Papa Jay's Hot Rods

Write a Review818-776-8592

OPEN NOW - Closes at 5:00pm

I brought my specialty car here to address and work on some cooling issues.



While in his care he informed me I needed to replace the heads, which were under warranty and the cam. I gave him the okay to do those repairs, as well as the cooling issues which involved a custom fabricated air tunnel and purchasing a new radiator.



After over 5 months with my vehicle I just got it back, it is worse than when I brought it to him. Yes, you read that correctly over 5 months. In fairness to him it took a nearly month to get replacement heads from the manufacturer.

However, I had to push to get my car back when I did. He was in no hurry to finish my vehicle. AND he was constantly asking me to give him more money. Saying that each thing was a separate job. No, repairing all of those things were part of the same job: to repair my car so that it didn't overheat anymore.



Once I got it back it overheated twice on a 4.6 mile drive home, each time I had to stop for at least an hour for it to cool down.



Again, I'll give the devil his due, he emailed me in response and said he stands behind his work and he would take it back for more work.

I don't have another 5 months to waste and countless dollars to spend for more shoddy work from him.

Which, by the way, he outsourced a lot of the work to another mechanic -so he didn't even do most of the work that I paid HIM to do.



The idle is horrible and I am afraid of what damage driving it may do. The engine was a brand new crate engine purchased from Blueprint Engines. The custom fabbed tunnel is AWFUL to say the least -I'll gladly provide photos to anyone that needs proof.



There are chips and scratches in my paint which was freshly painted. My windows, according to him leak, which they didn't before he had it. And my side mirrors have rust on them which they did not prior to his 'care'.



Everything was new on my car, as it had just had a complete restoration, my proof is that my car was featured on a popular television show that did the restoration. Prior to going to Papa Jay's (aka Jay Dykes) everything was about a month old, the only issue being that my radiator was not sufficient to cool my car.



DO YOURSELF A FAVOR DO NOT BRING YOUR CAR HERE!!!



Because he preferred to do communications via email I have a record of everything. And will gladly share with anyone curious for proof of my review.

Jay and his staff do not possess the ability to restore classic cars. Our car took 4 years and $120k, and it does not run correctly. The engine is only running on 6 cylinders (should be 8), coolant blasts everywhere, the car shorts out and the battery dies, The doors and jams do not line up, exhaust fills the cabin. Worst of all they will not tell you the truth on processing of the car.