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Projects At what point do you say a part isn't worth saving? '40 Ford pu hood

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by midnightrider78, Nov 7, 2025.

  1. midnightrider78
    Joined: Oct 24, 2006
    Posts: 1,349

    midnightrider78
    Member

    I finally picked up my basket case '41 Ford pickup yesterday. A**** the extra parts was a '40 hood. But, as you can see, it is beyond rough. I'll probably end up making an awning or a sled out of it. FYI the rust in the latch area is actually a little worse than it looks in the picture.

    I'm curious, at what point do you decide a part is not worth saving?
    That is, of course, different than can be saved. My Dad was one of those people who would put the work into repairing a completely trashed part just because someone said it couldn't be saved. LOL
    DSCN3325.JPG DSCN3327.JPG DSCN3328.JPG DSCN3331.JPG
     
    LOU WELLS and bchctybob like this.
  2. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 15,285

    Budget36
    Member

    When I work on my own stuff, my labor is free.
    That said, if I can replace something for what I think is a reasonable amount, I’ll pay for it.

    If I can’t afford a replacement or I feel it’s just too much money, then I’ll give a go at fixing it.

    Worst thing that happens I just waste time and chuck it anyways.
     
  3. HEATHEN
    Joined: Nov 22, 2005
    Posts: 9,030

    HEATHEN
    Member
    from SIDNEY, NY

    How much would one in much better condition cost you? How many hours would you have to put into this one in order to get it to the same level of the better part? Divide hours into dollars to decide if you want to work that cheap.
     
    midnightrider78, clem and Just Gary like this.
  4. bchctybob
    Joined: Sep 18, 2011
    Posts: 5,966

    bchctybob
    Member

    If you don’t need it for your truck I would just find a place for it out behind the shop and let it sit. If you don’t find a use for it in a couple years, send it to the s**** metal guys. Chances are you or a friend will find a use for it eventually. I wouldn’t waste time repairing it unless you are going to use it.
    I’ve got a pile of Morris Minor body parts that I am using for paint test panels.
     
    midnightrider78 and Algoma56 like this.
  5. LOU WELLS
    Joined: Jan 24, 2010
    Posts: 3,483

    LOU WELLS
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from IDAHO

    Very Rough But They Have Been Difficult To Find Now Without Buying Another Truck To Get One....IMHO...
     
  6. theHIGHLANDER
    Joined: Jun 3, 2005
    Posts: 10,721

    theHIGHLANDER
    Member

    They make good raw material for streamliner or speedster bodies. Just sayin...
     
  7. Dak Rat
    Joined: Mar 8, 2006
    Posts: 574

    Dak Rat
    Member
    from NoDak

    Yup, getting hard to find on the loose. Don't trash it until you find a better one--it is fixable.
     
    midnightrider78 likes this.
  8. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 11,272

    BJR
    Member

    If you don't need it, or the repair is beyond your ability to fix it, Sell it cheap or junk it, and buy a good one for your truck if you need one. Why waste time on parts that will never be up to your standards. Your standards may differ from mine, but that's what makes the world go round. :D
     
    Driver50x and midnightrider78 like this.
  9. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 22,341

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    Iowa gets snow right!
     
    Johnny Gee and midnightrider78 like this.
  10. Dan Hay
    Joined: Mar 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,451

    Dan Hay
    Member

    Gene Cross welded two of them together and made a canoe! He strapped it to the roof of his 48 Ford sedan. Can’t find a pic at the moment.
     
  11. silent rick
    Joined: Nov 7, 2002
    Posts: 5,656

    silent rick
    Member

    find another and make a nose like this

    3dog-garage-chrisman-rs.jpg
     
    Greenblade, alanp561, cfmvw and 4 others like this.
  12. Doublepumper
    Joined: Jun 26, 2016
    Posts: 1,807

    Doublepumper
    Member
    from WA-OR, USA

    Looks fixable to me and would be a good project...I've fixed worse. It's only metal:D
     
    Tim, midnightrider78 and 49ratfink like this.
  13. williebill
    Joined: Mar 1, 2004
    Posts: 3,478

    williebill
    Member

    I'd keep it, anyway. I've cut patches out of old thick Henry steel, rather than use a new piece. Always thought maybe that helped my poor fabrication skills do a better job.
     
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  14. treb11
    Joined: Jan 21, 2006
    Posts: 4,126

    treb11
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    If you dont want it, I do.
     
    midnightrider78 likes this.
  15. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 22,667

    alchemy
    Member

    Pickup hoods are getting harder to find. P***enger hoods not so much.
     
    chevyfordman and midnightrider78 like this.
  16. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 35,950

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Very honestly that is patch panel donor material in my book. You cut patches out of it until there is nothing left to cut out and haul what's left to the s**** yard.
     
  17. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 24,835

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    looks repairable to me. definitely not trash unless your pics don't tell the whole story.
     
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  18. rockable
    Joined: Dec 21, 2009
    Posts: 5,059

    rockable
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    You would need to be very skilled to make chicken salad out of that chicken doo, IMO.
     
    midnightrider78, okiedokie and BJR like this.
  19. chevy57dude
    Joined: Dec 10, 2007
    Posts: 9,642

    chevy57dude
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Awning over the outhouse door!
     
  20. gene-koning
    Joined: Oct 28, 2016
    Posts: 5,745

    gene-koning
    Member

    How much effort I would spend on a car or a truck part would involve two considerations:
    1) How hard is it to find a good replacement part? If replacement parts do not exist, or are very hard to come by, I would invest a lot of time saving the part. If the part is readily available and is cost effective, the old part could be history.
    2) How expensive the replacement part costs. I spend much more time repairing rusty parts for my own stuff then most would. I owned my own welding shop for 30 years, metal work on my own stuff didn't cost me anything but the time invested in the repair, my time didn't cost me anything, but it was pretty expensive for the customer. If the needed part would have been for a customer's ride, once the estimated cost of repair would become near the replacement part cost, it was time to call the customer and get his input.

    What to do if repairing the part is beyond your abilities, or cost more then an available replacement parts? That depends on your abilities or willingness to store the part. If storing it is not an issue for you, I would store and put the word out you have the rough part available. If that part is free or dirt cheap to someone that would be willing to repair it, is up to you.
     
    Algoma56 and midnightrider78 like this.
  21. tb33anda3rd
    Joined: Oct 8, 2010
    Posts: 17,582

    tb33anda3rd
    Member

    :( I save everything....
     
  22. UpNorthGreg
    Joined: Sep 6, 2025
    Posts: 16

    UpNorthGreg

    Sell it as a "Rat Rod" hood.
     
  23. midnightrider78
    Joined: Oct 24, 2006
    Posts: 1,349

    midnightrider78
    Member

    In the past I have too. But, I'm trying to get better. :D
     
  24. twenty8
    Joined: Apr 8, 2021
    Posts: 3,670

    twenty8
    Member

    Lots of guys talking about if the time and effort would be worth it financially. There is another aspect.
    Would you enjoy fixing it, and would it give you a sense of achievement?
    Sometimes it's not always about the dollar.....;)
     
    ClayMart, UNSHINED 2, X-cpe and 10 others like this.
  25. I’m not known for good financial decisions

    That’s why I build a lot of parts and fix things just because
     
    UNSHINED 2 and tb33anda3rd like this.
  26. Great candidate for a car show billboard or yard art. Find your local artisan and put your heads or hoods together.
     
  27. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 18,487

    Squablow
    Member

    If I needed one, I'd fix that, I've fixed way rustier **** than that. I like doing sheetmetal repairs, though.
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2025
    UNSHINED 2 and anthony myrick like this.
  28. coupe man
    Joined: Sep 1, 2007
    Posts: 302

    coupe man
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I'd fix it.I don't worry about the time it takes.I enjoy the challenge.
     
    UNSHINED 2 and Squablow like this.
  29. It's only steel...I'd fix it too.
     
    UNSHINED 2 and Squablow like this.

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