Tinkering Endlessly (or, why I love junkyards)

[-Nate]

Sounds like you're on the right track .

Is it a flat or sloped roof ? .

I found that adding some (sadly not all) double glazed windows (all on the South side of the house) made the biggest improvement .

 

[AHenry014]

My first house purchase had original windows from the 60's; single pane, rotten sills, etc. I am not sure how custom your windows need to be, but we had a window "guy" come in and measure every window in the house for replacements. I dont believe all were off the shelf sizes, so some had to be somewhat custom. I believe I payed somewhere around 6 grand for 24 windows and replaced them all myself.

In the long run, a better option might be to go new construction and adjust the framing to fit a standard size. This will require trim and siding work alongside whatever framing adjustments are needed. For example, you might find a standard size window is 1" wider and 1" shorter window with some easy adjustments and come out ahead cost wise over custom windows.

My wife and I have used buildzoom in the past to find a general contractor that can handle jobs like this.


EDIT: I also posted earlier in this thread about my excitement of hitting my first pick and pull after a number of years. I was able to get all the large items on my nitpick list for less than the cost of a used ebay dome light (dome light, radio bezel, OE bottle jack, random hardware, couple pigtails, relays, etc). Very happy!

 

[superj]

the house has a normal peaked roof. i have changed one window to a new energy efficient window. it took a week to grind out the blocks all the way around to fit the closest standard size window i could find. i basically had to get a grinder and grind outwards 2 inches all the way around the opening, 2 or 3 inches deep into the opening. it sucked and made a huge huge mess. i hung plastic from the ceiling to the floor, and then a second layer further away and dust was still everywhere in the house.

buildzoom. i will check it out


we are actually supposed to hit the junkyard this weekend and see if any cool jeep or ranger stuff is found.

 

[MaicoDoug]

2700sqft house, 1.5 ton AC unit (heatpump) it's all about the foam insulation.

Rangers are becoming harder to find in junk yards. Lately been scrounging the temp & compass Gentex rear view mirror. Been over 100 here in south central Texas, with 60% humaditity.

 

[superj]

oh man, you have low humidity up there. ours is closer to 90% here in south texas.

this is corpus christi right now, from googly.
Humidity: 89%

whats bad about up in the more northern and eastern parts of texas is you guys have so many trees that it blocks the wind and makes it staggeringly hot feeling. at least i have a nice strong ocean breeze which drops the feeling of being microwaved and makes it bearable a little more.

what part are you looking for still? the mirror sensor? i cannot believe its raining today so this weekend won't be a good junkyard weekend but maybe i can go look for you one?

 

[-Nate]

I'd think more would be found in TEXAS junkyards as many were farm trucks.....

Better grab what you can as they're cycling through the California junkyards at a rapid rate, soon they'll al be gone .

More coming I've had some productive days now the weather is *only* 96* F .

 

[MaicoDoug]

Super J-
North Padre, Port A, and others....that's where I like to hang getting myself some in shore fishing. Yes, I'm up here in aggieland out in the country, oak trees for sure. It's been more humid this year than most. Over +100f also. This time of year down there I stay away from that bad stagnant water. Surf fishing not bay stuff for me. S. Padre is a whole different deal. Tropical no doubt. This year I have not made it down there yet, but when I do next time I do, I'll message you and maybe we'll meet up.

Latest junk yard crawl, found 2ea 8", 50w Alpine wolfers. Took awhile, but these have intact surrounds. The mfg made these hard to steal I'm sayin. Came out of Fords. I have all the sensors I need, and there are no more 7 pin dual readout Gentex mirrors either.

 

[superj]

those are all spots near my house, port a is 30 minutes, north padre island national seashore is about 20 mins.

my brother loves fishing and goes daily as we both can walk to the water from our houses. they actually raised the bridges and improved water movement around the laguna madre so its not sitting all stinky anymore but i think you are right about surf fishing being better.

 

[MaicoDoug]

Hooking up my ciggy replacement USB charger thingy, touched one of the wires, and blew out a fuse. Had none, so during my last junkyard crawl, it is always nice to snag some, robbing relentlessly fuse boxes of 30 amp relays & those Ford micro fuses thank you. Even found a 2000 Ranger pieced together with 4 different colored body panels, the under hood had a pristine insulator which had always been missing. The push pins came right out, and so did the insulator. Cleaning will be easy with some tub & tile cleaner and the hose, then toss it in the hot house (green house) it will be dry in 2 hours ready for some black VHT paint. May touch up the "Screaming Yellow D6" paint around the edges first.

The last find of the Gentex compass / temperature mirror has for me a nice find to watching the temp fall into the 80s during these late summer rain storms lately. The 2 8" wolfers I hooked up yesterday. They are going to work great. Going out to look at a pre fab'ed box today with the $$ saved from my scrounging.

At the junkyard you find the nicest people willing to help, lend tools & a quick conversation. Well, at least I do. Found some older Mexican hombre pulling a Windsor 351ci out of a '76 f100. He said he was taking it back to Mexico for his '57 ranchero that he races around the country's highways. I mentioned that Roadkill episode, and he said "that's what I do!"