new thread sticky??? What sweet deal did you get today??

[91stranger]

Let's make this a sticky shall we. Here's what I found at the scrap yard when I was taking in my cans. An old school Grover 24" air horn. A little rough and I couldn't find anything else in the pile to go with this horn but I had to have it. When buying scrap it's literally only $0.14/pound so it probably cost me $0.42 lol (I bought a bucket full of goodies for $4). I put an air nozzle to it and it still sounds good. I think this would be a neat thread to see what kind of good deals people find. I find good deals all the time.

 

[ericbphoto]

I went junkyarding this afternoon. Got a couple minor things for my F150 and scored an almost new rubber mallet that somebody left behind. I figure that paid my admission fee to the yard; $3.

There wasn't anything good for me in the Rangers. Almost took an inner door panel from a '97 2.3l that was in good shape. But I don't think it would have bolted onto my '93 quite right. Of course, the one I have now is falling off.

 

[fastpakr]

Got a spare 4R70W 4wd trans for the ranger for $100. Pleased about that. Less so about the oil pressure light and bottom end noises that started on the highway while I was driving up pick up the transmission. Now I'm stuck with a $200 tow bill and a sense of foreboding about what's wrong with the new engine.

 

[Ranger850]

yesterday, i was at home depot, got a blower attachment for my echo weed wacker. normally $90, got it on clearance for $20. i started to get all 3 for $60 and sale the other two on ebay, but another guy was eyeballing them too, so i just grabbed the one.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I never even made it into the scrap yard today... was closed for some reason. No deals for me today.

@fastpakr ... Was that the maiden voyage... or does it have some mileage on the rebuild?

 

[fastpakr]

@fastpakr ... Was that the maiden voyage... or does it have some mileage on the rebuild?

I have about 700 miles on the rebuild.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Hmmm... usually a fatal assembly error would show up before 700 miles.

 

[adsm08]

Hmmm... usually a fatal assembly error would show up before 700 miles.

We once got an LKQ Reman Triton engine that had several cam and main caps loose in the box. Not just not torqued right, but loose.

 

[fastpakr]

Let's hope it's nothing that dumb, since I did the assembly.

 

[Uncle Gump]

well that will knock the wind right out of your sail...

After my second assembly mistake that lead to engine failure... which I blamed on distractions while in the middle of assembly. I started doing all my assembly work early in the morning... fresh pot of coffee... doors locked... nobody else around... some classic rock on the radio. Once the doors were unlocked for business... the engine got bagged until the next morning. For me... engine building is a none spectator solo sport.

 

[adsm08]

Let's hope it's nothing that dumb, since I did the assembly.

I doubt it. That engine didn't make it into the truck, let alone 700 miles down the road.

We got super lucky on that one though. We only caught it because LKQ long blocks come without valve covers or oil pans. The cam caps were visibly loose , bolts sticking up and everything, when the box was taken off. Tech saw it, boss ordered every torque critical fastener checked, including head bolts, because it took us three weeks to get that engine and the customer was getting impatient.

If it had been a Ford engine with a mistake like that it would have been in the vehicle before we caught it.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Outside the engine I use a paint pen to mark the bolt orientarion once it has been final torqued. Also makes it easy to check bolts and nuts after a race.

 

[det107]

...and scored an almost new rubber mallet that somebody left behind.

Oh great, now your fingerprints are on it-

 

[projectRanger93]

I got an old wooden Ford shift knob off ebay for $15. I don't think it'll fit my ranger but i think it'll fit my mustang gt. Though of course ill make it look nice and purty before putting it on.

 

[sgtsandman]

Nice! I would suggest either boiled linseed oil or tung oil as a treatment after sanding. Varnish will just get eaten away by your hand sweat.