98 V70 -- Junkyard Review -- Harry's U-Pull It

Post by **E Showell** » 06 Jun 2015, 04:50

So, my brother and I spent the better part of a day at Harry's U Pull it in West Hazelton, Pa yesterday. I scored a bunch of parts for the various 70 series vehicles in the fleet and he picked up a bumper cover and interior door panel for his car.

Here are my impressions: The yard is vast, but it is comprised mostly of 10+ year old vehicles -- the ones with just enough age/mileage on them so one deer hit equals a totaling by the insurance company. If you are looking for 2004 or newer Volvo parts here, you're going to have a hard time finding anything. They post inventory online though, so you can search it before you leave home to determine what your prospects might be. That having been said, the inventory only identifies vehicles by year, type and color (most of the time -- sometimes no color is available). Take the color descriptions with a grain of salt. One S70 they had listed in inventory as "black" was really a very dark pearlescent gray, so if you are looking for exterior body panels and relying on their color description, you might find that you have made the trip for nothing.

Most of the engine compartments were well picked over, although it would have been possible to grab one complete engine from the 5 vehicles I surveyed -- 3 S70s and two V70s in the '98-2000 range.

Body panels are a hit or miss proposition. There were a few good doors and a trunk lid/tailgate or two. A good hood or two and a few good fenders, but a lot of the cars ended up there for accident damage that tended to include one or more body panels.

Seats are also a hit or miss proposition. You might get lucky and find something in decent condition, but they're likely to be as beat as the 15 year old seats in your car. I saw one nice sunroof glass. There was no high end stereo equipment in any car I saw -- mostly HU SC 816s.

While it is tough to find wheels (most cars I saw had one or no wheels on them), I did manage to score three very good alloy wheels for the S70 at $30 ea. (includes a $10 core charge) -- but since I am not looking to exchange my existing wheels (rather looking for wheels to mount snow tires on) I'll not be recouping the core. The same wheels would have been at least $75 ea. from Erie Vovo plus shipping, so the wheels were a good score. I was also hit with a $19+ "environmental fee" which I assume was for disposal of the tires my brother removed from the wheels -- you can buy the wheels with the tires on them for an additional $20, I believe, but the tires were shot and I did not want them. They have a tire machine near the pay window and will rent the necessary accessory tools, bead breaker, etc. for $20, that is refunded when you return the tools.

I saw some good glass. Headlights were few and far between as were ECUs, MAFs, Relays/Fuses. I saw a starter or two and some alternators and AC compressors, but most of that type of stuff was gone from engine compartments. I scored two cruise control stalks and a fistful of door marker lights -- the red ones on the interior doors that warn other drivers that you have a door open. I don't know about you, but mine seem to break rather easily -- maybe from having doors slammed on seat belts by over exuberant teens. Electrical switches for windows and dash switches for defrost, sunroof, TRACS, etc. seemed somewhat abundant. Interior door panels were available, but good ones were the exception. I scored a driver's side sun visor for $5.50 a good front fender for $35 and two bumper covers for $38 ea. The bumpers would have been more if I had chosen to leave the styrofoam impact absorber and aluminum rail in place.

Back to the yard itself -- If you are planning on getting bulky items, they will rent you a cart for $2/hr. You pay with a $20 and they deduct the hourly rental at the end when you return the cart. Don't lose your receipt since it is time-stamped. There is a hot dog/sandwich cart in the parking lot where you can get lunch/drinks as well as a soda machine inside the gate.

Bring sunscreen and wear comfortable shoes. Long pants and a long sleeve shirt are a good idea to protect yourself from miscellaneous scrapes and too much sun, although on a hot day, you might suffer a little.

Jacks, sandals, torches, grinder are not permitted in the yard. Most vehicles are elevated on welded together wheels so you can get at stuff on the underside if you choose. It was handy to have one wagon elevated so I could remove the rear bumper cover.

Bring your own tools. They will check your toolboxes on the way in and out. Entry fee to the yard is $2.00. They stamp your hand and you are allowed unlimited reentry (but I sweated off the stamp and had to get re-stamped). There are two port-potties in the parking lot. Working on your vehicles in the lot is not permitted.

They have additional locations in Pennsburg and Allentown, but I headed for West Hazelton since it seemed to have the most extensive Volvo inventory of all the yards and I was primarily after Volvo stuff.

Post by **abscate** » 06 Jun 2015, 04:58

Nice...and I hope we can get your cruise working soon!

PeterI · Post by **PeterI** » 06 Jun 2015, 12:53

Our cheap U pull it yard in Colorado is Colorado Auto Parts, On Radcliffe Ave, off Santa Fe Dr in Englewood. Many Volvos there now - S70, V70, xc, 850.
Best of luck on your projects.

Pete

Post by **abscate** » 01 Oct 2019, 06:42

While it is tough to find wheels (most cars I saw had one or no wheels on them), I did manage to score three very good alloy wheels for the S70 at $30 ea. (includes a $10 core charge) -- but since I am not looking to exchange my existing wheels (rather looking for wheels to mount snow tires on) I'll not be recouping the core. The same wheels would have been at least $75 ea. from Erie Vovo plus shipping, so the wheels were a good score. I was also hit with a $19+ "environmental fee" which I assume was for disposal of the tires my brother removed from the wheels -- you can buy the wheels with the tires on them for an additional $20, I believe, but the tires were shot and I did not want them. They have a tire machine near the pay window and will rent the necessary accessory tools, bead breaker, etc. for $20, that is refunded when you return the tools.

A very good friend of mine avoided these charges in Buffalo junkyards by bringing a saw/crowbar and cutting the tires off the wheels at the car. Now even easier with a cordless sawzall.

Mod action - sent this post around the P2 and P80 Fora for search ability. Left breadcrumbs in Classifieds, P2 P80

Post by **oragex** » 01 Oct 2019, 08:59

Don't forget a good bottle of water in summer days. The place where I go (Canada) also has an employee that for a fee will come and remove any part for you - including chopping a car in half if needed.

Post by **abscate** » 01 Oct 2019, 09:17

oragex wrote: ↑01 Oct 2019, 08:59 Don't forget a good bottle of water in summer days. The place where I go (Canada) also has an employee that for a fee will come and remove any part for you - including chopping a car in half if needed.

That would be awesome. I haven't figured out how you get an engine out of Harrys if you have to hand carry your tools in.

Post by **erikv11** » 01 Oct 2019, 09:43

The U-pull places in Minneapolis have a mobile cherry-picker rig they will push to the car for you if you want to pull the engine.

Post by **E Showell** » 01 Oct 2019, 11:55

Same for Harry's in Allentown, although I bet they rent it to you for your use.

Post by **E Showell** » 01 Oct 2019, 12:53

I'm pretty sure they'd bust you on the tire removal thing since I have yet to see a car in the yard with wheels and no tires.

Post by **E Showell** » 01 Oct 2019, 12:56

I'm pretty sure they'd bust you on the tire removal thing since I have yet to see a car in the yard with wheels and no tires.