Junkyards

HMP

HMP

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Any of yall ever scour junk yards for parts?
I love it.
Today I went out at around 10am to 109 U Pull and spent a little over an hour hunting parts for myself and to sell.
I find it so enjoyable walking about, getting a glimpse into lives at the time of a, likely, important event in their lives (like a car crash)...and if I can make some cash while Im there, cool. (ie: Just Wednesday I met a guy from Rockwell near the house to get him a Montero grill I sold on ebay - I paid about 20, sold for 60. Or the 20 dollar gauge cluster I sold to a dude in Philly for 75 + shipping etc)

Today I pulled some old Toyota (1981 Tercel Corolla...back when they were RWD lol) for myself, but also some old Mk1 VW interior bits - steering wheel and gauge cluster (VDO branded from factory). But walking about in good weather (temp said 40 at the time but I was getting sweaty in my hoodie and had to remove, felt awesome out in a tee), hopefully making some money, just being away from things for a bit...I dig it.

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That's cool. Not exactly my thing but I can think of a lot worse hobbies than this. I'm glad you got the opportunity to go enjoy the day. And the side money is a good bonus.
 
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Back in the day, junkyards were the place to go for some parts. You could find a fender or door and put it on yourself. Cars are more complex now with all the electrical stuff and tight clearances.
 
pikepole20 said:
Back in the day, junkyards were the place to go for some parts. You could find a fender or door and put it on yourself. Cars are more complex now with all the electrical stuff and tight clearances.
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This may shock you - you can still go buy fenders and doors ha
 
I used to buy and intake cars at the LKQ in Durham. You never forget the smell of a bloodsoaked car that had the busted windows sealed up with stretchy plastic and was left to marinate in the hot sun.

Have to pop that seal to read the Vin so you get it all in a big rotting whoosh.
 
Its entertaining watching the videos of some of the ones that have specials of you can pull and take all you can carry across the line for some low x amount of dollars. Saw two guys use two other long car parts they had removed to use as a sling and carry a engine across the line and the guys running it just laughed and let them have it.
 
Jp8819 said:
Its entertaining watching the videos of some of the ones that have specials of you can pull and take all you can carry across the line for some low x amount of dollars. Saw two guys use two other long car parts they had removed to use as a sling and carry a engine across the line and the guys running it just laughed and let them have it.
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Took advantage of that once when I found a wrecked 350Z with Rays VOLKS wheels on it
 
LKQ is my go to yard, I wore out my turn signal switch on my '99 Taurus wagon 306K miles, got one out of a 2000.
The stalk has a higher angle but plugs right into the connectors, a new one was over $100 at parts stores.
My wife warped both cylinder heads on the '99 Sable when the head gasket went in 2005, found a pair that were almost new out of a 2002 Taurus. You can check the inventory of the cars on LKQ site, you have to watch that you set the right location on the page.

I use the rockauto website to find the parts and then pull down part info to see what models and years it fits, found the blower motor and resistor from a Windstar that worked for my Taurus. Saved a lot of money, also got a driver seat and will swap it out for the Taurus when it gets warmer.
 
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HMP said:
Any of yall ever scour junk yards for parts?
I love it.
Today I went out at around 10am to 109 U Pull and spent a little over an hour hunting parts for myself and to sell.
I find it so enjoyable walking about, getting a glimpse into lives at the time of a, likely, important event in their lives (like a car crash)...and if I can make some cash while Im there, cool. (ie: Just Wednesday I met a guy from Rockwell near the house to get him a Montero grill I sold on ebay - I paid about 20, sold for 60. Or the 20 dollar gauge cluster I sold to a dude in Philly for 75 + shipping etc)

Today I pulled some old Toyota (1981 Tercel Corolla...back when they were RWD lol) for myself, but also some old Mk1 VW interior bits - steering wheel and gauge cluster (VDO branded from factory). But walking about in good weather (temp said 40 at the time but I was getting sweaty in my hoodie and had to remove, felt awesome out in a tee), hopefully making some money, just being away from things for a bit...I dig it.
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We could easily be friends!
I'd never thought about this as a money maker....I LOVE money making hobbies!
 
@HMP I've been having a hard time finding a rear bumper cover for a 2003 Mazada Protege 5 hatchback in good shape. Silver would be preferable but black would be OK too if you come across one.
 
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I used to resell desirable parts both stock and aftermarket on eBay regularly. Made decent $$ at it too. No real reason why I stopped other than life distractions and my interest fading.
 
Pogue said:
I used to resell desirable parts both stock and aftermarket on eBay regularly. Made decent $$ at it too. No real reason why I stopped other than life distractions and my interest fading.
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I know some things that are highly sought, and I try to find things that are very rare
Like the aforementioned Montero grill - it's a 30+ year old 4x4 suv...they'll get busted up and hard to replace. So grab that for a quick sell.
 
FarpinDar said:
@HMP I've been having a hard time finding a rear bumper cover for a 2003 Mazada Protege 5 hatchback in good shape. Silver would be preferable but black would be OK too if you come across one.
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There are two LKQ locations in your area - Durham and Raleigh. Check out their sites, plug in 'protoge' and see what comes up
If you need help this way (Greensboro/Winston) let me know, I can search too
 
www.lkqonline.com

LKQ Online

LKQ Online is North America's largest online provider of recycled original equipment (OE) auto parts for cars and light-duty trucks requiring collision or mechanical repair.
www.lkqonline.com www.lkqonline.com
 
BloodRunsThicker said:
I miss junkyard days. I remember Jerry Olivers and Dons on 74 near Indian trail both long gone now but they were great
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Dons was awesome back in the early mid 90’s. I bought a complete perfect interior out of a 1991 325IS for $400 to swap into my 1986 325i. They said I could take anything inside the sheet metal so I spent 3 or 4 hours pulling everything. installed the carpet, Recaro sport leather seat and door panels in mine and sold my original interior and the leftover parts for almost $1000. That was probably 93 or 94.
 
You know what brings big money?

Consoles and jump seats for GMT900 trucks/suvs. Not a single one that isn’t damaged in any junk yard I’ve been to.

Plenty on eBay for $4-600. 😡

Not much around here worth going to without driving an hour plus. I suspect the locals have people they call when new stuff comes in as everything “nice” seems to be immediately stripped once available to the public.
 
hp468 said:
You know what brings big money?

Consoles and jump seats for GMT900 trucks/suvs. Not a single one that isn’t damaged in any junk yard I’ve been to.

Plenty on eBay for $4-600. 😡

Not much around here worth going to without driving an hour plus. I suspect the locals have people they call when new stuff comes in as everything “nice” seems to be immediately stripped once available to the public.
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We did. Totally against the rules but a couple of the staff would call their buddies to come strip stuff with high resale the minute it was out of processing.
 
NCLivingBrit said:
We did. Totally against the rules but a couple of the staff would call their buddies to come strip stuff with high resale the minute it was out of processing.
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Yep. Same thing happens at the state surplus office I suspect. I was told last time I was up there that two local scrappers buy all the extremely heavy metal cabinets. Last time I was there dude showed up in a 30’ or so uhaul and filled it up.

Been hunting a few specific laterals for a while now, I know why they are never there now.
 
There's an interview over on YT on the Earnhart Jr. Channel about Earnhart Sr and his junk yard adventures....One of his old buds told Jr. that his Daddy would go to a junk yard and find a part he needed and pay for it and leave...Then he'd go back after dark and steal all the other parts he had piled up to be ready to take...
 
Helped a guy pull a transmission in a junkyard once. He got an. AMC Marlin with a blown transmission for $200. U-pull-it transmission was $50 because nobody wanted it.

We got the transmission and took it to his buddy's place where the car was. Never went back because while we were using a pan of gas to scrub the grease off, one of the idiots started tossing lit matches into the gas. He insisted it was ok; the liquid gas wouldn't catch fire.

Yeah, I'm not up for being up for a Darwin award; peace out.
 
FarpinDar said:
@HMP I've been having a hard time finding a rear bumper cover for a 2003 Mazada Protege 5 hatchback in good shape. Silver would be preferable but black would be OK too if you come across one.
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There's a black one near me in a yard. What's it take to get a bumper off of that?
 
HMP said:
There's a black one near me in a yard. What's it take to get a bumper off of that?
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Thanks for looking into it. They have a silver one here at the Durham yard. Raining today so not checking it today but will soon. I've not taken one off yet but there are at least a screw and 2 pop clips (whatever they are called - plastic push things) in each wheel well and 2 bolts at the hatch opening.

If that one is toast I'll let you know.
 
So I went Saturday to a local place.
I picked up a steering wheel, ran me 15.01. Tonight I sold it for 75. Plus shipping, of course.
I also sold, on ebay, an old Mark1 VW gauge cluster - cost me 23 bucks, went for 70 plus the ride.
We're not talking retirement here, but it helps buy other stuff that I want.
 
I last mentioned the VW cluster.
I also pulled the steering wheel from same car for 7 bucks. Shipped it off on Thursday (sold LAST Thursday...but yall know my life right now), went for 75 plus shipping on ebay.
I like to hustle.

Also, here's some pics for you. These two pics are of the same folks
First...the baby. IN A JUNKYARD. Thankfully the operators said, "no one under 16, you cant take a child in there"....yeah, there's sharp, rusty metal EVERYWHERE. So of four folks, two were under 16, including A BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!
And then....CROCS!

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Id love to go to one again soon, but, dang, it's cold. And, well, life. Priorities. But I do enjoy the hunt. I love the walking around on a 60* day...if it's sunny and 60 that's great jeans and a tee weather for all that walking and crawling.
 
A friend and I would pull car parts from a 80' ft deep flooded rock quarry. Its how I learned to dive. We floated carbs, intakes, tires, a GM 12 bolt diff, and once, a manual transmission. It all depended on how the cars came to rest, shiny side up or down, or on their side. The trans was a tuff job and took several dives.

The cars we found were usually stolen or junkers and run off a 100' cliff into the water. We would record the VIN numbers for the local PD and they'd let us dive.

I spent many weekends happily combing thru regular junkyards in Birmingham, AL. I found lots of stuff for my Cutlass's, TA's and Blazers. I collected a lot of treasure just in 50's-70's fender emblems and horn buttons.
 
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TriggerCreep said:
A friend and I would pull car parts from a 80' ft deep flooded rock quarry. Its how I learned to dive. We floated carbs, intakes, tires, and once, a manual transmission. The cars were usually stolen and run off a 100' cliff into the water. We would record the VIN numbers for the local PD and they'd let us dive.
I spent many weekends happily combing thru regular junkyards in Birmingham, AL. I found lots of treasure just in 50's-70's fender emblems and horn buttons.
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Anytime I see an older caddy or benz with a cool hood ornament I'll take the two minutes and take it.
 
The last score I had at the junkyard was a np205 transfer case (when I had my jeep). I actually found the k30 first…was disappointed that the t-case had already been grabbed. Then I noticed the drag marks….followed them two rows over to a Chevy express van and surprise surprise someone had stashed it in the back. Don’t know why, but 30 seconds later it was in my wheelbarrow heading to the exit 🤣 I made good $$ on it too. Actually bought it to use and then sold the jeep to get into diesels and ended up selling it for $500. Think it cost me $100 from the u-pull-it yard.
 
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Went to 2 today and struck out. Sucks.
But saw some near things, like this widebody 300ZX

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out today....HOT.
Wore my @BatteryOaksBilly hat today

While I didnt get any parts for myself, I did pick up something for someone up in Canada, an armrest for an old Volvo, so I'll get that shipped out Monday

Also, I ended up with about 6 bucks in change. One old corolla wagon had about 4 in quarters in it. SO that's nice to recoup my entry fee plus some

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