GRM Challenge Budget Question: Trash Picking

This may be a strange question, but I'm getting to the point with my challenge build that I need to begin thinking about metal work on the car. The obvious route is to go down to my steel supply and get some nice new metal, but I saw a neighbor put out a busted file cabinet this morning for trash.

File cabinets are made from metal... If I trash pick a file cabinet and decompose it to use the sheet metal is this free? File cabinets seem to be a common trash item everywhere.

Thoughts?

FWIW, think box flares.

It's free. File cabinet flares have already made it to the Challenge.

Refrigerator floor boards and stainless sink gas tank have been there,too.

I've got one in my basement for free, but i'm sure shipping it from chicago to you would more than zero out the free effect.

EDIT: I actually have a broken dryer too. Forgot about that one.

We've had people cannibalize washers and dryers for sheetmetal, too.

Yep the night before trash day is great for old washers and dryers.

i picked several trash items that made it onto my $2015 car at $0 budget hit.

I found a bicycle in the trash I fixed it then traded it for my 2014 challenge car. I didnt put the bicycle in my budget lol.

Now we're talking. THIS is Grassroots Motorsports!

The hood bump on the Wreck Racing MG Midget is filing cabinet.

The pre-compressor intake plumbing was some kind of industrial metal flex hose.

The shifter for the 1UZ V8 Miata was a sink faucet handle.

The splitter on the Miata was a campus parking sign that was discarded due to vandalism.

DeadSkunk wrote: Refrigerator floor boards and stainless sink gas tank have been there,too.

Are there images of the gas tank somewhere? I'd love to see that one!

Quick google. Team gutty's awd honda civic. Two kitchen sink halves welded together.

Why dumpster dive when you could dumpster drive?

i've also picked up wheels, tires, a door, a brand new 49-54 chevy power brake pedal assembly, and countless other auto parts on trash night. i need to start going out again.

also, my shifter handle on the datsun challenge car is a discarded clear acrylic towel bar from a fiberglass shower enclosure. my door panels are an aluminum wheel tub kit that was damaged in shipping and given to me before it was put out for the trash.

another good find is a steel security storm door. they have nice 1/2x1/2 and 1x1 1/2 steel tubes and can be cut into very usable lengths of both.

maschinenbau wrote: The splitter on the Miata was a campus parking sign that was discarded due to vandalism.

Now that right there is pure genius - the fines and lawyer fees from your vandalism charges don't count toward your Challenge budget either!

Slightly off topic.

Speaking of appliance sheet metal. Who was it that was scratch building the 30s Datsun roadster out of them? I haven't seen anything from him lately.

Toyman01 wrote: Slightly off topic. Speaking of appliance sheet metal. Who was it that was scratch building the 30s Datsun roadster out of them? I haven't seen anything from him lately.

joeyM