Bone Yard Etiquette.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,564
Likes: 5,600
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
the one yard i use is owned by an old friend. and run by another old friends son, who i also have known for close to 30 years.
his yard is mostly newer stuff, but if i need something i just call and he will find it for me.
they are both also an old car nuts, so whenever they see something special they will grab it.
like the ****** jeepster, or the 67 bronco, or the 62 impala SS with 409 and 4 speed that are there for sale rite now.
John has a secret trick to get the cars in his collection. he sets a ridiculous sale price on them, then when they don't sell he tells his wife he tried to sell them but the did not sell so he might as well keep them.
his yard is mostly newer stuff, but if i need something i just call and he will find it for me.
they are both also an old car nuts, so whenever they see something special they will grab it.
like the ****** jeepster, or the 67 bronco, or the 62 impala SS with 409 and 4 speed that are there for sale rite now.
John has a secret trick to get the cars in his collection. he sets a ridiculous sale price on them, then when they don't sell he tells his wife he tried to sell them but the did not sell so he might as well keep them.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 6
I love to walk the yard to get ideas for mods or to look for other parts for friends that need them.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,254
Likes: 1,656
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Yeah this thread has been dragging on a few years---one of the first I replied to after first joining FTE. I'll stand by my original comments----those places are still just the wild west with dead cars instead of outlaw bodies....
I do notice the two self-service yards I frequent are woefully short on trucks these days. Where there were once many many F- & E-series to check out they're not so abundant these days. Not sure if the dropping price of scrap iron causes this but oddly enough better yards where the general public isn't openly invited or allowed in have nice selections.
Not sure what causes market swings in that business and for the moment its not a huge problem for me, that lack of available stock to investigate. I do notice an uptick in different types of parts being offered through eBay though---wiring harnesses for example. Prices are in line with supply but for the most part they're still less than brand new OEM.
I do notice the two self-service yards I frequent are woefully short on trucks these days. Where there were once many many F- & E-series to check out they're not so abundant these days. Not sure if the dropping price of scrap iron causes this but oddly enough better yards where the general public isn't openly invited or allowed in have nice selections.
Not sure what causes market swings in that business and for the moment its not a huge problem for me, that lack of available stock to investigate. I do notice an uptick in different types of parts being offered through eBay though---wiring harnesses for example. Prices are in line with supply but for the most part they're still less than brand new OEM.
Thread Starter
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More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 531
Likes: 4
From: LaGrange
Additional edits:
# Bring some disposable gloves or rags should things get rather slippery or dirty.
# Concerned on getting ride home dirty?
Bring loose fitting coveralls or use a disposable/washable sear cover.
# No time to get a part or seen a new addition to yard while leaving?
Then snap some quick pictures of vehicle & it's place in the yard for quick locating.
_
# Bring some disposable gloves or rags should things get rather slippery or dirty.
# Concerned on getting ride home dirty?
Bring loose fitting coveralls or use a disposable/washable sear cover.
# No time to get a part or seen a new addition to yard while leaving?
Then snap some quick pictures of vehicle & it's place in the yard for quick locating.
_
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,958
Likes: 105
From: Houston
I really don't have anything to add etiquette wise as every time Ive been to the junkyard I have been the only person in the yard looking.
Now with that said I have not been to one since 2009. I called numerous places and because everyone of them that was local to me had people that barely spoke English. I found one place that didn't have a 77-79 Cougar but they had a '79 Tbird which is the same frame so I could get the hard line from the prop. valve to the driverside front caliper. I arrive and they told me where the car was couldn't find it came in the guy took me to it after 15 minutes only to find out it was not a '79 but a '99 Tbird and I let the guy know I was very displeased with having my time wasted even when I called in before and they said they had a car that they did not have.
The only junkyard I will deal with now is one the engine builder next doors to us told me about that sells short block 302s for $100.
Now with that said I have not been to one since 2009. I called numerous places and because everyone of them that was local to me had people that barely spoke English. I found one place that didn't have a 77-79 Cougar but they had a '79 Tbird which is the same frame so I could get the hard line from the prop. valve to the driverside front caliper. I arrive and they told me where the car was couldn't find it came in the guy took me to it after 15 minutes only to find out it was not a '79 but a '99 Tbird and I let the guy know I was very displeased with having my time wasted even when I called in before and they said they had a car that they did not have.
The only junkyard I will deal with now is one the engine builder next doors to us told me about that sells short block 302s for $100.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 54,039
Likes: 2,412
From: NY and VA
In NY, the yards slash the air bags (can't sell used), cut off the cats (can't sell used) and punch a hole in the gas tank - just to drain it.
I found out that wasp spray also works to loosen rusty nuts and bolts.
I found out that wasp spray also works to loosen rusty nuts and bolts.
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