1952-59 Ford Good and bad at the swap meet.

Went to one of the 2swap meets in Portland today. Told myself was not going to buy any trinkets and focus in a few items needed for my 57. And at the same time find a couple items for friends in Texas and New Zealand. NZ is covered May have a lead for the Texas item. Will be following on it. The real bad is in talking with a few guys was the news that 3 different guys I know have in the last year have sold off several y blocks for s****. And everything I need was on every one was deemed trash. The most common thing I heard was nobody wanted them.

Sad but true?

And the sad part if they had known I wanted them they would been mine for the hauling.

 

That is becoming far too common. I try to take anything like that even if I don't need it. There is always someone that could use something.And if I can help save old car parts and help someone keep there ride on the road then it's a good thing.

 

I realize part of the problem is storage issues. Many of us end up way too much stuff so we try and dispose of it mostly by selling it. When no apparent buyer appears its deemed "junk". Personally I hate take money from friends so p*** on parts rather than junk them. So when they need something than has been sitting around for years it's offered up. Doesn't make good business sense but does beat throwing it in a s**** pile.

 

I would hate to tell you where my stash of 352, 390 and 406 Ford engine parts went with my 1978 divorce. Blocks, heads, clutches, bell housings, exhaust manifolds were sold for s****.

 

I just remember way back when first hooked was a couple of older guys p***ing on some parts to me. Without with my project would have stalled out.

 

Thanks Zap.

 

When so many peoples answer is "sbc/5.0/aod", what do you expect?

 

anything here you can use,, Probably not

 

There are a couple of problems for some one selling parts. First, lots of potential buyers don't have a lot of space (and money) to buy everything that they MIGHT need someday. Another is to connect with that one guy that needs the part. It could be years before that connection is made - meanwhile the seller is schlepping the parts time and time again to different swap meets. I don't sell that much at swap meets, but I have had parts that I thought would sell easily but can't make that connection. I sell cheap to get rid of it - don't like to toss perfectly good parts but after awhile what option is there.

 

Those plain valve covers would be perfect. But have as today found a local source who will sell me a pair for less than shipping cost.

Paul, I know all about limited space and how annoying it can be to haul stuff to swap meet after swap meet and not selling. And once I know that there is no money to be made off it it's time to give it away. Years ago I would do what I called the "Zapato Friday Night Freebie". I would offer up different stuff that I would never use with a few basic groundrules. Really tried to p*** on to younger guys with limited resources. Gave everything from a running 223 ford 6 to a factory tri power manifold for a 371 olds. Lot more satisfying than a trip to the s**** yard.

On my regional social group there is an ongoing thread for just this purpose. So there are alternatives we just need to find and use them.

My 2cents are spent so will p*** the mike to someone else.

 

Like your "Friday night Freebie" this is kind of cool too: http://sbftech.com/index.php?board=83.0

 

Jeff, that site is amazing. "Ask and you shall receive" and "this is your lucky day" at its best. And in the hot rod world.

Doesn't make sense to me to keep bringing stuff home from swap meets. I have a few parts in a friend's booth this weekend. If they are still there a FREE sign will go on them. Personally don't care what happens to them whether taken for resale, personal use or hard art doesn't matter. Just giving them another chance.

 

I've had collections of parts that I no longer needed and I had problems selling them as lots. Luckily I never resorted to s****ping them but I did have sell them for really cheap.
I even had trouble selling later model sbf 5.0 parts that included roller cam sets.

 

I'm fortunate in the fact I have a lot of storage space. All my friends are aware of that also. Someone else is always showing get up with some old part. I don't throw anything away anymore. I tossed a decent uni body tailgate once because I listened to the wrong person. That was an expensive lesson .

 

I had to turn away a free y-block a few weeks ago, same issue; no place to keep it.

 

I find myself giving things to people who can use them. Too much of a h***le to sell something most of the time.

 

Not a problem, they have been there for years, a couple more won't hurt.

 

Hey Zap....I guess it's safe to ***ume there were no trim pieces at the swap meets you went to over the weekend? I'm going to start the normal search places today unless you found something. Thanks for looking around in your neck of the woods.
Anybody here got a left side spear for a '57 Custom (not a Custom300)? Actually only need the front portion/checkmark.
Edit Yep...'57 not '56.

 

Rich, I have a contact telephone number for a guy that is helping a widow dispose of her husband's stash of 57-8 parts. He had a wrecking yard for over 30 years and 57s were his thing. There was, May still be, a whole pallet of trim there. If it hasn't been hauled away for s****. Should know more in a couple of days.

If you find one be sure it's for a 2 door car, the 4 door piece is different.

 

56?

 

I think he did mean 57.it is an age eyesight thing

 

wandering fingers....yep '57. I may have found one in Kansas.
Thanks Zap. I'll let you know.
It would be nice if one of the other '57 parts sellers would pick up his stash. Steve in 29 Palms told me this morning he hasn't been able to purchase a '57 parts car in 8-10 years and his supplies were running thin. Reminds me, I've got a friend in Lawton, OK that has some parts cars. I'm going to give him a call....that would give me an excuse to see his collection and would be a small detour on the way to OKC for NSRA show compared to the Kansas source.

 

I went to the swap meet in Humble, TX on Sunday. Sold a few things and gave away a lot also.

 

Zap...found one in Kansas, it's on it's way. Thanks.

 

rustyfords, you got any good 52-54 stuff? I'm just down the road from you in Houston.


i find the swap meets in Humble/Conroe hardly ever have any old ford stuff.

 

Really?Thought only thing one could find in Kansas was lions and tigers and bears.

Seriously if the guy that might have a large pile of 57 ford trim hasn't hauled it off for s**** will do my best to acquire it. Just waiting for a call.

 

Have some misc stuff....what do you need?

Off the top of my head, I know I have:

- a decent, rust-free 1954 left front fender (with Customline trim holes in it)
- an extra set of new vent window rubbers from Dennis Carpenter
- a working set of original 6V horns
- a decent, rust-free 1954 front valance
- a new trunk badge and badge insert 1954, from Dennis Carpenter

 

Got a p***enger side arm rest?

 

I did observe a great exchange between a vendor and customer. A young boy, guessing about 10, was asking for a price on an oil can. Vendor asked if he collected oil cans and he responded no. But that his dad did and he wanted to buy it for his birthday. The vendor said well it was normally 2 dollars but since it was a present he wouldn't accept his money. And scrambled to find him a bag so he could keep it covered and his dad wouldn't see it.​

This reminded me of one year when my daughter was about 5 years old and she proudly decided that she would be spending her own money on Christmas presents. So of we went downtown Portland to Saturday market. And being 5 $20 was like $1000-- to an adult. So we went and searched for just the right things. And as she spent her money she would ask me if she has enough and I would say yes but that she wouldn't have enough for all the other people she wanted to buy fot.And to their credit the vendors once they realized she was spending her own money well she got some fantastic deals. One vendor I remember asking who else she was buying for and she said her dad (me) and she leaned forward and whispered in her ear "does he like whistles" she nodded yes and with a pretend slight of hand picked one and put it in her bag. Still have that whistle and every time I see it am reminded that there are great people all around us we just don't take time to notice them.

My daughter managed that day to shop for a half dozen family members with $20 and came home with change. So tell me there aren't angels out there watching over little ones.

 

I don't