Howdy- Any y'all got any advice for junkyard searches? I just found out that my college Biology cl*** will be doing research at one, and I wanted to know if you had any tips for finding the good stuff, seeing as how science is beyond the realm of my understanding, and, well, interest. So, basically, anything to look for for garage art, valuable junk (rare pieces), things like that. Oh, anyone need anything? I can keep my eyes peeled. -Crew
[ QUOTE ] Oh, anyone need anything? I can keep my eyes peeled. -Crew [/ QUOTE ] i need a water pump for a 71 volkswagon bus thanks!
you asked a pretty broad question. you might want to re-word it a bit if you want some better answers.
The best advice I've got is to look in the weed, brush piles, and stuff like that where most would not venture. Also look in the back of old vans and station wagons and busses, they like to throw stuff in there. Old buildings too. Oh yeah, most of these hiding places for parts are populated by snakes, at least once it warms up. This is really the best time to go, especially if the ground is froze, because there are no snakes and bees and less weeds, at least around here where it's cold.
Not many HAMBable vehicles are being s****ped anymore. The neat old stuff is to be found mostly in the s**** piles, bins of aluminum, and inside vehicles that are brought in full of miscellany from a cleanup.
The part that I have never understood, you climb over hulks that have obviously been there for many years, and in the middle of them, you find a wrecked new car with no way for it to be there outside of a helicopter.
[ QUOTE ] The part that I have never understood, you climb over hulks that have obviously been there for many years, and in the middle of them, you find a wrecked new car with no way for it to be there outside of a helicopter. [/ QUOTE ] And it's sitting on the roof of a complete '36 Ford three window... When you go on this "Biology cl***" field trip, keep your yap shut about the awful pollution the teacher points out, unless you don't care about p***ing the cl***... Or you can stand firm and argue that having a "clean up crew" come in and clean it up is just a way for some "Environmental Cleanup Company" and the city/county's fine system to make a lot of money off the poor schmuck who owns the yard by digging up the polluted soil from one part of the Earth and "hiding" it somewhere else where it's still going to continue to pollute, just somewhere else. It's just a $$$ game.
The best thing to bring with you is a broad knowledge of what parts are valuable to what car builders in all the known homebuilt car world. Lots of otherwise mundane parts in valued by car builders, not just hot rodders. Often, a specific low production version of a part becomes a Holy Grail. Good examples of this is steering boxes. Lots of cars came in two versions, one with the regular box or rack, and another performance version with a quick ratio box or rack. That quick ratio version is often worth more, particularly if the car it goes to is seeing a renasiance - like Dodge Challengers/Plymouth Cudas. Another example is the '86 S-10 T5 transmission. It's the only T5 transmission that GM made in the WC version with a gear driven speedo output and an S-10 tailshaft/shifter. Porsche 914 and Triumph spitfire steering racks are valued by the kit-car guys for their size, ratios, and strength. '96-'98 Miata differentials with viscous limited slip differentials are valued because they can be used to upgrade the '90-'95 cars, but you have to remember to grab the axles and drive hubs. Mid '50s Mercurys came with 15x6 inch wheels that the resto-custom Ford pickup guys want. Big trucks and equipment often came with interesting handbrakes and gauges. Lot's of Ford trucks, vans, Broncos, and station wagons came with nine inch rear axles - in additon to the muscle cars and Mavricks. Although, nine inches have another layer of what's good and what's better surrounding them based on bearings, bolt patterns, ratios, brakes, widths, etc...You should look at every single little '60s foreign car for trim like interior door handles, seats, gauges, controls, steering wheels. Unless you're familar with a car, you might not recognise the rare OEM and aftermarket accessory on it. Do I even need to mention 12 inch Buick aluminum drums? How about the 12 inch brakes on F2 and F200 trucks, or '60s Internationals?
Cool! ****, I will look fer that part- and my Biology Professor can blab all he wants, I'm just happy to get a free scrounging opportunity. Thanks for the advice. -Crew
crew,i was just messing with you.. dont look for any muffler bearings,710 caps or any other such things,,, ,,when i hit a junk yard i always walk around with my eyes goin 100 miles an hour like im a meth fiend watching out for the cops... ...cool **** will just jump out at you!