I collect hundreds of individual parts required for a particular project. Then I have several projects that are in various stages so i have an inventory in thousands. I put them in different parts bins , mark and label them and hope that all goes smoothly when I need those parts. However every so often one or more of the parts go AWOL and the project can go on hold.
I had purchased a genuine NOS reserve fuel tap for the Oval years ago and had stored it safely ..too safe it appears! I also bought a NOS fuel tank and when the time came to mate the two the fuel tap went into hiding. The engine was rebuilt and installed after bench testing but could not be started in the car because the fuel tank was not complete. It has taken me more than a month to find the fuel tap and the car is sitting under the covers waiting.
The culprit was found hiding in the box of a side view mirror and is going to be fitted to the fuel tank without further delay and we will be a step closer to driving the car on the road.