For many vintage car owners there are numerous sources to find parts for your vehicle. However, new parts or even replacement parts may not be the best solution for the restoration or even the repair of your classic car, and that is where finding junkyard parts may be the course to getting your vehicle back on the road. It may even be a source for those not reproduced parts that you look for at the after-market stores.
Buying replacement classic car parts for your vehicle can be expensive. New parts can cost a lot, may not be of the same quality or even proper fitment, and thus adds on to the overall cost of your repair or restoration. Luckily, you can go to a junkyard to find used car parts that may cost less. In fact, some people (like myself) have been using junkyards as used-part bins for decades.
What Is a Junkyard or Salvage Yard
Junk yards buy totaled vehicles that still have usable, working parts on them that they sell to car owners for less than the same part would cost new. They sometimes charge a small entrance fee to the junkyard, but they let you search all of the cars they have for parts to use. Anything that you find and want to keep, you will have to pay for, but those parts will be much cheaper than brand new ones. The great thing about the junkyard is that you can find parts that have barely been used at all, such as in the case of newer cars that have been in accidents but were not repairable.
Also, keep in mind that you have two basic options when visiting a junkyard: locations where you remove the part yourself and those where they remove the part for you. While a junkyard that does all the work for you is convenient, it may be more expensive to purchase a part from them.
Plan Your Parts Pull
Figure out what part you need, plus any related components. Make sure a junkyard part will work for what you need. As with buying anything used, a junkyard part (like an electrical component or a structural piece) carries an inherent risk of pre-existing problems.
Seek Out Interchangeable Parts
If you are familiar with automobile manufacturers, then you will know many vehicle models can function perfectly with auto parts that come out of a different vehicle. For example, General Motors manufactured numerous brands like Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac, and in many cases, those parts are interchangeable.
Of course, not all of the parts manufactured by the same auto group will be interchangeable, so you will have to do a little research to find out if your part might have substitutions. If you are unsure, do not hesitate to ask one of the yard’s employees for advice. Like a standard auto parts shop, a salvage yard may have access to info concerning which parts can be substituted between vehicles.
Check the compatibility of the parts. Perform an online search to find information about various years, models, and makes of vehicles to see if other vehicles by the same manufacturer use the same parts as your particular vehicle.
Find information about testing various parts. Along with researching compatibility, look up some quick tests for parts with moving internal pieces.
Parts like a starter or alternator may seem okay from the outside, but internal damage can prevent it from working properly.
Remove All Parts That Need to Be Replaced
Inspect your vehicle. Before traveling to the junkyard, inspect your vehicle and the part that you need to replace to make sure you know all the tools and spare parts you need.
Remove the part you wish to replace and practice removing it so that it is easier for you to extract it from a vehicle in the junkyard.
Examine the part. Inspect the part you need to replace, paying attention to where it is secured and check if you have to remove any other parts to reach it.
Try different wrenches and sockets to see what size fits each bolt.
- Tip: You might also find that you do not have a particular size of wrench or socket that you need, and seeing which sizes you need beforehand allows you to purchase the proper ones before traveling to the junkyard.
Remove the old part. If you do not need to use your vehicle to travel to the junkyard, remove the parts that you need to replace. This allows you to practice removing the part, making it easier to remove in the junkyard.
- Tip: Double check ahead of time if you can use power toolsat the junkyard you are going to visit. Power tools will make your life much easier when getting what you need from the junked car, but some places don’t allow them.
Store any nuts and bolts. Once you have removed the part, store any nuts, or bolts you removed during the process and store them so that you can reuse them, if needed.
Tip: You might need to replace some nuts and bolts that have become worn. Take note of which ones you need to replace and the sizes and take a trip to the auto parts store before returning home with the replacement part.
If You Cannot Bring the Old Part Just Take Pictures
Got a digital camera or a smartphone? Use it to document the job, both before in your own vehicle and again at the yard. An accurate picture of the part and its surroundings will ensure you are making the right pull.
Look for a Junkyard Parts Search Tool
Most reputable salvage yards have websites these days. Those websites often contain search tools that encompass a yard’s entire inventory. If you do not want to waste your time at the yard looking for a part that might not be there, see if the salvage yard offers an online search function you can use.
Simply Google the yard you are looking for, look around for an inventory search on the website, and input the vehicle model and part for which you are hunting. If the yard has it, it should display on the website. Next, give the salvage yard a call to see if they will hold the part for you, and if they will, you can simply head there and pick it up from the service desk.
Set Up Your Toolbox
Tools will rarely be available at the yard, so you must use your own. Bring as few tools as possible, but make sure you have what you need. Remove the bad part from your vehicle first and make a note of what tools you used. Did removing the part require special sockets, like Torx or Allen heads? Pay attention to how the part fits, and if there are any impediments to removal—you may need a cutting tool to get access to the component on a scrapped vehicle.
Wire Cutters Cut More Than Wire
A lot of vehicles have special plastic fasteners that are a headache to remove. A set of diagonal cutting pliers (AKA wire cutters, side cutters, or dikes) can cure that.
Bring Impacts and Breaker Bar
This tip is job-specific, but if you are pulling a large chassis or engine component, a battery-powered impact wrench or breaker bar is worth its weight in gold. Grab What is Important
A big advantage of a junkyard is that you can pull off all the extra brackets, hardware, fasteners, and wiring you will need to install the part. Take a “big-picture” look at the part—and make sure you pull as much as you need.
Outfit Yourself
On hot days, bring a hat and plenty of water, for cold days bring gloves and an ice scraper. Sturdy boots are a must, and if you will be lying on the ground, then a padded mat is your best friend. Coveralls can keep muck and grease off your clothes. Maybe pack sunscreen, bug spray, or wasp killer? (Ask us how we know!)
Wear Mechanics Gloves: Unless you are pulling something simple like a shift knob, gloves are a no-brainer.
Bring Eye Protection: Junkyard cars are often filled with rust, goo, and other unidentifiable gunk. Protect your peepers from fluids and debris with a set of safety glasses—especially if you will be lying on your back.
Most junkyard cars will be in rough shape, so the key to successful scavenging is being prepared.
Bring Cleaning Supplies
Remember, this is a junkyard. There is a good chance you will be cleaning muck off of bolt heads and wiping oil away from your part. Brushes and shop towels are pretty handy.
Know the Junkyard Layout
It can be overwhelming when you first get to a yard where you will pick your own parts. There are often hundreds of cars on the lot, and every time you come to the yard, it may be different. But your trip can be a lot more manageable—and you will be able to find what you are looking for more quickly—if you call ahead and ask about the layout or ask the employees when you get there.
Scout First
If you have got to bring a lot of gear to your pull, leave it in your vehicle and check out the scrapped car first. That will save you from lugging around unnecessary tools and supplies.
Examine The Parts Before Removing Them
Inspecting the parts before removing them can save you the trouble of removing bad or damaged parts from the junked vehicle. While it is impossible to tell the condition of a part and if it works or not just by looking at it, parts that show no damage might still work.
- Tip: When searching for a junkyard to visit, look for those that offer some sort of warranty on the parts you buy from them. At least then you can return and exchange the part if it turns out not to work properly.
Examine the part before removal. Take a look at the parts from every angle possible before removing them to make sure it is undamaged and will work for you.
Even small external damage could mean something is damaged internally, so it is best to go with the best-looking part you can find.
- Tip: It is a good idea to look for multiples of the same part so that you have a few options to choose from.
Look for rust and damage. Be sure to look for excessive rust, dents, scratches, or gouges on the part.
Test parts. If you are looking for ignition parts, such as a starter or alternator, take a portable jump starter and a circuit tester with you to the junkyard.
Hook the portable jump starter to the connectors on the end of the starter and use the circuit tester to see if it is carrying a current properly. Do the same process if you need an alternator.
Know What Car Parts to Take
It is important to know what parts will be worth taking and which ones should be left behind. For instance, many parts, such as tires and brake pads, will either be far too worn or rotted from sitting to be worth your time. But many parts under the hood or in the interior are often in excellent condition. When you locate the necessary part, make sure it is in good condition and does not have too much wear and tear. You should also be prepared to take more than you currently need if there is a chance you’ll need it in the future. In many cases, it is smart to take an entire engine, for instance, rather than the smaller parts that you actually need. If you plan ahead for what you might need in the future, you can save yourself another trip later and have the parts on hand when a repair needs to be made.
Understand Junkyard Cores/Returns
If you are lucky, your junkyard will allow returns—but do not bet on it. Make sure you are pulling the right part the first time. Also, many yards now have core charges on certain parts. Call ahead or check online first—bringing your old core with you the first time will save a trip.
Bring Cash
Small bills especially. Many junk yards do not take credit cards, and making an attendant break a $100 bill for a $4 part is a not a good move.
Finally
Finding used auto parts of any vehicle model at the junkyard can be cost-effective, readily available and many parts can be refurbished. When restoring or even repairing a classic car there are a number of factors to be taken into account when sourcing replacement parts; including price, condition, quality, and even a desire to keep a vintage car OEM. Obtaining car parts from a salvage yard can be a bit more complicated than simply punching a part number into a computer, and see it arrive at your doorstep but there is reason to go there. Knowing how to get the correct parts from the junkyard is a key to your success.
