The Automotive Thread

[MA_PE]

But 4 months later?

Yep. I had a guy call me every few months for two years asking if I was willing to sell a car that wasn't for sale at the time.

Depending the car, this is not all that uncommon. Guys drive by a driveway where there's a desirable classic just sitting under a cover or something that they don't want to miss the opportunity to buy. They ask the owner and get the "it's not for sale". Then they drive by one day and it's gone, because the owner decided to throw in the towel and get rid of it. It a fine line between stalking and just staying in touch so you get a shot if/when the owner wants to pull the trigger and let her go. Sometimes perseverance wins.

 

[Supe]

I missed out on a green Shelby GT350 some time ago for that reason. I used to walk past it every day. Older woman, deceased husband's car, finally decided to get rid of it. I'm pretty sure it sold for a few thousand and someone REALLY took advantage of her. It was that pale green color, and covered in about 1/4" of dust.

 

[Road Guy]

this was a clunker jeep posted on craigslist, nothing fancy.. I think the guy just thought I might have not sold it in 4 months since It had some rust on it.. Jut thought it was weird the dude called back for something there are literally hundred off for sale on craiglist at any given day....

I used to get asked to sell my boat all the time, until I deciced to sell it and that took many months...

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

I was cruising around just looking for cars and came across a really nice 1969 Dodge Charger. I stopped and took a quick look at the car (it was in the driveway). A couple minutes later, the owner of the car was outside talking about the car with me, some of the things done to it, some things still needing to be done, etc. After a while he finally mentioned that it wasn't for sale, I gave him my phone number in case he changed his mind and a couple months later he called. I didn't have the money, but he said he called me before listing it simply because he knew that I knew what he had.

 

[roadwreck]

So what's the standard procedure if you have multiple people wanting to see a vehicle you have for sale? I really have limited time to show this thing and I wasn't expecting to get this many people interested in the car. Is it poor form to have them all show up at the same time and let the highest bidder walk away with the car?

 

[Road Guy]

I always tried to go in order "first come first serve"....(after talking to them on the phone)

 

[roadwreck]

^^

That's really what I'd like to do too, unfortunately some of the people that called me first aren't available until the weekend. I've got multiple people that want to see it tomorrow evening, but I'd I'd feel bad if the first person bought it while someone else who wanted to see it was already on the way. It seems like it could be a clusterf**k to have multiple people show up at once. For now I only have one person scheduled for Thursday, one Friday and one Saturday. If anyone else wants to see it they'll have to wait until Sunday or later.

 

[Road Guy]

I think that also makes sense, I would usually call back the people in order but if someone could come earlier than thats just the way life works out...

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

First come first serve, not first call.

First person at my door with the $ gets it. I would be up front with everyone that calls letting them know there are others interested and that despite being the first to call, the first one to show up will get dibs. It sucks for those with busy schedules who called first, but dealerships won't hold a car until the weekend because someone calls ahead unless there is a deposit of some sort...

 

[MA_PE]

I agree with dex. I had an internet deal with a guy 1000 miles away for a car. We emailed back and forth for a bit and I said where of I send a check. He stalled and them I called to see what's up, he said a guy came over with cash and it's gone. I was/am still annoyed but cash in hand talks. You'll never see these people again. First one tower your price takes it away. Done

 

[Supe]

Finally got my firewall patched up. Previous owner hacked it to hell to try to make the distributor fit. He cut it even down to the trans tunnel, so there was a nice opening right from behind the intake manifold, straight into the cabin. Now, the bottom is sealed, and the top is cut and a lip welded in which will seal directly to a cowl induction setup. Note that there is a separate metal box in the cabin interior where the cowl assembly goes in, so no holes feeding the interior, just two drain lines on the outer edges which run to the car's exterior. In other words, I didn't repair a little hole that won't stop fire and just replace it with a big one.

 

[Supe]

So I had welded up three cracks in my oil pan, one of which was a mystery. Bolted pan back up, rotate motor over by hand... THUNK. Mystery solved. Previous owner never checked for counterweight clearance. Decided he would rather let the crank do all the clearancing for him...

New pan blank should be here today. Will cut/notch/weld for adequate clearance, and put some oil drain and temperature fittings in there while I'm at it.

 

[blybrook PE]

^ hey Jimmy, do you hear a knock?

Jimmy - Its just the engine breaking in...

 

[Supe]

And it didn't just lightly kiss the pan... it wouldn't even rotate over.

 

[blybrook PE]

OUCH!

 

[Master slacker]

And it didn't just lightly kiss the pan... it wouldn't even rotate over.

You need a bigger starter and / or breaker bar...

 

[Road Guy]

Okay back to normal people's car problems

When we moved out here I bought an 02 Tahoe cause I needed the 4wd and more room...

Stock rims look like shit.... I won't be buying new ones but I have tried like hell to clean these with no success? I'm thinking about using some brasso?

Any if you semi pro shade tree mechanics got any advice?

And yes I have rubbed the hell out if them with steel wool...

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

Chevy clear coated their rims for a while and once the clear coat is compromised there really isn't anything you can do aside from stripping the clear coat and re-applying.

 

[Master slacker]

Strip, polish, clear

 

[Supe]

Chevy clear coated their rims for a while and once the clear coat is compromised there really isn't anything you can do aside from stripping the clear coat and re-applying.

This - amazing how many wheels I used to see destroyed by car washes that would use wheel cleaner before shining your tires.

Polishing those is a PITA. Clean, prep, paint with wheel paint. You'll have about $12 wrapped into the entire process.