Hello. Thanks for the add. I'd like to ask all you veterans a few questions if I may. I have acquired two pickup loads of NOS and NORS parts from the 30's,40''S,50's and some 60's. I've been having some serious problems trying to identify them. Most of them are in boxes with part numbers so that helps but even then some of those part numbers lead to a dead end. The original NOS parts like FoMoCo, Buick and Chrysler give me a hit online and I can tell what application it fits and what years, sometimes what other vehicles it fits. Most of the NORS remanufactured part numbers lead me to nothing or sometimes a picture of a different part. Casting or patent numbers on the part don't do much good unless it hits on a part on FleaBay that the seller put those numbers in his ad as he didn't know the part number either. Some I can find by using the writing the dealer wrote on the box but most go nowhere. I guess my questions would be: 1: how can I tell which car a part fits and what other vehicles it fits going off the part number of a new part box or the part number on a re manufactured part box? 2: am I out of luck on the parts that have no box? Couple examples. Gotta box. Says Thompson Inc Packless Pumps. Has part number WP1125 on original box label. Dealer wrote part # 1023-1 on the box. Casting # on water pump is 1023-1. Google it and nothing. Tons of history of the Thompson company which I read tons of and has a very interesting history but spent two days looking for this one pump. Came up with Thompson/TRW from reading the history and started getting hits on water pumps just not the one I'm looking for. Another. Wiper transmission. Box says B-88140-20J. Nothing. Ran a couple patent numbers that were on the part and it came up with pics of 57-58 Buick Trico window transmissions. Great but now which side is it and what other vehicles does it fit? Another. Casting number gave me Packard fender skirts. That one worked. I'm finding myself resorting to looking at pictures and trying to match but that does no good as I still don't know all the applications it was intended for or even if it is the same one. Sorry for such a long post guys but wondering how to identify if I don't even know what make it goes to in the first place. The pic is a small pile I started with. It will take me years at this pace to get through two truckloads. A guy was in financial difficulties and was s****ping this stuff for pennies on the dollar. The junk yard was ripping him off. He had already s****ped two trucks and 160 some NOS exhaust systems and boxes of carbs and such before I found out. I would like to find people that could use these and myself and friends that have a couple vintage cars. I have been doing this for years but it was always foreign vintage cars and it was a lot easier than the American part numbering system I'm trying to figure out now. Thank you for all your help.
Well I'm glad you're saving some of this stuff from the junkyard. Maybe just try to sell it online with all those part numbers, people looking for a particular part may know the number. Otherwise drag it all to a swap meet to try to sell. How was the junkyard ripping your friend off? They usually state their buying prices, pot metal such as carbs and steel and cast iron have very low value these days. If a s**** yard is paying $100 a ton for s**** iron and someone brings in NOS Hemi heads as s****, that's the price they'll get. I don't think anyone in such a case is getting ripped off, but one might suggest that the person selling the heads is making an unwise financial decision.
It's pretty hard to find old parts catalogs. They would be a big help. There are a few guys here who have some. But there isn't much motivation for them to look up the part numbers for you, even if they have the info. Most places that sell old car parts specialize in one make, such as studebaker, buick, etc. So they are not likely to wan to buy a large lot of mixed parts. Over the years I've received a few small lots of old mixed parts, and I haven't found a good way to sell them for much.
If you can find a large group of one make of parts, look on eBay or put a wanted ad here, and craigslist for a catalog for that make of parts. Or sell as a group on eBay or here as a lot, all Ford parts, all Buick parts, all NAPA parts, etc.
Right here in this thread make a "wanted list" of particular brand catalogs. Ask if anyone has a vintage Thompson catalog, or other names on the boxes you have. If a guy has one, then tell him what part numbers you have for that brand. HAMBers are very helpful people, but you have to give us a nugget of info before we can get the gold. For the parts with no names on the box, or boxes at all, post a nice closeup picture here. Use the "full size" ****on when you "upload a file". There was a fella who was looking for ID on a punch of parts a few months ago, and his thread turned into many multiple pages with correct answers in no time at all.
Thank you for all your help. I was afraid I might run into the kazillion catalogs needed. I will get with my car friends local and see if they have any catalogs in their possession. I guess I will have to hunt down what I can to get the correct identification for the parts I can and the rest, like you guys say post closeup, clear pics and let the people in the know find them. I really do appreciate this folks. Thanks. Maneri... I am located up in northern Michigan.
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