You do your own work on these rolling sculptures, and you have to decide what to toss?? Example: That bearing I'm replacing looks new - of course I'd never put it back in service. Sure looks like it will be handy as a tool to help press other mechanical bits. I better keep that! Then there's an original fuel filler drain tube! It's ugly, has damage where it went by the suspension, but, I could use it as a pattern if I need to replace it again. Sure I could measure off the replacement, but this tube IS the original! (I did toss this). After 30 + years - - - - - - - - Any good systems to help decide what stays / eBay's or goes? One method I recall from Popular mechanics or R&T was put stuff in a box w/date. If you don't touch box in 1 year - toss. But one year seems short ??
- Throw out the "wear items" that you wouldn't put back into service, so another fellow f-chatter doesn't wind up buying and installing a good-looking worn part (bearings, hoses etc). - Save OEM parts you'd need for Concours correctness; you or a future owner may want them (for instance, save cats and ignition coils even if you go with test pipes and electronic ignition) - Sell any usable parts you're tit-for-tat replacing (for instance, I bought a mint NOS coolant tank just to make my cooling system "new" during restoration, but my existing one was in fine working shape, so that'll go on eBay).
I am in the same boat. I tossed an old speedometer sending unit several years ago. I purchased a new one to troubleshoot an intermittent issue (it was about $40 for a new one) I am sure there are folks out there who would love to have it. I don't think it is available any longer.
Exactly! I have a small box of oil senders. I change them as a matter of "course" during a service because I feel they lose resolution and become inaccurate. One day, they'll be unavailable. Again, I can't toss these Here's one. Concours hard core folk re-plate hardware to re-use original nuts with the original markings etc. I like to replace hardware w new factory bits at every opp'y. Not always identical to what was delivered with the car. Someday we'll leave these cars to our kids who are going to wonder what in the world!!!!!
My only rules are that I don't care about anything non-original or anything where the storage would interfere with my personal living space or with my relationships with other people. Granted most of my hoarding is old electronics and not car parts, but at this point I have an old unused house, a barn, and a spare garage full of stuff I've hoarded. I've never thrown away any original parts taken off my car. I guess it just depends on how much space you have and your tolerance for stuff piling up. If you find a cure let me know. One year is very short though, I've found uses for boxed up things far later than that.
Keep all original parts, if you replace them with indian or chinese repro parts. Those will wear lightning fast, make the cars more unreliable than they ever were, and bother the owner more than the saved bucks were worth it and rebuild procedures for the old parts will surely come more and more. Best Regards Martin
This is my philosophy. I have all parts I've replaced (with few exceptions like the heads on the warm-up light: consumables get tossed like fuel filters) plus many that professionals have done (I had them throw out the rear konis...stupid, stupid.) I have gone back to look at/compare belts, clutch plates, hoses, etc etc. So what if I have two extra sets of used red spark plug sheaths and extenders with a pin hole(s)? I have, on occasion, used them to test. Huh? isn't that sacrilegious? Pelegrino for antifreeze mix, Nothing else will do. Well, Prosecco in a pinch. "Hangzhou Wahaha?" I don't think so
It has nothing to do with originality purism, but with quality, safety and reliability. The only breakdowns I suffered in 20 years of italian cars ownership were because of crappy repro parts. Buddy of mine recently survived a broken front suspension upper ball joint on a Fiat 124 Spider. Was two years old, price was EUR 12.00. Buddy is fine, Fiat front is seriously bent. But as long as money talking folks prefer to spend their money for gala dinners (native speaker F-buddy called them 'wine and cheese guys') instead for quality parts, the parts hucksters don't have to worry. Buy cheap buy twice. Best Regards Martin
I have always kept what I had room for, an original part being replaced with a factory part, if the old is junk, never again to be reusable, well maybe toss it, otherwise, it makes a great example for a replacement or a spare for trouble shooting. As for all the aftermarket parts I he either removed or replaced, I usually toss/give away those.
Now go decades in this sport, and that bin gets big. I have already been faced with buying new (original - of course) stuff because I didn't think / remember having -----only to discover in another box exactly what I just re-bought 2 months ago. Almost philosophical. This is one of those debates that could occur in a smokey bar after a few drinks "If I keep the parts, then I know I have them. But if I keep too many, I won't be able to find again anyway" Hmmmmmmmm
Very interesting perspectives... I do accumulate 'stuff' (love George Carlin's rant on the topic). Used parts that will never be used again? Makes sense to pitch them, but what about that partially melted 512BBi valve cover that was retrieved from the remains of a tragic accident in Dallas back in the 90's? I had always wanted to have it cleaned up and made into wall art, but never quite got around to it. Should one keep such items? Good question... I guess the answer to the main question lies in knowing what you have, where it is, and having realistic plans to make use of it if at all possible... Now where did I put that blasted valve cover?...
I have been involved in cars since pre birth, My Studebaker ownership started 3 years before I graduated from High school in 1970, my parts go back just over 49 years, my career has moved me around the country way too much over the past 20 years and my excess parts are sorted into approx. 100 copier paper boxes, 50+ 2 pound coffee cans, then there is all the stuff that is too large for boxes, IE engines, blocks, heads, rear-ends sheet metal & glass.
Without giving up his age, Brian wisely got out of Studebaker a really long time ago, I only have 2 or 3 boxes of Ferrari parts, everything else I have is made of iron or says SAE all over it,
