Challenge budget questions about trash

So, after stripping the nuked harness out of the duster, and throwing it in the trash can, I pulled it back out. You see, there's still quite a bit of good left in it. The wiring harness in the challenge car is beyond fubar. So, my thoughts are to take the best of both and make one. Since I was throwing the old harness from the duster away, it would have been free to anyone digging in my trash can. Does this mean that it's free to me?

Unless the duster cost is already in your budget, I'd say short answer is no. It's not free because it was yours already.

But if it's junk I'd say find out what the going rate for it is at a local metals recycler and do a before and after weight to determine value. I think you will find its still very cheap.

Ok. That's why I am asking. Don't want to do anything questionable.

And no, leftover duster parts aren't in the challenge car budget. But I'm willing to put in what is needed when I use it. Just don't want to add money that I don't have to.

Yeah, it's FMV if you use it on your challenge car. That way, I can't drop my LS1 in the trash, then pick it out an hour later for free.

Tom Suddard wrote: Yeah, it's FMV if you use it on your challenge car. That way, I can't drop my LS1 in the trash, then pick it out an hour later for free.

unless I get to your trash in less than an hour... then its "free" to me

Tom Suddard wrote: Yeah, it's FMV if you use it on your challenge car. That way, I can't drop my LS1 in the trash, then pick it out an hour later for free.

But it is FMV for used wires.... May not be $0, but it sure aint worth much.

So, would a line item for $5 of used wiring and a picture of a nuked harness laying on the shop floor suffice? Scrap of "dirty copper" is currently .10 a lb in albemarle, and I figuring about 20lb.

So, if I dig it out of another persons trash, it's free. If I dig it out of my own it's FMV.

Most yards I go to let you pull all the wire you want and they don't care, unless it is a full complete harness.. Maybe FMV is the door cost for the salvage yard if it is just pieces and bits?

If you were closer I'd give you an old harness to rip up.

Edit: After checking eBay sold listings to gauge FMV I think I should sell old wiring harnesses.