How to Find Lost Parts

[Terry M.]

I am in the process of restoring my 1965 Fuelie Coupe that has been quietly waiting since I bought it in 1990. Have acquired parts over the years and stored them away in boxes. Now that the restoration is underway, the parts and pieces must be brought out and incorporated into the project. As you might surmise, some items (that I could swear I purchased at some time) cannot be located. It can be difficult to recall where they may have been stored or what the packaging even looks like. So, I have discovered a fool proof method for locating all lost parts/pieces. It really is quite simple. You simply purchase another (of the lost) part. Once it arrives, voila, the old, originally purchased part resurfaces! My most recent example is the lubricant Prelube 6. After reading many forum articles a couple years ago regarding treatment for cast iron exhaust manifolds, I decided this was the way to go. So, I ordered 2 cans, not knowing how much was needed for 2 manifolds. A few years later and I am needing it for my manifolds as my restoration is now underway. Do you suppose I could find those 2 cans (still in the original shipping box)? That would be a "h#ll no". So, I order another two cans. They arrive and one day I'm walking into my shop and spot a small box "living" under another item. "What's this", I say to myself. Lo and behold, I found my "lost" parts. This note is meant to serve as a helping hand to all of you out there. No need to respond with your thanks to me for this new "tip". Glad to help out

[Terry M.]

Re: How to Find Lost Parts

I am in the process of restoring my 1965 Fuelie Coupe that has been quietly waiting since I bought it in 1990. Have acquired parts over the years and stored them away in boxes. Now that the restoration is underway, the parts and pieces must be brought out and incorporated into the project. As you might surmise, some items (that I could swear I purchased at some time) cannot be located. It can be difficult to recall where they may have been stored or what the packaging even looks like. So, I have discovered a fool proof method for locating all lost parts/pieces. It really is quite simple. You simply purchase another (of the lost) part. Once it arrives, voila, the old, originally purchased part resurfaces! My most recent example is the lubricant Prelube 6. After reading many forum articles a couple years ago regarding treatment for cast iron exhaust manifolds, I decided this was the way to go. So, I ordered 2 cans, not knowing how much was needed for 2 manifolds. A few years later and I am needing it for my manifolds as my restoration is now underway. Do you suppose I could find those 2 cans (still in the original shipping box)? That would be a "h#ll no". So, I order another two cans. They arrive and one day I'm walking into my shop and spot a small box "living" under another item. "What's this", I say to myself. Lo and behold, I found my "lost" parts. This note is meant to serve as a helping hand to all of you out there. No need to respond with your thanks to me for this new "tip". Glad to help out

Perhaps it is the fact we share the same given name (I am NOT a Terrance or Terrence either), but I have had the same experience. However it becomes more painful when the part is in the four figures.

[Bert L.]

Re: How to Find Lost Parts

My difficulty in locating missing parts or supplies has often been compounded
because of my having moved the items from their originally stored locations to another. I always seem to
remember where I had placed them originally, the problem is not being able to recall their new placement.
"Septuagenarian Brain" has nothing to do with!....

[Bill M.]

Re: How to Find Lost Parts

rebuilt my 67 engine and could not find my coil or manifold bracket anywhere. Found them a year later in my pile of pellet stove bags. Not even the same garage.

[Mark E.]

Re: How to Find Lost Parts

Terry,

Thanks for sharing this. It seems no matter how thoroughly I bag and tag and organize, there's always that one part that walks away. It's probably goes to the land of lost things along with the pile of sunglasses and dryer socks.

I'll try your tip tomorrow.

[Tom L.]

Re: How to Find Lost Parts

I have an amazing gift for organizing parts.

I know exactly where I put them, of course they are cataloged in my binder, sometimes I just put them on the "oh so obvious" shelf or into the "go to" storage container.

Sometimes the "other" storage container or the one over there.... Where the heck is my binder!!!

So much fun!! happy new year!!!

[Richard G.]

Re: How to Find Lost Parts

My wife has a photographic memory. Can remember my faults forever and the day it happened.
That aside, she has been know to find what I am looking for without even getting out of her chair.
"Look under the paper on the hallway stand".
I am out classed and out gunned.
The Shop is another story. She doesn't go out there so I am on my own.
My new retirement hobby is where did I put that? Sad part is when "I haven't moved".
BTW It makes it slightly easier that way.
Take care.
Rick

[Richard M.]

Re: How to Find Lost Parts

Funny Stuff. Rick nailed it. My wife always finds the pieces I loose while working in the shop. I spend a hour looking after I loose a piece flying in the air somewhere. I then go in the house and tell her I need her to find it for me. Usually within 5 minutes it's in sight.

I'm still looking for my elusive used Delco 207 coil I know I have somewhere but just can't put my fingers on it. I haven't asked her to help me with that one because it's too big and I know I didn't drop it on the floor somewhere.

Rich

[Frank D.]

Re: How to Find Lost Parts

Even worse is when you've forgotten you've lost a part after some sort of service and the wife finds it weeks later, lifting it off the garage floor with glee and holding it inches from your face and proclaiming, "....I bet you didn't know you lost this!". And its always some rare, original bolt/screw with the proper headmark you spent hours looking for and replaced in frustration with some cheesy repro part.

But, being "master of my domain" in my own garage I reply that of course I knew I lost it and I had plenty of them and had already placed a new one on the car. Whereupon she states with a smirk, "....then you don't mind if I throw this one away in the kitchen trash?""

So I glumly take it from her and put it on the workbench and tell her quietly, "Nah, Don't bother, I'll keep it - maybe I can use it on something else". As soon as I'm sure she's gone back in the house and not returning I quickly put the original part back on the car and place the repro on the workbench.

You both know the truth but its a game that classic car owner's play when they've been married long enough.

[Norm B.]

Re: How to Find Lost Parts

I am at the rolling chassis stage of putting my SWC back together after some frame rust repair and it reminds me what I have told my 3 son in laws which is that if anything ever happens to me before it is finished the entire car is in the garage...............somewhere.

I wonder if this also works for tools. I think I will test it out by going out and buying a new 5/16" wrench tomorrow.

[Harry S.]

Re: How to Find Lost Parts

I have a 1963 Starter and heater Y duct lost in my basement. They have been hiding from me for years. Hide and seek I guess!

[Terry M.]

Re: How to Find Lost Parts

Norm,
If you go out and buy a new 5/16" wrench tomorrow, then the day after tomorrow you will have two of them. I guarantee it!

Terry

[Bill M.]

Re: How to Find Lost Parts

My father taught me that whenever you are looking for a missing tool, check your sons tool box.

[Michael S.]

Re: How to Find Lost Parts

well we all know every thing goes by vin number. and on today's car's having the vin on hand is a must. so when i am working on a late model car of today and i do not have the vin, and there is a choice of parts, it is simple: i order the most expensive one. example: i needed a starter, one was $105, one $135, the last one $275, told them send the most expensive one. they asked me how i knew it was the one, i told them to trust me. it fit.
works every time.

[Michael S.]

Re: How to Find Lost Parts

and talking of wife's: i had a 6 1/2 acre junk yard for 21 years. one day she is there. a guy walks in looking for a part for his car. i pointed out the window: go down this driveway until you get to the cross road, turn right go two driveways down, turn left go down five row's of cars, on the left on top is a blue car, go check it out. the guy walks out. the wife asks me how many cars do you have here. i replied just under 1500. amazing she says, how you can remember where all these cars are yet you forget where you live at night. i was home on time for dinner that night.