Walmart HotRod Parts tech!

[Smokin Joe]

Here's some cheap tech.

Next time the significant other drags you to Walmart or Home Depot. Sneak off to the section that has the bathroom stuff. Take a look at the flexible shower heads. Some are real chrome or stainless and make great headlight wire conduits. Hell of a lot cheaper than the hot rod shop stuff, no shipping or waiting and you just cut it to whatever length you need & stick it through a gromet on each end and string your wires.

Any other cheapscate ideas????
Let's hear 'em!
We haven't done this for a while.
It was fun last time and the new HAMBers probably haven't thought of this stuff.

[Levis Classic]

GREAT IDEA!

[2tall2beahotrodder]

If ya have some small parts to paint,,, Just head over to the paint section, and help ya self to some "testing"...

Also for the HAMB Pilfers..... When at Pep Boys.. go help ya self to some small shit too...
Those cameras are fake except for the one next to the cash register...
Trust me i used to work there, and same for my friend who worked at a different store..

steve-

[AHotRod]

THANKS!

[Michigan Rick]

Rat Rodder...........you're cool DUDE!!!!!! Ya fuckin rip people off so you can be a cheap fuck and hurt the people who put their money on the line to make a livin. (for you and the rest of the people who haven't won the lottery) Get off your computer and start a business and hire some guys to rip you off..... see how you feel then when it comes out of your pocket......


Michigan Dick

[Smokin Joe]

Damn, this ain't headed the way I entended... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[Michigan Rick]

Sorry Joe........... I'm all over cheap tech.......Rippin people off is about as low as you can go... just ask the guy who use to drive a Snap-On truck in Seattle.

[Smokin Joe]

Yea, I'm a cheap bastage, but I don't rip anyone off.
Had it happen to me too many times.

[burndup]

I bet you worked in fast food, and didn't wash your hands after you took a shit.

Need to change your name to "Shit-Fingered Discount."

[Smokin Joe]

Let's see if we can salvage this and get it back on topic. Anyone else have cheap/easy ways to do hotrod stuff?

[williebill]

Back to the original post,I'm all for creative $$$ saving tips,but WALMART?? That's great if you really want the lowest quality crap available on Planet Earth,from China.Buy your shower massage parts from a better quality source,please. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gifJust ask my wife,she seems to be a real expert when it comes to shower massages..Wonder if that's why she ignores me lately?? Hmm.......Just seeing the word Walmart and Hot Rod in the same sentence gives me the heebie-jeebies...

[BELLM]

For you guys with mini bikes a chrome leg off of an old dining table makes a cool exhaust pipe. When I was a kid all the girls in my neighborhood had a burn scar on the inside of their right thigh from riding behind me on my custom ride!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Come to think of it I havent seen many chrome legged dinette sets lately except in antique shops. WTF.

[Tony]

Smokin..
When i was building my '32 and needed conduit for the headlights..i went in my basement and started looking for something that would work..i remembered seeing something down there..
Well, I found a bag with an old shower head..the rest is history http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
It really does work good!

Rat.....

[choprods]

Well I buy their batteries and all my Rustoleum "Byproducts"!also you see the nicest people shopping there.........

[C9]

That's a great one Joe.
Many thanks.
Been thinking about what I'm gonna do on the 31's headlight wiring and that sure looks like the way to do it.

One small one I found was USA made chrome acorn nuts at Orchard Supply.
Lowes and Home Depot may have them as well.
Price, about 4-5 bucks for three or four 3/8".

They are nicely done and have good chrome.
Other sizes run different prices.

Only real problem is you gotta beat the Harley guys to em.
They're lots cheaper here than at the Harley shop.

My other cheap one is to make gauge and switch panels out of aluminum electrical cable pass through boxes.
These are a box, open on both ends, about 3/16" thick aluminum and are great for cutting out aux panels and the like. Available at electrical supply houses. one box makes lots of gauge panels.

Here's a pic of a semi-finished one I made to go on grandsons Ranger, design to his specs.
He finished up the aluminum with a brushed finish and it looked pretty good in his truck.

Note the nice curve on the 90 degree break.
That's the way the boxes come and the smooth rollover makes for a good looking panel.

[4t64rd]

Target has some towel bars that are slightly curved chrome round bars 3/4", 18" long. perfect for a grill opening. Also, Walmart and Target have plastic shower rod covers, sometimes you can find them in chrome, easily trimable. make that spreader bar, tie rods, or anything round, chrome for abour $5. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Tony]

Here's one i used in my '33 pickup..
I didn't have a dome light..and i didn't want to wire one in or install jamb switches..
I bought one of those small "tap lights" (2.99) and made a bracket to mount to the roof brace.
Install one 'AA' battery, and 'tap', instant dome light.

Works pretty good, just gotta change the batteries a couple time a year. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Rat..

[fitzee]

This is the stuff I live for.Been builting cheepo stuff for years.I always look at stuff to see what else it can be used for.I have a few so here goes.
Have a old set of lights that the reflector are bad in,well I took a stanless steel salad bowls and trim them down to fit into the lights.Take the light socket off a plastic headlight by cutting the part of the light that the bulb socket locks into.Then cut a hole in the middle of the bowl and urethane the part of the light to the bowl.A new light reflector.

fitzee

[modernbeat]

Home Depot

Head on over to the cement section and purchase a few of the black plastic cement mixing pans. They're great for oil changes, brake jobs, or anything else you'd use a tray or shallow pail for and instead of the $10 you'd pay for it at PepBoys, it's only around $4 or so. Buy a lot, they're very useful.

[fitzee]

This lock was from Home Hardward.it was a small closet door latch.I cut one end off and welded a flat washer to it, then welded the 2 X 2 plate to the body of it.You have a door latch that is less the a inch thick.

fitzee

[fitzee]

Don`t know how to add more then one pic,so here pic two of three

[fitzee]

this is the latch in place,works great and don`t need much room.My doors are only a inch thick

[deuce]

whilst yer at home depot or similar place, check out the sink drain pipes in plumbing. some are usefull as upper radiator pipes. shiney and everything.

[Fat Hack]

I needed something to mount my fusebox and a positive battery power junction to, and I wanted it to NOT conduct electricity, for obvious reasons!

I found one of those little blue plastic boxes in the home electrical aisle at the local hardware store this morning. I think they're SUPPOSED to be used for switches or plugs in your house...but I saw a 49 cent thick plastic box with an open end for easy access!

After making an aluminum bracket to hold the box, I had my fusebox/junction point mount pretty much done. Wiring this car is a simple affair...and the fusebox is going to be a small universal job that accepts the modern 'blade' type fuses mounted on "top" (as it's positioned NOW) of the plastic box. That'll keep all the "hot" wires pretty much safe from accidental shorts...I hope!

(I suppose you COULD sneak into a new home construction site and STEAL one of these boxes...but at 49 cents, even I ain't THAT cheap...and I got two FREE nails with it to throw away or use as I see fit...what a DEAL!!)

[Hot Rod To Hell]

As far as making Aluminum switch panels, brackets, etc... There are tons of Aluminum sheets of assorted sizes and shapes just sitting along the sides of pretty much every road or street around here! Uhhh.... not that I would ever steal a road sign or anything..... a ...uhhhh friend told me about it.... that's it, a friend! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[delaware george]

i keep a bunch of 99 cent store cookie sheets in the garage for putting under drips and stuff

[Revhead]

I haven't actually done this yet..but it's an idea I've been wanting to do.

To get a little different look on your regular old plain-jane aircleaner. In the local hardware store they have some sheets of aluminum with die cut designs, like clover looking things. I think it is for lower portions of screen doors. You can cut it in a strip and wrap it around the outside of the element, then sandwich it between the lid and bottom of the air cleaner as usual.

[tommy]

I love the hardware section. I'm doing the plywood floor now. I'm using a magnetic cabinet glass door latch for the M/cyl trap door.

[briggs&strattonChev]

a guy once told me that he wanted a shiney battery box so he got one of those household door-bottom kickplate things (usually in gold, stainless, or chrome) and bent it into a rectangle to house his battery

[Mai Ki-Ki]

Towel Rail Chrome tubing = tube grille...just piched the ends...

Oh and doing a modern bathroom? Use a stainless Mixing bowl instead of the overpriced Stainless Bowl Sinks..just have to hole saw a hole and add the drain....

[fordiac]

briggs, great idea, thanks for passing that on

[four-thirteen]

[ QUOTE ]

To get a little different look on your regular old plain-jane aircleaner. In the local hardware store they have some sheets of aluminum with die cut designs, like clover looking things. I think it is for lower portions of screen doors. You can cut it in a strip and wrap it around the outside of the element, then sandwich it between the lid and bottom of the air cleaner as usual.

[/ QUOTE ]

this isn't anything new, it was a big thing to do in the 50s.

drawer pull knobs. make a grille out of them. make custom hubcaps with them. i'd take credit for this one, but it's nothing new, i saw it in an old custom rodder or car craft or hot rod parts or something. dave

[redmeat]

<font color="red">I do not and will not shop at that HELL HOLE Walmart........

R E D M E A T </font>

[Fastsporty]

One more thing many people don't realize is Walmarts online book store is a great place to get books. How about ultimate garages for $22 bucks.
go here
auto books (http://http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=18930&amp;path=0%3A3920%3A18917%3A1892 9%3A18930)
FS

[topdeadcenter]

Need to strip some old wheels? I had the wheels off the 51 and wanted to paint them. I couldn't get the 50 year old grease off no matter what. I even took them to the car wash and pressure blasted them. Nothing. Then the lightbulb went on.

EASY OFF OVEN CLEANER!!!!

It took the grease and paint of in about an hour. They are now ready to blast (a little surface rust) and paint.

Mike

[injectedA]

You Model A &amp; T guys can check out the garage door handles. Small and easy to fit. The mechanisms even have the square stock like your Fords. You can use your handles or they're are some really nice ones available.

Suicide doors? Alum. or SS slides for a postive lock and if you race easily accessible from outside the car.

Running solid alum. or SS radiator or heater lines? Which you can, Lowe's, HD and True Value all sell alum. and SS tubing. Check out the plumbing dept. for the dual clamp hose ends with real SS screws. True Value also carries a full stk. of SS hardware. Nothing else goes on my projects anymore.

Check out the alum. or SS turnbuckles and accessories for cheap left engine bank tie down. It'll help you get that left tire in the air. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

See a trend here? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Smokin Joe]

Check Home &amp; Garden places for fence posts that make great polished stainless exhaust tips or straight pipes for your custom.

Use those cheap plastic stackable see thru storage bins to store your parts when you're tearing down the car for a rebuild. I use the smaller ones for things like torn down carbs, alternators or starters. Keeps the little stuff from getting lost while soaking or cleaning the carb bodies. Beats looking for springs, balls and small screws knocked under the bench. Just snap on the lid when you aren't working on it and it'll all be there when you get back to it.

[Bruce Lancaster]

A generalization that can be drawn from all of the above: Learn to see SHAPES rather than concrete objects in stores when you have a fabrication need. Boxes, angles, brackets, tubular spacers and so on are EVERYWHERE, even in seemingly useless places like housewares departments and the mailbox department. Learn to spot a shape you can use even when it is disguised as a cookie sheet or a chain link fence component. The same applies at the junkyard--you aren't going to find that Deuce clutch lever or the Hurst A-28 engine mount in the rows of cars anymore, but go study the heap of miscellany in the scrap heap--if you can see shapes, your missing bits will magically appear as pieces of industrial shelving, dead machinery, and otherwise unidentifiable fallout.
Shopping by shape and function even turns wasted time--a trip to the grocery store, sitting in traffic behind a trailer full of lawnmowers--into productive Hot Rod time in which you may discover the perfect bracket or cable to solve a problem.

[manyolcars]

Is Bruce Lancaster too cheap to spend Money at WalMart? Is he suggesting that you look at trash and dumpsters? Stay tuned to find out! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[negativeMatt]

i have a set of old aluminum wheels that were missing the center caps. i used some fence post caps from lowe's. polished 'em up and got back on the road.

[james]

A simple way to hide wires is the stainless braided water lines that hook up under the sink. Real cheap at Home Depot.

[Smokin Joe]

Bruce has hit the nail on the head! The whole point is it doesn't have to come from a catalog or parts store and life is what you make of it. Is that a frying pan lid? or a future air cleaner top... You may not always find what you seek, but you'll be better for the seeking and it'll give you a better outlook on life. Besides, every once in a while you do find something out of context that'll work just fine. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[dixiedog]

For scrap sheet metal nothing beats an old dryer or washer on the side of the road. Some even have interesting curves in them and the enameled coating on them makes it really rust proof, just have to grind off paint before tacking.

Old clothing racks from stores are good for paint racks and the chrome steel has endless possibilities.

Plus it is far better to recycle than to throw away!

[DrJ]

A chain called "BigLots" has overnight replaced all the Pick &amp; Save stores, I don't know if it's a new Corp or just a new name for the old one but I go there and buy cheap table cloths ($1-$2) to use for drop cloths and to cover the drive when I need to crawl under somethin.
Also, I don't bother with Harbor Fright (sp. intended) for cutting tools. their new hack saw blades are duller than the worn "good" one you want to replace.

While you are shopping at hardware stors for car parts, stay away from the solid single strand house wiring. Car wiring is multiple strand wire for a reason. It needs to be flexible to live in the bouncing jostling twisting environment of a car frame. The house type single strand copper wire will work harden and break.

[Paul]

hot rodding IS improvising,

you don't have to go to Wallmart to get a chrome vanity drain tube to use as an oil fill tube or a vegetable sieve to use under your carb scoops or a grocery cart for a welding cart.

I picked up a old aluminum cake cover at an antique store for five bucks 'cause someone here showed use how cool one can look for an air cleaner.

stuff is where you find it.

Paul

[Jester]

how bout kool stuff you can make yourself and not go to walmart. Head light rings make bitch'n picture frames so do tail light bezzels. Make a coffee table out of an old deck lid or a kitchen table out of an old hood. Bar stools out of wheels, bucket seats make kool shop chairs (and there comfy to). What bout using your old nearly worn out electric drill for a blender or mixer. Your only inhibited by your own imagination and keep in mind alot of people will pay you to take off some of this junk, fix it up, sell it make a little cash buy more parts. Life is good.

[SimonSez]

If you are looking for a shiny cup to mount your tachometer in, check out stainless coffee mugs and cups. You can also get some nice tapered cups that look great on the top of your home made good steering column.

[Fat Hack]

Bruce Lancaster said it perfectly! I wander up and down the aisles at the local mom &amp; pop hardware store endlessly...looking at all the little parts and pieces until I see what I'm looking for "hidden" within all of those shapes and angles! They have a wicked fastner assortment, along with drawers filled with all sorts of grommetts, spacers, springs, bushings, fittings, caps, etc, etc.

I go in there thinking about what I need the final part to DO, then look over everything till I see a way to make it happen. Sometimes, I just buy alot of interesting metal stock, fasteners and doo-dads, then dump them into my stash of "fabrication supplies" in the garage. I always end up using that stuff for SOMETHING!!

[Bruce Lancaster]

"Is Bruce Lancaster too cheap to spend Money at WalMart? Is he suggesting that you look at trash and dumpsters? Stay tuned to find out!"
Damn straight. I visit the dumpster at NAPA more often than the parts counter, mostly to get the old catalogs.
For the late model (a '70 Nova filled with modern electronics like...um...err... a cigarette lighter), I get almost everything at the junkyard where I get stuff for free, and purchase only gaskets and such. I even buy stuff like mufflers and hose there--I have learned to spot cars that hit something while backing out of MIDAS with a new widget.
And as for dumpsters--if you haven't learned about them yourself, you can buy a book on dumpster diving that will educate you.
This is the greatest country in the world--everyone is busy throwing away stuff I couldn't afford!

[Morrisman]

[ QUOTE ]
Install one 'AA' battery, and 'tap', instant dome light

[/ QUOTE ]
Now THAT is a great idea for my Morris. Just gotta try and remember it!

[Morrisman]

Another idea I'll try one day is the old style curvy ornamental stainless salad/fruit bowl. Looks like it would make an interesting airfilter cover, with all it's curves and shiny light trapping grooves.

Want a nice curved recess in your firewall, to fit that Hemi or whatever? Use a section from a pressed steel wheelbarrow!

I've seen some nice tapered tubular table legs in chromed steel in a local diy store. Make good headlight brackets http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

As has been said: view everything as a source of parts, not as an object in its own right.

[Bruce Lancaster]

We live in an incredibly complex and beautiful ecosystem, consisting of trillions of intertwined elements which clearly exist only so that they can be cut up and used to improve early Fords. Boggles the mind...

[Smokin Joe]

Put down that BONG and step away from the HOOKAH Bruce.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Just Gary]

9"x12" cake pans make great housings for frenched license plates... with room left over for a small license place light. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Mel]

Family Dollar has shallow tubs that work great for draining fluids for $3

Skateboards make nice creepers when you're in a pinch

For welding, if you find clean hoods from the junkyard, they work great for floors and trunks

Black silicone works great to seal leaky front and rear windows, rather than replace the rubber seals

Rolls of cork and soda boxes make great gaskets

If you know someone who works at a Harley shop, they throw out parts all the time when they get scratched. Motorcycle mufflers work great as exhaust and since you only see the tips, you never notice the scratches down the barrel

~Melissa

[old beet]

Those stores also have little round stick-on reflectors, for mail boxes etc. Assorted colors, the red ones are almost perfect for 49-53 Merc tailites, same as the repop guy sells for $14 a pair. They are 99 cents.......OLDBEET

[jalopy43]

My dad made a neat custom horn cap,from a chrome coffee pot lid.It looked better than the little button caps on a cal-custom steering wheel.I recessed my firewall in the A with half of a square bbq lid.Chrome faucett handles make cool spinner caps for flat hubcaps. The grille in my '50 is 88 round chrome drawerknobs,on flatblack expanded metal mesh.Chrome P trap pipes can be used lots of ways on flatheads,roadraft tubes,upper radiator pipes,and oil filler tubes. Lowes-sleds rule!!! Glenn

[OGNC]

Does anyone else think that it is funny this post has been less than a page away from the "Boycott WalMart" post all day?

[flatheadpete]

The guys at work laughed at me when I went dumpster diving after they 'cleaned' the back room. Scrap metal galore!! Old speakers make great parts holders. Fence post caps make great bullets for anything (and they're free, just don't tell the wife!). I used a license plat for a master cylinder door. The trans tunnel in the bucket is an old Wheel Horse tractor hood. Coolant puke cans can be anything that holds liquid. Geez, the possibilities are endless!!

[Mutt]

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone else think that it is funny this post has been less than a page away from the "Boycott WalMart" post all day?

[/ QUOTE ]

I've been laughing all day at it....well, since it started anyway...


Mutt

[2tall2beahotrodder]

[ QUOTE ]
Rat Rodder...........you're cool DUDE!!!!!! Ya fuckin rip people off so you can be a cheap fuck and hurt the people who put their money on the line to make a livin. (for you and the rest of the people who haven't won the lottery) Get off your computer and start a business and hire some guys to rip you off..... see how you feel then when it comes out of your pocket......


Michigan Dick

[/ QUOTE ]

Did i say i Steal shit or rip people off ... Nope... Just saying my observtions ..
Who am i ripping off again..?? The Big shot yuppies who are loaded and own Tons of chain stores....

[choprods]

This isn't from Wal MART-But when I did my 31 A coupe back in '78-I didnt like the way the full fenders looked hanging down WAY below the rear pan....I saw the metal on the back of a discarded clothes dryer and copped it to make a panel for hiding the empty spot.....it had 5" long louvers,I had t weld th long vertical row of louvers/by cutting it into 5 peices that were right to left so it had about 6 louvers high and 5 rows wide...turned out to be the real conversation piece of the whole car!plus it cost nothing!

[Wowcars]

A guy in town made his own custom taillights on his '40 Chevy by buying two ugly trailer lights, cut a hole the size he wanted the tail light to be in the quarters. Then he took a cowl panel from a 70s impala and cut it up to 'louver' his tail lights. Cost him like $15 and look pretty good.
Another piece of tubing that could be used is for overhead fan extensions. Plug them together for however long you need.
Love this shit!

[CadillacKid]

Can't believe nobody posted these...hockey pucks for body mounts! All you gotta do is drill a hole through 'em...they also work good for steering column to dash spacers..just trim to fit...and they cost one measley dollar each! Went in to the local sporting goods store and told the guy behind the counter I needed a couple of hockey pucks...he asked what car i was building! Said that he sells more of 'em to old car guys than to hockey teams...
Here's another one...toilet tank tubing. The chrome plated copper tubing that supplies water to your toilet tank...these are cheap as shit (about $.50 each). Make great vaccuum lines, looms for running wiring, or if you made your carb linkage outta threaded rod, you can cut one of these to length to cover the threads...they have endless possibilities, cuz they're easily cut to length, easily hand bent(cuz they're copper)and they're dirt cheap, so if you screw it up, just grab another 50 cent stick...
When i smoothed the dash on my 59 Caddy (59 Cheby dash), I wanted to keep the glove box to stick CD's in, but wanted to get rid of the ugly button. Welded the button hole shut and I got a detent latch (like for a glass doored stereo cabinet) from my local "Fleet Farm" store (it's kinda like Home Depot, but it's a local, midwestern chain) The magnet latch wasn't strong enough to hold up the door of the glove box, but they also had a detent latch that had little jaws on the big side, and a small tab for the other that the jaws grab onto when the latch is shut. It was about 3 bucks and worked slick...if anybody needs some, let me know...
Here's two last ideas I had that are going on my coupe...If you wanna use 'em you're more than welcome, just remember you heard it here first...Making a radiator puke tank outta an old spray gun cup and lid....the other one is I'm making a shifter boot outta an old Crown Royal bag....cheep shit rocks...

[briggs&strattonChev]

[ QUOTE ]
hockey pucks for body mounts

[/ QUOTE ]

hell, im in the process of using them as MOTOR mounts for my 6 cyl, slick stuff http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Rainer]

hmm - a bigger stovepipe will gives you a very nice and easy driveshaft tunnel - and some chest-wardrobe knobs will make cool dash knobs

[CadillacKid]

Mailbox for a carb scoop's a good one too...definiteley needs to have the little red flag on it too....

[296 V8]

It dosnt matter who your rippn off. A rippoff son of a bitch like you is a fuckn punk. Why dont you take your punk ass and your gay name ( rat rodder)and get fuckn lost.[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Rat Rodder...........you're cool DUDE!!!!!! Ya fuckin rip people off so you can be a cheap fuck and hurt the people who put their money on the line to make a livin. (for you and the rest of the people who haven't won the lottery) Get off your computer and start a business and hire some guys to rip you off..... see how you feel then when it comes out of your pocket......


Michigan Dick

[/ QUOTE ]

Did i say i Steal shit or rip people off ... Nope... Just saying my observtions ..
Who am i ripping off again..?? The Big shot yuppies who are loaded and own Tons of chain stores....

[/ QUOTE ]

[Bumpstick]

Thank You, Finally. Let just hope next time he's rippin shit off, the camera's real. We'll be getting posts from the prison library. Might be too busy servicing his "roomate" though.

[james]

Hey Rat, dumbass, when those "rich yuppies" notice their profit margin is smaller because of theft, what do they do? A: raise the prices so the profit is back up B:hire security or put in cameras, etc which costs money, thereby lowering their profits, which leads back to A. Dishonest people cause prices to be what they are.

[burndup]

This pisses me off...

Hmm, by some standards I'm a "rich yuppie" cause I have a white collar desk job, have a one year old "sports" car, and extra 'fun' old cars... yes, I even have a few pairs of pretty nice shoes... even tho I only can afford to live in a 1 bdrm apt in the crummy part of town...

I have what little I have cause I BUSTED MY ASS and worked for it... I didn't lazily steal it...

Wanna see yuppie turn into REDNECK? Come try and steal some of my shit, I'll just introduce you to my roomate, Mr. Ruger.

Thieves are rats. What do people do when they have a rat problem?

How fitting, you already refer to yourself this way.

[Hip]

[ QUOTE ]
Need to strip some old wheels? I had the wheels off the 51 and wanted to paint them. I couldn't get the 50 year old grease off no matter what. I even took them to the car wash and pressure blasted them. Nothing. Then the lightbulb wEASY OFF OVEN CLEANER!!!!

It took the grease and paint of in about an hour. They are now ready to blast (a little surface rust) and paint.

Mike [/quoteent on.

]

[Hip]

I do this with all the greasy parts i get , and to even get away cheaper , get your oven cleaner at the dollor store , cause you usually drop 5.00 to 8.00 bucks on a can of it anywhere else!

[junkboy]

I use a Jameson whiskey bottle as a coolant catcher in my 56 Special. Created a fender eliminator kit for my V Max out of a four dollar bucket I found at Home Depot(looks kick ass and saved me around 250 frogs) http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif. This only works in extremely dry climates such Vegas, but with as little prep as a washing with a soapy steel wool pad, I've turned some nasty rims into some sweet and shiny red steelies with Wal Fart spray paint. Cost about 3 bucks including steel wool. Caddy rims are going on 3 years with no chipping, peeling, or rust through. That's wrth a buck a year http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[CadillacKid]

I've seen slash cut PBR cans make pretty neat carb stacks...i think i saw one as a coil cover once too...

[BELLM]

Watch the oven cleaner on aluminum, I sprayed an intake manifold turned it ugly gray. I really like it on baked on grease/oil such as old exhausts manifolds that have baked oil from leaking rocker covers.

[manyolcars]

3 Tiny air filters on a 3 duece setup may look cool but its not the way to get the best performance. One large oval air filter provides a plenum of filtered air. I made the top and bottom pieces for an oval air cleaner out of Stainless Steel door bottom kickplates. I needed tapered spacers to fit between the carbs and the bottom plate of the air filter. I wanted to use Stainless Steel cups for the spacers. I went to WalMart where I found no stainless to fit but I found 3 small thick plastic cups which are an EXACT fit for my carbs. They have been in use for 10 years now. Just cut the bottom off the cups. They are in the pet food dept.

[fitzee]

If your from the rust belt like me and have old door handles that are pitted and look bad.A quick fix is a garage door handle.The square rod fits right into the stock locks.Comes with keys as well that way you can lock the doors as well.Cheep and easy to find.Use the T handle garage door handles for the trunk.

fitzee

[fitzee]

Another one is to use them cheep bullit cab lights that come with a L brack.Remove the brack and take some 2 inch pipe and french in into the back of you car and add this lights.Cool and cheep.Thay come in red,blue,Yellow and clear.

I find other then these hardward stores there also Trailer and big Truck centers that have lots of cool items.

fitzee

[hudson_hawk]

the black plastic garden edge makes a great fan shroud

[C9]

Not an inexpensive Walmart tip, but a lot of interesting stainless steel stuff can be found at restaurant supply stores.

Some of their stuff would make for great air filters etc.
You're only limited by your imagination.

[34Hupmobile]

Those stainless bowls work great for speaker enclosures too. I used a pair for years on a bike.

[2tall2beahotrodder]

Yep, im a fucking punk, because I happened to mention a few things that i have seen before. Keep those Remarks comming, cause im a Cheep Redneck Rat....

[Rocknrod]

Rottela T is pretty cheap at wally world...

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[InPrimer]

A friend of mine used an old refigerator door as a firewall on his Essex.he used the 50's style refig. the top is curved and concave, if you install it backwards(like a recessd firewall)looks great and has 3 or 4 ribs running through it neat, clever, and real cheap

[Boones]

C9 - I like your gage panel idea but I can not picture what you started with.. any pic of the original part... my imagination is just not working well enough to take your description and turn it into a picture

[injectedA]

"Not an inexpensive Walmart tip, but a lot of interesting stainless steel stuff can be found at restaurant supply stores."

Yes I like the SS to be found at restaurant supply outlets also. Pizza bench in another life.

[Smokin Joe]

Boones if you go to Radio Shack or a good electronics hobbiest store you'll see hobby kit boxes that have an aluminum face and 1 or 2 sides bent off of the face. The rest of the box is usually stamped metal or plastic. You just save the face with the bent side and shitcan the rest. Cut it out in the shape of your panel idea, drill it for guages or switches then polish it or engine turn it with a pencil eraser in a drill press. Want wood grain? Look at the cheap stick on wallpaper stuff used for lining drawers. The boxes are usually damned cheap. I used to do this all the time to put the oil, temp and volts guages under the dash of muscle cars or use them for switch panels.

While you're there, look for tiny lights and led's that can be used for turn signal, brights, or break lite indicators. Drill a hole the size of the bulb. Glue them in from the back and you won't even notice them until they light up. Model train shops are great for these lights too.

[IntrstlarOvrdrve]

See this swamp cooler?
http://a6.cpimg.com/image/82/FB/30489986-ee95-0190012C-.jpg
http://a7.cpimg.com/image/83/FB/30489987-1058-0190012C-.jpg

Right now I am using my parents old rusty mailbox to make my own swamp cooler. shape is almost identical, now I gotta see if I can make it work http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Michigan Rick]

IntrstlarOvrdrve.........I have the same cooler! Bought it from Nads.........a few years back....... Everyone asks if it is a mailbox. Stealing the design and making it from a box is cool. Any other kind of stealing is bad.....remember what Dad told you??

[brewsir]

I don't know if they still sell them...but when I needed some cheepo chrome bullits for the wheel centers on a cheep little german car I once owned...I bought my wife 4 pairs of new pantyhose....llegs ...they came in little tubes with plastic bullit shaped lids....yea, they are plastic,but that just make 2 part epoxy stick to them better. Damn that was a long time ago...I wonder if they still are even available??????

[Chuck Fish]

Harley -Davidson Sportster turn signal,oil pressure,high beam,and neutral indicator lamps are fairly inexpensive and they come red,green and blue.they have alot of uses in the dash panel.

[Joe Johnston]

A bit off topic, I used a snow shovel handle to make an exhaust pipe for a Cushman truckster. Right dia and needed a very minor bend to fit perfect.

[meatball]

Heres one for ya,back in the 70s a freinds Dad was/still is into Cords/Packards/Pierce Arrows,anyway a week before a HUGE national concours he dicovered that the steering colum was to be chrome and his was black so he went to Pay n Pak (lowes) and got a piece of chrome drain pipe for under the sink and slipped it over the stock one,and the day of loading to go his son broke the outide mirror so he got one of those round stick on ones and poped it into the space..........ended up best of show and class to this day I doubt anybody knows the truth on that

[hugh m]

i keep a bunch of 99 cent store cookie sheets in the garage for putting under drips and stuff
Just stole one of those two layer cookie sheets to use for a heat shield. Don't tell my wife.

[meatball]

I don't know if they still sell them...but when I needed some cheepo chrome bullits for the wheel centers on a cheep little german car I once owned...I bought my wife 4 pairs of new pantyhose....llegs ...they came in little tubes with plastic bullit shaped lids....yea, they are plastic,but that just make 2 part epoxy stick to them better. Damn that was a long time ago...I wonder if they still are even available??????they were called LEGGS my girldfriend used to get them we made a grill for my friends 55 F-100 looked bitchin.....

[carcrazyjohn]

Has easter eggs been mentioned yet ,Also Dryer sheets ....................Lol Only thing that I have seen that caught my eye was bicycle chain a guy used for progressive linkage ....

[Francisco Plumbero]

If you have a guy you sell your scrap to, as I do, or the guy you take your beer cans to, ask him about aluminum sheet, stainless and old brass plumbing parts, they don't care about this stuff and only see a per pound weight, they only mark it up to the mills about double which is still cheap, you can find some real cool old brass shower heads out there and hell yeah they can be made into headlights. If you can ask him if he has other guys he knows that he takes his salvageable sheet to, some are smart and get max buck for stuff that is still useable, if you can't find nice shower head at the scrap yard go to the local faucet parts guy, we got a guy in Chi town here who has all this old stuff layin around, a lot of it looks like junk even to me, but you can pick up some cool handles and accessories that can be artfully adapted to fit your need and none will be the wiser.

[chaos10meter]

If your new gages are a bit too small for the holes in the dash, go to the local hardware store and "Stanley " makes flush mount sliding door pulls, like you have in a sliding clothing door closet.

Grind the back out, slowley so you don't dis-color the chrome finish and slip your gage into the door pull and you have a perfect bezel.

[skidsteer]

My trunk handle/lock is for a garage door, less than 10 bucks, with key.

http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp75/kidsteer/DSC04465.jpg

[Denver]

Don't waste your money on degreaser/carb cleaner. Read this and Pine Sol will be a regular on your shopping list: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=560117

[Denver]

9"x12" cake pans make great housings for frenched license plates... with room left over for a small license place light. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I wonder if cup cake pans would work for frenched round lights etc. if you cut them up right...

[lostforawhile]

A generalization that can be drawn from all of the above: Learn to see SHAPES rather than concrete objects in stores when you have a fabrication need. Boxes, angles, brackets, tubular spacers and so on are EVERYWHERE, even in seemingly useless places like housewares departments and the mailbox department. Learn to spot a shape you can use even when it is disguised as a cookie sheet or a chain link fence component. The same applies at the junkyard--you aren't going to find that Deuce clutch lever or the Hurst A-28 engine mount in the rows of cars anymore, but go study the heap of miscellany in the scrap heap--if you can see shapes, your missing bits will magically appear as pieces of industrial shelving, dead machinery, and otherwise unidentifiable fallout.
Shopping by shape and function even turns wasted time--a trip to the grocery store, sitting in traffic behind a trailer full of lawnmowers--into productive Hot Rod time in which you may discover the perfect bracket or cable to solve a problem.best post of this thread, thats the difference between guys who build real cars, and gold chainers, the entire point of building your car, is to use what you can find, custom car guys have been doing it for years. if you build your own parts out of other peoples junk, you won't see the same thing on every other car. people have forgotten how much fun it is to use your brain, and figure things out on your own. I think it would be boring to use a catalog, anyone can bolt something together, if someone else makes the pieces.


Is Bruce Lancaster too cheap to spend Money at WalMart? Is he suggesting that you look at trash and dumpsters? Stay tuned to find out! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gifdumpsters are great!! you wouldn't believe what people throw away, I came home lugging some of those really heavy bed rails the other day, my wife wanted to know what for? have you seen the price of heavy angle iron lately? I can make all kinds of brackets and pieces from those.

[meatball]

My trunk handle/lock is for a garage door, less than 10 bucks, with key.

http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp75/kidsteer/DSC04465.jpg
I used the same stanley garage door hande on my 32,people asked me what it was cause of the "art deco" look and its about 20% smaller than a 32......always told them it was off a 1925 Jewett runabout................(yes there was a Jewett car)

[meatball]

I wonder if cup cake pans would work for frenched round lights etc. if you cut them up right...check out sauce pans

[M.Edell]

Hell yeah aint nothing wrong with that! Thats Hot Rodding!

[64ville]

I was going to write something in here but I was too mesmerized by BurnedUp's avatar.

[FoMoCoPower]

If ya have some small parts to paint,,, Just head over to the paint section, and help ya self to some "testing"...

Also for the HAMB Pilfers..... When at Pep Boys.. go help ya self to some small shit too...
Those cameras are fake except for the one next to the cash register...
Trust me i used to work there, and same for my friend who worked at a different store..

steve-


Um,can someone ban this guy?

[ml68nova]

I use propane fittings for electric fuel pumps and lines. same as AN fittings but heavier. The sizes are the same for 9/16 up but I think 3/8`s might be different.

I have to degrease a engine block tomarrow, would oven cleaner work? or is that for painted parts.


Mark

[Denver]

I use propane fittings for electric fuel pumps and lines. same as AN fittings but heavier. The sizes are the same for 9/16 up but I think 3/8`s might be different.

I have to degrease a engine block tomarrow, would oven cleaner work? or is that for painted parts.


Mark

Don't put oven cleaner on anything aluminum or magnesium. I'm pretty sure over cleaner has to be cooked to work? Maybe i'm wrong...

[big creep]

no oven cleaner like easyoff will take the anodizing off of aluminum, thats if it has been anodized. i remember in my street bike days, thats how i polished my frame of my bike back in the day!

Don't put oven cleaner on anything aluminum or magnesium. I'm pretty sure over cleaner has to be cooked to work? Maybe i'm wrong...

[meatball]

no oven cleaner like easyoff will take the anodizing off of aluminum, thats if it has been anodized. i remember in my street bike days, thats how i polished my frame of my bike back in the day!
I used EASY-OFF to clean the axle setup under my 56,dont think it was ever really cleaned when the car was built in the 70s.it worked great just stay on top of it

[big creep]

yea that shit burned my hands! i didnt get it off fast enough!

[zombiesnyc]

Heard oven cleaner can eat through gaskets. Be careful.

[InPrimer]

had to replace hood lock cable (solid wire like old lawn mower throttle cable) on my stude, went to wally world got a tune up brake kit for a 10 speed bike, enough flex cable and sleeve to replace it with extra cable left over.

[ml68nova]

I have to degrease a engine block tomarrow, would oven cleaner work? or is that for painted parts.

It`s a bare block. Too bad I can`t soak it in Pine-sol for a few days. Those carbs look nice.

It supposed to be hot, so I think I`ll stick with degreaser and a pressure washer.

Then maybe I`ll clean the block!:D

Mark

[gladeparkflyer]

LOVE the make what ya need philosophy on this thread. not exactly a walmart find but my little roadster started life as a phaeton and when i got it, it had no rear bulkhead at all. my solution was not just cheap it was free! i wandered a friends dead import selection and found an 88 isuzu pickup tailgate. cut away all the shit that didnt look right, welded it in and badabing! rear bulkhead. the cool part is i got a double wall panel outta the deal and put on inside facing backwards, it even looks right with all the factory strengthening ribs.

[JAKE'S-Pumpkinella54]

i love this thread

[iammarvin]

OK. For all you people looking for cheap stainless exshaught tubing, look for dairy supply or repair ( CASH talks) . If you want perfect weldes ,talk to the guy's who do the food grade weldes. Nice sh*t.

[corncobcoupe]

Go to Home Depot or Menards and head to the Floresent light fixture section and look for a sheet of the hard plastic 1/4"- 3/8' square egg crate replacement mesh that is for your recessed lighting.

Looks just like egg crate mesh - anyway cut it to size for your inner front radiator housing and slide it between your radiator and radiator housing and walla - simple clean radiator grille mesh.

It's about a 1/2" thick and even the biggest bugs hit the mesh and never make it to your radiator.

Less than $ 10.00 or so for a single sheet


Cob

[Old Skool Rodder]

Cant believe no one else has mentioned this yet, but here goes.............. Hand rails for bathroom stalls and showers, stainless, chrome, or powder coated, and many different lengths = Bed rails for a truck!!!!!

[blue 49]

My gas filler trim ring started life as a drain in our old kitchen sink. I cut the bottom out years ago to fit a Rochester 2 barrel and mated it with a piece of aluminum to make a 4 barrel air cleaner adapter. Still had it laying around when I built my current truck and thought it would work pretty good for a trim ring. Even if you bought it new, they are about half the price of the fuel cap bowls I've seen in catalogs.

[blue 49]

I also recently change out our bathroom sink faucet and the little chrome knob on the drain pop up is the perfect size for my glove box door.

[Johnny1290]

Saw C9's post in this thread. God it sucks he's gone.

Killer info, subscribed.

[rustynewyorker]

I once suggested that the gamer's chairs they sell in Wal-mart looked a lot like the seats for the custom interiors that came in some of the old AMT 3-in-1 kits, and it quickly devolved into an anti-Wal-mart, anti-Made-In-Asia-Somewhere thread. I see they still sell them, though. Can't be any worse than the guy in 1961 who used the chairs from his dinette set for custom seats.

I used a couple of sheets of Home Depot $7.50 a shot hardboard for interior panels in my van - the same crap as pegboard with no holes - dunno why it wouldn't work for door panels on any car with more or less flat interior panels, or ones that have some curve if it's only one way. I used Reflectix behind it to try to keep it cooler inside, but I'm not sure that's worked that well other than it's a lot quieter than when I first got it. No reason you can't then stick whatever cabinet handles on it you want, either. I would watch the cull bin for some scraps of thin plywood to back up handles with, though.

And the expanding foam did a nice job sealing some rot holes in the same van, but that's really cobbing it up (in this case, just keeping it rolling and keeping me dry and I don't give a crap).

[zmcmil2121]

Not mine so I cannot verify but this guy cut these into his hood to fit the air cleaners and then made the rim out of (drum roll).... Plastic chrome door edges that you put on there to keep from scratching your door. Cost about $5 he says. Pretty cool, you could do it to whatever.

http://images12.fotki.com/v203/photos/2/28612/66678/51392new392014-vi.jpg

[zmcmil2121]

Plus I just remembered something. So I was flipping through jegs magazine and saw that they had wire and fuel line covers. Great idea, too much. So whilst I was at home depot earlier I went over to the plumbing area and found stainless steal braided tubes. Just what was in jegs, but affordable. So for you saftey conscious guys... yeah....

Plus who here wants to run cool colored fuel lines? They have those too in the plumbing area.

Now I am not sure which one I was in or which one was cheaper but a little driving to see could and will save you quite a bit of money.

[UPSrodder]

Went to Lowes the other day to help a friend load block. While we were waiting for the forklift to bring them to the front of the store, I wondered over to the flooring section and found black carpet by the foot. Carpet for my truck from a vendor is 99-150 bucks. Lowes was 40. Also, if you happen to be there check out the insulation, they sell the al. backed stuff for less than the 25$ for a 4x6 piece you buy some vendors.

[Wildfire]

You can make a steering column floor mount from a conduit connector. The sizes are close, just file to fit. Cost is less than $5.

[HONESTHERMAN]

Thanks for starting this thread.

I have a friend who runs a Recycle Yard. A few times a year I go over and look at the Stainless and Aluminum pile. Found some really cool different stuff that can be used. Stuff you do not find everyday. It is a Great Source too..

[sawzall]

New is ugly

http://recycled40fordwoodie.blogspot.com/2009/03/new-is-ugly.html

[Jaker]

Love it

new is ugly

http://recycled40fordwoodie.blogspot.com/2009/03/new-is-ugly.html

[Frank]

A couple of things that come to mind,

Old TV antennas are plentiful now. Those aluminum tubes are split. You can polish them with a little effort and use them in grills or to hide wires.

I have also heard that a lot of people with those large mesh satellite dishes no longer use them. They are made out of aluminum and often have the linear positioning motors attached that you can use for things. You can sell the rest for scrap, or turn it upside down and use it for a roof for a gazebo. Should work great if you let some vines grow all through it, no one would know.

[R Frederick]

I cut up a wheelbarrow for my lower rear quarters on my 50 Chevy. The rollpan is the crown from the trunklid of a 53 Chevy.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb241/dirtmod08/50Coupe005.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb241/dirtmod08/GrandPrix027.jpg

[sawzall]

Love it

thanks jaker..

I used the same for the wire conduit from my taillights to a point under the body..

[coolbreeze1340]

The thin 1/8 hardipanel works great for interior panels. I made "covers" for the rear of a wagon. Just cut to shape, cover the bottom with aluminum bubble wrap stuff (yes, it's cheap as hell at the home improvment stores) and cover the top with "automotive carpet" sold at Menard's really cheap. I had about $35 dollars in the whole deal and the rear hatch area of my car looked great, was protected for hauling gear, and was alot quieter to boot!

[coolbreeze1340]

At Menards or Lowes they sell the two sided aluminum faced bubble type insulation. It is alot cheaper than the stuff at swap meets and works great. It is sold in different widths too. Two sided carpet tape by 3M works very well to hang it on the panels and the stuff can be removed alot easier than spray on. Also, check out the sticky rolls of stuff they use between a foundation and sill plate in home construction, it has many uses.

[onlychevrolets]

Theres a fellow that shows up and a few cruises around here in a beautiful Mercury Wagon..maybe a 50...he is great to talk to about the car. He has found stuff at Kroger, Wallmart, and K-Mart . But you'd never know it...

[chaos10meter]

My 48 Merc Sled, Dome light

Home Depot socket = $4.95
Bulb 12 volt(Wally World) =$1.70
Pull chain accessory = $0.99
Tax = $0.46
Total$ 8.10

[banjorear]

Rat Rodder...........you're cool DUDE!!!!!! Ya fuckin rip people off so you can be a cheap fuck and hurt the people who put their money on the line to make a livin. (for you and the rest of the people who haven't won the lottery) Get off your computer and start a business and hire some guys to rip you off..... see how you feel then when it comes out of your pocket......


Michigan Dick

MD:

Thanks for posting that. I agree. Anyway you shake it, lifting, stealing, whatever you want to call it ain't cool. No two ways about it.

How would you feel if you found someone in your kitchen taking your silverware and other "small" items? Why not, you got a bunch more. No harm if I take 4 of your 8, right?

C'mon, man. Think about what you are going to say before you post shit like that...

[banjorear]

I cut up a wheelbarrow for my lower rear quarters on my 50 Chevy. The rollpan is the crown from the trunklid of a 53 Chevy.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb241/dirtmod08/50Coupe005.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb241/dirtmod08/GrandPrix027.jpg


Dang, that is going to one hell of tough 1/4 panel. You could go into demolition derbys with those suckers!

Great way to reuse, bro!

[R Frederick]

Dang, that is going to one hell of tough 1/4 panel. You could go into demolition derbys with those suckers!

Great way to reuse, bro!
I didn't think until I got started, the steel is spring treated. They worked out real well though.

[dare-to-be-different]

Roof vent flashing for steering column floor seal.


1029961

[R Frederick]

My 48 Merc Sled, Dome light

Home Depot socket = $4.95
Bulb 12 volt(Wally World) =$1.70
Pull chain accessory = $0.99
Tax = $0.46
Total$ 8.10
Are you freakin' serious?:confused:

[VenomousType]

hilarious..

[dare-to-be-different]

My hidden tailgate latches from free seatbelts.


1029962


1029963


1029964

[Caractacus Potts]

In this picture alone - all from menards.
1. Hardboard behind the door panels.
2. Rubber vent stack boot as steering column seal.
3. Autobond carpet, 48 cents a square foot, cuts easy and doesn't unravel.
4. Sill plates made from Aluminum carpet border.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g293/loraxdan66/int1-09.jpg

[Stude350guy]

When I bught my Studebaker, I got looking at the steering column where it passed through the firewall and thought "what the H***?"
Yep, the previous owner used this idea too and it works great (cheap to replace when the rubber cracks, too:)).

Roof vent flashing for steering column floor seal.


1029961

[thegrappler]

Not a car part, but I made my parts washer out of a free old cast iron sink, used kerosene for solvent. just keep a piece of plywood or something for a lid when not in use.

[Artfrombama]

"flat four" molded trailer connectors for instrument clusters, gauge feeds.
12" sq. asphalt floor tile for "redneck alignment turntables".
Cut down aluminum picture frame for groovy tag holder.
Storage bins and "Purple Power or Super Clean" for a redneck parts washer.
Green Scotchbrite pot scrubbers for rust and metal finishing.
Paint thinner (mineral spirits) for cleaning parts.
Frozen pizzas and Jose' Quervo

[UnsettledParadox]

Cool thread!

[FlyFisher]

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1029944&d=1279294451 (http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1029944&d=1279294451)

Cool in a somewhat strange manner:cool:

[54fierro]

That 12v bulb reminded me of another one.

I had an old drop light and put one of those 12v bulbs in it. Cut off the electrical plug and spliced some alligator clips on 2 of the wires(white/black).

The drop light comes in handy when you are out in the driveway or far from an electrical outlet. Just clip the wires to your car battery for light.

[AJofHollywood]

RADIO SHACK --90% of the components for my hot rod's simple wiring harness I bought off the shelf. Fuse holder, momentary switches for starter & horn, on/of keyed switch for ignition, plastic wire holders & loom, the wire, and the metal wire ends.
I built an entire harness for less the $50. All the parts are hidden under the dash --it may not look fancy, but it was cheap and works great.

[plym_46]

Home improvement stores, ask the guys for the material that seperates section of goods on pallets of paneling, formica and other sheet goods. It is a fibre board iten that gets inserted between stack os 10 or 12 pieces on the pallet.

Its a fiber stuff that gets throw away, but its great for door panels, headliners, truck cabs etc. If you wet it it can be bent, like over pvc tubing or pipe, ad when dry it holds its shape. It can be cut with mat knife or snips, cut with hole saws and it takes paint well. It ususally free, if you ask the recieving guys nice they will set ti asside for you sted of throwing it in the dumpster.

Also for wiring trailers or running wire for rear car and truck lighting, I buy a length of bulk outdoor extension cord from the hardware 12/3 or 12/4, its color coaded, and the covering is plenty tough to use exposed like from cab to box on a pickup.

[xxwelderxx]

Why not shop at a local mom & pop shop for do it yourself hot rod ideas? Anyone who supports Wal-Mart is nothing but crap in my eyes.

[UnsettledParadox]

Why not shop at a local mom & pop shop for do it yourself hot rod ideas? Anyone who supports Wal-Mart is nothing but crap in my eyes.

what if you have no mom and pop places? wal-mart is a good store, we cant all be self righteous

[xxwelderxx]

what if you have no mom and pop places? wal-mart is a good store, we cant all be self righteous

Just a quick search in Santa Rosa,CA brought these up....

Friedman's Home Improvement
www.friedmanshome.com (http://www.friedmanshome.com) - (707) 584-7811

Orchard Supply Hardware
www.osh.com (http://www.osh.com) - (707) 566-7514

Mission Ace Lumber & Hardware
www.acehardware.com (http://www.acehardware.com) - (707) 539-7070

Bennett Valley Ace Hardware
bennettvalleyhardware.com - (707) 524-2515

Village Hardware & Rental
www.truevalue.com (http://www.truevalue.com) - (707) 539-1600

Guerneville Fulton Ace Hardware
www.acehardware.com (http://www.acehardware.com) - (707) 525-8635

[UnsettledParadox]

Just a quick search in Santa Rosa,CA brought these up....

Friedman's Home Improvement
www.friedmanshome.com (http://www.friedmanshome.com) - (707) 584-7811

Orchard Supply Hardware
www.osh.com (http://www.osh.com) - (707) 566-7514

Mission Ace Lumber & Hardware
www.acehardware.com (http://www.acehardware.com) - (707) 539-7070

Bennett Valley Ace Hardware
bennettvalleyhardware.com - (707) 524-2515

Village Hardware & Rental
www.truevalue.com (http://www.truevalue.com) - (707) 539-1600

Guerneville Fulton Ace Hardware
www.acehardware.com (http://www.acehardware.com) - (707) 525-8635

never said i didnt have any near me, so way to go smart guy. the same formula cant always apply. also google how far away the nearest wal-mart is in relation to my location and try to then guesstimate my shopping habits

[UnsettledParadox]

also, for you really nut job wal-mart bashers out there. aside from the wal-mart brand in house stuff (that every store produces) wal-mart sells THE SAME STUFF AS THE OTHER STORES!!! so shove that in your pipe and smoke it you wacko's

[lewislynn]

Why not shop at a local mom & pop shop for do it yourself hot rod ideas? Anyone who supports Wal-Mart is nothing but crap in my eyes.
Gee would you list the places where we can shop Maximum Leader?

[xxwelderxx]

Its called my opinion.

And in all reality it doesnt matter due to the fact people could care less about others as long as they are fine and doesnt directly affect them.

Put Walmart chinese crap on you car. Cause it dont matter how nice you make it look, its still chinese crap on your hot rod.

[Emperor Chris]

I bought a couple of polished stainless steel mixing bowls to make custom taillight buckets on my 62 Galaxie.

[Scumdog]

Check out the alum. or SS turnbuckles and accessories for cheap left engine bank tie down. It'll help you get that left tire in the air. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

See a trend here? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Those turnbuckles can be made easily into an effective adjuster for an alternator or generator, one end on the block/head and the other where the slotted adjuster strap use to bolt to the alt/gen.
No wrestling around trying to keep tension on the fan-belt as you try to tighten the bolt holding the alt/gen in position.

[Scumdog]

Who am i ripping off again..?? The Big shot yuppies who are loaded and own Tons of chain stores....

Who lay off guys that work for them when the store is suddenly not so profitable....

[pauls fords]

Side pipes made from old scraped military commercial dish washers, lots of mandrell bends and lots of straight stainless pipe, mig welded with stainless wire.

[AusRodder]

I bought 5 gallons of molasses(the syrupy stuff used for stock feed) for $15...poured all of that into a 44 gallon drum,with a lid,up the back yard...filled that up with water...any rusted parts I have I need to use,get a piece of welding wire attached and a hook bent on one end to hook onto the top lip of the drum...the molasses and water will make the rustiest parts like new in a week or so....not so handy if you need it straight away but if time permits,its an excellent solution to rust problems...parts need to be cleaned,blown off with air and primed ASAP though...
Ive used curtain rod ends for shifter knobs,magnetic latches for glove box duties,astro turf for carpet...the list is endless and your only held back by your imagination...
Some good ideas in this thread and Im gonna use a few on the current project

[40fordtudor]

i have a set of old aluminum wheels that were missing the center caps. i used some fence post caps from lowe's. polished 'em up and got back on the road.

you beat me to that one, Matt--40fordtudor

[40fordtudor]

Roof vent flashing for steering column floor seal.


1029961

i'm way past that but what a great idea

[40fordtudor]

Went to Lowes the other day to help a friend load block. While we were waiting for the forklift to bring them to the front of the store, I wondered over to the flooring section and found black carpet by the foot. Carpet for my truck from a vendor is 99-150 bucks. Lowes was 40. Also, if you happen to be there check out the insulation, they sell the al. backed stuff for less than the 25$ for a 4x6 piece you buy some vendors. they have the same stuff in Nebraska at Menards---autobond carpet. lays nice and you can hit it with a rubber hammer and it will stretch to go into a "dimple" or whatever--this is one great thread.

[40fordtudor]

If you are looking for a shiny cup to mount your tachometer in, check out stainless coffee mugs and cups. You can also get some nice tapered cups that look great on the top of your home made good steering column.

thanks for that Simon---i'm gonna use it in the 40

[doozcoupe]

Back to the original post,I'm all for creative $$$ saving tips,but WALMART?? That's great if you really want the lowest quality crap available on Planet Earth,from China.Buy your shower massage parts from a better quality source,please. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gifJust ask my wife,she seems to be a real expert when it comes to shower massages..Wonder if that's why she ignores me lately?? Hmm.......Just seeing the word Walmart and Hot Rod in the same sentence gives me the heebie-jeebies...
Why not rip off Wal Mart? What goes around comes around!

[larry woods]

This ladies and gentlemen is why we are hotrodders and not purists! great thread! over the years with time and no money have "recylced" a lot of things some already posted but will share another. while not using a recylced one but starting anew, my steering column "boot" at base of steering wheel is fashioned from a toilet plunger! and sure that is why i didn't recyle!

[40fordtudor]

when i did the side panels in the trunk of my 55 chev i used real thin plywood-like sheets i got at a local glass store. their plate, sheet, etc. all comes in big rectangular boxes made of this stuff. it's pliable, easy to cut and best of all--- free.

[fitzee]

Man this post brings back memories. Other then wally world,Boat stores have a lot of parts for hot rods to,chrome wiper motors,Chrome wipers.fuse boxes etc.

One i just did was replace a hand brake on a car I have.Seems most of the local parts stores don`t carry the universal hand brake cables any more so what did i do but go to my local Home Depot and go to the garage door section and picked up 15 feet of garage cable for 9 bucks and used old hand brake bodys for mounting them in and welded nuts to the end of the cable. New hand brake!

[edweird]

a friend of mine used an old refigerator door as a firewall on his essex.he used the 50's style refig. The top is curved and concave, if you install it backwards(like a recessd firewall)looks great and has 3 or 4 ribs running through it neat, clever, and real cheap
i used a wheel barrow for mine,

[doozcoupe]

Tire store dumpsters are a good souce for valve stems, wheel weights, etc. I'm talkin' NEW here not used. Also a good source for boxes for your wheel shipping needs, You would be surprised what retailers throw away. Used to get model car kits and tools and more out of a local K-Mart dumpster years ago.

[rodknocker]

I too am a bit short changed most of the time.And when I scored a repro banjo wheel on CL with no attachments I cut my old wheel (that was wasted)to use the mounting base, but it was ugly. So when I needed to find a cover to cover the mess where the wheel meets the column I used a can of beans cleaned out with the wrapper cleaned off.It gives it the corregated metal look, which kind of matches the factory 50 ford horn button.

[fitzee]

I got a complete mid 30`s dodge front and rear axle with 4 mint 16 inch wheels from a local dumpster!!

[TrannyMan]

I couldn't find a radiator hose with the bends I needed. A trip to the hardware store got me a under sink chrome P trap with the bends I needed. Just spliced the radiator hose I had and put the bends in the right place.


Just to add.....while I am all for cheap, I prefer to buy my parts or find them for free, but not steal them from the stores.

[oldskoolflyer13]

If you have a small amount of toggle switches in your ride...you can by dice.....color of your choice....match a drill bit to just a slight hair under the widest part of the toggle....mark your drill bit with tape so you dont drill through...drill them out...add some loctite super glue or epoxy of choice....and you got custom switches. It aint much but it adds some flare

[RidgeRunner]

I've seen the wheelbarrow used for a hood blister, could always cut an opening to make it a scoop.

Also have seen SS tubular swiming pool ladders from a scrap yard for exhaust pipes.

I use old refridgerator drawers, the brides old plastic dish pans, roasting pans, and other kitchen cast offs for drain pans and parts buckets. Less $$ and a lot closer than the dollar store even.

Made a stand for working on rear ends from parts of an old weight bench. Buddy made an adapter to also use it for a stand to mount his bead rooler. Free from curbside supply. With pay per bag for trash removal gaining ground around here folks have taken to leaving unwanted bulky stuff out front with a free sign on it. Tag sale close outs have same sign and locations, just gotta keep your eyes open and mind thinkin'

Ed

[re-animator]

I'm cheaper than that. I go to second hand stores for stuff. I save the leftover plastic for stuff I build on the job for parts and tooling. I've built brackets from bedframes people throw away. 2" electrical conduit from the local home improvement shop makes for cheap exhaust pipe. I'm always dumpster diving....always looking for the next chunk of shit I can polish up and put on a project. It's fun to take an old sauce pan and build an air cleaner out of it. It's even more fun when somebody gives you $20 and a case of beer for it! There's a lot of "found" parts out there waiting for you.

[Moonshine Mike]

http://www.habitat.org/cd/env/restore.aspx

Check this out...It is construction seconds and donated material from Habitat for Humanity. It's basically the Salvation Army stores for construction material. From old knobs to pipes and sheets of steel...plus it goes to a good cause at the end off the day!

[ChekrdPast]

Tractor Supply Company sells all sizes of fenders/wheel tubs for trailers and other "farm" equipment. They are cheaper than pre-fabed wheel tubs in most hot rod catalogs and you can save on shipping if you have a TSC near you. They have more at the store than whats online and can special order bigger sizes I believe. When I get to that point w/ my truck I think thats the route I am going to go. Here's a link; http://www.tractorsupply.com/trailers-towing/trailer-parts/other-trailer-parts/trailer-fenders/carry-on-trailer-trade-fender-with-back-9-in-x-32-in--0175512

[indyjps]

[QUOTE=dixiedog;160620]For scrap sheet metal nothing beats an old dryer or washer on the side of the road. Some even have interesting curves in them and the enameled coating on them makes it really rust proof, just have to grind off paint before tacking.

The back side of appliances have all kinds of stamped recesses, These are great for clearancing firewalls etc with a nice formed shape. Better than hammering a recess into a flat shape on a stump. inside ovens are heavy guage and the pans in the bottom have nice recesses and often times louvers, just weld the section in.

Hockey Puck body mounts - also look at roller skate wheels for smaller mounts, lots of colors and can be cut in bandsaw.

Blue plastic electrical boxes - run them in a bandsaw or miter saw for electrical outlet spacers, store charges you a few bucks for each, buy a blue box for $0.49 and make 4 to the perfect size.

I see everyone buying square tubing to put in their floor structure, why not use old bed frame angle? or unistrut its 3 sided so you can easily weld in nuts? anyone use floor pan sections out of a late model for foot wells in their rod? why have an uncomfortable flat floor? Also check out late model trunk pans for a firewall recess. Pickup truck wheel houses would work for inner fenders on a rod and also have stamped in ribs.

Big Lots has been around for years, they buy out old stock or discontinued / old packaging from distributors. I bought 20 cans of rustoleum, any decent color, good stuff with the fan tips for $30, been using it for years.

Another Idea I have not followed thru on yet, Meanrds sells old take out appliances int he lumber yard, the longer they stay the cheaper they get. I want to get 2 electric ovens and weld them together for a powder coat oven. Anyone game to try this out? you could even use the top burner to heat solvent (non flammable) and have a hell of a parts washer.

Now Im blowing my idea for Tech Week, The bezels on old ovens (50's- 70's) are stamped aluminum with some nice detail and can be made into excellent guage panels. You might even score a clock face if you want to convert it to 6V 12V. If someone uses this idea please shoot me the details or give me a shout if its in a thread

[lewislynn]

Its called my opinion.

And in all reality it doesnt matter due to the fact people could care less about others as long as they are fine and doesnt directly affect them.

Put Walmart chinese crap on you car. Cause it dont matter how nice you make it look, its still chinese crap on your hot rod.
Ignorance is bliss.

[UnsettledParadox]

Its called my opinion.

And in all reality it doesnt matter due to the fact people could care less about others as long as they are fine and doesnt directly affect them.

Put Walmart chinese crap on you car. Cause it dont matter how nice you make it look, its still chinese crap on your hot rod.

Ignorance is bliss.

i agree lewis. im as hard noses as anyone about keeping our dollars at home but you cannot help it these days. tell me the last time you bought american oil to put in your car, manufactured from american oil fields. how about the gas you burn in your motor? think thats american? light bulbs in and on your car, are those all american? the rubber seals in your indows and doors, made in america of american products?

get real buddy

[fastrnu]

For you guys with mini bikes a chrome leg off of an old dining table makes a cool exhaust pipe. When I was a kid all the girls in my neighborhood had a burn scar on the inside of their right thigh from riding behind me on my custom ride!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Come to think of it I havent seen many chrome legged dinette sets lately except in antique shops. WTF.
used one on my honda 90 back in 70

[shane o]

file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/qwen/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.pngfile:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/qwen/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.png Not my idea but will use it.


Bed Hole Caps
<hr style="color: rgb(209, 209, 225); background-color: rgb(209, 209, 225);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> I've been looking around for bed caps for my truck and was having a hard time paying $24 just for some darn caps. I know there's lot of cool ones out there, but I did a little measuring and came up with a cheap alternative...file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/qwen/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.png

1031991file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/qwen/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-3.png
Thanks to my51chevyrocks and the
The 1947 - 1959 Chevrolet & GMC Pickups Message Board (http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/forumdisplay.php?f=13)

[xxwelderxx]

i agree lewis. im as hard noses as anyone about keeping our dollars at home but you cannot help it these days. tell me the last time you bought american oil to put in your car, manufactured from american oil fields. how about the gas you burn in your motor? think thats american? light bulbs in and on your car, are those all american? the rubber seals in your indows and doors, made in america of american products?

get real buddy

This is the last ill reply, but if I can buy american I will. And I will always shop at a local store. I try my best to support my country. Sounds like you lack the will to due the same or you have family members who work for Walmart. So instead of bashing me for my effort to do so, bash yourself for allowing this country to become a "service" country.

Bottom line is I do what I can to help. I dont give in and wont. Thats the american way.

Thank you and good night.

[CShroom]

Here is something I stumbled on tonight while watching TED.

http://www.afrigadget.com/

While not hot rodding site, I think this site shows just what thinking outside the box can accomplish.

[THE_DUDE]

Sorry Joe........... I'm all over cheap tech.......Rippin people off is about as low as you can go... just ask the guy who use to drive a Snap-On truck in Seattle.

Wow.

[bb1970]

Great thread! Started in 2004. Wow someone dug up an old one. I am so glad I didn't stop reading when that fuckhead 2tall2beahotrodder brags about stealing shit. I hope that jackass has got his in return. Everyone should quote his current posts and just write the word thief.

[Fast67VelleN2O]

If ya have some small parts to paint,,, Just head over to the paint section, and help ya self to some "testing"...

Also for the HAMB Pilfers..... When at Pep Boys.. go help ya self to some small shit too...
Those cameras are fake except for the one next to the cash register...
Trust me i used to work there, and same for my friend who worked at a different store..

steve-

Karma is a bitch dude. Hope you get taken soon so we can see your bitching post.

[Artfrombama]

Originally Posted by 2tall2beahotrodder http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/hamb/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=159978#post159978)
If ya have some small parts to paint,,, Just head over to the paint section, and help ya self to some "testing"...

Also for the HAMB Pilfers..... When at Pep Boys.. go help ya self to some small shit too...
Those cameras are fake except for the one next to the cash register...
Trust me i used to work there, and same for my friend who worked at a different store..

steve-
"Used to" are the key words here. Hope he knows better now (6 years ago).

[bottomfeeder pete]

Trex decking cut into body mounting blocks instead of wood. it will not rot and will not absorb moisture.free scraps at some construction sites.

[R Frederick]

Tractor Supply Company sells all sizes of fenders/wheel tubs for trailers and other "farm" equipment. They are cheaper than pre-fabed wheel tubs in most hot rod catalogs and you can save on shipping if you have a TSC near you. They have more at the store than whats online and can special order bigger sizes I believe. When I get to that point w/ my truck I think thats the route I am going to go. Here's a link; http://www.tractorsupply.com/trailers-towing/trailer-parts/other-trailer-parts/trailer-fenders/carry-on-trailer-trade-fender-with-back-9-in-x-32-in--0175512
I widened Tractor Supply trailer fenders to use for my wheel tubs.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb241/dirtmod08/DSCN1520.jpg

[lostforawhile]

why all the fighting about where the parts come from? it's hard to find American made stuff anymore, I try to buy it when I can, I wonder if the person complaining, tracks down scrap pieces to see what the country of origin is? I can understand the feeling, but this thread is about fabricating things and thinking outside of the box. Whether the pieces and parts came from here is for another thread. Whether the stuff came from china or tim buck 3, It's American ingenuity that is making it into something else, and you can't get more American then that. My car is off topic, but I have made many pieces and parts from whatever I could, scrap materials machined into other stuff, pieces and parts from the junkyard, etc. I love going to a salvage yard with an idea and just looking at stuff, and all kinds of different parts until I see something I can use to solve a problem, It doesn't even matter what kind of car you are building, it's all about using that thing between your ears, to make parts that often, people don't even know aren't factory. And for that thief guy, a lot of times they want you to THINK all the cameras are fake, you may see those, but you don't see the real ones, I used to work in store security camera installation, a lot of the obvious cameras are fake, but you get distracted by those, and don't see the real ones. Many times only the manager knows the secret. also that vcr you often see, it's fake, no one uses vcr's anymore, it's all recorded on a hidden digital recorder you never see. Often it's recorded off the store property. I hope they nail your ass to the wall when they catch you. In today's digital world, there may be some guy watching a camera 500 miles away.

[Freeland]

great thread... from garage door handles, and hockey pucks... thanks...

[The Gambler]

Great thread!!

[ChekrdPast]

I widened Tractor Supply trailer fenders to use for my wheel tubs.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb241/dirtmod08/DSCN1520.jpg

Wicked50 ; Glad to see it works. I'll be in touch when I get there on my build.

[lewislynn]

This is the last ill reply, but if I can buy american I will. And I will always shop at a local store. I try my best to support my country. Sounds like you lack the will to due the same or you have family members who work for Walmart. So instead of bashing me for my effort to do so, bash yourself for allowing this country to become a "service" country.

Bottom line is I do what I can to help. I dont give in and wont. Thats the american way.

Thank you and good night.
How dumb do you have to be to think people who shop at Walmart ONLY shop at Walmart or that everything in there is made in China?

I buy Orowheat bread there for less than they sell it at the day old store...Everyday price and it ain't day old. AND I'm pretty sure it's not baked by children in a sweat shop in China.

Walmart employs millions world wide. Some of them might buy your company's product or service keeping you working. "Mom and POP" couldn't employ all the people who work there nor move as much product...And moving more product requires more logistics...You know like warehouses and trucking...People build warehouses, work in them and drive trucks...People build trucks, even welders...Get the picture yet?
or you have family members who work for Walmart.
OMG, wouldn't that be awful!
Oh wait, let me guess. If Walmart was unionized it would suddenly be OK to shop there.

Do you know who handles all that shit coming from China and wouldn't have that job otherwise? 100% union dock workers earning huge wages. All of their equipment requires maintenance and mechanics, even welders. Are you getting it yet?

I don't like the fact that shit is manufactured anywhere else either but there are a lot of reasons for that and I've learned the hard way it can't be discussed here.

That's my last say on the subject too.

[lewislynn]

Trex decking cut into body mounting blocks instead of wood. it will not rot and will not absorb moisture.free scraps at some construction sites.
WOW! That's a great idea.

[banjorear]

WOW! That's a great idea.

+2 on that.

I just wonder if it compresses and "gives" like a real piece of wood and rubber. I'm not sure, but surely curious.

I've only dealt with Trexx once and that was when it first became widely available. I built a deck for my buddy. I remember it being a lot different than tree wood and was pretty inconsistent dimensionally. They probally fixed those issue by now.

I do remember them stressing that it can't not be used for structural purposes. They certainly is a big difference of a body block and something holding up a roof or something that can fall down and kill folks.

[jernlee]

We just used a whell barrel for a engine cover on the coe of mine. Just had to cut it up to fit.

[jernlee]

Everyone is using the word america. Buy america and I think we all know that we mean buy USA made stuff. Because there is three americas south , central and north america. The president even makes the same mistake.
This is United States of America noyt america. Mexico is america too (central)
my 2 cents

[jernlee]

btt

[chaos10meter]

Now what really screws with people's heads is when at a car show I'll put my battery charger on the ground in back, hook it up to the battery in the trunk and run a 20ft. orange cord and plug it thru the window into the receptacle in the dome light.
When they ask me if I have a dead battery I telll them ya that's why I am charging it.
They kind of look and say Oh ya o.k. and walk away with that
" Well how the fuck does that work" look on their face.



http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1029944&d=1279294451 (http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1029944&d=1279294451)

Cool in a somewhat strange manner:cool:

[tlundberg]

I have used an empty can of beans to patch an exhaust pipe in the past . Just take the paper off, split it length-wise with a power cutting wheel and then open it up carefully to put it around the pipe then use wire or better yet, hose clamps to hold it tight. works great until you get the time and money to properly repair it.

Lundy

[andreasklapp]

right now i've got an aluminum water bottle that someone left behind at my house for my radiator overflow, i mounted it to the wheel well using a pre-existing hole and a bicycle water bottle holder. i need to change the cap of the bottle for something that looks a little nicer and then strip the paint. i've built a breather can out of a percolator before. i was trying to make it so it would look like it was bubbling, but ended up just sticking the filter through the little glass cap. used a tobacco can for an air cleaner cover (or could use to hide the velocity stacks) got to get a good metal one though. working on making a gas pedal out of a padlock latch, a good piece of steel and a converse sole right now. made a tray for the side of my toolbox out of a cut and folded cookie sheet and some bicycle gears for the ends of it. working on a canister to hold my paint gun to the side of the box with a big gear for the bottom and spokes wrapped around to a big gear at the top. i'll post up some pics soon.

[shock]

Dollar store soup ladels and potato mashers for air intakes......also used a junk 3/8 universal to get that choke/mixture rod lined up.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w118/Shock42/125_3928.jpg

[RichG]

About the Walmart debate: Walmart DOES sell American products, but it's the way that they conduct business that puts pressure on those same companies, forcing them to change how they package their products to meet Walmarts standards... putting those same companies in jeopardy by lowering their profit margins to nearly nothing.

Walmart is bad, not because of what they sell, but how they try to destroy local competition through well planned subterfuge. Don't believe me, then do some reading:

http://www.larouchepub.com/other/2003/3046wal-mart_pricing.html

The worst conspiracy theory you have ever heard about Walmart is far less insidious than the truth.

Now, to keep on topic, I go to Salvation Army and shop their aisles. They are way cheaper than Goodwill. The last time I went there I picked up a pair of nice chromed 6" boat lights for $4... they'll look great on the front of my "No-Buck T"

[69f100]

fence posts make the best exausts, theyre the same metal (galvanized steel) and the same width (unless you get corner posts) and if you go to the local fence company you can get them for dirt cheap used. if you need header pipes, ask for old top rail(pick it up, if it looks kind of dark and heavy, its better) and that will come even cheaper than posts.

[BLUDICE]

Ah, Walmart - my favorite hot rod parts store - take a look at the air cleaners - alum soup bowls @ $6.00 ea, and the disc brake covers - alum frying pans @ $10.00 ea. A day at the Indy Rockets Rumble - priceless!!

[zmcmil2121]

We just used a whell barrel for a engine cover on the coe of mine. Just had to cut it up to fit.

Holly shit, I love the new pictures! High five on the work. So a wheel barrow? Thats ingenuity at it's best. Great work, keep it up!

[R Frederick]

My hidden tailgate latches from free seatbelts.


1029962


1029963


1029964
This just gave me an idea for my removable top. I could even leave some of the belt on for draw straps.:D

[Blue One]

You guys in Texas should go visit Hilliards Hardware store in Van.

You would be amazed at the variety and quantity of the stuff you would find stuffed into every square inch of the place.

It's a real old time hardware store and they really take having stock seriously. Bet you would find every size of v belt ever made for instance.

I'm also sure you can get stuff that they don't make anymore as they had huge quantities of whatever it was and still do.

Amazing place.

[Frank]

You guys in Texas should go visit Hilliards Hardware store in Van.

You would be amazed at the variety and quantity of the stuff you would find stuffed into every square inch of the place.

It's a real old time hardware store and they really take having stock seriously. Bet you would find every size of v belt ever made for instance.

I'm also sure you can get stuff that they don't make anymore as they had huge quantities of whatever it was and still do.

Amazing place.

I'll have to check that out. Also, the small chain of Elliot's is a great hardware store around the Dallas area.

Ikea is a great place for hot rod hardware and they carry a lot of polished stainless pieces too.

[leaded]

Great tread!!
Dentist chairs got a lot of parts....Air/water electrical valves( someone here used it for linelock brakes..) electrical or manual valves w/ manometer , all 24V, but function well on 12V..and a lot of small couplings,etc.
Perfume caps could be great knobs/grilleparts, plumber got a lot of nice SS stuff... :)

[evintho]

Made a turbocharger heat shield from a $5.99 stainless steel utensil holder purchased in the 'pots and pans' section of WalMart. Fits like a glove and really keeps the heat contained. It's on a 2.3 turbo'd 4cyl that's currently in my Mustang but the entire drivetrain is gonna be swapped into my T roadster.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/evintho/Tutorial%20pics/1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/evintho/Tutorial%20pics/3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/evintho/Tutorial%20pics/6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/evintho/Tutorial%20pics/7.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/evintho/Tutorial%20pics/8.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/evintho/Tutorial%20pics/10.jpg

[panhead_pete]

Love this thread for its creativity and seeing posts by C9.

Evintho please start building that roadster with that motor, hanging to see that!

[gsport]

i needed four dollies to move my 50' around the shop when i needed the lift. the cheapest i could find to get the job done was at harbor freight (two for $39.99), so i figured the car couldn't weigh more than 1,800 lbs. or so.. so instead of the dollies, i bought 4 mini furniture dollies for $7.99 each, each rated for 1,000 lbs... worked just fine for what i needed them for..
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m261/gsport_2006/002-5.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m261/gsport_2006/001-8.jpg

[Da Tinman]

Sams club steamer trays cut into chunks and reassembled for a fan shroud,,

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff198/Da_Tinman/shop/gheymoose/101_0260.jpg

hard to see in the pic but the cone at the top of the steering column is a stainless shield from a flexible clamp on desk lamp.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff198/Da_Tinman/column1.jpg

[UnsettledParadox]

i needed four dollies to move my 50' around the shop when i needed the lift. the cheapest i could find to get the job done was at harbor freight (two for $39.99), so i figured the car couldn't weigh more than 1,800 lbs. or so.. so instead of the dollies, i bought 4 mini furniture dollies for $7.99 each, each rated for 1,000 lbs... worked just fine for what i needed them for..
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m261/gsport_2006/002-5.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m261/gsport_2006/001-8.jpg

brilliant!!! i bet they roll better than the steel casters. mine dont roll too well at least

[fab32]

Anyone notice that this thread is over 6 years old? Nice to bring back one that has some substance to it. Any more new ideas?

Frank

[Johnny Gee]

For any of you that does scratch wireing like I do, heres something. When wanting to repair an old light socket or modify a new one and you need the end that makes contact with the bulb, just use a steel 1/8" pop rivet. Remove the pin from rivet then insert striped back wire and solder the tip. Just remember to have wire run thru the socket holder first (I hate when I forget to do that :eek:).

[terry48435]

Some great ideas here guys........

[Retro Jim]

If ya have some small parts to paint,,, Just head over to the paint section, and help ya self to some "testing"...

Also for the HAMB Pilfers..... When at Pep Boys.. go help ya self to some small shit too...
Those cameras are fake except for the one next to the cash register...
Trust me i used to work there, and same for my friend who worked at a different store..

steve-




I will pass on this one big time !

Retro Jim

[Ibanez616]

cupcake trays are your best friend when tearing down something, They make great organizers for your nuts and bolts.

[Unibodynewbie]

Let's keep this going....got lots of great ideas for my truck. Thanks everyone.

[geezerkat]

Take a look at fireplace screens. They are punched with various designs and can be used for grill inserts or speaker covers & etc. Look better than the old expanded metal.

[rustdodger]

Take a look at fireplace screens. They are punched with various designs and can be used for grill inserts or speaker covers & etc. Look better than the old expanded metal.
you can use the guards that are made for the lower half of screen doors for similar applications too

[19Fordy]

1 1/2 copper pipe and elbows from Home Depot to make chrome plated lower radiator hoses.
( I don't think they sell it anymore, but plumbing supply store will.)

[Mac the Yankee]

1 1/2 copper pipe and elbows from Home Depot to make chrome plated lower radiator hoses.
( I don't think they sell it anymore, but plumbing supply store will.)

Saw these the other day at Lowe's- just a head's up if HD doesn't have them any more!

[64Cyclone]

I was in my local Walmart yesterday trying to find some valve stems and noticed that they had V8 emblems that look like the ones on the grille of a 56 Ford truck. Cheap plastic crap but for $3.76 if would be cool to stick on a tool box or something.

[steel rebel]

Just checked out Wallyworlds carpets. They have a 5X7 black rug bound all around for about 20 bucks that I think will be perfect for my 48 Ford.

[fleetside66]

Here's one i used in my '33 pickup..
I didn't have a dome light..and i didn't want to wire one in or install jamb switches..
I bought one of those small "tap lights" (2.99) and made a bracket to mount to the roof brace.
Install one 'AA' battery, and 'tap', instant dome light.

Works pretty good, just gotta change the batteries a couple time a year. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Rat..

Ha-Ha! I too have a '33 pickup & I just did the exact same thing the other day. It worked so nice that I put another between the seats to shine on the dash when I need it. I guess great minds think alike.

[57tailgater]

Cool thread as I like to be innovative and cheap if I can. Here's a couple of items I saw at a Menards.

First one is for multiple carbs guys:a plumbing expansion manifold - check out the character on this!

Second one is a roof duct flashing that could maybe used for a shift boot, clumn seal?

Have fun!! :cool:

[M.Edell]

Great Post!

[R Frederick]

I read that copper wasn't good to use with gasoline.:confused:

[greaserzombie]

The wheelbarrow thing is genious! I think it was an old custom rodder I had where a guy recessed his firewall using pretty much a whole wheel barrow, I always thought that was a good idea.

I used the cheapo hot water tank shiny bubble wrap on my caddy as insulation/temporary carpet, it killed alot of the heat too.

I used to work at a industrial repair shop, and every few weeks we would build up little scraps of metal in our bin that the boss said were too small to hang onto. We would give them away to the first guy who would take the whole thing. If you have a truck, someone in your town has end cuts they want gone!

[Ford-Man]

I just read the whole thread...Great ideas in here! I have never thought of using common household fixes on my truck, but through this thread have learned to look at things a little differently, so thanks.

Always support your local businesses, mom and pop stores and restaurants whenever possible. These men and women make this country what it is. Same with Made In USA products. Keep as much of our money in the states as we can.

To the asshole who thinks stealing is cool...your a dumbass. I may work at a McParts store, but theft has the same ripple effect at my store as anywhere else. I have personally watched prices increase across the board almost monthly, mainly to recoup lost revinue due to theft. When you steal you are really not putting it to the man or getting away, you are screwing yourself and all the honest people around you...you short sighted fuck. Should there come a day when you learn about theft first hand, you will understand how big of an ass you made of yourself.

There is a group locally here that hits auctions for scrap hoods, rear quarters, whatever pieces may be laying for WAY less than scrap prices. The metal is already curved and usually off of a less than desirable car.

I am yet to do much to my truck other than the engine/trans...so this helped a lot for ideas. I will start customizing sooner or later, and some of these ideas will be used for sure!

[Richard D]

I read that copper wasn't good to use with gasoline.:confused:
I've seen copper fuel lines more than once, especially on bikes. Tanks, too. Don't know the chemistry behind it, however.

[Mac the Yankee]

Copper was used for fuel lines for years in the auto industry, but becomes brittle with the constant vibration and is therefore, an inferior (and possibly dangerous) material to use.

There is a newer copper coated steel line that looks just as good as the original without all of the safety issues.

[73super]

Geez.. feel like taking a stroll to Lowes or Home Depot just to see what I can envision now.. Like I needed any kind of motivation before!

This is an awesome thread. Some of these ideas are shear genius! Love it.

I used glass drawer pulls for radio knobs and they really turned out pretty cool.

I like the fence post idea for exhaust too.. gonna have to try that one. Keep the ideas coming dudes! Love it!

[oldschool66]

How about 6 one egg T-fal frying pans for air cleaner covers. The rest is PVC Ts and 4 inch paper filters. $6.97 each for the pans and about $4.50 each for the Ts. I made the whole set-up for around $80.00. I still have the louvered tri-power air cleaners, I just like to change the look now and then. We used to use stainless steel mixing bowls in the 60s for bell type air cleaners.

[pinman 39]

I've just spent 30min laughing my ass off at all this .This is Great .The rod magazines
used to pay for Tips like this .Walmart makes it funny .ButWalmart it is the Second biggest building in eastern Idaho.(sorry Joe)
Here is a Low tech item from anywhere .Vac nozzles make great heat defroster ducts .I know I'm a panzy for liking a heater but Defroster is Nice !

[Don Lyon]

Never pass up the bed frame / angle for projects. Made us a cheap, small sheet metal brake for use in a vise. I'm all for "budget sensitive" be it from Wal-Mart or the dumpster.

[Bert Kollar]

Aluminum flexible armored cable with or without wire can be bought cheap from any builders supply for a couple bucks. Polishes beautifully