Hot Rods PARTS YOU USED FROM OTHER MAKES BUT NOT NECESSARILY FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSE

I was replying to Rons kitchen sink thread and when I was going through my albums I noticed I have used different automobile parts but not for their original intend.

#1 - I used Nisson windshield rubber around the fixed glass on the sides of the Ranch Wagon,no one makes rubber for this.

Until I installed this rubber everytime I washed the car or it rained it took on water,this solved the problem.









#2 - Heaven forbid I used 1966 VW running board trim,I cut 2" off each end and modified it to slip over the straps we made to aide in getting in and out of the back seat.



#3 - I picked this piece of Chevy vinyl top trim at the upholstery shop with this in mind,worked well transiting from vinyl to carpet. HRP

 

I made a large tail light into a tach cup...

 

That's a nice looking tach. HRP

 

No one else thinks outside the box? HRP

 

Well-- just a bit. Found this Cherokee radiator hose combined with the inner spring from another unknown hose worked well to go around the right mount generator on my flathead.

 

Used VW door latches in my 2 dr sed. Bob

 

Chevrolet bumper over rider for a license plate surround/light...

 

For my great twin nephews wagon - I tossed out of the cheap factory wheels and installed some NOS lawn mower wheels I had in stock. There will be two guys cruising this little red wagon so they will need some good runners.....tried to work in some spinners....but you know they wouldn't last long....

 

All the time, I call it "Parts Bin Engineering".

 

I put a Ford nine inch in everything but a Ford. Also use mid 1980's Camaro glass outside rubber seal on lots of rods. It is vulcanized onto a metal backing strip, which makes it easy to form.

 

I have used parts from about 13 different vehicles on my '40. That's how my wife came up with the name Alphabet Soup. Only used a few for a different purpose. Rear fender braces are made from wiper linkage off a Freightliner fire engine. Main hoop of the roll bar was a divider from a paddy wagon. Electrical junction block is made out of plastic usually used to make wear blocks for can making machines. Ladder bars are made from Chevy pick-up rear track arms. And the same-only-different, I used up-sweep dragster headers upside down to make fender well type headers. Gene.

 

I'll have to "steal" that idea. I've got one of those small 2" Mooneyes tachs that I got for a similar application ('54 Chevy truck accessory clock housing). It was too small for that. I eventually found a tach that fit the clock housing better.

 

I made rear shock mounts for the banjo rear out of '53 Chevy steering arms. the shape fit right around the axle housing and I angeled the arms to where I wanted the shock to connect.

 

I made my headlight arm brackets on my roadster from the 'clutch & brake' pedal arms (one was a bit shorter,.. I cut the other down to size) which had come off a 1953 Willys jeep...came out nice actually!

 

A lot of us use different make components but for their intend use on different cars and trucks.

I have a Chevy truck driveshaft in the wagon along with a GM alternator. HRP

 

I do this kind of thing a lot, but the only example I can come up with off the top of my head right now, is I repurposed some 50's Chevy truck E-brake cable mounts into supports for the roof on our Packard project when the roof is open. Unfortunately, I don't currently have photos. I'll have to take some, and ad to this thread as I remember other things.

 

59 Edsel stainless trim ,59 Chevy fender spires, perfume bottle for traffic light finder etc..

 

Ron....that looks sooo factory....nice work on the trim. Have to tell us more about that perfume bottle !

 

Not a car part, but a pair of junk harbor freight 4" grinders gave up their spindles for inside door handle mounts. Good bearings, will last a lifetime!
Don't fret, the vice-grips are temporary, until I do some precision grinding to make a square shank.

 

Thanks, I like chopped tops, but its hard to see the traffic lights. So I just used my one of my wife's perfume bottles with some Velcro on top of the 34s ash tray. Anything glass or acrylic will work. Acts as a prism This bottle is a little black skirt with clear legs and heels kinda cool. Ron...

 

Used one of these 49-50 Merc rear seat ash tray knobs on my glove box door. Along with a Vega box, Maverick rearend, unknown driveshaft and e-brake. Dodge caravan center seat.

 

That's very cool. Being on the metal working side, I don't often think about what can be used for interior. Gets me thinking! Thanks for the inspiration.

Most things with legs, heels, and a little black skirt act as a prison don't they?

 

what brand of perfume?

 

This is what I'm talking about,but what are these?HRP

 

At first I thought it might be a headrest, but looks to be mounted too high.
Best guess is a speaker pod made from old headlight bucket.

 

That's what I was thinking,guess we will have to wait for Ron to fill us in. HRP

 

They are $3. headlight buckets, to look like floating headrest. They are the right height if you are setting straight up in the seat. But with the chopped top I have to set forward on a pillow { drivers side} lol. The Edsel trim was only $10. I like swap meet and junkyard parts. The perfume bottle is one I kept, after my Wife was finished with it. Some cheap stuff that I can't remember the brand. Its a 34 Dodge so I used a PT Cruiser emblem on the inside of the rear door, as it looked deco. The old delivery was originally Hot Rodded in the 60s. Thanks Ron...

 

"Head over Heels"

 

Screen door latch on a suicide door is a simple hardware store safety piece. HRP

 

I used a Mills slot machine cast indian head as a decorative piece on my "62 Pontiac GP tach mount. ( picture to come later.)