What do you keep????

[Quackaddict]

Moderators, I will be very careful how I word this as not to break any rules. When you guys start doing restorations and building on your trucks what parts do you keep and what parts to you just scrap?

I am doing a mild restore and have some parts that I was just planning on taking in for scrap but then I read threads where people actually might be looking for this stuff.

Now I am not talking about just making a buck I am talking about parts that someone may actually want or need. These are just examples of things I have seen that I was gonna throw out so you see what I mean, bumper brackets, old bumper, and window cranks.

I mean I thought that my thermostat housing was just garbage but then you think well maybe someone wants an original.

So what do you keep and try and sell that maybe most people wouldn't think about may save someone some trouble on a hard part.

[Shyguy]

Well, I have been accused of keeping too much, lol.

Since my son restores, I should say fixes, these old trucks and sells one now and then I tend to keep a lot of stuff just in case.

He has restored 3 now, but they are used as drivers and to enter in shows.

We keep hoods and such if there are some good size areas that can be cut out and used later for patch panels. We keep wiring harness even if they look kind of bad because the connections can be used.

We probably have given away more used parts than we have sold over the years. Some stuff we keep to be used for trading.

My son has scraped some stuff only to say later he wishes he hadn't. Since I have a farm and can store a lot of stuff I keep stuff for him.

Sorry I did could not give you a specific answer.

[Hottrucks]

ok on egg shells too..

I have the same issue most of the stuff I have is BS stuff to me I'll never use like an am radio or something like that I thnk once i get a little pile of it and some time I'm going to turn it into memebership $$$ ...the worst part of it is that if someone needed the stuff the shipping kills any deal for the parts??

[cdowns]

the old original thermo housings tho not worth alot have actually beed found on a regular basis to work and seal better than most of the repop and cheezy china crap

[chevy_mike]

I have to agree, it is hard to figure out what to keep and what to toss. Space is always the issue. I have also ran into things that I have tossed or given away, thinking I will never need them again, 10 years later I need them and good ones are not to be found...

The never ending question...

[big_al_71]

One mans garbage is another mans treasure!!!!

[68chevyfuelie]

I was pondering the same thing this weekend...I thought to go through the classifieds and all the "parting out a **** truck" ads and starting to do a tally sheet and seeing how many times the question "do you have a good ****?". Same with any of the WTB ads. I wonder how hard this would be to do.....

To answer the original posters questions, anything for a conversion seems worth hanging onto, anything that is hard to find a good core for, lights/lenses always get broken, all the little nuts and bolts. It's amazing how many times someone wants to buy the two little screws that hold on the **** light, or need one water pump bolt, flywheel bolts....on and on. Clean body parts always seem to be good sellers, brackets for engines and drivetrain. If you're trying to sell the stuff, just make a list and over time you'll come to realize what's been selling, so you know you need to stock more, if it's for your own vehicles save as much as possible, or keep several parts vehicles around How many times have you dropped and lost one little clip or screw and had to rob it off another vehicle?

Like the above posters said, I don't think there is anyone on earth that hasn't cleaned out the garage and the next day/week/month said "now where is that *** I've been saving for 10 years?"

[oldblue1968chevy]

all goes in the barn keep everything you will need it someday lol

[LONGHAIR]

Just so you know, there is no rule against "freebies". You can give away anything to anyone. Of course this works better with people who are at least somewhat close. "As far as I know" having the "receiver" pay for shipping is OK, as long as it is "actual cost". We do want to see the shipping turn into the "profit".

[Hottrucks]

Originally Posted by LONGHAIR

Just so you know, there is no rule against "freebies". You can give away anything to anyone. Of course this works better with people who are at least somewhat close. "As far as I know" having the "receiver" pay for shipping is OK, as long as it is "actual cost". We do want to see the shipping turn into the "profit".

thats good to know....

[El Jay]

Originally Posted by LONGHAIR

Just so you know, there is no rule against "freebies". You can give away anything to anyone. Of course this works better with people who are at least somewhat close. "As far as I know" having the "receiver" pay for shipping is OK, as long as it is "actual cost". We do want to see the shipping turn into the "profit".

USPS Flat Rate Boxes are your friends.

Like they say in the ads, "If it fits, it ships."

[silverstreak]

Some items may be plentiful now, but as time goes by they'll get harder to find, and more expensive when you do find them. If it's a wear item, like a brake hose, toss it. If it's not a wear item (wheel) or if it's a rebuildable item (wheel cylinder) hang on to it or pass it on.

[vectorit]

All through out my burb restoration, I kept everything possible. Boxed it up, labeled the boxes and put them in deep storage.
When it came time to put everything back together, I pulled the original part and decided whether or not if it was worth/feasible cleaning up and reusing.

Often times, I needed the old parts to give me clues on how it was installed.
When I did my wiring, I used all new harnesses. But, when I started having issues. Out came the old hacked up harnesses to stare and compare.

On wear parts, such as brake hoses. I kept mine, and they were instrumental in getting new ones made. (end fittings, and hose type)

I kept every single nut, bolt, washer, and screw. Bagged and labeled them as to what and where they were used for. Later I took that box of bagged fasteners to a shop, sat there and purchased all new ones while matching them to the originals. While putting the new ones in a new labeled bag as to what/where they were intended.

I knew my project was going to take years to complete, and I knew that I was going to have to move numerous times. So my organization was crucial, and even today as I am putting together details. I am still referring back to the old parts that were cataloged, and when they are no longer going to be used they got put up in the attic in marked boxes.

[jojo]

for what its worth, I kept my original fenders (bought repops) and doors (found better used ones).

when I started, I had no confidence in my ability to repair the old ones,

and now months later, I figured out some things and I've decided to repair the old fenders and eventually use those instead.

BTW, I have a FREE old behind the seat gas tank if anybody wants to come take it away. It worked fine for a year and I pulled it in working order about 3 months ago (san antonio texas)