How do you pull parts from junkyards? Topic is solved

[FireFox31]

How do you pull parts from junkyards? Specifically, do you bring a jack and stands to lift cars to get parts underneath? Do you bring a battery to test electrical parts (ie: ETM)? Or do you pay the yard to pull them for you and hope they're good?

How do you evaluate the car at a junkyard before driving all the way there and finding it among the mess? Do you get notifications when new ones arrive?

The one time I tried pulling parts, the cars were all on muddy ground (full of toxic fluids?) and stacked on top of each other. I could only get some underside parts from the upper car (without a jack) and interior/engine parts from the lower (without a ladder). I went because car-part.com told me a C70 still had its headlights, but of course they were gone. All of that driving and walking around was a waste.

I need some brake lines (for those sweet brass fittings) and would like a clean set of bumpers. I can't imagine how I'd remove those from a car flat on muddy ground which a jack might just sink in to.

[volvolugnut]

Your experience is what I expect in local junk yards. Self service in the dirt. Bring your own tools. At your own risk. Nothing online to look at inventory.

Some places must have better conditions, but I have not seen them.

volvolugnut

[BlackBart]

I agree not the most productive exercise.

You might check to see if there are some more "salvage" yards near you, where parts are pulled and inventoried on shelves (inside if it's a good one). Or one of those yards that has a decent online presence and will price and ship you a part. Still cheaper than new.

[Sveedy]

Almost sounds like your in a time machine. I remember many years ago yards were like that. But for the last 40 years ago or so every yard I've been to has the cars sitting up on welded wheel rims, so not only can you access everything, but the car is stable. Nothing is stacked. That has an impact on their insurance. Also all fluids are drained before the car is put in the yard; EPA has been on that stuff, again for many years. They also won't let you bring certain things into the yard; Torches, grinders, anything that could start a fire.
In your case, I'd bring a high-lift jack and find things to put under the car, like wheels/ tires to support. Electrical stuff is usually guaranteed, so you can take it home and see if it works. If not , then they will give you another to try. And in this day and age they usually have their stock listed on-line, but seeing as your in a time machine......

Apparently it's a large time machine

[duke1]

hi here in the uk its next to impossible finding a scrap yard that is not "off the shelf" theres 1 good thing about that and thats they have certain standards at the good ones but bad side is the price,often its cheaper to buy new than from breakers an example is radiator for the 855 scrapyard want £50 for a used one,new can be bought for £70 or so with a 5 year warranty,all the scrapyard says is if it leaks bring it back so with the amount of effort involved a fools errand.
i miss the cars stacked everywhere and spending hours climbing about like some demented monkey trying to remove the rear window from a datsun violet perched on top of 2-3 other cars,and i got it in one piece!cheers

[scot850]

Up here we are the same. That does not mean that yards might still exist like that.
All cars are up on welded wheel stands, fluids removed for the most part. What does tick me off is they puncture gas tanks, and even the brake fluid container!

I still take a mat or tarp to lie on as although they use gravel it is neither comfortable to lie on and often grimy when wet where some residual fluids may have leaked over many years.

Floor jacks are a no-no in case you drop the car one you or someone else. Nor are torches. This did cause me some confusion when I first went as in UK a torch is a flashlight not a gas powered flame tool!

Our local junkyards have a return policy over 30 days and mark the parts to ID them. You can exchange or get a sore credit for the value. Just have to keep the receipt!

All they give you is a car ID, but no actual parts list as it is too hard to track if they have multiple vehicles.

In your part of the world you have Erie Vo-Vo who pull the parts and guarantee them and specialise in Volvo.

Neil.

[Sveedy]

Another downside of them here - they actually charge you an entrance fee ! $2 They don't even credit you that when you buy something. Seems like gouging to me. But I'm sure they'd say its to make up for shrinkage. Yea right. All those little nuts, bolts, bulbs etc that end in your tool box amounts to $2 for every person that goes in. And to top it off, the prices have gone way up over the last year or so. But I still love going out and wandering around. Never know what you'll find.

[FireFox31]

Thanks for the tips. I will try to visit a few more junkyards to see if they are any better. One near me appears to have each car on 6x6 boards, secure and high off the ground for underside access. I'm glad to hear you say that jacks aren't allowed because I can't imagine taking that risk.

How do you monitor local junkyards for new cars which meet your criteria? To find green bumpers and doors, I could search car-part.com each week.

Who here visits local junkyards just to see what's new and interesting?

[abscate]

That bedazzled car was worth $2 to just see it.

Watch out for your tools! Don’t get “ spinnered”

[scot850]

When there was a lot of Volvos in the parts yards around here, I used to go maybe once a month to just see what there was and sometimes pick up a few parts I didn't really need, but I knew they were hard to find or expensive to buy new.

I still have a lot of those parts and maybe one day I will pass them along when I find time to. I already do that occasionally and it feels great to be able to help out a fellow enthusiast.

It is also great to occasionally find an unusual car like the one above.

Neil.