Only when i least expect it!!!!

[Steve302]

Hello,
Since all of my friends are into toyotas, i figured i will share this with some people who may understand why i did this............
Today was a pick up and delivery day for parts at my shop, so i put on some nice clothes (to look somewhat professional) and off I went.
At about 11.00am i arrived at my last stop to pick up an unusual moulding for a 94 ford pickup that this wrecking yard claimed to have and to my surprise they did!
I then just for the heck of it asked if they had any 67-72 ford trucks, the owner replied "i have about 40 of them" 40!!!!!!! At that time the wheels were running in my head and instead of asking about every part i can think of i simply asked if i can see the trucks. he was ok with that.
This was without a doubt the most insane thing i had ever seen, since i have got into building a bumpside i have found that good parts are scarce around here. Well i hit a goldmine!!!!!
I roamed around with my pad and pen jotting down everything i saw that i wanted... The parts i found that were all perfect were as listed....
1 set of fenderwell mouldings
a complete roof trim mouldings set for a two tone truck
a side moulding set for a swb truck
2 armrests (dont need them, but heck)
A horn ring
front window stainless
rear window stainless (never saw that before, so i had to get it)
a set of ranger emblems
And the last request on my list was a 100% complete 70 grille assembly in flawless condition (why was this still here?)

So i went back in the office and at that point my biggest concern was he is a "cash only" yard and all i had left on me was $300 and i figured the grille would eat that up in itself
I went over the list with him and the old man replied "i will have to get $10 for all the stuff, but the grille is not for sale.
Well i was totally shocked at the ten dollars but bummed at the same time that the grille was not for sale and that explained why it was still there.
He continued to explain it was for a truck he was going to restore someday. have we all heard that before?
It turns out he had this perfect grille waiting for his truck since 1987 and he was not giving it up.
Well i dont give in that easily and i pushed the issue "how much will you let it go for? as he frouned and thought.............and thought............
"i will have to get $40 for it, and you pull it off" What year is this guy in?
OK so i paid as quickly as i could and then realized i have no tools other than a few wrenches and a screwdriver and a pair of pliers.....ummmmm and jet black clothes on. I was not about to go 30 miles back to the shop to get tools in fear he was going to change his mind so i grabbed what little i had and began. Well to make this story a bit shorter i did get it off after digging under the truck that had been almost buried in dirt after 20 years of sitting, crawling into the fenderwells that had become homes for black widows and mice, crying and screaming words i have not said since junior high, i finally removed my treasure. 5 hours! 5 HOURS! to extract the grille. but it was worth it for sure, and yes my clothes were ruined.
Steve

[flyboy2610]

Ya does what ya gotta does!

[bluef250]

Great story and congratulations.

[FORDification]

Great story! Man, did YOU have a good day or what? If those price are indicative of what he's asking for his parts, I'd definitely get a little side business going, by buying low and selling higher here (or E-bay).

[1971ford]

where is this bumpside paradise!?
im in nor-cal too, i hope its close.

[fordman]

i think im going to have to make a trip to that yard myself. give us the address.

[1971ford]

from kansas!?

[fordman]

for prices like that yes.

[1971ford]

im local

i dont want to call, i want to go

im just wondering where in nor cal this is, like a address, city and name. i dont even want the number.

[Tim P.]

Well steve you got the things you needed see how it works the man upstairs delivers your needs the nice clothes can be replaced alot easier than the nice find in a salvage yard,, better put the small tool kit in the vehicle for such future leads. That old man new you had nice clothes and you were willing to do what ever it took to get the parts he was fair with you and somewhat sympatic known you would mess up the sundays best.

[basketcase0302]

Steve,

It's the 302 thing man!
I too found a decent 68 grill & buckets yesterday, (not perfect, but can be sandblasted and powdercoated).
And I thought the same thing, (I'm in work clothes, rusted bolts, etc.).
Now I've gotta go back for it.
But when the young guy behind the counter says, "for the 72 grill? $20.00".
Yes....for the 72 grill As your governor out west says..."I'll be back"!

Jeff

[69F110]

Steve,

great story man, what a day huh? That is great stuff.

[Steve302]

Hello,
Im sorry about the chaos this has caused,
I have not been into bumpsides for very long and i should have known that there were others like me hunting like crazy to find those last parts to make the project what it should be.
I have no intention to make money off the yard or anyone else for that matter. I have my business i run and the last thing i need is to add is an income from the internet and try to explain it all to IRS, my books are allready hard enough to understand.
Its simple, if it does not take up any of my time other than throwing it in a box and shipping it off, all i ask for is the purchase price + shipping, thats it, glad i can help.
Again I dont know much about the bump trucks, but i am learning, so explain clearly what it is, and pics help too (i will get a new camera soon too). As for this i am sure many others have parts you may need, so lets take this to the "parts wanted section" in the forums, i will check in regularly.
Thanks Steve

[layedout72]

I wish we had places that had these trucks around here. I know of 1 truck, and it's totally gone really.