Swinging for Divorce…

I store all my smaller parts in plastic pails with lids. I also bag set of parts, window and door clips, lip moldings, head liner hardware and miss nuts and bolts. It takes off a lot of hunting later on. Any parts not for my car (69' Dart) I label. Kind of like OLD family photos, if you don't know who they are, what good are they to you.

I’ve been trying to label as much as I can that’s for sure. I have most of the big pieces. It’s the little pieces that will get me, but especially because I won’t know I don’t have them until I need them haha.

Amazing how much space all the parts occupy until you package it all back in the car. I'm finally finishing my 1965 Dart. I spent the most time on finicky stuff in the interior and dash and the fussy exterior trim of my GT trim. At least only missing a few trim parts, and might even have those stashed somewhere. I'll look closer once I put my just-repainted 1985 M-B back together (also confusion of parts). You can spend a fortune if buying "correct" parts for everything like trim attachments. Often you can do cheaper and better than the OE design by leveraging generic parts or for a GM. I use stainless fasteners from Ace Hardware wherever I can. I had most OE fasteners. I cleaned corrosion by soaking in Evap-O-Rust, then phosphoric acid to convert any remaining rust in pits, then painting. I did in batches, shaking the nuts and bolts together in a jar with soap and water, multiple times to remove all debris. When rushed, I at least spray fasteners with Rustoleum Rust Preventive. Might start using Fluid Film under all my vehicles, though minimal corrosion concerns in CA, though chrome plating usually pits everywhere.

I totally see how buying “correct” parts will cost a fortune… I’m going to probably spend a “cheap fortune” because I am not a megiver at making things work but I’m also cheap.

Some things may be easier for me to buy the correct pieces or new pieces than search for years to buy the pieces used and then still have to “restore” them.

Being in the Midwest now I’ll have to make sure I do something to help prevent rust. I don’t drive in bad weather though.

Like now I need bucket seat frames and they are hard to find…. I’d buy new if they made them and I can’t find some in the next 6 months or so.