Article idea: Junkyards for beginners

I've been messing with cars for over 15 years, but it took me until this past weekend to make my first ever trip to a self-service auto wrecking yard. I planned ahead, made a list of the cars I wanted to see, took tools, water, hat, a wagon, etc. I didn't have any major problems, but I did make one mistake: I wish I had brought a magnet (not always easy to tell aluminum from steel).

Has GRM run a "junk yarding for first-timers" kind of article in the past? If not, it might be a help for others like me.

Or if it's not right for the magazine, maybe people just want to share their tips here.

I think that would be a good article, but not drug out into a series of articles. Everything you need to know can be answered here or in one, well written article.

It could be right for the mag. maybe they could tie it to a Challenge Build.

I've come full circle and have not been to a junkyard in 3 years. My life is better because of this.

But Did you learn anything before you quit Going....Besides, your place is likely like mine (a small Salvage yard), and if you did need something now you know Exactly where to get it, Lol, like in the back of the Shop. it used to be I could find Gobs of stuff I wanted, but in 3 years It's all like New stuff, and I don't need much newer than 20 years Old.

Thanks for the idea. Let me see what we can do. I have some ideas.

Best advice:

If you're not going for something heavy and specific, travel light. My standard junkyarding toolbag weighs about 8 lbs. If I need bigger/more tools because I find a good surprise, I can always go back to the car for more tools.

The two things we tend to forget are pry tools and diagonal cutters.

GTXVette wrote: But Did you learn anything before you quit Going....Besides, your place is likely like mine (a small Salvage yard), and if you did need something now you know Exactly where to get it, Lol, like in the back of the Shop. it used to be I could find Gobs of stuff I wanted, but in 3 years It's all like New stuff, and I don't need much newer than 20 years Old.

My problem was "wow thats rare and cheap i'm grabbing it"

Now my garage is filled with rare cheap crap and with pull a part prices going up and cars i need stuff for becoming more obscure i can get better deals or actually find what i need online. Junkyarding was awesome when i was 22 trying to keep a lumina and an 88 silverado on the road. I can say though that i purchased 0 parts for my challenge cars at junkyards. I know if i was in the right place at the right time and willing to break my back for a few hours i could get a $199 4.8. But it was easier to get an already pulled one for $250 on craigslist.

My sentiments Exactly, A shop full of stuff I thought I wanted but don't really need, and most of it requires another trip to Make It "Complete" but they didn't have pull ur Part's untill I was in My 50's,so I loved that! It could be a fun article.

I would like to see part of an article covering the removal of major powertrain components in the yard. I want to go grab a transmission for my DD, but I'm not sure how one goes about doing that. Do I need to rent a hoist from the yard or something? What additional things do I need to bring? How do I ensure I don't forget any tools that are critical? How do I keep myself safe if I have to crawl under a car thats supported by sitting on steel wheels on the pinch welds?

ProDarwin wrote: How do I keep myself safe if I have to crawl under a car thats supported by sitting on steel wheels on the pinch welds?

Wasp killer. Two cans.

ProDarwin wrote: I would like to see part of an article covering the removal of major powertrain components in the yard. I want to go grab a transmission for my DD, but I'm not sure how one goes about doing that. Do I need to rent a hoist from the yard or something? What additional things do I need to bring? How do I ensure I don't forget any tools that are critical? How do I keep myself safe if I have to crawl under a car thats supported by sitting on steel wheels on the pinch welds?

From someone who removed a 4L80e in 30 minutes and a chevelle rear axle in 25, a cordless sawzall is a junkyarder's best friend. I never cut anything that was still good. i used to take a 2 wheeler with ratchet straps. I put my toolbox on it and used straps to secure parts.

I could write a book on junkyard hunting and what works for me! It helps that I often have 3 projects at once and several friends in the same boat. I usually go on $100 days with lists from everyone and resell the parts to my buddies for enough cash to pay for the whole trip and a bit of profit. Sometimes the rare parts do show up and snag those too! Yeah, I found the pristine dash for my 96 Dodge truck!!

Bruce

The only time I ever went to a junkyard everything ended up being way more expensive than I thought it would be. Like 50% of new rockauto prices. That really soured me from the whole experience. And their parts pricers seemed to be trained to break everything down to a component level for maximum price gouging. "Oh you have an extra bolt and an electrical connector on this turbo encabulator, that'll be an extra $2." This was an LKQ yard. Perhaps smaller locally owned yards would be cheaper?

In reply to freetors:

The way I see it, anything that fits in my pockets gets covered by the 2$ entry fee. I mean, what is this? Disneyland?

Robbie wrote:

ProDarwin wrote: How do I keep myself safe if I have to crawl under a car thats supported by sitting on steel wheels on the pinch welds?

Wasp killer. Two cans.

Also, don't hang from your 2ft extension on a swivel that's connected to the bellhousing bolt of an AE86, while it teeters dangerously on the spare wheels shoved under the frame. True story, and fortunately, an ae86 doesn't weigh too much...

Trackmouse wrote:

Robbie wrote:

ProDarwin wrote: How do I keep myself safe if I have to crawl under a car thats supported by sitting on steel wheels on the pinch welds?

Wasp killer. Two cans.

Also, don't hang from your 2ft extension on a swivel that's connected to the bellhousing bolt of an AE86, while it teeters dangerously on the spare wheels shoved under the frame. True story, and fortunately, an ae86 doesn't weigh too much...

If you have to bow up on a fastener, brace a foot against the chassis. My last trip to a junkyard my 24" breaker bar wasn't enough, so I scrounged around and found a piece of exhaust pipe to use as an extension.

freetors wrote: The only time I ever went to a junkyard everything ended up being way more expensive than I thought it would be. Like 50% of new rockauto prices. That really soured me from the whole experience. And their parts pricers seemed to be trained to break everything down to a component level for maximum price gouging. "Oh you have an extra bolt and an electrical connector on this turbo encabulator, that'll be an extra $2." This was an LKQ yard. Perhaps smaller locally owned yards would be cheaper?

The rear axle was listed at $68 without drums or $88 with drums, so I left the drums in the car. When i got to the counter the guy said he had to charge me 80 cents each for the worn to metal brake shoes

freetors wrote: The only time I ever went to a junkyard everything ended up being way more expensive than I thought it would be. Like 50% of new rockauto prices.

Many times a used OEM part is still 3X the quality of a new rockauto part :(

I Went to the yard on the Southside of Atl. and while there I saw a 4 ft. Rat Snake trying to Hide from people and it came to close to me, Because I grabbed it and threw it into the bottom Of my Tool Box.... When you leave ,they want to see Inside your Box..... Oh this was Funny, I told him it was there, He Had to Look, At Least 40 Grown Men And women went Screaming Out the Doors like little Girls when it popped up out of that box, that was 4 or 5 Years ago and if I go there they STILL point me Out. Day's like that make me Happy. oh yea, they didn't Charge for the Snake.

In reply to djsilver: I don't prowl the yards like I used to, but always brought a long half inch breaker bar and a four foot heavy galvanized pipe.

I agree, sometimes you just have to ask yourself what you're going to do with something that you never were looking for in the first place.

For me, it's like grocery shopping in the summer when all of the fresh produce is in the store. I have to be careful not to buy more than the family can eat.

Slightly different, but here's a junkyard article to tide you over while I write a how-to guide.

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/junkyard-jam/

Forgot to add, IME any petroleum-based spray will kill flying stingers.

Liquid Wrench, Kroil, etc. Pick your poison (literally).

Knocks them right down, and since penetrating lube is essential for these trips, you don't have to carry two cans.

The only advantage to wasp spray is the range. Might be important for really aggressive or large numbers of insects, but in FL I usually only encounter paper wasps.

If your local u-pick-it yard doesn't provide wheelbarrows, bring your own. Then you can haul all you tools and parts around.

Bring a bluetooth speaker so you can stream tunes. There's something cathartic about having a few hours on a saturday to pick around at the yard.

I'd say junk yard safety and etiquette primarily need to be covered. Don't work on something someone else it working on, be considerate tearing good parts up to go after what you need. Cut hoses and belts, but not wires, etc. Bring a couple of jackstands, even if they're on the spare tire pedestal. Assume the car car you're working on wants to kill again. Kneepads are a good idea, as there are rusted jagged bits and glass everywhere.

I've seen people hoard parts by pulling them and finding something intact enough to lock them up in, presumably to return with cash or half price day and smash a window. Not cool, but it's a tactic. I like looking for these hoards.