The batteries are sealed up pretty well. He did have to dismantle the pack to test which cells where good and bad. He found a few bad ones, but found good one

The batteries are sealed up pretty well. He did have to dismantle the pack to test which cells where good and bad. He found a few bad ones, but found good ones too. The market for OEM Tesla parts is locked down by Tesla, so it has become driven by people dismantling wrecked cars like this. Even questionable parts can command a high price. He could have bought cells and put them in this car, but he would be paying for someone else's labor to dismantle the pack, and he needed additional parts anyway. His plan was to acquire another wrecked car and do the work himself.