[RocktimusPryme]

Originally Posted by dataway

One thing we do have on our side is technology. Computers have changed the world of rapid prototyping and small run parts. There is technology in the pipeline now that precludes the use of giant dies to produce body panels, they are "hand formed" by CNC machines from sheet. How long before cylinderheads can be metal 3d printed like they already are with many high tech components, even entire rocket engines.

We are approaching a point where if you can generate a 3d CAD file of a part, then it can be produced, often without dies, foundries, casting etc. All quite expensive at the moment, but then 20 years ago a 3d printer would cost you $20,000, now you can get a pretty nice one for a few hundred.

Ferrari is using 3d printed pistons in their F1 cars, rare body panels for exotic vintage cars are being produced by CNC forming machines. Dies for injection molding are now whipped out by CNC machines instead of tool and die men.

Who knows, ten years from now the aftermarket might not care about volume demand, they may produce individual parts on demand.

For flat parts its come down a lot. A mechanical engineer buddy of mine did a drawing for some custom BMW swap parts to put one of their newer V8s into an old E30 or something. Sent the drawing to a company and they sent him back the completed part. For like $160? Something like that, not a whole lot more than what we would pay for the same type of part to adapt a chevy trans to a BOP engine etc.

Similarly there is a site that has free CAD drawing files for the brackets to adapt different front brake assemblies onto 3rd gen camaros. You just send the file off and someone will send you back the adapter part.

It just also goes to what I was saying, there is more cool stuff than ever. Racing is still big business, people have been forecasting the death of the NHRA forever, but they still bring in crowds, No Prep Racing is huge on TV. Vice Grip Garage was #6 trending on YT this week working on a ratty squarebody. We can all talk about the weird skibidi rizz talking youth, but you don't hit that number without having some crossover appeal. The aftermarket and and interest are healthy and the future looks bright imo.

[kingbuzzo]

Skibidi...lol

Don't discount the hoarders!

[RocktimusPryme]

Originally Posted by kingbuzzo

Skibidi...lol

Don't discount the hoarders!

Not to be morbid but the joke is going to be on them in the end. It gets more and more appealing to use new manufactured parts, even with the specter of foreign quality control sometimes. How many times have we in the street section counciled just to buy new Edelbrock heads because you don't save much money having those 60 year old iron heads rebuilt for worse performance and an antiquated combustion chamber?

Those guys are going to die with that stuff and have to look on from on high as their dragons horde gets sold off at estate sale for pennies on the dollar compared to what they perceived as its value.

I don't want or expect people to give their stuff away, but I wish people would be realistic about if they are ever going to use something and if not, let that cool old crossram or whatever go to someone who will use it. Ive sold stuff at a discount if I was SURE whomever was getting it was going to put it on a car.

[mgarblik]

Originally Posted by RocktimusPryme

Not to be morbid but the joke is going to be on them in the end. It gets more and more appealing to use new manufactured parts, even with the specter of foreign quality control sometimes. How many times have we in the street section counciled just to buy new Edelbrock heads because you don't save much money having those 60 year old iron heads rebuilt for worse performance and an antiquated combustion chamber?

Those guys are going to die with that stuff and have to look on from on high as their dragons horde gets sold off at estate sale for pennies on the dollar compared to what they perceived as its value.

I don't want or expect people to give their stuff away, but I wish people would be realistic about if they are ever going to use something and if not, let that cool old crossram or whatever go to someone who will use it. Ive sold stuff at a discount if I was SURE whomever was getting it was going to put it on a car.

I believe the entire "Hoarder Syndrome" is more complicated than that. After watching some episodes of the hoarder TV shows, I now do believe in many cases, this is a psychological, mental condition. I used to believe these people were just selfish or delusional. But how many of us have seen great project cars just sit outside and turn to dust after 30-40 years and never be touched? I know I have . One that comes to mind right away is a Sunbeam Tiger II. Nice car that sat in one spot over 30 years. I tried to buy it at least 10 times. Owner finally died and they could not tow it away. Had to pick it up with a fork lift and throw it into a container. Nothing left of it. Putting crazy prices on parts is just another way of insuring they will remain with the owner until death. When I helped settle the large Joe Mondello estate, there were good items we could not sell for 5 cents on the dollar. After 3 years, allot just went to scrap. When I want to actually sell old parts, I start by listing the part at 50% of what I really believe it is worth. Then I drop it more from there until it sells. Because I want to SELL it. After all, it's only worth what someone is willing to pay.

[dataway]

Just last week I had "SendCutSend" make me 16 parts, 1/4" thick caster mounting plates to weld on to the bottom of my pallet racks. $114 including shipping, I had them in five days (including a holiday). Basically about my cost after a two hour round trip to buy the metal (have to get 20' even though I only need 7), fuel, probably trashing a 1/2" drill bit drilling the 64 holes, plus the cutting etc.

Didn't even need to send them a CAD file, they had an app right on their website.

I have a friend a few miles away trying to figure out what to do with his Dad's horde, probably a 30x50 structure with two floors of parts from the 20's to 70's. Mostly Ford and Mopar stuff. He wants to unload it all in one deal. Yep, it will go for very few pennies on the dollar, son is actually worried he'll have to pay someone to haul it away. It's mostly well organized and stored, no random piles of junk. There was some good stuff in there when I looked at it, but nothing I really needed or had room for at the time. Might have to revisit it sometime soon.

Hopefully some of the collectors will do there children a favor and liquidate their collections before the kids have to deal with it.

[Mr Anonymous]

Originally Posted by dataway

I have a friend a few miles away trying to figure out what to do with his Dad's horde, probably a 30x50 structure with two floors of parts from the 20's to 70's. Mostly Ford and Mopar stuff. He wants to unload it all in one deal. Yep, it will go for very few pennies on the dollar, son is actually worried he'll have to pay someone to haul it away. It's mostly well organized and stored, no random piles of junk. There was some good stuff in there when I looked at it, but nothing I really needed or had room for at the time. Might have to revisit it sometime soon.
Hopefully some of the collectors will do there children a favor and liquidate their collections before the kids have to deal with it.

If I was retired, i'd enjoy going thru all that and selling it. Maybe after I'm done doing this database stuff - that sort of mass selling would be an interesting hobby.

[PAUL K]

Originally Posted by RocktimusPryme

I don't want or expect people to give their stuff away, but I wish people would be realistic about if they are ever going to use something and if not, let that cool old crossram or whatever go to someone who will use it. Ive sold stuff at a discount if I was SURE whomever was getting it was going to put it on a car.

I think the hard part is "knowing the guy is going to use it". I've helped guys out with parts they actually needed for a project and have had guys help me the same way. It's also hard to know where to draw the line. I deal with a lot of guys that I know darn well are needing a part that's going on a car that is being built for one reason.... To be sold for a profit.

[RocktimusPryme]

Originally Posted by PAUL K

I think the hard part is "knowing the guy is going to use it". I've helped guys out with parts they actually needed for a project and have had guys help me the same way. It's also hard to know where to draw the line. I deal with a lot of guys that I know darn well are needing a part that's going on a car that is being built for one reason.... To be sold for a profit.

Yeah, but all we can do is make a judgement and move on. To me part of it is I hate selling things (half because I fight my own hoarder tendencies and half just because its annoying). So I will convince myself its the right thing to do, just because I don't want to play the bargaining game. My dad will haggle over individual dollars at swap meets. I cant do it. If the price is fair ill pay asking, if not Ill make one offer and move on.

[dataway]

I just hate seeing the stuff go to waste. Poorly stored, poorly cataloged, ends up in a scrap yard .. I'd rather see someone make a profit on it if that keeps it out of a metal recycling plant.

The guy that ran our vintage motorcycle racing club for 40+ years has a huge collection of rare and (formerly) valuable bikes .. he buys them, puts them in leaky barns with dirt floors and there they sit for decades rotting away and the mice eating them, just so he can say .. "yeah, I've got one of those". I sold him two beautiful mid 60's bikes, he loaned them out for one event, and then into the barn they went, 20 years later they are probably still sitting in the same spot.

Just saw some photos of the Sultan of Brunei car collection, 7000 of the rarest, most valuable cars in the world, vast majority of them unmoved in decades, interiors covered in mold from the humid climate. Many of them are literally one of a kind Ferraris, Bentley, Porche, McClaren, Bugati, Rolls, Aston Martin, etc.

These are not collections, they are symptoms.

[kingbuzzo]

Such a shame...at least we have the forum as an outlet and source for parts

[higgenslake]

I miss Boneyard Stan.