Parts car - worth the trouble?

[7T1240]

I have the opportunity to pick up a parts car for what would seem to be a very reasonable $1000. It is a '72, complete except for hubcaps, but it has an automatic transmission. (My car is a '71 - 4 speed manual). There are some parts on it I'd like - a crack free dash, a nice heater control panel. The inspection doors for battery and windshield washer access, the hood and the driver's side door all appear as though they would require less prep for painting than the parts on my car. On the down side, besides the car being an automatic, the left rear taillight is broken out and there is rust at the bottom of both front fenders. The seats and interior panels are in somewhat poor condition, and they are white.

I have a garage to work in, but space is somewhat tight. I may have access to some off-site storage (the basement of my workplace).

I wonder to myself: What am I getting into here...nice assortment of parts at a low cost? A sizable investment of time for disassembly (not to mention the time spent photographing and advertising parts for sale to recoup some of the purchase price)? An opportunity to learn more about the various sub-assemblies of the car? More trouble than it's worth?

Thoughts and suggestions are welcome. If you've purchased a parts car, was the experience overall positive or negative? What were the unforeseen problems? What were the unforeseen benefits?

Gary S.

[zbane]

I'd go for it. The cost for a crack free dash should be enough of a reason (or the cost of having yours repaired). Even if that weren't the case, having a car to tear apart and learn from will help you immeasurably when the time comes to work on your own. Why risk effing something up on your main car when you can make those mistakes on a car you have no intention of using? (possible exception here being the dash-learn to remove one by removing the imperfect one)

As for taking photos of the parts, that too can be a learning adventure and need not be a bore or trouble.

[Arne]

Gary, I've done it twice. Once on a wrecked car I bought specifically to part out, and later on the yellow car after I decided it was not financially feasible to repair it.

It was worthwhile financially in both cases, but time-consuming. My advice would be to proceed only if you feel that you will get close to the initial investment ($1000) out of it yourself. Then anything you re-coup from selling parts will be gravy.

In this case, the dash and the heater panel are probably enough to justify it in my mind, as long as you're OK with a '72 dash in your '71. Don't count on a lot of savings n the prep work of the body parts.

[7T1240]

David and Arne,

thanks for your input. Still mulling it over.

Gary S.

[Richard Oben]

Working on 9070 I bought another series one for 800. I have been using it for parts and as an owners manual. Having a complete car to look at while putting one together that was taken apart a long time ago is a life saver. I have stolen little parts off of it also. In the end worth every dime to me. JMHO, Richard.