Paint shop jail... No parole!!!

I don;t own a pro shop. So if/when I do any large job - rust/steel, paint/body, engines - it's always $$ for parts/materials and 50% of the estimate up front. Balance on delivery. I get what I need and the customer has something to hold over me. IMO, if you are paying by progress - he should be providing you with statements of what's been done and what's been bought. In the past this has been how I've run my shops on large jobs. I'll also agree that at this point - you need to stick with this guy and pressure him to get yours done. Go down weekely if not every couple days. Go look at what's being worked on and make comments. That always is hard to explain why something else had to be put in front of you... If you pull it out now as was said - you'll get no warranty on anything already done and you lose all the finishing material costs with should be into four figures.