What advice do you wish you could give yourself when you 1st started scrapping?

That would be this idiot!

Back then, I didn't know anything, and offloaded 200# of old motherboards and some 486s for a low price- back when scrap was higher. Over the years, I've more than recovered my loss- at the expense of that company! Today, we've taken over half of their income through growth. I'm not out for revenge, but improving yourself is always a good thing.



---------------

As for my biggest mistake, it was jumping head over heels for a truck. For anyone who doesn't know my box van story, I paid $1700 for a 1997 E350. I only owned it for 14 months, and only drove it about 800 miles total (I'm in Wyoming- my commute to work is 80 miles round trip). It cost me over an additional $2600 in repairs, and then developed major engine problems. I sold it for $800- after licensing a truck that never worked, and paying repairs, I lost about $3500 on that truck.

I used a 1987 Chevrolet that my father abandoned. I slaved over her, bringing her back to life to have something to use. For those who wonder why I hate Ford, this is why. That box truck took me for everything I had, and the Chevrolet was there when I needed her the most. I'll buy a Chevrolet or a Dodge, but I won't touch a Ford with a 10 foot pole!

< /Rant>

Originally Posted by ChesterCopperpot

LOL "End Rant" =)

So your advice to me is:

1-be careful when selecting a truck
2-avoid all fords?

Pretty much.

the carbureted 300s were a good engine, but I have a 1995 Flareside with the EFI 300 and the 5 speed manual. What a dog! I towed a little over 4000# once, and was pulling the hills at 20 MPH, foot to the floor. My 1987 Chevrolet has the 305 (Most people call them boat anchors), and 2.76 gearing (Not what you want), and I pulled the same weight over the same hills at 40-45 MPH. It's a much better truck- and it was abandoned for 8 years!

I would have a 300 over a 302, though. But, a 351 Ford, 360 Dodge, or 350 Chevrolet will make a 300 I6 its whipping boy in no time.

On Fords, the Twin I-Beam is virtually impossible to align, and the trucks themselves are a nightmare to service. When I run into a small issue with a Chevrolet, I can fix it with hand tools. With the Fords, it's off to the shop.

I also agree with Olddude on Dodge automatics- they're finicky. Both my Dodge's have been manuals, though, so no big deal there. In my mind, Dodge's are the easiest truck to service, with Chevrolet/GMC a close second. There are many more GMs, though...

The problem with that E350 was the rust- I was under it for the last time, and moved my leg up. I kicked through one of the crossmembers. Right there, I got out from under it, and quit trying to fix it. It was a Pennsylvania truck, so road salt killed it.

That truck had the 5.4 Triton- which is great for an F150, but it was not for that truck. To get the big girl to move, you had to rev the **** out of it!

Our big truck now is a 2000 Chevrolet K3500 with the Vortec 350. That's what I'd go with- a Chevrolet with a 350.

The point, though, is that you should look for the best that you can. These trucks are 15-20 years old, so the owner matters more than the brand. A beat up Chevrolet will give you more nightmares than a cream puff Ford.

Depending on your budget, find a well-cared for truck in the best shape possible. I rushed into that box van for collection events that were postponed anyways. If I would have held out, I know I could have done much, much better.

< /Rant #2>

Originally Posted by ChesterCopperpot

LOL "End Rant" =)

So your advice to me is:
1-be careful when selecting a truck
and
2-avoid all fords?

I've been looking for a truck for a year now. Any tips would be appreciated.

You get what you pay for.

If you go buy a cheap 1995 Ford, Chevy, Dodge or whatever make, you got to think,,, that is now a 20 year old truck that is going to have 20 year old truck problems.
Almost nothing worst than breaking down on the side of the road with a full load of junk. A terrible frustrating feeling especially when the tow truck shows up and tells you he can't help you out because all the junk you have piled up makes it too dangerous for him to tow you.


When you go cash in your metal take all that you can haul. Get every dime you can. Unless you live right across the street from the scrap yard. Don't waste your time taking in just your copper or just your aluminum cans. Unless you have so much of those that is all you can haul.

What are you doing with the glass from the TV's? The trash men here will not take them. I put them in a big black garbage bag and then put them in my trash tote. If they can't see it they'll take it. Bad thing is only one glass tube will fit in the normal Waste Management trash tote, even if from a small tv. The ones from bigger tv's won't fit at all. I don't mess with CRT's at all anymore.
Only way I'd take CRT's would be if I had my own personal dumpster to discard the tubes in.
Plus with copper being way down, a old CRT tv or computer screen will be lucky to net you one dollar in copper. All the work, stripping, tear down, discarding the tube, all for one dollar.