Anyone visit junkyards?

[The motor guy]

I went years ago thinking I could get some parts for my truck which was fairly new at the time, but every vehicle they had was from 1975 or 1980. Nothing you would ever see out on the road even back then. Looks like they have a you pick you pay type of junkyard. Do I show up with some basic tools and remove what I need assuming I find my particular vehicle. Would they have a 99 dodge ram cummins truck in the junkyard or is that too new?

 

[Elkins45]

The biggest salvage yards around me have an online database where you can see what's on the lot. Of course, that doesn't mean the part you want hasn't already been stripped.

 

[The motor guy]

The biggest salvage yards around me have an online database where you can see what's on the lot. Of course, that doesn't mean the part you want hasn't already been stripped.

I mean ebay is good for stuff like this, but they want a fortune usually for whatever reason. For example they want like $200 for my fuel filter housing I took off my truck when I installed a fass fuel system and bypassed the factory filter. Good for me I guess, reminds me I need to list that thing still.

 

[Barkleymut]

Our junkyard also has an online database of all vehicles on their lot. The vehicles are pretty well picked over, but i was able to get a rear end for my mustang for under $200 which included them removing it and helping me load into the back of my truck

 

[Lubener]

That is my kind of junk yard. It is very hard to find a junk yard with older vehicles. Those mostly have been crushed by now.

Yes, you show up with your own tools. Larger items most yards will remove for you.

 

[FT92]

my local you pull it charges 2 bucks to get in bring your tools and hopefully they will have what you need ,,its kind of a shot in the dark , took me three times going there to find a good door panel , they crush vehicles daily and replace them they do have them sorted so you at least know where the fords , chevys etc are

 

[Egg_Head]

LKQ will let you enter car makes/models you are interested in and alert you when one hits the yard for multiple locations, giving you an early pick of the carcass. Picked up a factory luggage rack that way for my son's Escape.

 

[sw99]

I actually enjoy going to junkyards. Lots to look through if you need little odds and ends. It's not for everyone though. I take a toolbox with the tools I think I'll need for the day. Pay a small entrance fee and off for the adventure. I will usually check all the local yards online search tools to see if they have the vehicle I'm looking for and start there.

 

[cptbarkey]

Good luck on the Rams, there are typically acres of them but they have been picked over pretty good.

 

[PF52]

Around here, the cars are typically mid-90s and newer, especially newer than about 2000 or so. Older stuff is rare. Trucks however skew older. Some junkyards have a slower "turnover rate" and consequently the vehicles get really picked over before they are finally crushed and replaced with different ones.

 

[brages]

It works great with, say, a Ford Focus or a third gen Odyssey. Every lot will have a few of them.

Cummins diesel is probably going to be harder to find, and the special parts are likely already picked, as they will be worth more than the market price.

Some junkyards have an online inventory. Some don't. The ones that don't have much better parts prices IME, but you can't know if they have the right car. The ones that do, will also tell you exactly where on the lot the car is, but usually the pictures are poor, so you don't know, for example, if an interior part is trashed or if the car has the option you need.

 

[SaberOne]

It’s been decades since I’ve been to a junkyard, but I don’t miss the smell of dirty burnt oil and tetanus shots.

 

[Asterix]

car-part.com is your friend, and the best place to start. Search around. If you don't see exactly the part you want, but they have the right vehicle listed, call up the yard and ask.

Some yards will let you go and pick your part, some must take it off for you. It also depends on the specific part.

 

[vwmaniaman]

Our U-Pull-it Has only newer cars so when I need a part for daughters 07 CR-V they don't even have a single one.

 

[eljefino]

Cummins diesel is probably going to be harder to find, and the special parts are likely already picked, as they will be worth more than the market price.

You'd be better off buying what you need from some hick on facebook marketplace for this particular model. Same with other "collectible" makes.

 

[NibbanaBanana]

Some of my best times were spent in boneyards. Always look forward to the adventure. Watch out for the wasps.

They know exactly what's out there. Lately, I've found that most of the time you can buy new for less than the yard wants if the part is available new. Goes for tires too. Got a new H-frame subassembly for my '06 Aveo for $260 on ebay, free shipping. New strut assemblies, control arms and sway bar links for under $300.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I go to LKQ. As mentioned they show there inventory online - and it changes quite often.

I would say around here most of their inventory is between 10 and 20 years old. But as mentioned, it changes frequently. Most stuff stays on the lot 3 months at most.

 

[64bawagon]

I have some great memories of junkyarding with my Dad in the late 70's
It was a different world back then. We stripped a few 57 Chevys in the day.

 

[Wylie6G72]

The biggest salvage yards around me have an online database where you can see what's on the lot. Of course, that doesn't mean the part you want hasn't already been stripped.

Car-Part.com is useless. I call yards looking for Dodge Shadow parts and they tell me "that car was crushed years ago". They need to put some sort of expiration date on the listings, because nobody's deleting anything out of there.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Car-Part.com is useless. I call yards looking for Dodge Shadow parts and they tell me "that car was crushed years ago". They need to put some sort of expiration date on the listings, because nobody's deleting anything out of there.

I agree car-part sucks, but often is your only option. You have to call, and even if they still have the car they have to go look to see if your part is still there.

LKQonline has accurate inventory (its different than the pick a part side). But they only list high volume stuff.

Still, not sure how you would keep this old junk running without the recyclers.

The BITOG crowd is green. Recycle / re-use. Who knew.