What items have you found in vehicles you've bought?

[longroof87]

An expired German passport behind the rear seat in my '04 mustang.

In my '87 colony park, an Easter candy. Recently found an adapter for the radio antenna so that you can use the stock antenna for a CB radio.

[BigMerc96]

My '96: several pairs of those sunglasses you wear over your regular glasses when you're north of 75 years old. A random blanket in the trunk. A readers digest from 2001 and an unopened pack of Dentine Ice of similar vintage. I did later find its build sheet under the trunk carpet.

My '97: Cherry pits, lots and lots of cherry pits. Everywhere. All of the ash trays, glove box, in/on/under the seats, I'm still finding them almost 4.5 years later. I guess the good thing about it is that the car has a sweet cherry smell on hot days.

My '98: Nothing so far. It came from a dealer and had been detailed pretty damn well, so I don't expect to find much. I'mma pull the trunk carpet one day and see if the build sheet is there like it was in my '96.

[79lincolnlover]

The most notable I have found was a Driver's License from the previous owner's 500 lb wife. Scary!

Are you going to replace the seats?

[Rodentkiller]

I found a cassette tape in the player from the P.O otherwise nothing.

[Grand Marquis GT]

Are you going to replace the seats?

Ask Julian. He bought the car

[kishy]

In my '83 2dr, found these:



Old newspapers as far back as 1991, antique hand cleaner, antique Dex2, antique QS 10W30, antique Ford ATF that predates the "Type F" designation so I don't really know what it is.

Oh, and that same car had a vintage GM seatbelt of some type (in a military green) bolted into the trunk floor and wall sized appropriately to strap down an old school tall narrow gas can.

[fordnmerc]

antique Ford ATF that predates the "Type F" designation so I don't really know what it is.

Here is an older can of the same thing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-1966-Ford-ATF-Power-Steering-Fluid-Can-Quart-C1AZ-19582-A-/321849727631

I find it very interesting that back in the 60s Ford was using the same fluid for the transmission and the power steering.

Seems like those cans are a version of type A. The C1 part number is for 1961. I found this:

[Wikipedia states that Type A was replaced because it contained whale oil: "In the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, ATF contained whale oil as a friction modifier. But since whale oil would break down at higher temperatures, cars produced in the 1970s and later would not be able to use whale oil because of the higher engine coolant temperatures employed to reduce emissions and save fuel. A moratorium on whale oil at that time prevented the continued production of older ATF such as the original DEXRON formulation (Type B), and the Type A which preceded it. General Motors began marketing Dexron II Type C and later Dexron II Type D to replace the fluids which were made from whale oil." See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_ ... sion_fluid

If the original Type A contained whale oil, then the Type A that is sold now obviously must lack the whale oil component and therefore is not the same as what was sold 50 years ago.

Ford-O-Matic transmissions that were made between 1951 and 1964 used Type A. Type F was not available until 1967.]

[Tiggie]

I've got a can of that Ford Tranny Fluid also. Always figured it was type F but I guess not.
My family has been using type F in the Old Borg-Warner Cruise-o-Matics without problems.

My 95 Ranger still calls for Type F in the power steering. Dextron makes it sound like a dying turbo. Type F makes quiet. Found that out the hard way.

[DerekTheGreat]

Dextron.. LoL

Dexron II is an equivalent to Type F and works just peachy in my '88 but I do try to hoard Valvoline Type F whenever I find it.

I don't recall finding anything good in any of the cars we've bought recently but I do remember finding old smut magazines in the '69 Plymouth when I got it. That + exterior trim, taillights and a new carb for it that was never installed.

[kishy]

Dexron II is an equivalent to Type F and works just peachy in my '88 but I do try to hoard Valvoline Type F whenever I find it.

Mmm, not what I thought? Per my understanding, Dex2 is the fluid which Ford originally opted to make Mercon be equivalent to. Then Dex3 (as in common Dex/Merc fluids) superseded Dex2, and retained compatibility with Mercon. As Mercon is not equivalent to Type F it seems safe to say Type F is not equivalent to Dex2.

My '83 specs Dex2, as at the time Mercon did not exist yet (AFAIK, but Mercon appears nowhere in that manual).

Type F, OTOH, is the correct ATF for the Box power steering pumps.

With regards to my blue can of ATF (be it whale blubber based or otherwise), I have no intention of trying to use it lol. It makes a nice garage decoration.

[DerekTheGreat]

Type F is what I run when I can but Dexron II is whats currently in my '88. Had shop flush that system + Brake system last year. I started to bitch when he told me he put that in there but then he showed me where it said to use DII as an equivalent, plus the car is going fine with no noises..

[gadget73]

The AOD does not want Type F. Originally it wanted Dexron II, which is thinner than Type F. Mercon is either Dex II or Dex III, or close enough that they're interchangeable. Dexron II hasn't been made in probably 25 years, it was replaced with Dexron III in the late 80s or early 90s. The modern fluid you can buy will say Dexron III / Mercon compatible, since GM and Ford do not actually make either of those fluids anymore. Ferd makes Mercon V, GM is I think Dexron VI now. Cheesler is on ATF +4.

[BlackVic_P71]

In my '05 CVPI I found the missing front door trim and some plastic cuffs in the trunk, the wagon had a very early flip phone behind the glovebox. I got a call from the previous owner of the Sport to see if I found his gun under the drivers seat, apparently he kept it in a box there at some point and couldn't find it...no gun for me though.

[Kodachrome Wolf]

When I removed the back seat in the '97 to do my JBL install, I found some plastic ring (had some turtle-esqe shell coloring), 28¢, a Matco pocket screwdriver, and a sticky note that had some brief instructions of how to possibly operate a GPS.

I found the original build sheet under the trunk liner in rather good shape.

With the owner's manual, all the original receipts from the PO were included along with the original sales receipt. When the PO bought the '97 new, he traded in a '90 LTD CV LX according to that receipt. I did a search on that VIN, and sadly that car finally went off the radar some time in 2007, so I assume it must have been scrapped.

[DerekTheGreat]

I swear the stuff in my car is DII, although I'd have to check the receipts to be sure now.

My 727 likes the ATF +4 stuff. Buttery smooth shifts outta that thing, only I have to manually downshift it. I mean it will down shift one gear if you mash it but not any other time. Something funny going on with it.