Wreckin' Yard Blues.....

[sixnine]

What's happened to the wreckin' yard business? I remember as a kid going with my dad on the weekends to the local junkyards and climbing all over cars and trucks looking for parts we needed and even some we didn't. The junkyard was like a treasure trove. Every trip, I'd see something different and cool. Needless to say, I haven't been in a while, but thought I'd go this weekend and look around for a couple of things I'm needing. So I call a few of the yards in my area, and it seems that NONE of the junkyards let you loose anymore. If it isn't in their computer or behind their counter, you can't get it. Which sucks because I've pulled parts before that even the owner didn't know they had. And besides, "just looking" is the biggest part of the fun. What gives!? Do any of you have this problem? Heck, I'd even pay 10 or 15 bucks and sign a waiver if I could just climb around the yard and check things out. Times are definitely a changin'!

[mikep]

Theres a few of the type your referring to around here but for the most part just about all of them are the good old climb over thr rusted hulk type. I learned everything I know in the junkyard.

Mike

[70 longbed]

sixnine,

It has become quite an industry in the past few years. I am sure that liability plays a large part, but the amount of potential money that an "auto dismantler" can loose to parts leaving without their knowledge is immense.

We still have a few pick and pulls around, and some will let you look as long as you take no tools with you, but I think that they are getting to be the exception.

[krazy_texan]

i know of a few that let me wander but i have to have an escort go out there with me and i cant carry my tools, but there are some places where i have gotten to know the guys that work there by name and they let me do whatever.

[useRc10]

theres really only one place around me that lets you go back in there...and the only place close that has s-10 seatbelts, i gave up on after 6 weeks of them telling me they'd pull them...they wouldnt even let me go back and see the truck before they pulled them (which they still have not done)...i wish more would let yus go back...takes ll the fun!

[chevy garage]

I'm going this weekend to look around. Last trip I bought some 72 Blazer buckets for 100.00. They are good about letting you go in and look. Thare are about 5 yards within an hour of my house. I have a blast looking for treasures. I'll let ya'll know what I find.

[junkyardjohn]

I'M SURE GLAD WE DON'T HAVE YARDS LIKE THAT AROUND HERE. I'VE BEEN IN EVERY JUNKYARD WITHIN A 100 MILES OF ME. I'M KINDA A PARTS WHORE YOU KNOW. I LIKE TO CALL IT EXPLORING & TREASURE HUNTING. SOMETHING NEW AROUND EVERY CORNER.

[chevy69er]

All the ones out here let you go through everything they have or u could go to a counter and they will tell you if they have your parts and will even pull it for you.I couldnt stand not being able to pull my own parts though...i gotta get in there and get dirty and sometimes they have something else that catches your eye.

[Pardue'sCustoms]

the yards around here is doing the same thing

[Crank]

Lol. PARTS WHORE??? LMFAO. Yea. The only problem with the junkyards around here are they let cows in the place where the yard is, so sometimes you have cow sh!t to deal with or an angry bull. Lol. Just hop inside of a van and you're safe. You guys need to come to Northern KY, they've got the best yards, although, when I went, I had no money, I was looking for parts for cars to repair. Later.
Brandon

[racedvl]

The yard here was a wander around type place, then they went to no one in the yard, now they let ya wander again. . .

[Longhorn Man]

Only a couple of the places around here won't let you in the yard.
Since so many of them let you wander the yard WITH your tools here, I refuse to go to the ones that make you pay to get in or require you to not take you box in with you.

[Blue_71]

the last yard i went to i had a pretty good experience

the guy was mowing his yard when i got there, i asked if he had any 67-72 chevy trucks, he said well theres a couple old ones like that back there, i went in (with my grandpas truck, and his tools in the bed) and found what i wanted, he come up and i got a price, i pulled the parts, and he helped load them and never watched me a bit, mowed his yard the whole time.. got a pretty good deal too, a 68 GMC left fender, radiator support, grill, and both doors for $40

[JHickson6]

Try bringing in a crow bar or a propane torch, they get all mad thinking you're just going to beat up cars for a while. Yeah i've been chased out of a few wreckers before, for concealing a torch in my tool box, but hey if they don't like how i remove parts, then fine i'll go to the nice guys out in the country who would rather see me struggle with the crow bar. CITY WRECKERS SUCK!

[Dads72]

Don't go on a Sunday.
The owners weren't there, but a big Rottweiller with a spiked collar was.
3 grown men running as fast as they could to get back to the truck with tools flying all over --- wish I had a video of that.

[Longhorn Man]

Hmmm, most every junk yard I have ever been to pulls parts with a hot wrech...why are they more special than you?

[spinning wheels]

I did the junkyard tour this last Presidents day. For $2 you get to wander around. Founds lots of neat stuff, but I was looking for an aftermarket rim and had no luck. I did spot a 70's? Suburban with a turbo. I walked around the back to see if it was a diesel, but I didn't find a badge. I'm not familiar with diesels, so I assumed that thats what it probably was. Anyways, lots of junkyard out here in So. Calif. Just bring your tools, they even have engine pickers around for your use.

[Longhorn Man]

If your not sure if it is gas or deisel...look for spark plugs or a distributor. Deisels won't have them.

[bobs409]

All of the yards in my area let you walk around and remove your own parts except one. And I haven't been back to it since they changed!

Let them know how you feel about their policy and tell them you won't be coming back because of it! Once they start losing business, they might change their minds. If enough people do it, they won't have a choice. Get some friends one by one to stop by and do the same thing. (sneaky but effective)

[dubie]

OUr wrecking yard here will send you up the hill to the guys in the yard if it's not in their computer. Then they direct you to the right spot to find your part. Most of the time, they will get the part for you seeing how they have a HUGE inventory. This is one of the largest yards in all of Western Canada, so they have damn near 1 of every kind of vehicle. Fortunately for me, I used to work there and I can drive back in the yard anytime and snag whatever parts I may need.

[boraxman]

Theres lots of junk yards here in So. Cal. We have a few Pick-Your-Parts. Most any truck there is stripped bare unless your there when they throw a fresh one out. We also have the over the counter types and lots of speciality yards.

[jays68yak]

Its the same up here in northern cali. I went to a few pickinpulls over the past weekends.
I got a huge front sway bar, from a 73 up 1 ton truck.
Dome light switches for the door from a 72. With harness.
2 fiber opitc wires for the columns with the white connectors.
The best find was the 95-98 grey bucket seats. A bit dirty but the drivers is full POWER. the seat were less then $60.
I was also finally able to get a set of 89-93 caddy tail lights for $60. This was the second time that I have seen them still there. The other time I pulled them and they want $100, thats too much for me.

But what got me was the amount of GMC grills that I saw. Atleast 3 of them in ok shape. Still would be nice to take all the part to do a conversion to a GMC. Just not sure what they would charge for all the parts.
Didnt see any tow hooks or 4x4s for that matter.

[67 CHEV MAN]

As far as Im concerned if a yard wont let you wander around in I usually ever go back there again, theres too many other places that are willing to take my money.I have a couple of favorites I can go to and pretty more name my price,about two weeks ago I about 2 68cst air cabs with doors for 100.00, they have a 72 stepside bed with no spare cutoff and tailgate in excellent condition was quoted 100.00 for it.They also have a 55-59 stepside bed with tailgate should be able to get that for 75.00.I have been buying from these folks for some time, so they like to move parts and not sit on the stuff til it rusts into the ground.Plus they know that Im a truck nut and if I didnt buy it no one else around would.So what Im getting at is in most cases you dont have take what they dish out to you, you have choices the smart and shrewd truck guys realize that.

[lpaine]

It's like 70 longbed said, too many parts can go missing from a yard if the owners let customers wander around by themselves, it's another case of the few (theives) wrecking it for everyone else. Theres only 2 wrecking yards around here that will let me go in to their yard with my tools by myself. I've been going to them for years so I guess there is a certain amount of trust. I always go to them first, needless to say. The other yards I avoid because they make me feel as if I can't be trusted and it's just a big inconvenience for them to have me come around and give them some of my hard earned money. Sign of the times I guess.....

[bobs409]

There's not much that you can really steal if you ask me. Maybe some light bulbs and cigarette lighters but nothing big. Certainly nothing that's going to put them out of business.

When a yard gets a vehicle in, if they sell the transmission, they made their money back. Everything else they sell from it is all profit from there.

I think it's mainly a case of insurance rates but it has to be hurting their business as alot of people won't go back if they can't window shop. Most times I go to a junkyard, I don't even need anything! I like to see what treasures I can find. If I can't look, I don't buy. It's hard to buy something when you don't know what they have.

Lately the pickins are getting slim though. The old cars/trucks are fading away even in the yards. Soon, it will only be a memory when you could get parts for your pre '72 car.