What Are My Options?
 

Here's my dilemma - I still have my original 87 300D that was t-boned and totaled last year. Even though it was smashed in past the tire on the rear passenger side, it's still mobile at low speed - body was warped all to heck. Engine and drivetrain were unhurt, 3 of the doors and better than 75% of the interior untouched.

Had 150K miles on it when it was hit. Engine is good and strong, runs smooth with no nailing or any leaks, wouldn't go above 85 C normal driving. Tranny had just had all the external seals replaced a couple months prior, shifted nice and smooth, along with new flex discs and center bearing on driveshaft. New vacuum pump and belt tensioner, new glow plugs, new cruise amp, all new vacuum pods behind the dash, rotors, shocks, tires, etc - you get the picture.

The replacement 87 I picked up a few weeks later with over 200K on it is in need of almost the same maintenance.

If I weree still living and working in NC, it would be a simple matter to just transfer all the parts over between the cars where I was residing - on my own property out on a rural road.

However, 3 months after getting the replacement 87, I was forced to move to San Antonio to find another job after Freightliner had a massive layoff. For the time being, I'm living in an apartment complex in San Antonio - which has no garage or place to work on a second car, much less store a wrecked parts car.

Other than simply moving the second 87 down here, paying for all new parts, and paying for a shop to do the work - is there any type of auto storage place, where i could at least park the wrecked 87, and would allow you to go in and work on/pull parts off of it without giving you any grief? At least that way, I could save a substantial amount on parts, even if I have to have a shop install the parts on the 2nd 87.

Even better would be a place where I could store the two of them side by side, and work on them as time allowed.

Anyone know of any facility like this in the San Antonio area? Also, if you have any ideas other than what I've mentioned above, I'm all ears.

For the time being, both cars are still parked in NC on my property, with immediate family living next door driving the 2nd 87 on occasion.

I have seen adds for garages for rent. Try looking on the web or CL or even see if there is a repair shop that would rent some space.

Check out the self storage units. I have a 12x30 unit that allows two cars end to end and 120V power is available with a 20' extension cord. Sounds like what you need. I pay $125/month.

Are you ex-military? If so, check with MWR of your nearest base. When I worked on a military base, they had service bays that could be rented. They also had storage....but it was separate from MWR.

2nd the storage place. Just get one big enough to work in, take your tools & swap away. You could strip one car then move the other in for the swap or get a place big enough for both. They come apart fast if you have air.

Any chance of you renting a house with a garage instead of an appt?

I have looked at that option. One, it seems very few houses for rent down here offer even a one car garage. Two, the ones that do, the majority look to be in, shall we say, the "less desireable" parts of town and in questionable repair. Three, the ones that are in a decent neighborhood and not over a half-century old cost nearly double what the apartment does. Four, from talking with others at work, those that own their own house or rent one are getting nailed with $200 to $400 electric bills during the summer - not uncommon to have 100+ F temps for weeks at a time down here.

Might be one other option. I'm going to talk with a local indy shop that seems to come highly recommended. Might be able to strike a deal along the lines of keeping both cars at his shop until all the parts worth transferring are taken care of, then all the stuff I won't be able to make use of or keep - Ie, major body parts like hood, doors, rear diff, seats, upholestry panels, etc - he can sell off of the wrecked one for whatever profit he can get.