Flathead conundrum.

RalphM said:
Yeah, I think I needed the voice of reasoning. I really don’t even have time to work on the Flatheads I do have.
Maybe I’ll just make an offer on one or two of them and see what happens, worst he can say is no. And I’ll probably be better off for it.
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Just a suggestion but a piece of PVC tubing dipped into the barrel all way to bottom like a straw block end and pull out to check for water in bottom of barrel as that would be a real mess.
 
Sounds like you are looking for a reason to not accumulate them. Then again, from my perspective, if I had the room, and the price was right, I would not think twice about taking them.
 
We shall see,
I mean, I wouldn’t mind having one or two of the pickled engines just to see what kind of shape they’re in. I just don’t know if I wanna take on the whole package.There is a lot.
Next time I go over there I’ll get some pictures.
Kiwinus,
I have some paste that you put on a stick, it changes color if there’s water in the oil. Kind of needed it all the time up here.
 
tubman said:
Just thinkin'. In this case, "one man's trash is another man's treasures", might just be true.😄
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I have tried to sell a lot of this stuff at very low prices with zero interest. Some I have given away to "good guys" and was happy that stuff found a use.
Nah, at this point in the hobby as well as my life, well, some will get listed, some will get dumped.
 
“I have tried to sell a lot of this stuff at very low prices with zero interest. Some I have given away to "good guys" and was happy that stuff found a use.
Nah, at this point in the hobby as well as my life, well, some will get listed, some will get dumped.”

A few years ago I advertised all of my extra’s for sale. I have a shed full and more. Not much interest then, I had one guy looking for starter/gen for his project. I just gave them to him.
If any of you come to visit Alaska, and are driving an RV stop on by, I’ll fill you up for free.
Remember the Long, Long trailer!
 
The question is should you or shouldn't you? If someone went through the trouble of pickling them in oil, they were probably worth saving.
I guess it comes down to how cheap you are buying them. If it's equal to scrap value or less you wouldn't lose money if you bought them. Now lets say you bought them for almost nothing, how are you going to transport 15 barrels? Do you have the means to lift them? Where you going to store them?
If it were me and I could get them for close to nothing, I'd do it. Only because I wouldn't want them destroyed just for scrape and loose the past that's not coming back. I have the room and ability to transport them. If I didn't that would be a different story.
 
Much like Kiwin, I am no longer interested in bringing home complete engines to dismantle. At least 1/2 of what I have dragged home in the last 30 years are not worth fixing. I got to where I buy bare blocks that are clean and very easy to examine. That's really the best way and also what SERIOUS buyers will want in the future. The heads and cranks we pull, never mind the manifolds, generators and starters, end up in piles here. I think I have 11 stripped blocks here now. Only found 1 crack on one block, because they came to me stripped. Oh, make that ten because I built that 276 stroker a couple years ago from one of the nicer 8ba blocks. There will soon come a day when the market will be full of our blocks we didn't get to. I try not to think about it because it has been without a doubt, the best hobby/pastime/obsession on the planet.
eddies engines 063.JPG
 
To me, dealing with the barrels of oil could be worked around if you can find a place to get rid of it somewhat easily. It's the taking of partial heavy trucks that would be an absolute deal breaker. As others have said, the price of parts isn't really high right now.

Just the time, expense, and hassle dealing with those pieces would be a no go.

I'm only 55, but I've started to think about, god forbid, if something would happen to me, I don't want my family to have to deal with the heavy junk laying around.
 
Yea, the 3 trucks are my biggest turn off as well. Not worth much, and nothing but extra trouble.
As long as I could reseal the drums, they would roll on and off a trailer without too much effort. They could stay out in the open for now.
I wouldn’t even mess with them until the spring time.
But there is also a couple pickup loads of wheels, tires, and parts.
I have no room for those now.
 
The oil is not a problem. Storage space is. Even if all I got was the 15 engines, likelihood of me having time to deal with even one of them in the next year would be very slim.
As much as I would like to have these, I think I am going to pass. Maybe the owner, or purchaser will sell me one and I’ll be happy.
 
GB SISSON said:
Much like Kiwin, I am no longer interested in bringing home complete engines to dismantle. At least 1/2 of what I have dragged home in the last 30 years are not worth fixing. I got to where I buy bare blocks that are clean and very easy to examine. That's really the best way and also what SERIOUS buyers will want in the future. The heads and cranks we pull, never mind the manifolds, generators and starters, end up in piles here. I think I have 11 stripped blocks here now. Only found 1 crack on one block, because they came to me stripped. Oh, make that ten because I built that 276 stroker a couple years ago from one of the nicer 8ba blocks. There will soon come a day when the market will be full of our blocks we didn't get to. I try not to think about it because it has been without a doubt, the best hobby/pastime/obsession on the planet. View attachment 652267
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Half the fun is seeing what is inside the box... just say'n
 
“I've started to think about, god forbid, if something would happen to me, I don't want my family to have to deal with the heavy junk laying around.”…….

I agree with Tim…I just junked a couple big trucks and I’m starting to sift thru the small stuff….the only way I would take another engine now is if it were free and delivered………Mark
 
Tim Ayers said:
.

I'm only 55, but I've started to think about, god forbid, if something would happen to me, I don't want my family to have to deal with the heavy junk laying around.
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I have talked with our son, a couple years older than you Tim. He assured me there will be no problem. That is when the friendly "scrap man" will be happy to solve your problem. One call takes it all. We all just need to get to the peaceful realization that it is just old iron, nothing more.
 
GB SISSON said:
Much like Kiwin, I am no longer interested in bringing home complete engines to dismantle. At least 1/2 of what I have dragged home in the last 30 years are not worth fixing. I got to where I buy bare blocks that are clean and very easy to examine. That's really the best way and also what SERIOUS buyers will want in the future. The heads and cranks we pull, never mind the manifolds, generators and starters, end up in piles here. I think I have 11 stripped blocks here now. Only found 1 crack on one block, because they came to me stripped. Oh, make that ten because I built that 276 stroker a couple years ago from one of the nicer 8ba blocks. There will soon come a day when the market will be full of our blocks we didn't get to. I try not to think about it because it has been without a doubt, the best hobby/pastime/obsession on the planet. View attachment 652267
Click to expand...
Looks to me that you control the market on Orcas Island Gary!! I would bet the young guys there think you are a very interesting guy. When I was a kid you would have found a kid like me a PEST! I would be waiting for you to come out and play everyday!!!!!!!!!! LUVIT
 
I have met some very fine young 'pests' over the years in this hobby. I count them as true friends today. Having been in a field (cabinetmaking) that ebbs and flows with the economy, coupled with a mid-life divorce in a 'no contest' state, I have had to thin the herd on many occasions! The upside is the friends I have made through all of this. Someday I plan to start a thread on this subject and perhaps even introduce you to some of these young men who now own and drive the trucks I have hammered together over the last 35 years. Notice I didn't use the word 'restored' :)
 
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