cheap and easy fab/elec ideas for newer guys

[454Sub]

So I spent all day yesterday in the junkyard and picked up a xj steering shaft, and a set of windstar fans for a grand total of 32$. The xj install went flawless, except the factory column stub needed a slot grinded in it for the xj pinch bolt. No biggie. I will say its a worthwhile upgrade as mine steers like a car now. But onwards, now the fans were a pain the entire way. I'm not sure if its related to my BB or not. But the way I seen everyone install them wouldn't even come close to fitting, as one fan has a soda can shaped motor, it was all in the belt. so I had to flip them over and they barely fit that way as well. It could be the motor, as I pieced the belt drive together, or the fact I shoehorned the biggest radiator chevy ever produced and made mounts for it to get that to fit. All in all, now they are both installed and I recommend the upgrades, the fans are a ton quieter than my 2 single elect fans I had before, the shroud really helps, and it was cheap. The xj shaft really helps and the steering is much crisper than before. The fans are a great way to learn some fab and metal work plus electrical for someone just starting, as iv done this awhile and it wasn't to hard or time consuming for me, someone with less know how would learn quite a bit, and its cheap on top of it. This could be a good starting point for someone new to mechanical work, just some ideas

 

[Minnesota]

Right on. I just grabbed a grip of XJ shafts a couple weekends ago and will be doing a 'Burb and my K5. The third one was for my buddy's '96 Roadmaster. Uses the same shaft. All the shafts were in Jeeps with the steering columns already removed, so one-bolt-and-out.

There were also two 89-91 'Burbs there, so I scored a bunch of mint trim/lighting bits aaaaannnd... a pair and a half of power mirrors. I was freaking running back to the truck for tools once I saw those!

 

[Brian_D]

Right on. I just grabbed a grip of XJ shafts a couple weekends ago and will be doing a 'Burb and my K5. The third one was for my buddy's '96 Roadmaster. Uses the same shaft. All the shafts were in Jeeps with the steering columns already removed, so one-bolt-and-out.

There were also two 89-91 'Burbs there, so I scored a bunch of mint trim/lighting bits aaaaannnd... a pair and a half of power mirrors. I was freaking running back to the truck for tools once I saw those!

I cannot wait to get to the junk yard, so siked on finding gems.

 

[Greg Ducato]

Nice scores!!

 

[Jester1]

Makes me miss pick a part. Wish we had one here.

 

[454Sub]

Yea, I have over 10 within 20min from me, all pick and pull style. 1 of them is even only for vehicles 10yrs and newer, so lots and lots of new camaros, stangs and the like filling it up. But with that comes way less places to wheel compared to some of you, so it balances out i guess.