So I am parting out 8 fiero's and I plan on pretty much stripping them to nothing and selling everything. Trying to decide if could make more money if I sold refinished parts. I have the ability to strip any parts and powder coat to like new. I it worth it though and what parts should I do? Is it worth doing all the suspension and engine bay parts so people would have like new parts to buy?
I know no one likes buying rusty parts so that why I'm asking and I have dozens of sets ofcontrol arms, spindles, valve covers, intakes and other engine parts that would be redone.
I would be happy if parts that I was buying were degreased, and/or maybe run through a parts cleaner. Maybe knock off any loose rust with a wire wheel. Some folks will bead blast parts. That's a nice touch, as long as no beads or sand can get lodged inside things (like intake manifolds and such.) I wouldn't worry about refinishing them, though. Unless it's valve covers or an upper plenum. Maybe not even then.
Control arms and knuckles - let the buyers worry about paint if they want.
While back bought a Fiero 5spd shifter off eBay for $40... Was functional fine,but a little rusty and dirty. I cleaned it up for a project I was going to do .... but never did. 2 years later I listed it back on ebay...... got OVER $300 for it!!!! A clean part will definitely out sell a dirty one...
Some parts should be handled certain ways, and nobody agrees with all practices. You want to make more money? Offer the parts as-is. Then mention a price for cleaning and powder coating. That way no part gets altered unless the buyer wants it to be. You'll attract much more interest this way, especially if you offer various colors for powder coating. This is exactly the kind of vendor I like most. A choice between original, untouched equipment, or original with extra shine
Finishing some parts cause problems... Chrome etc on an alternator might look "cool" to some but can trap heat when running them. Heat can fry electronics and lowers efficiency of the windings. SI alt's have poor efficiency to start with.
You have to be careful clean parts too. Most oil/grease, Chemicals and solvents can attack plastics and "rubber..." Could eat them, swell, make them brittle, etc.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
I was always puzzled by people selling used parts here that were filthy dirty and looked like they spent the last 10 years buried underground. I've passed on parts I would liked to bought because they were so filthy I couldn't see the condition of the part. Even if it sat in a garage for years and is covered in cobwebs, at least clean it up so it looks better. I wouldn't care about refinishing as I'd rather do that myself, but at least make the part look nicer.
Hey boysatt, I think your idea of reselling "cleaned up " used Fiero parts is a great idea. I would gladly pay a fair price for original factory parts, and pay even more if all the grime was removed, and a nice coat of paint was applied. Color depending on part, of corse. Maybe you might want to consider offering a base price for the used part, and an additional cost for it being reconditioned. Whatever you decide, I think its a very good idea, and hope to see you following thru.
Harbor Freight has a nice smaller sized parts blasting cabinet at a decent price. Using baking soda for blasting works good and doesn't leave debris that can affect use. Just a thought anyway.
Originally posted by dratts: Why would chrome cause heat retention on an alternator?
Chrome and most other finish can reduces Aluminum case dumping heat. Even polishing can reduce heat transfer to air outside of case, worse many will clear coat to keep them shiny.
Many forget or don't know that Alt's case is also Heatsink for the Diodes and Regulator. Color and finish can have an effect on any heatsink. Black anodize finish on most Heatsinks for other application is not just to make them look better. Black dump heat faster, Anodize protect but doesn't hurt thermal performance like chrome, paint, or powder coat.
Cases for ECM/PCM are often heatsink for driver circuitry etc.
Even polishing can reduce heat transfer to air outside of case...
To expound (I like that word) on what Ogre said, polishing greatly decreases the surface area. The greater area, the better the heat disbursement. If you look at any raw aluminum (or aluminium for those on the other side of the pond), you'll see that it's bumpy (and pitted). Polishing removes all the bumps. That's a TON of surface area. Point A to B in the desert might be a mile. The same distance (as the crow flies) in the mountains might be 100 miles. (You know what I mean.)
I was always puzzled by people selling used parts here that were filthy dirty and looked like they spent the last 10 years buried underground. I've passed on parts I would liked to bought because they were so filthy I couldn't see the condition of the part. Even if it sat in a garage for years and is covered in cobwebs, at least clean it up so it looks better. I wouldn't care about refinishing as I'd rather do that myself, but at least make the part look nicer.
There is a guy selling old rusty ashtrays on ebay for more than I can get new ones.
I was always puzzled by people selling used parts here that were filthy dirty and looked like they spent the last 10 years buried underground.
Like this:
I bought a Plenum and valve covers from a member on here, and this is what they looked like after I blew off most of the grass and spider webs. I can not understand people sending out parts like that. Anything I have sold on here, has at least been cleaned well, and most of the time painted.
Well that's most likely what I will do later this summer after I strip my cars I will blast parts and have stuff powder coated and sell stuff in like new condition. Just takes a little extra time, I already have a commercial sand blast cabinet and I have a deal worked out with a powder coating place for $5 per part with a option of 7 different colors.