When do parts become junk ?

[GRutter]

I have always been amazed at the parts that are offered for sale on eBay that, in my opinion, should have been thrown away.

That having been said, however, it really bothers me to throw away old parts that are worn out, but then I always ask myself, what am I saving it for.

For example, on a recent overhaul of my 28 Tudor, I found a front spindle that had bushing holes so worn, the king pin bushings just fell out. I found good used spindles and threw away the old spindles.

Likewise on a rebuild of a 7-tooth steering column, a sector gear was worn out and gauled.

What should we, as Model A enthusiasts, be doing with these parts? Anyone else pitching them ? I can't see myself trying to sell worn-out parts on eBay.

[harleynut]

Good question. I got parts some still good used and some scrap. When the weather brakes, I'll be going to the scrap yard and the semi good parts will be going to the Swap Meet.

[Gary WA]

Building Model "A" Yard Art for sure!!!!

[1930-Pickup]

Any part for any car can be reworked. Its a matter of value.

Why spend 250.00 repairing your old spindles when good used ones cost about 50 or so? If the spindles were for a high-end Packard or other fabulous and rare car, repairing the spindles is many times the only choice.

The bad thing about tossing the old Model A parts is that one day, believe it or not, the plethora of original parts will be gone. Then there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth about tossing all those parts.

So, its about value, unless you care what happens to these cars 100 years from now. Is it about you, or about the preservation of history?

[larrys40]

As parts are determined to be no longer useful for reserve keeping I scrap them in the can. They may be unsafe or not rebuildable by standards and there are still many parts out there.

If it's something that could be used then I keep it. At times I have kept some junk parts to be used as an example for a seminar etc as to what's not acceptable.
Being most aren't doing their own rebuilding these days I don't do much of that
anymore( keeping scrap parts)
Used and worn bearings,steering parts etc should all be put in the scrap bin or do not use pile. Your choice from there

Larry Shepard

[SeaSlugs]

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Originally Posted by 1930-Pickup

The bad thing about tossing the old Model A parts is that one day, believe it or not, the plethora of original parts will be gone. Then there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth about tossing all those parts.

So, its about value, unless you care what happens to these cars 100 years from now. Is it about you, or about the preservation of history?

heh i was talkin to Rainmaker Ron about this one day - back in the 60-s 70-s if a fender had a small tear but otherwise pristiene it was considered junk. AA's were worthless and could hardly give em away as well.

I have some AA parts that are worn out - probably junk but cant bring myself to actually junk them haha. Someday i will have a swap meet space somewhere and there will be a FREE tarp full of this stuff - id rather have someone take the worn out parts for any reason than get it back from china as a brake drum...

[burner31]

Anything can be repurposed into something...so is it really junk?
Apparently spark plugs fit the repurposing mold quite well.

[pooch]

I just hope the top choppers save the bits they chop out.

When the fad ends and stock height roofs come back in to vogue, it will be a nightmare to refab all those sections.

It would be easier to raise the Titanic than raise a roof.

Re old worn out mechanical bits, if you, as the owner/restorer found something else, and the fact that original cars will not have much of a resale market in another generation, if you have room , keep 'em, if not..... chuck 'em.

The value on old worn out junk is only in the eye of the beholder.

[Ford Acar]

[QUOTE=1930-Pickup;1571971]Any part for any car can be reworked. Its a matter of value.


The bad thing about tossing the old Model A parts is that one day, believe it or not, the plethora of original parts will be gone. Then there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth about tossing all those parts.

We have already hit this time in Australia. Large numbers of Ford A's were scrapped or left to rust away, and parts were discarded as worthless from the 1950's onward.
Given the smaller numbers of Model A's we started with, quality usable or restorable parts are now a relative rarity.
Heed the old adage" Junk today is gold tomorrow." and preserve your parts, whatever their condition.
Ross

[dumb person]

almost never <--- a link you can click.
By the way, you can build up worn parts like steering shafts & sectors, spindles ect with nickle plating, quite thick and machine them back to size.

[DougVieyra]

Living on a remote wilderness ranch, we throw nothing away !
Everything that has outlived its intended use, can very often (especially if you wait long enough) be re-purposed into another item or use in helping to fulfill another part of the solution to another problem/task/project.

And it is not just Model A parts that wind up in the 'bone-yard'. Everything -
from anything - that 'dies' in one life, gets a second chance at being useful while it waits patiently in the 'bone-yard'.

I have even used a lot of worn out Model A parts as reinforcing rebar in cement work.

[Ford Acar]

Originally Posted by DougVieyra

Living on a remote wilderness ranch, we throw nothing away !
Everything that has outlived its intended use, can very often (especially if you wait long enough) be re-purposed into another item or use in helping to fulfill another part of the solution to another problem/task/project.

And it is not just Model A parts that wind up in the 'bone-yard'. Everything -
from anything - that 'dies' in one life, gets a second chance at being useful while it waits patiently in the 'bone-yard'.

I have even used a lot of worn out Model A parts as reinforcing rebar in cement work.

I think that you have missed my point!!!

[vulture]

I see a number of guys buying a single spindle to make a wheel streighting truing fixture...
I am sorry to say I have thrown out many large items like rearends ,springs, bumpers and beautiful model a engine blocks. The blocks I had were hot tanked mag/fluxed and uncracked. I drug them to a number of swapmeets and couldn't give them away for free. Worn out parts are a different thing good for art projects and mock ups

Originally Posted by GRutter

I have always been amazed at the parts that are offered for sale on eBay that, in my opinion, should have been thrown away.

That having been said, however, it really bothers me to throw away old parts that are worn out, but then I always ask myself, what am I saving it for.

For example, on a recent overhaul of my 28 Tudor, I found a front spindle that had bushing holes so worn, the king pin bushings just fell out. I found good used spindles and threw away the old spindles.

Likewise on a rebuild of a 7-tooth steering column, a sector gear was worn out and gauled.

What should we, as Model A enthusiasts, be doing with these parts? Anyone else pitching them ? I can't see myself trying to sell worn-out parts on eBay.

[Kevin in NJ]

If you are just building a driver what does it matter.

A touch of sarcasm unfortunately based on reality.

Seriously though, some people have no clue and feel it is just a Model A as Ford just threw them together. I hear it all the time. Then people look at me funny when I tell them the car is precision built like a race car in many areas. They laugh at me and do not car I can show them the prints.

There is a reason why so many think the top speed of the A is 45 MPH.
There is a reason why I believe most of the 45 MPH cars are not safe to drive at 25.

[2manycars]

I was called to go see some model A parts for sale by a guy who's father had restored a car. The parts were all the things the father discarded because they were no good. He tried to sell me an oil pump with the housing broken in half. He said a rebuilt kit was available. I told him the kit included everything except the broken housing. the parts were all junk. I left without buying anything.

[ronn]

All comes down to economies of scale. If you have room to store parts and want to, then do it. Most cant afford to hold onto everything. In 100 years, it might be illegal to drive gas engined cars. Do we know for fact the future? not at all. So we have to live in the now.

I threw a perfectly good rear in the boneyard a few months back. Felt bad, but offered it up free to a fella needing one. Only thing, he wanted an early one and mine didnt fit the bill. Sure he is still looking and wo a rear. Ashame yes, but that's life.

Now if I could only go back to HS and date that hot 10 chick I always dreamt about!

[Railcarmover]

Your whole perspective changes when you find a part you need in your 'scrap pile'.

That new perspective is never shared by your wife.

[holdover]

Live on a farm with plenty of storage, so I rarely throw things away. The future value of a worn part depends on its rarity and your ability to fix it. I often re purpose things that most people throw away. Lathe, drill press, welders etc. make it easier to do. I recall something I heard over 60 years ago "one mans garbage is another's gold" That was said by a Gentleman by the name of Les Cutting who owned a car bone yard in Huntington NY and had the best collection of old cars I have ever seen in my life.

[Marshall V. Daut]

Use that worn sector gear as a driver when hammering something big. It's hardened and makes a great large drift/punch when trying to budge heavy immovable parts. Applications other than automotive also come to mind as a driver.
Marshall

[Will Ziegler in LI NY]

Holdover,

Wow, Les Cutting, that is a name form the past. When I was about 11 my father took me over to his house to see his cars. Still remember the early 1900's DeDion-Bouton and the Chandler? that he used to drive to Hershey. My dad bought parts from his junk yard in the 50's.

[Jerry in Shasta]

When the wife see's it.

[rocket1]

I was just reflecting on all those (junk) parts I threw away 50 years ago,they were better than the knock offs they sell today,who knew!

[leadpot]

Never know when something becomes useful when doing a welding project.

[700rpm]

It's junk when I finally toss it. It only becomes valuable when I realize I need it and should have held on to it for one more year.

[asapguy]

Parts become junk when no body wants the stuff. But there again one man's junk is another's treasure. Back in 2001 I bought up a huge warehouse full of Model A parts that came from 3 wrecking yards that specialized in Model A parts. I've sold most of the desirable stuff that everyone wants. I had tons of double "AA" stuff no body wanted & it took up lots of room. I gave it all away to a guy who drove up from Calif. with a dually one ton truck & huge trailer. I gave him complete front ends, rear ends, wheels, transmissions, gears, brake drums, spindles, axles etc. I could have gotten scrap prices but hated to see it melted down.

[pooch]

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I have given stuff away recently as I am downsizing to move house.

These bits were inside at my place, and I then see them chucked outside at the other person's house.

They only take it because it is free.

Like leaving an old lounge suite out the front with the word FREE on it.

It sits there for a month.

Put a FOR SALE $20 on it, and it gets stolen the first night.

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by Railcarmover

Your whole perspective changes when you find a part you need in your 'scrap pile'.

Words of wisdom! This should be a sign above every guy's work bench!

[GRutter]

Great discussion. I have a lathe, Milling Machine, Drill Press etc so I can fix, make or fit many parts, but I still cringe when I have no use for an extremely worn or broken original part and ask myself why am I saving it.
As brought up before, I know one day the supply of original parts will be gone and almost everything can be fixed, perhaps not economically.
I hate throwing these parts out and would rather donate them, ship them to someone with a boneyard, anything but throw them out. A shame we don't have a place to store all these old parts. We are going to miss them one day.

[JDupuis]

It's still good!
Jeff

[700rpm]

When I consider whether to throw away an original but imperfect or damaged part, I often think, "Somebody could probably use this." But how to find them? I have that situation with several pieces now that I could try to sell on fleabay, but I'd rather just give them away.

Like this: Anybody need an early '28 taillight bar, US driver's side? Rusty, but straight. Yours for the postage.

UPDATE: Ray in La Mesa has claimed the bar.

[Ray in La Mesa]

Been building my "source pile" for 50 years, use it all the time for projects around the place. Have used/ worn out Model A parts on my "70 VW van, '04 Roadtrek motorhome, '09 Honda motorcycle & '92 Crown Vic- most the time not what they were designed for.

[RAS]

A couple of years ago I bought used front and rear springs off an add on Craigslist an hour from where I live. It turns out he had street rodded has 31coupe and that's where the parts came from. After I paid for the springs he asked if I would be interested in some other stuff he had left over. He brought out a box roughly 12"x12" that had some brake hardware, one headlight conduit, and a couple other misc. pieces. I offered him $20 for the box, he said that there was $300 worth of parts in that box. Obviously I passed. I watched that box on Craigslist start at $150 and drop to $25 before it disappeared. My guess is the pieces got thrown out.
I've not been doing this nearly as long as most of you but what I have found out; The people that truly can and will use spare parts are being pushed aside by some who think they've struck gold. I think long and hard before anything gets thrown out.

[pooch]

Maybe you guys should lobby Ryan for a FREEBIE YOU PAY POST section in the swap meet.

[cpf240]

Originally Posted by pooch

Maybe you guys should lobby Ryan for a FREEBIE YOU PAY POST section in the swap meet.

Another forum I am on has a section like that, they call it "Pay it Forward", and works just as you described.

You've got my vote!

[dumb person]

*Cough* in case you missed the point in the last post i made in this thread..
Someone cut up 2 rear axles to make axle stands. Sold me the ends they cut off for $5 each. Who wants rusty axle ends with crumbling backing plates?

Someone did. Turns out their axle housing was well & truly worn out. Like, bearings fall out of the hub worn out. Cut the end off, welded mine in and used pieces from the backing plates to repair theirs (which had been dragged on the road when a wheel fell off and needed the bottom so they could fit brake shoes again).

I've made fenders from 5 other fenders in the past & still needed patch panels.

It's not junk until it's pretty much well & truly gone, rusted, worn off and can't even be used for mocking up purposes.

[SeaSlugs]

WP_20151114_14_57_32_Pro by Bob Bobbington, on Flickr
WP_20151129_22_23_06_Pro by Bob Bobbington, on Flickr

i used some bent beat up brake rods to make lamp guards with. Or those odd cheap repo rods that have a crimped washer on them as the upset. Tree branch outside the garage made the perfect loop haha.

[SuperDave]

The same question was asked on a Hudson forum..The answer was "If it casts a shadow,keep It". Someone may not know what the part looks like, so a junk part gives them an example to use in their quest.

Says the guy with a barn full of junk! LOL

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

If we NEVER scrap ANYTHING, there "might" be a CRITICAL SHORTAGE of metal, to melt up & cast NEW PARTS!
In a fenced area of our OLD Foundry, two Men, bare to the waist, were using SLEDGE Hammers, to break engine blocks, heads, etc, & tossing them onto a conveyor, to be melted up for making NEW CASTINGS
Bill Isawitwithmyowneyes

[Ray in La Mesa]

Just yesterday I repurposed a hot water heater access plate to make a belt guard for my 1940's South Bend lathe, The curve & reinforcing ribs fit perfectly with jus a little tweaking. Long live the "source pile".

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Ray in La Mesa

Just yesterday I repurposed a hot water heater access plate to make a belt guard for my 1940's South Bend lathe, The curve & reinforcing ribs fit perfectly with jus a little tweaking. Long live the "source pile".

I use a Hot Water Heater Burner, inside my Fisher Fireplace Insert
Bill Warm

[Railcarmover]

Mr Ford used scrap iron to alloy his steel and grey iron..Why that car you have is about 20% scrap iron,he publicized his ability to to devour scrap.the upper picture is from his '199 ships scrapped' program. he scrapped,recycled and re purposed all over the Rouge,it was in line with his frugal cost controlling nature.


What I'm trying to say is he would frown on hoarders,he'd toss that scrap in the furnace,make more cars..

[Purdy Swoft]

Unfortunatly we don't all have that ability .

[Railcarmover]

Originally Posted by Purdy Swoft

Unfortunatly we don't all have that ability .

You have your shop,I have mine..Mr Ford had the Rouge..imagine that,walking through the worlds largest industrial complex (at the time)and shutting down an entire operation,regardless of production demands, because he felt it needed to be cleaned..or complimenting some guy on the line for his work..What a fascinating time. His pride was the Rouge,the product was the result..

[Purdy Swoft]

I'm sure that it was a fascinating time for the Fords . The model A's that we got as a result has been very fascinating for me as well .

[pooch]

I used a peanut butter jar plastic lid under my steering column for a cover.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

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A Friend used a Vienna Sausage can, for a Temp Gauge mount.

[pooch]

Henry experimented with soy bean panels.

I see in ads all the time extorting... ALL HENRY FORD STEEL !!!!

Imagine if Henry's soy bean car went into production.....

We would now have ads..... ALL HENRY FORD SOY BEAN !!!!!!!

[cpf240]

And everyone would stop buying Ford vehicles when they switched to GMO soy...