Another $3000.00 dollars in repairs to correct life threatning problems

The Corvette was transportated back to the restorer to fix some safety issues and correct the battery draining problem. This problem, along with hundred others, were reported to Dream Restorations(AKA Cannons Corvettes) over a year and a half ago and never corrected. We found out that the voltage regulator was not mounted and installed incorrectly. It took almost a month to isolate the remaining safety issues.

I wanted to update you with the latest findings and a repair bill to fix "life threatning" issues such as loose suspension bolts, faulty suspension, unsecured bumper, missing bolts, and incorrectly installed suspension.

Please don't buy any 1968 parts from Cannons (AKA Dream Restoration) until I get my parts returned. I can send you my certified request plus my unanswered emails.

Interior

1. Center gauge cluster 1969 and later (original missing)
2. Heater control head broken
3. Telescopic steering column not working will not move and the wheel is loose (safety hazard)
4. Radio knobs not for 1968 (invoice charges for original)
5. Dash pad poor fit
6. Seat not bolted properly (safety hazard)
7. Convertible frame will not go up with windows closed – fit issue
8. Door windows will not go up to the top
9. Misc. gauges do not work (tach and water temp)

Body Assessment

1. Hood will not open
2. Left hood hinge drilled out to move hood
3. All hardware not original
4. Left front inner seal not touching tip surround panel not installed properly
5. Right front inner fender missing seals not properly installed
6. Cracks on left rear qtr panel where bumper bolts on
7. Crack on rear valance panel
8. Front fenders on both sides paint dull
9. Gas lid will not stay open
10. Hood cable incorrect and not installed properly
11. Windshield wiper not working and washers on arms installed incorrectly
12. Windshield wiper door not installed properly all hardware incorrect

Manipulating Invoices and broken promises

Actually nothing is or was "honest" about how they conduct business at this salvage yard. In fact the current owner wrote a two year guarentee and then months later sent an email stating he "wants to part ways" and has not responded to numerous emails. The owner(s) have a history of manipulating invoices to swing any story they wanted to invent. Who charges an owner the cost for an original part than swaps it out? Who delivers a car that will not pass a Virginia safety inspection? Who glues parts to the body of a vhicle?

As far as "bank statements", nothing will show all the lies told for a vehicle that was promised two years after deliver date. They have no business doing any restoration and neither does the current owner who also delivers an equally astonishing poor quality of work. The car's body will have to be removed and the car completely repainted.

I know of no one who is willing "to fly his logo". Stop with theatrics and deal with the facts. I'll be handing out the assessment of the vehicle to anyone even thinking about using this salvage yard. That is all it is a salvage yard which has many of my original parts!

Chassis Evaluation (car is not road worthy after Dream Restorations delivered vehicle)

I have created this post in order to recreate 6 years of history. The restoration of my 1968 began when I contacted Robert Parish of Cannon Corvettes who was the original owner with a partner Greg Higgins (that's him with the car). There is no person named "Cannon" and the business filed for bancruptcy in Norfolk Virginia prior to moving to Moyock N.C. Here is a Virginia Pilot excerpt, "Cannon's Recycled Parts Inc., also known as Cannon's Corvette and Cannon's Performance Center, filed a Chapter 7 liquidation". Check Norfolk public records for the liquidation date. The company no longer is filed under "Cannon" nor "Dream Restorations" so finding any information on the corporation is near impossible. Here is a list of problems:

• Front and rear spring sit car too high about 2-3 inches
• Fuel line is spliced with rubber hose
• Body is not weel fitted to the frame and has door gaps larger than normal
• Power steering slave cylinder is missing a cotter pin (safety) and nut not tight
• Front bumper brackets not corret and not installed properly
• All frame/suspension hardware replacement not original type bolts
• Exhaust not correct and poorly fitted to the car
• Missing spare tire lock
• All underbody heat shield is missing along with brackets
• Battery hold downand wires not put in correctly
• Rear diff carrier bolts not tight
• Backup light switch harness melted on exhaust and bent out of the way
• E-brake not tight or adjusted
• Front e-brake cable frayed/worn
• Clutch return spring attached to brake line instead of firewall
• Missing splash pans
• Misc. boths not tight (front crossmember)
• Carburator will not idle and is used from a 1969 Camero
• Master cyclinder replacement (original missing)
• Alternator replacement wrong date code (original missing)
• Rear diff code AW not dated correctly (original rear end missing)

1968 327/350 Restoration took 6 years

I will unfold a history of what I encountered and hope others will learn and avoid this expensive lesson. If pictures are not enough, look for me at Carlisle PA for Corvettes at Carlisle 22-24 August. You can inspect the vehicle yourself and see a list of missing parts and the invoices that never matched from month to month. Examples will include paint and body completed and paid for at $5500 and two months later jump $2000.00 dollars.

Here is some quality work performed by Dream Restorations. What we found was they glued the wiper hose to the grill and leveled the grill with scrapes of paper. I will break down the vehcle by invoice and show you pictures of the work that was performed. You judge for yourself this was worth over $42,000.00 dollars! Below is a picture of the wiper hose glued to the body of the car.