That's exactly why I spend a lot of time in scrap yards looking for halfway decent parts. My favorite was a valve cover for my 47. I spent 3 hours digging through old cars and trucks until I found one that was not rusted through. Along the way I always learn something new such as how these trucks from the dealer had the option of washer sprayers. I have owned two 47 chevy trucks and got both of them at the same time. One was so rusted out that it was a salvage job like no other. I pulled the engine out against my families wishes and saved the knee action shocks so I would have a second set just incase I find another truck that uses them. I also spent the time and saved the dash though if it had been any other year and that would not have happened but 47 had a unique column cutout later years were deeper. In the end it all comes down to if you can find it or salvage it. Every curb I can get on price I take and if I can also insure my parts fit I do. My next trip to the salvage yard is for an oil pan. I know I can buy that from people on hear but I feel like I'm saving it when I pull it out of a feild. For $5 I'm happy about price and I can walk our and take what I want no worry about some mechanic ruining what I want by accident. A few years ago I got some sun visors for my civic and the salvage yard would not let me take them off. The mechanic stained them with grease and runined them. They lost a customer over it because I could not get them to take them back. I suppose that's what happens when you try to take the cheap way sometimes. I could have shoved the extra $50 out and got new ones but these were in really good shape until they got stained. I have made some cool finds doing this though. Vendors don't sell everything because not everything is reproduced and it's what is not reproduced that makes an old car or truck stand out in the way of originality.
