With $70,000 into the project, I'd be looking for a lawyer and a legit shop to look at the car and assess it. A friend of mine got screwed on a car issue several years ago. He got a lawyer and ended up suing the guy and ended up with a judgement for $30,000 plus interest until the debt was settled, secured by the court putting a lien on the guy's house and property. Nothing happened for a looong time, but then the guy wanted to sell his property and couldn't due to the lien. So after several years, with accrued interest what came to him was $80,000. The lawyers took $15,000 out of what he was paid and never asked for a dime until the bill was paid.