Junkyarding

[dagnabbitt]

1964 Buick Lesabre, very complete, super cool car in my opinion, even as a four door.

It's funny, you'd think it would be stripped instantly, but at the yard most people walk past it. They are all looking for a crank sensor for their Kia that will fit in their pocket.

It had probably been there a month but I think I was the first person to figure out how to open the hood. Some kind of small block, power steering, generator for power. No one wants to do anything but pry an emblem off of it.

Imagine it lowered just a couple inches with dog dish hubcaps and a whip antenna. It's all there. Kind of a shame, but we all have projects already.

[dagnabbitt]

The big find for me that I spent some time on, this 1963 GMC 1 ton.

There were a lot of wasps protecting it, but they never seem to bother me, I've never been stung in my life.

This truck had it all. A 292; SM 420 (I think); the J76 trans brake option; oil bath etc.

I wish I had found it years ago of course. I bought this same park brake handle from a forum member years ago for my 1968 project (thread).

And for that same truck I spent a lot of money on Ebay for junkyard gold: the high flow 292 thermostat bypass housing that was specific to 60's models of that engine. I swore in this thread I'd be on the lookout for them in the future, and of course I found one, years later.

Shipping for those two parts alone were more than I'd pay at this yard to buy this entire truck, probably: and they are all here for the taking

I ended up leaving those parts for some other person. It was hard to do that, but I have enough stuff.

I might change my mind, the place is 5 minutes from my house and I know what size socket to bring.

The plugs and wires look new, it might even crank.

Ok I might have to go back.

But I did get some door handles and bezels and other knick-knacks.

It had rained heavily the night before and someone had put the oil bath cleaner in a mud puddle as a lily pad to step on. I thought about how many people would want that thing, so I did retrieve it and place it somewhere it would be safe. I used a 5.7 Hemi engine cover instead.

[RustyPile]

That brown Chevrolet 4dr sedan in post #25 is a '54, not '50.. '49 and '50 were almost identical. '51 - '52 are very similar in appearance.. In '53, Chevy made some grill and dash changes.. Then in '54, the last of the six volt electrical systems, they made some minor grill changes..

Among the Chevrolets of that era, I've owned.. One '49, one '50, one '52, several '55s, a couple '56s, and numerous '57s, One of which is still in the family - a '57 Nomad..

[dagnabbitt]

Eventful day!

I got the top of a cab with a little something extra... and a cowl with something less.

Can't believe my luck. The inside of the cab roof is actually pretty nice, I am going to figure out a way to use the whole thing, not just the roof skin.

[too much stuff]

Nice! Keep putting your time in and eventually it does pay off. Roof is a 71 if it matters to you.

[dagnabbitt]

Originally Posted by too much stuff

Nice! Keep putting your time in and eventually it does pay off. Roof is a 71 if it matters to you.

It does matter to me, a friend that I showed to swore it was a 71, I guess he wins.

What are the clues? After thinking about it I realize that it couldn't be a 72 because of the cab mounted rear view mirror, anything else?

[farmall]

Originally Posted by dagnabbitt

The big find for me that I spent some time on, this 1963 GMC 1 ton.

There were a lot of wasps protecting it, but they never seem to bother me, I've never been stung in my life.

This truck had it all. A 292; SM 420 (I think); the J76 trans brake option; oil bath etc.

I wish I had found it years ago of course. I bought this same park brake handle from a forum member years ago for my 1968 project (thread).

And for that same truck I spent a lot of money on Ebay for junkyard gold: the high flow 292 thermostat bypass housing that was specific to 60's models of that engine. I swore in this thread I'd be on the lookout for them in the future, and of course I found one, years later.

Shipping for those two parts alone were more than I'd pay at this yard to buy this entire truck, probably: and they are all here for the taking

I ended up leaving those parts for some other person. It was hard to do that, but I have enough stuff.

I might change my mind, the place is 5 minutes from my house and I know what size socket to bring.

The plugs and wires look new, it might even crank.

Ok I might have to go back.

But I did get some door handles and bezels and other knick-knacks.

It had rained heavily the night before and someone had put the oil bath cleaner in a mud puddle as a lily pad to step on. I thought about how many people would want that thing, so I did retrieve it and place it somewhere it would be safe. I used a 5.7 Hemi engine cover instead.

I like the dually wheels. I have 10 now and one 19.5 and a guy who says he can recenter the 19.5s with the 18" centers. It will take 2 to see if the spacing will work on the rear. I know it will work on the front.

[4u2nv]

Originally Posted by dagnabbitt

Eventful day!

I got the top of a cab with a little something extra... and a cowl with something less.

Can't believe my luck. The inside of the cab roof is actually pretty nice, I am going to figure out a way to use the whole thing, not just the roof skin.

Whats the rims on the car in the back ground ??

[dagnabbitt]

Originally Posted by 4u2nv

Whats the rims on the car in the back ground ??

Those are c4 enkei wheels with whitewalls on a 48 businessman’s coupe. Not mine, belongs to a friend.

[CG]

The car you called a Packard Clipper is a 1941 Cadillac. I would love to have been there with you on that one. Lots on that car I would have liked to have.

[dagnabbitt]

Well I stand corrected, of course! Pretty cool car, wonder how it ended up there.

[too much stuff]

Originally Posted by dagnabbitt

It does matter to me, a friend that I showed to swore it was a 71, I guess he wins.

What are the clues? After thinking about it I realize that it couldn't be a 72 because of the cab mounted rear view mirror, anything else?

71 was the only year that had a raised mounting pad for the rear view mirror.

[dagnabbitt]

Originally Posted by too much stuff

71 was the only year that had a raised mounting pad for the rear view mirror.

I never noticed that before!

The only years I have not owned are 1969 and 1971.

I'll have to take a closer look at it, that is really interesting.

[dagnabbitt]

Went to another junkyard nearby, it is on the other side of the city so a bit out of the way. I notice they are building a swanky new subdivision literally across the street so I am unsure what's going to happen with it. I don't know how they reclaim this land, it is so full of motor oil and antifreeze and bits of metal.

This place is a true junk yard, except that a true junkyard isn't so particular that it only has vehicles. Those would have fridges and whatnot. But this was close. It makes the Pickapart I usually go to look like the greens of Augusta. I mean its quite untidy. Love walking around here.

It had a motorbike section (no Harleys) as well as a bunch of recent junk, but but what makes this place fun to go to is that it has Buck's "private reserve", ie vehicles that are more or less never crushed. In this area there are Porsches next to International Scouts next to El Caminos. Love it.

[dagnabbitt]

Continued. Really, a pretty unique grouping of glorious junk.

[dagnabbitt]

There was exactly one of our trucks, and it was pretty picked over. Still fun to pull miscellaneous items off of. You are definitely a fan of these trucks when you see something like this and wonder why someone isn't driving it.

My question is... is there a chance that this slider is a factory option, and even if it is not, should I go and get it?

[dagnabbitt]

Slim pickins but I got the silver door plugs out of the above truck that some people seem to covet, as well as some of the bolts that go in the door for the west coast junior mirrors. And an escutcheon, which is a word I learned to spell just recently.

I could have picked up some vent windows - cigarette vents we called them - and a really deplorable dash pad but decided to leave them for some other lucky guy. Might go back.

[CG]

Originally Posted by dagnabbitt

There was exactly one of our trucks, and it was pretty picked over. Still fun to pull miscellaneous items off of. You are definitely a fan of these trucks when you see something like this and wonder why someone isn't driving it.

My question is... is there a chance that this slider is a factory option, and even if it is not, should I go and get it?

If you're getting the 67-72 stuff for cheap at the yard you should pick up everything you can, even factory clamps,bolts and brackets. Seems to be more and more folks restoring and OEM is always better for them. You might end up making a few bucks.

[70STOVEBOLT]

Originally Posted by dagnabbitt

There was exactly one of our trucks, and it was pretty picked over. Still fun to pull miscellaneous items off of. You are definitely a fan of these trucks when you see something like this and wonder why someone isn't driving it.

My question is... is there a chance that this slider is a factory option, and even if it is not, should I go and get it?

It's possible, the OEM ones had a silver frame like that. I'm no expert by any means, just what I have read here before.

[Ironhorse]

Love the junkyardin' pictures and threads. Myself and a really good friend of mine used to grab a six pack or two for a Saturday stroll shopping as it were for my ride and his ride. That was back when 'yards would let you walk thru them, pull the part and pay a few bucks for your treasures. That is long gone now with so many 'yards gone and most of the cars and trucks in there now days are pretty much throw-aways after they hit the yards. Days gone by kind of thing now sadly.

[4u2nv]

Use to go to the junk yards often in my younger days and thought I would go to the only one left in my area and look for some mirrors for the 89 the other day they wanted $5 bucks just to enter the yard

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by 4u2nv

they wanted $5 bucks just to enter the yard

Hmmm, pay $5.00 for the privilege of spending more $$ with them? Let me think on that one......very doubtful unless it is a real honey hole of vintage cars and trucks.

[dagnabbitt]

Its a buck or two where I go also.

It's partly for insurance reasons - you sign a waiver when you pay a dollar - and frankly it also covers the pilfering.

Me, I follow the Law of the Junkyard.

I never thought of bringing a drink with me but I might.

[Steeveedee]

One time, many years ago, when I went with a neighbor to pick up a trans to rebuild, I signed in as "P. Diddly". My neighbor was laughing so hard that I thought we were going to get kicked out.

[dagnabbitt]

I always sign is as David Watermelon, a schoolyard taunt based upon my real name.

Junkyards are still cool, I could spend all day at one.