7/30/2025. THIS TIME FOR A WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT FOR THE SAME '57 CHEVY, AND REPLACEMENT OF THE A/C COMPRESSOR, AND REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT. THE WINDSHIELD WAS THE ORIGINAL, SO SAFE IT TO SAY WE WERE CONCERNED, NOT JUST ABOUT THE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT, BUT WHAT THE REPLACEMENT GLASS WOULD BE LIKE. THE CURRENT ORIGINAL WAS FACTORY TINTED THROUGOUT AND SHADED DARKER AT THE TOP. A SPECIAL CHALLENGE FOR PAL'S IS THAT THE WINDSHILED IS ENTIRELY ENCASED IN STAINLESS STEEL TRIM, WHICH IS EASY TO CRIMP AND/OR PERMANENTLY DAMAGE DURING DISASSEMBLY, EXPECIALLY SINCE IT HAS NEVER BEEN TOUCHED SINCE NEW. PREVIOUSLY I DID NOT KNOW THAT PAL'S IS CO-OWNED BY A COUPLE THAT ALSO OWNS A WINDSHIELD COMPLANY THAT CAN DO CLASSIC CARS. I BELIEVE THEIR GLASS COMPANY IS CALLED WINDSHIELD DIRECT. THE JOB WENT EXTREMELY WELL. THE NEW GLASS IS AN EXACT REPLACEMENT FOR WHAT CAME IN THE CAR WHEN IT WAS BUILT IN SEPTEMBER 1956 (I WAS THERE TO RIDE HOME IN IT). ALL THE WORK ON EVERYTHING WAS DONE PERFECTLY. THE STAINLESS TRIM LOOKS AS IF IT HAD NEVER BEEN TOUCHED. THE NEW RUBBER SEAL IS PERFECT. AND THERE IS NO SIGN ANYWHERE THAT WORK HAS BEEN DONE ON THE CAR. NOT ONE MARK, SCRATCH, CHIP, SCRAP OF MATERIAL, ETC. IT CAME BACK TO ME BETTER THAN WHEN I DROPPED IT OFF. THE CAR IS BLACK SO YOU KNOW ANY DAMAGE, NO MATTER HOW SLIGHT, WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO HIDE. I SHOULD MENTION THAT EVEN THE UNDERSIDE OF THE DASH INSIDE THE CAR HAD TO BE DISSASEMBLED TO GET THE OLD WINDSHIELD OUT AND THE NEW ONE IN. TURNS OUT THAT STAINLESS STEEL TRIM ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD IS ANCHORED BY BOLTS THROUGH THE UPPER FIREWALL INTO THE UNDER-DASH AREA. I'M GLAD I DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT MYSELF. MY OLD BODY WOULD HAVE SUFFERED TERRIBLY. BY THE BY, STATE FARM PICKED UP THE WHOLE TAB, INCLUDING THE $400 SHIPPING TO GET THAT PERFECT NEW WINDSHIELD DELIVERED FROM THE WEST COAST. WELL DONE PAL'S. SPECIAL KUDOS TO JIMMY (HE'S THE OLD CAR EXPERT AT PALS). YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW HARD IT IS FOR ME TO TURN OVER THE KEYS TO MY ’57 TO SOMEONE ELSE. UNTIL RECENTLY NO ONE EXCEPT ME, SINCE ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE, HAS EVER WORKED ON THIS CAR. I DROVE IT TO WORK FOR 45 YEARS AND DID EVERYTHING TO IT, EXCEPT CHANGE THE TIRES. I PAINTED IT, REUPHOLSTERED IT, RE-DID THE ENTIRE DRIVE LINE, ETC. ETC. SIMPLY PUT, I CAN’T PHYSICALLY DO IT ANY LONGER. ERGO WHY I AM SO PLEASED TO HAVE FOUND PAL’S WHEN WE FIRST MOVED HERE IN JAN 2021. 1/28/2025 THESE FOLKS ARE THE BEST. CHUCK, THE SHOP BOSS, IS GREAT TO WORK WITH AND LISTENS TO YOUR CONCERS/ISSUES/NEEDS. RICK AND JIMMY SPECIALIZE IN OLD IRON LIKE MINE, AND KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING. I CAN'T OFFER ANY BETTER KUDOS THAN I HAVE IN PREVIOUS RATINGS. IF THEY CAN'T DO THE WORK THAN I SUSPECT NOBODY CAN - ON ANYTHING YOU TAKE IN. AND AS ALWAYS, IT IS DONE RIGHT, AND AT A FAIR PRICE. Latest work done last Friday. Suspension. Same feelings as follow from my previous review: It’s difficult to offer up my ‘57 wagon to anyone for anything. However, I’m getting on in years and have a bum right leg. So after 65 years of singularly taking care of my ‘57, with only two prior exceptions (build the 700-R4 transmission for me in 2001, and changing the motor mounts for the ZZ4 engine in 2011), I needed to find a trustworthy, experienced, and honest place to change out my rear springs. Old school so to speak. We’re new to Ocala so started from scratch looking everywhere I could. Found Pal’s on line. Visited the shop. Chatted with Chuck. Decided to have them do it. In a word, JACKPOT. They did a great job. What else can I say? I hope I don’t need to have anyone else do anything to my baby, but I now know where I’ll go. Without hesitation.
Thank you, Dennis! We’re so happy to hear you hit the jackpot in finding us. We appreciate the opportunity to serve. 😄👍🏻❤️💯🙏
- PALS Ocala Auto Repair