Testing a new theory

[Uncle Skip]

I think BroncoTom is really Uncle Si in disguise.
He recently told me about his "Theory of Junkyard Relativity", which states that the relative chances of finding something rare, something you really need, or just want increase exponentially to the fewer number of tools you have with you at the time.
Meaning of course that if you go without ANY tools you'll find something you need.
So today, after helping me pick up a really nice little 302 from 65Lover and dropping it off at Paradise, we stopped in the local LKQ (pick a part) on the way home with absolutely no tools. We were looking at hydraulic clutch setups and how he is going to plumb the M5 he's putting in his trucks.
Well, it turns out the "TOJR" theorem is completely true.
As rare as it sounds, we found a front sway bar for his '65.
No tools, but we found the sway bar.
See how it works?
Debating on what to do, we finally went back to Paradise about 3 blocks away and got my tools.
Three greasy fun filled hours later, we loaded the new sway bar up and headed home.
So, if you really need something rare, go as far away from home as you can with absolutely no tools and what you need will fall directly in your lap.
Believe it....................... or don't.

[HiBoy63]

I believe.... it never fails to work that way for me. Found all my stock 16" innie wheels for both my trucks that way. I was looking for something else and there they were. Not quite the same but almost.

[charliemccraney]

I think that's just Murphy's law stated differently.

I don't usually find what I'm looking for. But after I've acquired whatever it is I need, I find them everywhere.

[Toyz]

Now ya'll know how Joe and I felt in 101 degree weather in the same yard madly removing parts from that freshly deposited slick. We even drove by Paradise on the odd chance you might have been there. Removing trim from a slick with a four inch crescent (which I haven't seen since!) should be an Olympic event!
Paul

[Gritsngumbo]

Three blocks? Well, that sort of ruins the story. Thirty miles across town would have been more my experience
Or....I would work for an hour in the hot sun/cold/rain to get all but one bolt off, finally have to leave and get another tool from home and get back and the part was gone.

[Toyz]

These are TEXAS blocks, Grits
Paul

[ezernut9mm]

is this the same theory that dictates that when you need a part that you know you have, it cannot be found. not with lasers, not with satellites, not with an eager eight year old doing the hunting, but as soon as you head to the parts/hardware store and buy said parts, the missing parts magically appear? i am familiar with this set up. and it is a set up. thanks hot rod god. thanks a lot.

[Gritsngumbo]

These are TEXAS blocks, Grits
Paul

[Toyz]

is this the same theory that dictates that when you need a part that you know you have, it cannot be found. not with lasers, not with satellites, not with an eager eight year old doing the hunting, but as soon as you head to the parts/hardware store and buy said parts, the missing parts magically appear? i am familiar with this set up. and it is a set up. thanks hot rod god. thanks a lot.

Like a woodruff key for a 292? At 13 mpg, that had to be the most expensive woodruff key in my life. I even went to my friendly (almost), local (somewhat), Ford dealer only to be laughed at!!!
Screw it, I'll work on something else and get the key Monday! Pick up scattered tools, put small spacers, etc. on center of air cleaner for safekeeping -------well, I'll be ----ed!
And I used to make my living like this? Now I'm a memory-lacking biohazard walking around dripping blood looking for tools and parts!
Paul

[LM14]

Same applies to a car auction or swap meet. The more money you have at your disposal, the less you find of interest. Go broke just to kill some time and look around and you find everything you ever wanted.

SPark

[Broncotom]

The theroy worked to perfection, but having all of Skips tools only 2 miles away was a big factor in taking the chance in the first place. Skip failed to mention that I snapped his 1/2 Snap On rachet like a twig. oh well at least we got the thing off. Two trips to Paradise first, to get all of Skips big guns, and one final to get the Ford Tool. The donor truck was a 78 F350 with the streched wheelbase, which has the spare tire mouinted on the side of the truck, unfortunitly the door was trash or we would have picked that as well. I have taken a lot of these sway bars off in the past but this thing had the first dual caliber brake set up I have ever seen. So "Hey Jack" I got what I needed!

[Greg D]

Works that way with cash on hand too Skip.
Last year I went to the yard for something for the F 150,
sitting there big as you please in the yard was a Merkur Scorpio COMPLETE!
FYI, if you want a 2.3 Turbo conversion this is the perfect setup -
engine management is a stand alone system in the Merkur's.
Of course I didn't have the scratch....................

[Gritsngumbo]

OK, so 3 "Texas" blocks = Two miles?

[Uncle Skip]

........ the "Ford" tool being a BFH. Fire wrenches are not allowed at LKQ.

[Gritsngumbo]

Brien includes a battery powered Sawzall in his Pick-A-Part tool bag. Comes in handy. If it were me, the battery would be dead.

[Toyz]

Brien includes a battery powered Sawzall in his Pick-A-Part tool bag. Comes in handy. If it were me, the battery would be dead.

So that's who has been just ahead of me removing parts from these vehicles! "Can't get to that screw?, No problem!"
Paul

[Alan Mclennan]

sawsall are banned from my local " Pry and Pull", so are battery grinders. They did gas axe the axles on a 79 F150 so I could have the disc brakes and King pins all in one! , and I don`t know about those Texas blocks!!!, I`ve got Google Maps!

[bmcgc]

Yep, paid $25 for a pair of fender bolt covers on ebay because I looked for a set for a year.

Found a set on a Slick at the P-N-P that had the entire roof cut off and I had no tools. A good samaratin loaned me a screwdriver. The P-N-P gave them to me.

I put them on a garage shelf, Now every time I walk by, they mock me.

Im going to trade them or give them away. Easy come-easy go.