Truck Restorations - Part 3 - Lessons I Learned The Hard Way
Look out for the parts that need repairs and determine whether they are critical to the operation of the car or whether they are urgent. Critical repairs mean that you will not be able to use the vehicle if those repairs have not been done. Urgent ones mean you must have the money with you.
However, once you find a salvage auction you still need to know what to do to get a good vehicle for a cheap price. The way the auction will normally work is the gates will open at a specific time and you will have about 2 to 3 hours to go around and check out the vehicles you are interested in. This is when you can pop the hood and start the vehicles.
When it comes down to finding parts for specialty vehicles or luxury vehicles it can be a lot trickier. Quite often, the auto stores won't stock a particular part and they have to order it from the manufacturer. There are websites that specialize in these types of venues.
For some people, going to a junkyard or two is the best way to find a vintage car part. This can be a very tedious chore for anyone, especially to those who are not really familiar with car parts. But in the end, some enthusiasts say that it is more satisfying and they can get the part for much less.
Some junkyards also sell used auto parts online leaving an option to you to find your required one easily from home. You can easily take that option to manage a good used one for the maintenance of your car. If you spend a little bit time online, you may find some buy old cars selling auto parts at a very low cost.
Next, ask if the garage charges for estimates and diagnostics for auto repair. The answer to this will vary, but will help you determine whether or not you can afford the mechanic. Often the mechanic will not charge to visually inspect the vehicle, but will charge if he has to use a machine to do a more in-depth diagnostic.
Now here is the part where you may want to have some aftermarket performance add ons. This is where you enjoy the excitement when you hit the gas pedal. Items such as cat back exhaust systems, headers, cold air intakes, computer chips and even a supercharger. There are a lot of manufacturers that make superchargers that mount directly to you engine and with a little computer programming, and a few items included in the kit, you are whistling down the road. And you can still use it as a daily driver. But you may even think about taking it to the drag strip to see what kind times you can run with it in the quarter mile.
On the other hand you can contact a car salvage company or a junkyard. Such companies are always on the look out for cars in bad condition. They either recondition these cars to sell them off again if this is possible or they use break them down to repair and sell their spare parts.
Avail car club membership: If you own a classic car, it is better to join any car club for replacement of its auto parts. You may not get the parts easily on the market other than the car club for classic cars. General auto stores do not keep stock of old parts. The car club provides the members with many resources for replaceable parts of classic automobiles. Here, you may reach the right person, who uses the same classic car as yours through the car club membership for further information.
Don't buy an auto part just because it is cheapest. It is not frugal to have to repair again soon after the initial repair. It is a waste of time and money. Many times you want good quality for safety too. Did you know that many of the stores will beat their competitors on price. You tell them the lowest price quoted and ask if they can beat it.Therefore, they will usually work with you. When I am getting prices from a dealer, like Ford for example, I always ask them if that is the best they can do. They always come down on price too. They even vary from dealership to dealership in the same county, no kidding. THEY WANT YOUR BUSINESS.... THEY WANT YOUR MONEY...
