Should I feel guilt about being a parts vulture?

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Funny part is, that some of the young-ens are thinking I just made that story up .......

Man, I literally got shivers remembering the snow blowing through the cracks in our barn. Brrrr!

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Yep, especially the junk yards that were nothing but a field full of junked cars.

My rule of thumb was usually to get two of whatever you needed, then between the part that you had and two other used ones, you could build a good one.....

Just think of the fun the young-ens are missing, by not getting to go out into a muddy field, in the winter, finding the right car, that still had the part you needed, getting the part off and walking back up hill as it started to get dark and started snowing.

Then when you got home, going out into the cold barn, with a dim trouble light, and put the part on your vehicle...... yep, and snow was blowing in through the cracks in the barn siding.

Funny part is, that some of the young-ens are thinking I just made that story up .......


humfrz

I had the very same story probably 50 times (except for the mud in the winter part). You missed a part though. Negotiations.

To the best of my memory after 40 years:
(Alternating me and Bubba)

The 327 in that 67 Parisienne any good?
Yep
Can I hear it run?
Yep
Got a battery?
Over there.

(Later after starting car)

Ok sounds good how much?
You pull?
Ya
50 bucks
No way. Number 7 lifter is clucking like mad and left valve cover gasket is leakiing like hell. 25 tops.
40 then
Pull it over under that tree so I can throw my tackle up and I will do 35.
ok but we close at 5.
Ya cool.
You want the tranny? 10 bucks more.
Sure. Why not.

Some place I still have the bill from the garage that did the swap. Was about $150 with all parts, fluids and labour.

[billwot]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Yep, especially the junk yards that were nothing but a field full of junked cars.

My rule of thumb was usually to get two of whatever you needed, then between the part that you had and two other used ones, you could build a good one.....

Just think of the fun the young-ens are missing, by not getting to go out into a muddy field, in the winter, finding the right car, that still had the part you needed, getting the part off and walking back up hill as it started to get dark and started snowing.

Then when you got home, going out into the cold barn, with a dim trouble light, and put the part on your vehicle...... yep, and snow was blowing in through the cracks in the barn siding.

Funny part is, that some of the young-ens are thinking I just made that story up .......


humfrz

You forgot the part about the replacement part doesn't fit because the donor was not really identical to your car.

[Cole]

I managed to get steals on both a TRD steering wheel, and a Sard LSR wing. 50% off retail for what look like brand new items. The wing was on buddy's car for like 2 weeks.

[Mr.Impreza]

I voted yes cause it was a funny response Yes: you are a bottom feeding parts vulture!

I actually recently wanted to start start a thread asking why so many members on here put in so much money in these cars by going Turbo/Supercharger and than you see them selling the car after 1 year....

Never understood that.

[nextcar]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I had the very same story probably 50 times (except for the mud in the winter part). You missed a part though. Negotiations.

To the best of my memory after 40 years:
(Alternating me and Bubba)

The 327 in that 67 Parisienne any good?
Yep
Can I hear it run?
Yep
Got a battery?
Over there.

(Later after starting car)

Ok sounds good how much?
You pull?
Ya
50 bucks
No way. Number 7 lifter is clucking like mad and left valve cover gasket is leakiing like hell. 25 tops.
40 then
Pull it over under that tree so I can throw my tackle up and I will do 35.
ok but we close at 5.
Ya cool.
You want the tranny? 10 bucks more.
Sure. Why not.

Some place I still have the bill from the garage that did the swap. Was about $150 with all parts, fluids and labour.

I remember this well too... but things have changed around here.

As someone else mentioned, San Diego has a LOT of u-pull junkyards, perhaps due to the border proximity. Pricing is fairly standardized with a set price for item regardless of model - though they do run sales occasionally

Changes for the good: There are any number of guys hanging around the yards that will pull the parts for you very reasonably - I had a transmission pulled for $25. Well worth it to not lie in the gravel, spill fluids, and deal with questionable jacks, tires as jack stands, seized bolts...

Changes for the bad: You now have to sign your life away before entering, and when I was restoring a car with my son I found out they no longer allow anyone under 18 on the lots...

[nextcar]

Originally Posted by billwot

You forgot the part about the replacement part doesn't fit because the donor was not really identical to your car.

Or the specialized part on a limited run car had already been replaced. I was looking for a transmission once that was only used on one model of Thunderbird for two years... found it in a junk yard and thought I had scored. Paid $25 to have it pulled (see post above) only to find that at some point the car had been serviced and the transmission internals swapped for the standard components...

[nextcar]

Originally Posted by Cole

I managed to get steals on both a TRD steering wheel, and a Sard LSR wing. 50% off retail for what look like brand new items. The wing was on buddy's car for like 2 weeks.

Isn't it great being a bottom feeding vulture?

[Tokay444]

Was Harambe a vulture.

[JD001]

I have some questions:

1. What are you spending all of your saved money on? Cars, girls and booze or more parts?
2. Does your car love you for getting her hand-me-downs?
3. Are vultures bottom feeders?
4. Are you a canny investor and you should start a thread offering the fools with cash advice on how best to invest their money? Which parts new now will be much sought after on second-hand market?

[nextcar]

Originally Posted by JD001

I have some questions:

1. What are you spending all of your saved money on? Cars, girls and booze or more parts?
2. Does your car love you for getting her hand-me-downs?
3. Are vultures bottom feeders?
4. Are you a canny investor and you should start a thread offering the fools with cash advice on how best to invest their money? Which parts new now will be much sought after on second-hand market?

1: All of the above, though my wife is far more expensive than the car...
2: I think my car appreciates the upgrades, but I know for certain not to get my wife "hand-me-downs"!!!
3: Certainly not, but I thought it sounded more self-insulting than the more technically correct "scavenging vulture" or "bottom feeding crab"... though both of those terms may apply to me
4: Perhaps. Note I bought a used single owner/non-smoker 2013 with 12,500 miles and clean title for $17500, and my personal goal for mods are nothing but OEM options and never pay more than 50 percent of retail. Aftermarket modifications will typically detract from the car's value... I have also been looking for great deals on wear items like floor mats, and have even pondered storing some spare seats (not going to fly with the wife )

With few exceptions cars are NOT a wise investment, so getting maximum enjoyment for minimal expense is my new strategy. Don't talk to me about my AMGs., however my 1969 Mach 1 is a different story!

[JD001]

Originally Posted by nextcar

1: All of the above, though my wife is far more expensive than the car...
2: I think my car appreciates the upgrades, but I know for certain not to get my wife "hand-me-downs"!!!
3: Certainly not, but I thought it sounded more self-insulting than the more technically correct "scavenging vulture" or "bottom feeding crab"... though both of those terms may apply to me
4: Perhaps. Note I bought a used single owner/non-smoker 2013 with 12,500 miles and clean title for $17500, and my personal goal for mods are nothing but OEM options and never pay more than 50 percent of retail. Aftermarket modifications will typically detract from the car's value... I have also been looking for great deals on wear items like floor mats, and have even pondered storing some spare seats (not going to fly with the wife )

With few exceptions cars are NOT a wise investment, so getting maximum enjoyment for minimal expense is my new strategy. Don't talk to me about my AMGs., however my 1969 Mach 1 is a different story!

'New strategy'? Pre or Post AMGs? Photo of Mach 1 pleeease.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by billwot

You forgot the part about the replacement part doesn't fit because the donor was not really identical to your car.

Well, ya ........ but, I will always think it should of fit ......

There was nutten wrong with the fuel on the 1949 ........ why did they change it in 1950 ......


humfrz

[nextcar]

Originally Posted by JD001

'New strategy'? Pre or Post AMGs? Photo of Mach 1 pleeease.

Post AMG. These cars have the dubious honor of having one of the highest depreciation rates of all cars due to the expense of maintenance and lack of rarity.

As requested... I did a full restoration over 4 years!