Ever had this kinda luck at a swapmeet ?!?!

10secgoal

Active Member
Dec 1, 2003
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I go to buy a c-4 and of course I see all kinds of goodies to include a lincoln 9in rear w/dic brake rears(can't spell versilles). NO!!! Came here to buy c-4, "You've only got $200 and you need to find one." But it was only $150. I decided if I couldn't find a c-4 I would come back. AND GUESS WHAT ?!?! It wasn't there when I got back. Yeah Yeah I know that's the way it always is. He said the guy took it ten minutes before I got there, too. I was quite pissed for a few minutes, but I tried to reason with my self. Maybe it wasn't that great of a deal. The brakes were missing a part or two.
I felt all kinds of better when I went back to another guy I saw with a truck load of 9's. And he only wanted $75. And I found a big bearing small lug pattern 9in. I opened it and sure as it had 31 splines I jumped for joy. I still have to shorten I think though, and get the perches moved, but well worth it.
So anyway I was think I can run these stocks axles and be just fine. What do you guys think ? Now I just have to get rid of my 8in. pig with 3.80's and Auburn limited slip with only 3000 mi. :D
 
i went to carlisle all ford nationals swap meet yesterday and i was looking for a '69 fastback. Any condition. I found a 69 boss 302 sitting on a trailer no engine no tranny just waiting for me to take her home and build her up. There was no sign or anything though. I went with plumcrazy5.0 and i made him crazy the whole time about it. We went back there just before we left and i bolted across the field when i saw people standing next to it. Sold.
 
I go to swap meets looking for specific things... BUT, if I run across a smokin deal on something I don't need I snap it up!
I go with a cart and/or dolly so I can tote the parts around with me.
I usually run across 2 or 3 things I don't need before I find what I came to get. No cash? No problem! Just look at the parts on your dolly that you got for little of nothin and offer a swap.
I have gone to swap meets and bought, then sold/traded parts the whole time I was there and then left with what I came to get and more money than what I came with. Sometimes I even bring home parts that I didn't need... Trading material for the next show!
Dave
 
[QUOTE='69Mach1Chick]i went to carlisle all ford nationals swap meet yesterday and i was looking for a '69 fastback. Any condition. I found a 69 boss 302 sitting on a trailer no engine no tranny just waiting for me to take her home and build her up. There was no sign or anything though. I went with plumcrazy5.0 and i made him crazy the whole time about it. We went back there just before we left and i bolted across the field when i saw people standing next to it. Sold.[/QUOTE]
I had several experiences like that at Carlisle back in the late '80s when I lived there. I remember one show, I must've walked by this '70 Monte Carlo a half dozen times ogling it. It needed work but it ran and was still solid. Price was $1200. The kicker? It was an SS454 4 speed with buckets and a console. By the time I con'd my parents into the $1200 the car was sold. :nonono: I've got a dozen more stories about everything from a 390 AMX with the Go package to 440 6 pack 'Cuda to a particularly bitter memory of missing out on a boring small block '69 Malibu with a 4 speed and a four 2 barrel Corvette Gransport intake! :shock: Each and everyone of them was prime driver material and under $1200. :nonono:

Anyway, I do have good stories from living in Carlisle, like when I bought my Mach... not at one of the shows, but straight out of the local paper for $1200. My mom also bought a '65 Buick GS convertible that same year for $500 out of the local paper and drove it home. :nice:
 
I don't go to swap meets, no need here where I'm at. There's a local ads paper called the Quik Quarter. Deals there all the time. Just Saturday I checked out a 92 T-Bird listed for $500---- needs a motor. Went to see it, popped the hood, nothing amiss. So asked the guy if I could start it. He said he didn't think it would run, besides the battery was dead. Put in a spare battery I had, turned the ignition key and--- Wal-La, the thing fires right up, runs fine. The guy was floored, but stood up to his deal. Drove the car home, but it does have a blown head gasket. Car is clean, nothing wrecked, just normal wear from 12 years of use by a little old lady. By the time I change the head gasket, I'll have a nice T-bird for less than $800. I'll run it til it quits then I just might stick in a V8 ( Cleveland? LOL)
 
I havent been to a swap meet, although I have ran across a few good deals through the paper or ebay.

$12 standard bore cleveland block. has to be the best one though.
 
hungrymonkey said:
I havent been to a swap meet, although I have ran across a few good deals through the paper or ebay.

$12 standard bore cleveland block. has to be the best one though.
That's as good a find as the $50 Cleveland I picked up a few months ago, complete except for the valve covers. :nice:
 
i got you both beat. picked an absolutely perfect pair of 86 gt buckets and a complete from distributor to oil pan 4bbl cleveland for 50 bucks. the seats are in my 69 and i sold the cleve for 500 and that money went to bodywork, straightened the taillight panel, and fixed all the rust holes from under the vinyl top. :D
 
bnickel said:
i got you both beat. picked an absolutely perfect pair of 86 gt buckets and a complete from distributor to oil pan 4bbl cleveland for 50 bucks. the seats are in my 69 and i sold the cleve for 500 and that money went to bodywork, straightened the taillight panel, and fixed all the rust holes from under the vinyl top. :D
Did you ever go check out the black 63 FE powered Galaxie 2 door that's sitting out by the road just short of Vernon Tx. ? Last time I passed a year or so ago, it was still there, but I missed it and couldn't get stopped until I was a half mile down the road. :(
 
One show I followed around a trailer until the guy figured out where he was going to set-up. I was eying an XF-8 crossram for an SBF.
I was patient and quiet. I let him pull into his spot. No need to be rude and ask the price before he stops moving.
He got about 2 feet from stopping the truck when this guy walked by, did a double take, and shouted "how much for the crossram"...
The guy jammed the brakes and shouted back "$60"... The response was "sold!".
:damnit:

I am no longer so polite at shows...
 
ratio411 said:
One show I followed around a trailer until the guy figured out where he was going to set-up. I was eying an XF-8 crossram for an SBF.
I was patient and quiet. I let him pull into his spot. No need to be rude and ask the price before he stops moving.
He got about 2 feet from stopping the truck when this guy walked by, did a double take, and shouted "how much for the crossram"...
The guy jammed the brakes and shouted back "$60"... The response was "sold!".
:damnit:

I am no longer so polite at shows...

hahahahaha that was a good one, ya, you dont wait
 
My best swap meet deal was when I picked up 6 pairs of 460 perma-torque gaskets for $40.

I sold each pair on ebay for a little over $40. Great deal for me and a great deal for the ebayers as the cost about $40 each from summit. :D