“Spam” unduly aggrandizes one of the great nuisances of the computer age–one that attaches like mold to this website, as to so many around the world. True Spam is food. Canned, yes. Subject to fun-pokery by the Monty Python crew and others, yes. But it goes well on bread and will outlast the cupboard you put it in. Get struck with the right hankering and it’s flat-out tasty.
Computer spam has less use than the chewed gum you stepped on on the sidewalk–that, at least, might disclose that your work shoes could use a re-sole. Spam is the most empty-headed dreamer’s fantasy of a basis for commerce ever propagated. No one clicks those messages. No one. Not one person. Anywhere. In the world. No matter how bored or lonely or possessed of rash impulses to do useless things.
You can’t validate spam on trivial cost. Gravel is indivisibly cheap, with a value too miniscule to discuss at the grain level. So someone prints your corporate logo on each gritty bit and scatters a kiloton on driveways throughout the country. “A few people,” they insist, “will scoop up a handful, see ‘Compliments of Rudy’s Carpets,’ and reward you with an order.”
R-i-i-i-i-ght. The same people who bought when you put your company name on special safflower seeds so it showed through hood-splats when birds ate it. “Ohhh! I just washed that! —wait, does that say ‘Rudy’s Carpets?’…”
Computer spam has no use, no value, no point. Zero. Nada. It is wasted effort calling the spam provider, receiving the bill, putting postage on it and expending mail-room employee time to carry it from the In bin to the Outgoing Mail bin.
So spare us. Spare yourselves. If you’re going to engage in activity with no productive purpose, take up graffiti on your own buildings. While no one will pay for it, at least someone might look at it–which is more than can be said of spam.
dear motorhead, ? is it worth it to go over to north dakota to get 2 53 gmc 3/4 trucks, price is right they r free, other ?, is can we tow them if the rear axel is free..thanks toolman..
Whether it’s “worth it” depends on your intentions. These are good looking trucks. Assuming you really like them and would like to restore and keep one, it might be worth it TO YOU if they’re complete and one nice one can be built from the two of them within your budget.
If you mean worth it from an investment standpoint–can you collect them, fix up one or both and sell them for a profit beyond your total time and expenses gathering, fixing, and selling them, it’s unlikely. Restoration is very expensive. People who go into it for the satisfaction of seeing a well loved vehicle brought back from the brink exit the process satisfied; people who think restoring a car is a good profit-generation plan don’t know enough about the process.
As to towing, if the tires are good, the brakes aren’t stuck, the axle is free (remove the driveshaft), the wheel bearings aren’t shot and everything is connected–suspension, steering, etc.–and functional, you should be able to flat tow them. Use appropriate tow equipment and check it twice to ensure it’s properly secured.
I’ve had people who don’t know much about collectible cars ask me if a (Insert name of obscure car here) is worth buying and keeping. I always tell them that if they like the car, think it’s neat, and will have fun driving it, go for it. I also tell them to check magazines like Hemmings and Cars And Parts for comparable cars and their prices to make sure they’re getting a fair deal. (Not applicable in this case.) If they’re doing it because they think it’s a good investment that will get them a lot of money some day, forget it. Buy stocks or oil futures. Cars make lousy investments.
The people who DO make money on this sort of thing have dealer’s licenses, own their own trucks and trailers, and do it A LOT to make it worth it. Even then, the profit margin can be pretty slim.
Bob, I’d seriously consider getting a decent trailer and making two trips, if you have a truck that can handle it. If those Jimmies have been sitting for a long time, chances are you’ll have problems with wheel bearings and old tires. At the very least, repack the front bearings and make sure the rear axles have plenty of rear-end lube, as they use it for rear bearing lubrication. If they’ve been sitting for a long time, chances are good the rear pinion seals may have dried out and leaked the grease. Then, when you’re on the road, stop every once in a while to check for over heated axle bearing. Better than having one of your prizes going up in flames on the highway. Or, consider renting one of those two wheel “dolly” type of units.
Dave’s got some good additional thoughts here, Bob. Thanks Dave. Let us know if you get the trucks.
MotorMouth Kris Palmer, freelance auto writer and editor, blogs about vintage cars, the collectible auto scene and just about anything else that goes vroom.
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