Ever pull parts for the heck of it?

[Comanche_County]

The fiance' has had me pinned down lately with her minivan which is now back on the road, now she's got me trying to fix her 01' Grand Am. (She has a habit of murdering vehicles including my Grand Cherokee, that's fixed now too). �Anyway, I'm in the yard look for some sensors for a quad four pos, and see this.

A 1950 Studebaker Champion.


Now this particular yard seems to crush rows of vehicles in an indiscriminate order. �I've lost quite a few parts thinking they'd still be there later. �So I decided to grab what could be useful on the 3A or something to save and pass on to a Studebaker guy. �I pulled the oil bath air cleaner, the glass bowl fuel pump, the generator (GDZ-6001), two 6V horns, the carb - a Carter WE, voltage regulator, the turn signal switch and the front nose bullet. �

The counter gave me a "what the heck is this stuff" look, he charged me 2.99 for the nose bullet (hood ornament price) and $25 for the generator and didn't even ring up the rest of the stuff. Not a Willys but I left with a good haul and a good feeling. �I think I'll use the nose bullet as garage art. �

And let me tell you the 6v horns are as freakin loud as train horns. �I tested them on a 12v battery and they nearly blew my ears out. �I think I'll mount them on my MJ with a momentary switch. �They should be fine for short bursts.

[athawk11]

Nice score.  We just don't have salvage yards like that here.  Everything is cataloged, computerized, and priced not to sell.

Tim

[garage gnome]

All the good stuff like that is long gone. Now it all plastic stuff.   Once it a great blue moon, something cool comes in, but it is usually beat to hell and has no good stuff left on it.

[garage gnome]

You got some great stuff. I would have taken that center hood piece too!

[Comanche_County]

This was an anomaly, there was a 58' Coupe DeVille there too but it was rusting into the ground. �It was literally falling down around the wheel stands they had under it. �I bet they came from the same seller. �

I know a few people in TX that have acres of old vehicles like this.  But they bought them way back in the day for $25 bucks a piece.
Here's some pics of one guy's collection,,,last I saw him he was starting to scrap em.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/37014918@N07/sets/72157627297067927/

[Comanche_County]

I really should get the engine and transmission, gauges, trim and body panels.  The head was in the trunk, didn't see any cracks but who knows.  I guess they could sell and help someone with a resto.  If it was a convertible, I would have grabbed those specific pieces for sure.  But being a mostly plain jane 4 door the car itself isn't very collectible.  It had suicide doors on the rear, that was kinda neat.  First time for me digging into an old Studebaker and I was impressed.  This think had all the bells and whistles of the day.  It also had a frame mounted single reservoir MC like a Willys.

[p3ferris]

I pulled a shortwave radio from a MG �a long time ago. I do not know now where I put it, but it is around. �I have other pieces from 56 ford 30 something buick front windshield and other car parts..I have never owned a car that most fit
Forgot to mention we had a studebaker like that in 53 to 54

[Matto]

If the opportunity to grab some parts at bargain pricing comes along, grab it. It should be a reflex action, done without hesitation or thoughts of what the wife might say.
 ï¿½ A couple years ago, at a military show, I ran into a guy selling 2 original back seats from CJ3A's. They were in pretty decent shape and he wanted $50.00 each. They weren't on my radar at the moment and I walked away. Been kicking myself since.
Matt

[Jesse]

We used to pick over a comet for mustang parts back in the day, and eventually we went back and they had crushed it. It was a bummer to say the least.


Last time I went to a junkyard was to get a rollbar and a rearview mirror or something. Still worth going in my opinion.


-Jesse