"Insurance gave me grief because it was DIY, said I should've had a mechanic sign off."
Did your insurer specify exactly what kind of documentation they'd accept? I've found some companies are picky about vintage rides—maybe an appraisal or inspection report could smooth things out...
"Insurance gave me grief because it was DIY, said I should've had a mechanic sign off."
Yeah, insurers can be funny about DIY stuff, especially with vintage cars. Had a similar issue myself a few years back—rebuilt an old Mustang engine in my garage and got the same runaround. Ended up getting a quick inspection from a local mechanic (just a basic safety check) and that seemed to satisfy them. It's annoying, but don't let it discourage you...your hard work will pay off once you're cruising around town.
Had the same headache with my old VW Beetle. Insurance companies just don't trust DIY work, even if you've done it right. What worked for me was documenting everything step-by-step—photos, receipts for parts, even notes on what I did and when. Then I took it to a local mechanic who gave it a quick once-over and signed off on it. Cost me maybe 50 bucks, but saved a ton of hassle down the road.
Honestly, don't sweat it too much. It's just their way of covering themselves in case something goes wrong later. If you've done solid work (and sounds like you have), it'll be worth the minor inconvenience. Nothing beats the feeling of driving something you've rebuilt yourself...insurance hoops or not.
Went through something similar with my old Mustang. Honestly, I was skeptical at first—thought the insurance folks were just being overly cautious—but after seeing a buddy's DIY job go sideways, I kinda get it now. Your documentation idea sounds solid though...might try that next time around.
Went through this with my old Volvo a while back—insurance folks aren't always just being cautious, they're covering their backsides too. Best advice I got was to snap pics at every step: before repairs, during, and after. Label dates clearly and keep receipts handy in case they question anything later. Sounds tedious, but trust me, it'll save you headaches if something goes sideways...and it usually does when you're dealing with vintage cars.
