significant time and distress to this process, especially when the crew is waiting on decisions from a customer who is unavailable.    When we order the parts, we can manage these situations more efficiently while reducing headaches for the customer.
  • Because of our strong relationships with our suppliers and our dealer status, suppliers often provide additional services to find us what we need in a timely manner.
  • Have you heard the saying, “You don’t bring steak to a steakhouse?” We spend a lot of time researching the best parts and suppliers to use. By installing what we sell, we can offer better support should a part not perform as expected.
  • We cannot warranty parts supplied by customers.  
  • We are a retailer, not a wholesaler, so there is a markup on parts.   This – fee helps to cover the research, quality control, handling, and administrative tasks associated with parts selection, ordering, and management.
• KEEP IN MIND that MANY restoration and performance parts have NO FACTORY WARRANTY, and often, the time frame from part purchase to installation can be longer than the factory warranty.  

What happens to parts removed from my vehicle?

• There are often left-over parts from a restoration or upgrade.
  • We recycle scrap metal and dispose of items that are unusable or destroyed during removal, unless the customer specifically requests these items back before their disassembly.   
  • We request that customers manage these extra parts.  We can help bundle parts for pickup by customers, labor charges may be incurred.    
  • We prefer not to be responsible for the storage, sale, shipping, or other handling of take-off parts, as this process can be very time and space consuming. 

Will my car be photographed during the restoration process?

• All the cars are photographed for internal documentation and communication purposes, some are displayed in public galleries to share with the world, and some are even featured on V8TV‘s TV and Web show! 

Do you do partial restorations / modifications, or only complete cars?

• We perform everything from simple classic car maintenance to rotisserie show-car restorations and complete custom and hot rod construction.

What about mechanical upgrades, like fuel injection or air conditioning installs?

• We install many popular upgrades  to make them safer, more reliable, and more enjoyable to drive.

How do you tune and “break-in” a completed restoration?

• We drive and tune the cars we restore to ensure all systems are working properly and the car performs as intended. This can be up to 300 -500 miles on complex cars, less on others. We’d rather have minor issues be resolved while the car is still in our possession before delivery so we can quickly remedy them. Keep in mind that if a customer mandates a timeline that does not allow our team to perform the required driving “break-in”, the customer may encounter issues with the vehicle that arise with initial usage.

How does a restoration affect the value of my vehicle?

• There are many factors that determine the value of a vehicle, including:
  • The total production amount of a vehicle – lower usually means higher value
  • The mileage of the vehicle
  • The documentation of the vehicle, original bill of sale, build sheets, etc.
  • The condition of the vehicle
  • The options installed from the factory – sometimes cars with no options are worth more than those with many!
  • The current state of the market
  • Level of originality of vehicle
• They say “They are only original once” and that statement holds bearing on vehicle values.   For example, a sought-after car like a 1970 Chevelle, outfitted from the factory with the SS 454 performance package, in bright red, with low miles, and in excellent original condition, is most likely going to be worth more than a restored version with performance upgrades that are not original.  
• It is very possible to spend more on a restoration than the car is worth on the open market.   
• Our shop specializes in what we call “Heirloom Cars”, meaning these are vehicles that have more sentimental or nostalgic value than current street market value.    These are cars that the owners never plan to sell.   Perhaps the car belonged to a family member or was bought new and never left the family.   Perhaps it is a car that a customer had years ago and always regretted selling, and how has another.    We understand the value of these sentimental attachments and treat the cars with the same level of respect as our customers do.
• We are NOT the shop to come to if you want to “flip” a car bought cheaply and try to make a big profit… we do not perform “quickie” paint and restoration jobs just to make a car look good for a sale.    The term is “putting lipstick on a pig” and that’s not how we operate.  We maintain a specific set of core values that dictate how we work and the quality we deliver.   
• If a customer is seeking a fun car to drive, it might be best to start with a lower-level version of the car of choice… for example, it’s probably not a good idea to heavily modify a numbers-matching 1969 Camaro Z/28 with a different engine and aftermarket performance parts.   However, finding a “plain-Jane” version.. a base model Camaro, maybe a 6-cylinder car, will not reduce the overall value by a V8 conversion and modified parts.  

What happens if the plan changes midway through a restoration?

• We work with the customer to formulate a solid build plan, but there is a situation that we call “Might as well syndrome”, where the customer adds items to a restoration purely because of an opportunity to do so.     For example, if the crew is restoring the front suspension, and the parts are disassembled, that’s logically a good time to upgrade the stock suspension to something offering better performance.   After all, the parts are already disassembled, why do the work twice?  “Might as well do it now while it’s apart!”     The customer needs to recognize that these changes WILL add additional time and cost to the restoration of a vehicle, and will negate any original budget plan or estimate made.      A simple analogy is a restaurant… the steak dinner might list as $20.00 on the menu, but when you add drinks, salad, dessert, and tax… the bill is no longer $20.00.     Change Orders will be agreed upon by the customer and V8 Speed & Resto Shop when the plans change, so that everyone has the same understanding of the scope of work and costs involved. 
• It’s important to keep in mind that these are old cars, and they have possible crash damage, hidden rust / corrosion, or previous repairs that might present themselves during the restoration process.   As hard as we try, we cannot always “see through the paint” and know what a car might require until the job has started.    We always present our findings to the customer for discussion and a repair plan and then proceed as directed, but these situations can add costs and time to a project.   
• If the customer orders a work stoppage on the car, the customer will be charged storage fees while work is stopped.  This includes if the stoppage is due to a customer mandated outside service provider doing work on the car (customer mandated machine shop or other outside service, for example).  However, if a delay or work stoppage is motivated by the V8 Speed & Resto Shop, there will be no storage fees incurred.   
• Our goal is to provide quality and efficient service, so we request that when we contact you with a question or concern, please respond as soon as possible so we may proceed with work or parts ordering without delay.   As you can understand, parts production and availability can be delayed, and we do not wish to add time to the process. 

Whose insurance covers the car during the build?

• The owner is required to insure the car, but we maintain a full shop-keeper’s policy to protect the vehicle under our care, custody, and control. 
• We store all vehicles indoors each night, and our facility is gated with alarms and security cameras. No customer vehicle is stored outside overnight.
• We are not responsible for damages resulting from previous work performed by other shops.
• Our insurance company will not insure a customer’s car stored at our off site storage units.  Customers’ insurance must cover the car when in the storage units.

Is there anything you do NOT do in-house?

• We do not perform engine machine work, although we do engine assembly,  We are adding engine machine work to our services in 2024.
  • We work with a variety of race-proven engine machinists for block work, head work, rod resizing, crankshaft modification / repair, etc., and can send engines out for these services with customer approval.   We photograph engines and note ID numbers and casting numbers to ensure the same engine returns from the shop.  
• Although some services are not completed by our staff, we have resources to manage these tasks on any project, such as media blasting.

These policies and procedures are subject to change and improvements as needed without notice.