Interesting thread... Learned a few tips here and actually..... printed some out ....

 

Bet it looked like one of those nature programs about prairie dogs!

 

I,too, have been asked for tools at the salvage yard but I take them on a "wether I think you deserve them or not attaitude". You can tell if the guy brought everything he thought he needed or not or if he came just looking and found something he just had to have. (I've been there) or if I think he is just a jackass, (and I have been fooled a few times) Aside from that there is nothing better than spending an afternoon with a few cold ones in a good salvage yard pullin parts and shootin the breeze.

 

i wish there was a pull a part type lot around here, the only one i have takes the parts off for you, which is kinda nice cause you just show up and tell em what you need, but id rather wnader the lot and see what i find sometimes. it is a 40 acre lot full of cars/trucks and ive only seen the tip of the iceberg

 

Since this post started I have reflect on a recent time in the pull-a-part yard; two dudes & a chick; where wondering around with bare minimum tools; sent the chick to bug me for a 4 way; I didn't have; they sent her again and ask for a racket & socket; I foolishly gave her; after about 10 minutes; I see them rolling out a set of Craiger SS rims & tires from a 70's Nova, Boy what a nice fine.
Two mistake's I made that day; one loaning my tools (I did get them back with a thankyou) and second mistake I need to roam the chevy isle as well.

Mitch

 

My local yard had a 65 custom cab one day. The truck was relatively rust free for this area and it still ran and drove, so they tried to sell it whole. 1300 was the asking price. I spoke with the manager and told him I would buy the truck for much less than that (thought they would have a little room to budge since they pay less than 100 for them). He said no, so I waited a couple weeks. Eventually, they pulled the truck back, processed it and put it out on the yard. A little begging to the fork lift guy and he bumped it up in the rotation.
I was the first (and nearly the only) to get the remainder of the good parts off the truck. It gave a nearly perfect hood and an inner fender that I had been seeking forever. (The hoods around here are all rusty and shipping isn't even an option.) I also got all the trim, a brake booster, deluxe heater and a grille...all for 130. It was a good day if not nearly impossible to get the hood out on the stupid wheelbarrow...

 

Yeah those wheelbarrow's aren't any good for hoods or even doors; seem to have to do the old shoulder press lift on those items each time. Recently had a tailgate; bench seat and tool box all stuff into /on top a wheelbarrow. Everything wanted to slide off as I bump along the bravel road at pull-a-part.

Mitch

 

The dolly with pneumatic tires will work circles around the wheel barrow. It is much easier to carry doors, tires with rims, hoods, tools, gas tanks, etc... on the dolley. The wheelbarrows leave me winded and my arms and back aching. Hang a couple of ratchet straps and bungees on your dolley to anchor and hang parts. Transmissions fit very well on them also.

 

I love boneyards, drives the wife crazy. almost drive in the ditch everytime i go by one. Dutch

 

If she likes to gamble at the casino, she would love are junkyard. You could let her go play the slots while you go exploring.

 

You would be amazed at the little nit pick parts that can be scavenged off of a beat up truck...or rusty...clips and wiring bits are good things typically and switches...I found the twin...built the same day as mine...much worse looking...I picked that sucker to the last bit...got the front end, p/brake booster, dash cluster and I believe I got a hood hinge...but the intersting thing was the grille which I got...fileted the fenders and broke the rest of the core support and too the whole shebang...painted grille, but original and got all the lil clips and bits on the core support...all for like 20 bucks...the truck even had household conduit under the hood!!!
I got a few pics of it before I parted it...had a good hood...no place for it though.
Ive honestly never seen such a thoroughly rotted core support...after I pulled everything off of it and took it to scrap...when I chucked it off it fell apart in a cloud of dirt and rust on the bottom half.

If anyone in the desert areas runs across nice clean fasteners...like body mount/core support stuff or bed bolts...Im in need of them...the cleaner the better...



- cs65

 

I loaned a tool today. The guy was two trucks over and needed a pair of needle nose. I had a pair of needle nose vice-grips so I loaned them. He brought them back in less then two minutes. As we were talking I told him my buddy was looking for an aluminum intake for his 460 and did'nt want to pay the price of a new one. Well this guy tells me there is one next row over, I finished what I was doing and went in the direction he told me, He followed, I did not realize he was behind me, I here "right there" and there it was. I was excited and short on time The guy watched me scramble for my tools then he grabbed his tools and between the two of us had it off in a matter of minutes. A nice Edelbrock 2166 aluminum intake manifold. Sometimes it pays to be helpful. The guy had tools but needed one more I had it and we both scored. Now I probably won't lend my tools out again but you might not know if there is something in it for you. Of course you can't ask that. It's nice to know there are cool people at the yards as well as idiots....Today was a good day.

 

I lent mine to an older man working next to me today also. I am not giving my tools to guys that have to hold up there pants by holding their crotch all day. I am not interested in having to sanitize my tools before I can put them back in my toolbox or use them. Great score on the manifold. I would be crushed if there were no more junkyards.

 

Perfect manifold best part $29.99

 

Well guy's and gal's it's official, I have completely lost my mind. On a recent visit to the wrecking yard I spotted a 1966 short bed. While I could only see part of the front end, I knew it was a 66 or at least it had the 66 aluminum grill on it. As I got closer I noticed the headlight hanging by the wire. As I got even closer I saw the passenger side front had been wiped out. By what appeared to be a head-on collision with a light post. I could not help but feel the pain this poor truck suffered. I muttered "What happened baby?" As I dropped my tool bag on the ground, and proceeded to talk to this poor beast. As I walked around the passenger side, The whole side was caved in. My heart sank, my feelings were showing as a tear almost rolled down my... the trucks fender/cheek. I was able to remove the door tag to keep as a memorial to the once mighty beast that cruised the street's as a proud truck. I looked up the VIN and it was a 66.
My friend who was with me said I need help, apparently I was'nt muttering, he heard every word I said. The end.