Hi Guys,

I've asked a few people and tried to look this up on various forums. Does anyone know of any recyclers, dismantlers, wreckers, pick-a-part, pull-a-part etc in or between San Diego and Los Angeles that deal in bumpsides? I've heard rumors, but nobody can ever just give me the names. I'm looking for all kinds of body and interior parts for my '71 F250 Custom. The reason I can't name exactly what I'm looking for is that the truck is complete and pretty clean, but there are a bunch of things that I would replace if I found a better one, like tailgate, doors, fender, steering wheel, hub caps, interior parts etc. etc. For this, I would really need to just find a junk yard that had some of these trucks and see what was better than what I have. If anyone can actually tell me names and locations, that would be great.

Thanks so much for your help. Patrick in San Diego

 

For most of the smaller parts, I'd recommend that you watch ebay. There are some established vendors on there who deal in nothing but old Ford pickup parts, plus lots of independents. I've bought all kinds of parts for my '67 F100 on ebay. The prices have been reasonable, and it saved me a lot of running around.

The thing about most of the junkyards is that they won't keep an old truck around for long. They'll pull the valuable stuff right away, then it'll get gone over by the local guys who trade small parts for a living (selling them on ebay), then it'll get crushed in a week or two. So, unless you're going to make junkyard scouring a regular, continuous hobby, you're probably going to be too late.

 

I know where some used bumpside doors and front fenders are located (at a LA LA Land truck dismantlers yard), but they have no tailgates, which are almost impossible to find.

No yard in CA that I am aware of, deals only in bumpsides.

Most wrecking yards/dismantlers yards will not allow the general public to walk in and look around...due to insurance issues.

Pick-a-part yards are a different story.

Another source for used (and NOS) parts is Early Ford Store in San Dimas (earlyfordstore.com). This obsolete parts store in located in the original 1916 Ford dealership building, y'all can walk around.

btw: The only reason the LA LA Land truck dismantlers yard still has bumpside (and a lot of other old truck parts...some of it NOS!) parts is...no one is allowed to walk around without supervision.

If you cannot walk around by yourself, you won't find much. I've been hitting this yard for 44 years, so I'm one a the few that can walk around...without supervision, and I know where almost everything is..

Recently I took FTE member garbz2 there. I'd told him two years ago they had a pair of 1968/72 Crew Cab rear doors in perfect condition. He bought 'em, for $300.00 ... a roaring bargain.

 

Thanks Bill. I will check out the early ford store. Also, what is the name and location of the yard you're talking about? Cheers, Patrick

 

I go to 2 different junkyards in Sun Valley right off the 5 freeway which are only about 1 mile apart. Between the 2 of them ($2 entrance each), there are usually anywhere from 4-10 bumps at any one time. I go every few weeks and there are always bumps to pull parts off of and I have gotten quite a few good parts.

The parts at this yard (Sun Valley) are a bit more expensive but they usually have more bumps (when inside, head to the back right for the truck section, also check near the wrecker on the left side of the yard sometimes they put some over there), here is a link to it:

Los Angeles - Wilmington - Sun Valley | Pick Your Part Auto Wrecking

And this yard I like a lot better and their parts are cheaper, but they dont have as many bumps usually (trucks are to the back right, but also check immediately to the left when you enter by the boats, they put older trucks there sometimes too):

Map of U-Pick Parts, 11409 Penrose St, Sun Valley, CA 91352 on Los Angeles Citysearch

Again, these 2 yards are only about 1 mile apart, so I always hit them one after the other and usually come up with some good stuff.

 

Thank you so much, that is exactly what I was looking for. Patrick

 

The reason I didn't pass along the LA truck dismantlers yard is...they won't let you in.

The only way you can get in and wander around the FIRST time, is if I'm there. The only reason I would go there, is if y'all wanna go there, as I'm no longer in the biz of selling old parts.

I've taken FTE members Gangstakr, garbz2, Aussie53 and camperspecial65, and a bunch of members of SoCal Galaxies there. Gangstakr has been back several times.

Once the owner knows who you are, you can return and wander around all you like...without me.

There are no bumpsides (fat fenders, 'fridges, slicks or dents) in this yard, just the parts, since its a dismantlers yard. When trucks come in, they are stripped of all the parts...which then are put in specific locations.

Whatever remains are sent off to Valhalla via the crusher.

btw: I've been hitting this yard for 43 years, prolly spent well over 100 GRAND there (no, I'm not kidding), and this yard was once one of my wholesale accounts...so I have free run of the place.

 

Got it, thanks Bill. I will check out the Sun Valley ones.

 

I didnt realize that you were down in San Diego.. That would be quite a drive for you for a swing of the bat.. You might want to search for some pick-a-part type places in the San Diego area... I am sure they are around. Looks like there is a Pick-your-part in Chula Vista, so that one is at least closer. Heck, Orange county area is still alot closer to you than LA County...

 

Thanks Demon, you are right, but I've called a bunch of wrecking yards in SD and all the ones I've spoken to, including a truck specialist place say that all the yards here only have newer stuff. I travel to LA a bit, so thought that would be a better shot. Maybe the SD yards that I spoke to just don't know better and there are tons of old bumpsides laying around down here?

 

For the normal admission price of $2, it doesnt hurt to just take a morning and go to your local pick yards. Sure, the majority of trucks and autos in the yards are 80s and 90s models, but there are usually a few old trucks in there as well. Between the 2 yards in Sun Valley, there are probably about 100-150 trucks total at any one time and out of that group, there are usually about 8-10 bumps on average.

So I would guess that its probably similar in other yards around So Cal. For $2, it doesnt hurt to take a look. Calling probably is not going to get you accurate information.

 

Thanks for the tip. I think I may have called the Chula Vista yard before, but I think you're right that it's worth just getting in there and taking a look around. I don't need much of an excuse to get to the junkyard!