Hot Rods What’s in this Garage? It’s gonna get scrapped! Flathead Stuff Gauges

No drama please just tell me what you see of VALUE. Guy died, house selling, friend of flipper sent pics of this shop and said it’s up for grabs to me. What do you see? Lathe, gauge panels, flathead stuff junk. It’s a couple hours away and I’ve done this before only to barely break even on trucks, trailers, fuel, time, storage etc. Take a look please….. So Cal, near Temecula..
Thanks

 

I’m not gonna get any more pics or info than what you are seeing.

 

My advice is this is the kind of place you need to go and look at. There's likely untold good shit that's not visible in these pictures. How much stuff I'd tell you to take would depend on price and how much capacity you have to store and sell it. Personally I'd strip the place bare, even those half sheets of OSB.

 

Thats a $2.5k gunsafe, and then whats inside

 

Seems like a good flathead still goes for a premium, I'm always surprised they sell so high. Grand or two for a good block it seems.

If thats a 51 merc pressure plate that’s a good “hens teeth” part. Very curious what’s in the boxes.

 

I had a 1953 Merc flathead for sale Here in Southern California for 12ish weeks before I got 550 bucks for it and it turned over and it would probably run I have another one I think that's a 50 or 51 but I don't think I want to sell it because I got so little for it.

 

Probably run and does run are two completely different prices with flatheads. They need to be proven to, not smoke, hold temp and not overheat to get good money out of them. Otherwise they should be considered a core.

 

I see a stromberg, what looks like a 3x2 or 2x2 8ba intake. Even nice clean stock heads I get 100-150 bucks on ebay for.

 

That’s not a ‘49 to early ‘51 Merc pressure plate, those were Borg & Beck with six equally spaced bolt holes and stamped fingers, not forged fingers like on a Long style plate. There is a flat cap Mallory on an upper shelf in that stash.

 

The lathe has to be worth $500, and a plus that it's small enough to be handled easily.

 

With the travel and work involved,
I’d offer 1500-2000 before firing up the truck.
Yes untold stuff may be hiding but it’s a lot like Storage Wars…..
That gun safe could very well be the most interesting item.
Don’t be too tempted into what you don’t see.

 

Whats that dash with the gauges go to?

 

Depends on you. I see over a hundred $ in particle board. If, 18 inches works for you.
A lathe, 6" vise, 12foot or better extension ladder, and one handy step ladder, hardware cabinets 3 work table tops, rolling table with grinder. the flathead stuff, gun safe, lathes have been discussed, an old single feed Holley 4.
My brain works like... If I pull this one off will I get called again next time or not.
I would not, however be eager to make any offer from the pics.
BTW the number of flathead parts indicates that he culled the best blocks of several units.
Luck to you

 

Like Chevy57Dude says that lathe in working condition with a little bit of tooling should be worth between $500/$1200. I have been looking for one in my area. A Craftsman or Atlas, this is what they are going for. A 3 jaw chuck and a 4 jaw chuck a tool post with a few cutters with the lathe usually $1000

 

The tools visible seem sort of everyday, but the stuff is neat and labeled. It would seem he only saved useable stuff, not general hoarding. Any idea how big the garage is?

 

Plus 5 cylinders of Map gas and a torch.

 

I see plenty of potential there. Like Squablow posted I would take everything. Load it up in bins and sort it out when I got home. I buy in bulk figuring a 20-30% throw away percentage. I guess we all look at things differently as it's all about the hunt , the research for me while not really concerned about time fuel storage wear on vehicles etc. Breaking even isn't losing money.

 

The lathe is very a useful tool . The one I have is larger , I use it all of the time tinkering . Once you own one you will not be without one agin .

 

I see 2 bench grinders , 1 bench grinder with buffing wheels
A wheeled cart with a hydraulic Jack boom lift on it .
A lathe is a very useful tool

 

Anyone see anything special in all the gauge panels?

 

looks like a common T bucket dash

 

friend of flipper sent pics of this shop and said it’s up for grabs to me. Does that mean free?

 

Seen it last night then wondered should I share a scraping story?

I was told “I was thinking of you the other day” why I ask? “My girlfriend’s dad had a mill and a lathe” Ya I said. “Ya but the scraper came and took them away”. So much for thinking of me.

 

The old "Call me anything but, Late for dinner".

 

If it's free how can you lose?

 

The lathe, gun safe, gauges and panel hanging from the ceiling would be my first grabs.

Then the bench grinders, vises next, then whatever else would fit on the truck or trailer...

...

 

I don’t need any of the stuff but I would be all over it like white on rice just because. Are you just showing this to see if you can make a buck or are you gonna let us know where it is if you don’t get it

 

Aluminum FH intakes usually $200-$250. Not the $500+ people are asking. Steel FH heads - I can't give them away. Same with other FH parts. Only good blocks, running engines, and speed parts have worth around here. Looks like a fiberglass T-bucket dash. Can't see the gauge brand, so price accordingly. Kinda doubt the safe is included in the sale. The lathe is interesting. Can only guess what's in the "51 Ford" boxes. Is it worth it? Probably, if you have the time to put into it.

 

It’s free to me, I don’t need to make a buck, I also don’t need a pile of stuff I don’t need or want, and if I don’t get it, and It’s ok with the owner, I’ll pass the info on to some on local on the HAMB.

 

If it's free to you, it would be a huge return favor to the family/people selling the house if you cleared the whole lot out. Good deals always work both ways....