I like salvage yards
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
I like salvage yards
I needed three relays, their sockets and a couple of fan connectors so I can build up a harness to run the coolant fans on the LT1 conversion I am doing.
I went to the local U-Pickit yard and got just that from a Pontiac minivan with the heavy duty cooling system... three relays, connectors and fan connectors... $14.50 total. Ain't that a deal???
I went to the local U-Pickit yard and got just that from a Pontiac minivan with the heavy duty cooling system... three relays, connectors and fan connectors... $14.50 total. Ain't that a deal???
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 702
Likes: 2
From: Conyers Ga
I have two "Pull a Part's" by me. You can check their inventory online, find out what aisle the car is in, pay the one dollar fee and have at it. My son's 89 mustang needed an AC compressor. Quotes ranged from 350.00 to over a grand. We went to the salvage yard and found the exact replacement compressor........$19.95.
The trick is knowing which parts are interchangable ie: Power window switches for a mustang are the same as the T-bird and mercury capri. It works for vettes too.
The trick is knowing which parts are interchangable ie: Power window switches for a mustang are the same as the T-bird and mercury capri. It works for vettes too.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
Originally Posted by bogus
I needed three relays, their sockets and a couple of fan connectors so I can build up a harness to run the coolant fans on the LT1 conversion I am doing.
I went to the local U-Pickit yard and got just that from a Pontiac minivan with the heavy duty cooling system... three relays, connectors and fan connectors... $14.50 total. Ain't that a deal???
I went to the local U-Pickit yard and got just that from a Pontiac minivan with the heavy duty cooling system... three relays, connectors and fan connectors... $14.50 total. Ain't that a deal???
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 17,640
Likes: 1
From: Lenoir City TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
That is cool, although there is one place that I stopped at and he told me he had a $25 minimum, I looked at him and said you can keep the part until it rots, it was basically the same thing you were looking at. Most places just charge me ~$5-10 for small items.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,698
Likes: 0
From: Just the Tip... Just to see how it feels...
out here there called Pick-a-part, and yea they can be pretty awesome. Especially when you find a vette that was just dropped off, cause you get 1st pickens.
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
I don't steel... it isn't in my make up... and besides, if the prices are so damned low, why bother? I mean, geez, it's not worth it to get arrested for shoplifting when the product is so damned cheap (this is not to say something expensive is worth steeling, it means I don't buy it).
I need to go back today... forgot to get an OBDII ALDL connector.
I need to go back today... forgot to get an OBDII ALDL connector.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
i hate going to a boneyard, so much to see, so little time.
several that i visit somewhat regularly (ok, all the time) are realistic with prices, take condition and demand into consideration.
under duress, i go to the u-pick...their fee for me to look if they even have the part is disgusting...i've heard some guys say that the ''u-pick'' means ''-u- pick it up and put it in -u- pocket and its -u-rs'' because of the admission fee--i'm not comfy with it and don't do that, but in the basics of law, ''consideration'' (money or other) does entitle you to goods or services..
and then there are the money-takers (i can't find a better name for them) that do NOT know what a part is and try to catagorize it as something that costs 10x as much, and you stand there until the manager gets back (he's never there ??)....u-pick = bad
several that i visit somewhat regularly (ok, all the time) are realistic with prices, take condition and demand into consideration.
under duress, i go to the u-pick...their fee for me to look if they even have the part is disgusting...i've heard some guys say that the ''u-pick'' means ''-u- pick it up and put it in -u- pocket and its -u-rs'' because of the admission fee--i'm not comfy with it and don't do that, but in the basics of law, ''consideration'' (money or other) does entitle you to goods or services..
and then there are the money-takers (i can't find a better name for them) that do NOT know what a part is and try to catagorize it as something that costs 10x as much, and you stand there until the manager gets back (he's never there ??)....u-pick = bad
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
I have been to bad salvage yards in the past... there is one in Lincoln, Delaware that has been around for years... they have Jesus all over their ads and stuff... but went in there once, for a set of marker lights for a buds Mustang II (don't ask). They offered them at HALF RETAIL!!!! $30.00 EACH for these stupid lights.
They tried to sell me 2 USED bulbs for $1.00!!!! Everything was left on the counter and we left.
This place charges $2.00 to get in... that's it... so from my perspective, this is a good place.
They tried to sell me 2 USED bulbs for $1.00!!!! Everything was left on the counter and we left.
This place charges $2.00 to get in... that's it... so from my perspective, this is a good place.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,196
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Originally Posted by bogus
I don't steel... it isn't in my make up... and besides, if the prices are so damned low, why bother? I mean, geez, it's not worth it to get arrested for shoplifting when the product is so damned cheap (this is not to say something expensive is worth steeling, it means I don't buy it).
I need to go back today... forgot to get an OBDII ALDL connector.
I need to go back today... forgot to get an OBDII ALDL connector.
I don't either, but things like bus fuses? they don't even have prices on those and nobody buys those things. or a AC control **** that I don't even know if it will work? yeah... its already trash anyway. I walked up to them once with a handful of bus fuses, and they said.. "eh.. just take them, those arent even worth our time to ring up." then they rang up the other junk I pulled.
Junkyards make their money off the large items and main parts from the cars, not all the teeny little relays or fuses. I walked out of there once
I did buy a factory spoiler for my prelude for $20 though last month. I sanded it down and have yet to mount it.
I found a NICE set of polk speakers i paid $5 for once.. found that in a totally pimped out Toyota Custom Van that hadn't been picked over yet. I still have those somewhere.
Junkyards are about as fun as going to garage sales... you never know what you will find!
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 444
Likes: 2
From: Dardenne Prairie Mo
Took my son to our local bone yard for the first time about three months ago. Spent about three hours! Always a blast. Found tons of stuff for low buck. Every once and a while you see a oldie there.
Now they charge a buck to get in. All the cheap thrills are coming to an end!
Now they charge a buck to get in. All the cheap thrills are coming to an end!
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
From: Elkton MD
Bone yards
Got a 500+ cube Caddy Quadrajet for my son's 425 cube Olds (65) for $25 and almost tore my pocket off getting the cash out. It ran low 12's.
Two doors (with matching paint) for the Monza (a Vega in disguise).
Few decades earlier got a pair of '68 Camaro buckets out of the back of a pick-up (bolted in like a Subaru Brat). Even the frame was out of the pickup and the junk jockey thought he had me for $10 when he said they had to be removed by the buyer. The pickup was sitting in 10" of mud and the seats were bolted to the bed.
There was a pickle fork in my tool box that worked very well as a can opener on the bed. Drove home with two buckets and half a pick up bed. All for $10
If you can relate to these parts, you're older than dirt (like me). Those were the days!
Two doors (with matching paint) for the Monza (a Vega in disguise).
Few decades earlier got a pair of '68 Camaro buckets out of the back of a pick-up (bolted in like a Subaru Brat). Even the frame was out of the pickup and the junk jockey thought he had me for $10 when he said they had to be removed by the buyer. The pickup was sitting in 10" of mud and the seats were bolted to the bed.
There was a pickle fork in my tool box that worked very well as a can opener on the bed. Drove home with two buckets and half a pick up bed. All for $10
If you can relate to these parts, you're older than dirt (like me). Those were the days!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Ok, you are from the DelMarVa... go a down MD313 to Goldsboro... head east on 287, and just before the MD/DE line, take a quick right toward Holiday Park... there lies Mitchells.
I spent many a Saturday in my youth scrounging from that place.
From Mitchells, head to Greensboro, and through town... just a little west of town, and south, past the old silos, tale a left onto Holly Rd, a little up on the right, there is a place called Foy's. All sorts of old cars. It's been 20 years since I was there, but it was like a ratty car show... so much stuff from the 1950s and 60s... damn... just crazy.
I don't know if I am on the same page as you, chronologically (I am 41), but I am with you on the bargain level!
I spent many a Saturday in my youth scrounging from that place.
From Mitchells, head to Greensboro, and through town... just a little west of town, and south, past the old silos, tale a left onto Holly Rd, a little up on the right, there is a place called Foy's. All sorts of old cars. It's been 20 years since I was there, but it was like a ratty car show... so much stuff from the 1950s and 60s... damn... just crazy.
I don't know if I am on the same page as you, chronologically (I am 41), but I am with you on the bargain level!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
Just visited my local Pick and Pull last week and bought a cruise control servo off a 1990 Pontiac Tempest for five bucks.
Worked fine on my son's 1996 LT1 Vette.
Great places to save $$.
Jake
Worked fine on my son's 1996 LT1 Vette.
Great places to save $$.
Jake