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Salvage yard 101

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oren hughbanks

Proven Member
266
27
Aug 4, 2014
prescott valley, Arizona
So I've kinda noticed we don't have a really good salvage yard thread going. I'm in the same boat as everyone else when it comes to buying knock off parts for our DSM. I don't even consider looking on eBay for items anymore.

But one thing I do enjoy is a trip to our local salvage yard. It's like easter for auto parts. It's always awesome to find those odd trim pieces, and certain replacement parts. Im in a pretty good spot geography wise, where our salvage yard does get in quite a few dsms, both generations.

I have a basic checklist of thinks to look for and pick off a fresh arrival.

Electrical and sensor plugs: if anyone else's DSM is like mine, its plauged with old, dry, broken, greasy, plugs. Im really not a fan of destroying a entire wiring harness, but if it has already been ripped out and destroyed beyond and recognition, I usually salvage anything good left.

Fuel system: pop out those injectors! For about 12 dollars a piece , cant beat grabbing some extra fuel injectors. Maybe you'll even be lucky enough to find some after market. Check out the fuel filter, fuel rail, fuel lines.

Then I get a look at the cylinder head. Maybe there's some decent cams, springs, retainers. And I almost always try to get the rocker arms. Those little boogers are expensive new, 18 bucks a piece I think.

Then I go for the heart, straight to the ECU. hopefully there's a AEM of dsmlink lurking around in the dash, but that would be one pretty lucky day if the DSM gods blessed you with that.

Also I want to address the subject of salvage yard courtesy. I try to be courteous to the next possible DSM owner that might be searching for parts. Too many times have I seen windows busted out, hoods bent totally backwards, and interior pieces completely destroyed. Parts that are otherwise impossible to find, completely ruined. Especially cam caps. Atleast try to put them on a seat or a floor board. If I salvage some cams, I always try to put the caps back on in order. A cylinder head with out the caps is completely useless. It's something we all need to understand, these cars are dying. If its not from a accident, or engine fire, or someones total neglect, the world population of DSM is shrinking. It's always a killer for me to see a cherry 1ga awd picked to pieces , a total carcass. What a waste. But on the upside, it does help to keep the others on the road.

I would like anyone to add in their 2 cents. Maybe we can all establish a good cross reference of parts to look for other cars that work with our dsms. Like 4gcs blocks, 6 bolt 4g64 cranks and blocks. Sensors, plugs, anything to help. But I ask if you don't have something nice to say, please don't troll. Not all of us have unlimited budgets, but I do try save a few bucks on buying quality used parts.
 
I work for a salvage yard and I appreciate this message honestly. I wish we had some 1gs but we are generally 97+ There is a 1g at our sister yard but it is a 1.8 manual laser. The last time they had one in I stripped it out took headlights, taillights, all kinds of misc interior parts and have them all in a box waiting for someone to need something. (I know I'm not alone, most of the 1g guys seem to have almost another complete car tucked away)

If anyone is looking for a hard to find engine or part my yard is linked with dozens of other yards across the country so I might be able to locate something if I can get the details on the vehicle the part came out of, or at the least I can get an interchange so you know what will fit what.
 
Thanks bro, I honestly feel like this should bring up some good conversation. I'm always curious of their would be a small niche market for super hard to find pieces, of anyone else would be interested it might be a good section to start up
 
Replacement 2g Convertible Top Motors can be had out of a 1994-1999 Toyota Celica, 1995-2000 Cavalier & Sunfire, and the 1998 Saab convertible. You may have to splice your original connector to the replacement motor as I did with a Celica motor I put in my '99 Spyder.

Good luck and Good hunting!
 
Well its been a min since ive posted here, but any who the courteous part of dsm thing I try to do. (ex) My wife went with to look at a 92 eclipse n/a automatic with a 6bolt in it so with 164k on it so I'm in the middle of rebuilding mine at the moment. I ended up getting the oil pump both balance shafts ofh oil pan. Got to thinking I want the crank if ifs in good shape but have to pull block from trans head was already gone. so most of the work was done. I pulled the block out got it on the ground and took the rods out. 6bolt big rods great shape no spun bearings. I start marking the caps and rods and putting them back together All the time wife is looking at me like WTF are you doing so then take crank out and the mains have some scoring to them and I decided to pass on it so I then start putting the main caps back in the block. She finally asked (is all this necessary?) I then explained why and yes it was. she then assisted sitting the bare block in the floor board. I explained to her they are becoming rare and somethings just have to be put back together. Odd I came across this post.
 
Unfortunately I've never seen a 4g63t at my local yard. I've only come across 2 1gs in the last several years, and the motors were gone.
However, I have picked up quite a few interior /exterior parts from the multitude of 420as at the yard, such as drip rails, interior panels, non cruise throttle cables, door handles, etc. (Although I get furious when I see a perfectly good OEM door handle mangled because someone didn't know how to remove it)
I also love picking off 94-98 galants. Many of the sensors are the same, 90 amp alternators and a/t starters.
I almost threw up a few weeks ago when I came across a 2gb talon esi with a perfect front bumper which someone ruined by pulling a headlight. No effing manners.
 
I came across an early 95 (vented rear rotors) gsx at my local yard a few months back. It was completely assembled with some body damage. It hurt my feelings just leaving it there to die, but I wasn't in the market for another awd swap. Not exactly sure what happened to it, but I hope the parts made it to a good home.
 
Its a big problem sometimes with these cars that fixing it will easily out weigh how much its worth, and that not alot of people are willing to invest into something like that. I made peace with mine, and I'll keep it no matter what because I know I'll never see a return on it
 
I've seen one 91 eagle talon base model ,
one 93 talon dx automatic ,
a 1995 talon 7 bolt turbo ,
a 92 talon w/ manual trans( n/a totally riced out with white interior trim pieces ),
an awd 91 talon tsi ,
a 4g64 eclipse ,
And lastly I got my tail lights from a 91 laser rs-t exactly like mine but his oil filter leaked out and it's been the only laser I've ever seen in person other than mine LOL it's most likely a cube of metal by now

My goal is to be the only plymouth laser in winnipeg , so far I'm the only one that runs that I know of hah
 
I saw one laser here, had a newer ish cylinder head, stock side mount, and one nasty little surprise was a bent connecting rod just hanging through the block, right above the ac compressor. The hot oil had caused a small engine fire. But the hood would have been good to use, if the last guy didn't bend it 180 degrees back. I was looking for a hood for a future hood vent project, and that one was shot.
 
I'm not courteous in the salvage yard because it's not a courteous place.

#1 tool of choice: steak knife. I will mess some cars up getting the parts I need out. Hook the motor lift up to the motor, unbolt motor mounts, begin lifting the lift, and use the steak knife to cut any wire or hose that is keeping the motor from leaving. Of course you're more careful if you care about preserving any of this stuff for yourself..... but as far as I'm being nice to "the next guy" that I don't know or care about his car running, it's not a thing for me. You're not automatically my friend because you're driving a dsm or you came to the same junk yard I did AFTER I was there.

Remember that a car is there because it's junk. That means trash to someone else.... it's also trash to me save for a few treasures that can be found. For the most part, the car as a whole doesn't matter. I regularly break glove boxes in 2g cars to get ALDL connectors to make 1g logging cables.

My junk yard etiquette also consists of not sharing my junk yard spots with anyone except for very close friends.
 
Junk yards in Northern NJ have become rare and not worth the effort. This area is overcrowded and usually the land is worth more than the business will ever make. It's kinda funny if you think about buying a $500k condo and digging up a bumper from a Córdoba in your back yard. Plus most yards insurance here won't even let people in the yard anymore. I like to "shop" so going to a counter and asking for a specific part is no fun to me. I miss the good ol days when the yards were full of mustangs, RX7, starquests, DSM, etc. I needed a leaf spring shackle for my ford pickup and wheeled in a generator and a grinder to cut the rivets out. They didn't like that. Lots of sparks on that one, but I got my shackle.
 
The only u pull it I know of around here is Harry's and it's in Pennsylvania. I haven't been there in years though so who knows. I used to spend entire weekends in the JYs in the St.Petersburg area when I lived in Tampa and it was a 1g dsm bonanza back in the early 2000s. I Still have the parts to prove it!
 
Remember that a car is there because it's junk. That means trash to someone else.... it's also trash to me save for a few treasures that can be found. For the most part, the car as a whole doesn't matter.

Not true. 80% of the cars we get (between 80-150 a month) were purchased from auction and run and drive fine, nothing actually mechanically wrong with them beyond bad brakes, high mileage, or rust. You know those buy here pay here dealerships selling cars for 10k? They paid 400-800 for it at an auto auction, spruced it up and they sell it at an outrageous markup, and that's why there is so many, they sell 1 car a month to cover their entire overhead and still have money to put in their pocket.


The only thing I could ask any of you is to not leave a mess, at least put everything back inside of a car instead of leaving it strewn out across the ground like an animal. It's the same thing if someone came to your work and took your stuff and threw it all over the place. You or a coworker would still have to pick it up.
 
Usually i try to take as many 'fit-all' style tools as possible so valuable time is not being wasted by playing "guess that fastener's size" game. Sure, most of those tools won't allow for same torque as actual sockets or wrenches so few of those go in the tool box as well, although they are more job specific and depend on what exactly needs to be removed (hint: extendable ratchets from HF are awesome for junk yard trips). Pliers and screw drivers are also a good idea. And after having fun time using a pipe wrench and a flat screw driver to knock off rivets to get couple truck bed vents a hammer and a chisel have joined the tool set, as have a pry bar since lack of one once made an otherwise fun couple hours at a junk yard into a day-long (almost) torture. Couple more things that usually go to the yard with me are a two liter of something to drink and some hand cleaner or at least paper towels.

As far as etiquette goes, i do try to leave anything usable in usable shape, although won't hesitate to cut a hose or a wiring harness of one becomes a problem. There have been times where i took a part off to get to something else and later needed that first part. Since i knew exactly where that part was it was really easy to find it during next trip to the yard. If there is a DSM or two in the yard i do try to let a local DSM group know about what it is, what condition it's in, what parts are left, and so on largely because these are not all that common and quite a few locals need parts off them.
 
I'm not courteous in the salvage yard because it's not a courteous place.

#1 tool of choice: steak knife. I will mess some cars up getting the parts I need out. Hook the motor lift up to the motor, unbolt motor mounts, begin lifting the lift, and use the steak knife to cut any wire or hose that is keeping the motor from leaving. Of course you're more careful if you care about preserving any of this stuff for yourself..... but as far as I'm being nice to "the next guy" that I don't know or care about his car running, it's not a thing for me. You're not automatically my friend because you're driving a dsm or you came to the same junk yard I did AFTER I was there.

Remember that a car is there because it's junk. That means trash to someone else.... it's also trash to me save for a few treasures that can be found. For the most part, the car as a whole doesn't matter. I regularly break glove boxes in 2g cars to get ALDL connectors to make 1g logging cables.

My junk yard etiquette also consists of not sharing my junk yard spots with anyone except for very close friends.


You and I would be great junkyard buddy's. There was a MINT 1g at a local junkyard and obviously the rear bumper boots were rusty so what does one do? Cut the quarter panel out and deal with the bolts at home

I need a trans and don't feel like leaking fluid in my car/truck? Cut the axles or driveshaft and use them as plugs

Need something under the car? Take the nearest hood that's removed and lay on that instead of the dirt
 
ive gone both ways. if its something that is easy for me to access, then i wont destroy things to get it. but if im yanking an engine, and time is tight (like it always is), i will cut, hack and sever anything in my way. what pisses me off is breaking things just for the sake of doing it. like windows, trim panels (certain ones) and kicked in fenders.

i will usually only further destroy a part if it has been compromised previously.

wire harnesses i will try to keep intact as best i can. most are simple plugs, and im not going to screw someone else cuz im too lazy to undo a connector or two.

its a free for all out there. last time i was at the yard, i grabbed injectors off a car, and a certain nationality came running up saying "you cant haf doze partz, cuz i am vurkink on dat carr". i said, its a salvage yard. and i dont see your name on, nor tool box next to it, and neither are you trying to grab said injectors.

he bitched, i grabbed the remaining two injectors, and walked off.
 
Guess it just depends on the amount time tools and other things like weather.
I found a 95 tsi fwd sitting in one. Had 103k on it bad ecu leather interior. Perfect car. Went back windows busted out and the remaining was in shambles. It was a whole dude wanted to sell for 500 just someone got back before me. Will say though I found I 88 or 89 ram 50.whole motor the same front case and oil pump has the front facing ofh.
 
I usually try to be respectful in the yards. It's rare we get Eclipses or Talons where I'm at of any generation.

This one time, a 1995 AWD was there. The transmission was already gone (had mine already) but everything else I needed was there. I dropped that subframe since the suspension was already disconnected and rear axles were gone. Blasted thing was caught on the exhaust piping with you guessed rounded off and rusted bolts. Was not leaving there without it after all that work. Whacked the exhaust hanger bracket a couple of times to bust the weld and drop it. Had to push and pull it over the piping but I made out with the whole thing-driveshaft, rear knuckles, subframe, brake cables/brackets, and the rear diff for a steal. Made most of the money back selling the rear diff since I had one with LSD axles already. Sadly the front axles were trashed and not budging in the front hubs.

I try not to dive into a car if someone is actively working on it unless it's rare and I need something. Then I'll ask politely. Can't say that most people think the same. Had this one jerk try to snatch something out of my pile that I was literally standing right beside and toolbox on top. I got real vicious about it. Other time some creep was literally reaching over top of me to get stuff. Lesson learned to only go at certain times of the day. Lol.
 
I can agree with the "don't leave things lying around" comment many wrecking yards I have been to have doors left open, and door trim hanging on the ground from the courtesy door light wires, and it sucks when you stub your toe or trip on stray alternators left on the ground.

To save time at yards I like to bring my brother or some friends with me and here is a really helpful tip: I bring both of these with me if or when I head to the wrecking yards.
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Sometimes you need to break the screws loose with regular hand tools [especially if they are rusted on], and then you could use the impact drill, so far it's made pulling things out a lot easier and in most cases quicker, lots of time saved instead of twisting your arm back and forth a million times to get all the bolts or screws out of the way.
 
Didn't see anyone mention it, but thoughts on letting other strangers borrow tools in the yard? I did one, ended up missing a ratchet and socket. So never again for me. There's an AutoZone about two miles from the junkyard and a Napa right around the corner that I send people to if they come asking me for tools. I keep my tool box closed typically as well so I can just say I don't have one or that I'm using it. Heck the junkyard even sells tools they find! I wonder if that ratchet and socket ever got found. Lol.
 
Didn't see anyone mention it, but thoughts on letting other strangers borrow tools in the yard? I did one, ended up missing a ratchet and socket. So never again for me. There's an AutoZone about two miles from the junkyard and a Napa right around the corner that I send people to if they come asking me for tools. I keep my tool box closed typically as well so I can just say I don't have one or that I'm using it. Heck the junkyard even sells tools they find! I wonder if that ratchet and socket ever got found. Lol.

You make a good point.
I often get asked this at the yards as well, so far I have not lost anything, but usually I make sure I know what car they are working on, and if it's near me before borrowing tools out, this reminds me of two good stories...

So I'm working on prying out an alternator on a dsm with a large screw driver, so I see two guys pass by me and work on a car like two rows away, I leave maybe a few rows of cars away then I realize I must have forgot the screw driver, I go back look everywhere and it's nowhere to be found on the dsm I looked in all the common areas we dsmers like to leave tools sit, so I then notice those two guys I saw earlier walking away from the car, I walk over and ask them [I figure I got nothing to loose LOL] "did you guys happen to find or see a large flat screw driver around here", the guys look at each other with a deer is in the headlights expression on their faces LOL [honestly the look was priceless] after about three seconds of this they then opened their tool case, and sure enough there it was, it was good that they came clean about it, because quite honestly it was not a cheep tool LOL.

I also returned a dewalt impact driver [with battery] to the front of the wrecking yard... I could have vary likely walked right out of the place with it... well that is if my intentions were to steal things LOL, but I figured someone else likely would do this if I don't bring it to the front, and in hindsight if it was a cheaper tool I think I would have likely just left it where I found it, so as to make it easier to find for the guy that lost it.
 
Our yard has a "lost and found" drawer full of misc tools found in the yard that anyone that comes in is welcome to use, its mostly just regular wrenches, a lot of BMW and mercedes style double ended screwdrivers, lots of torx and allen head wrenches. anything nice or expensive gets put under the desk if we have an idea of who owned it.

Best bit of advice - instead of using a hood? as something to lay on. if your near subarus almost all of them came with that formed mat in the rear area that makes an excellent mat for laying on. same thing for volvo xc70s. honda odysseys. nissan altimas/maximas also had a rubber backed trunk liner. Even kia sedonas have basically a giant floormat in the rear. I keep at least 2 or 3 rolled up in my yard truck to use if I have to work in wet conditions. Also any GM style spare jack you can find that has a 19mm or 21mm nut on it you can hook up to an impact driver and it'll lift a car in seconds. you can use the donut in the back, set that on the ground and use it as a platform if the area is muddy/unstable.

I've never had bad encounters with other people at junkyards.. most of the time I walk in wearing a company shirt and it's the employees who I get a hard time from. I don't understand competition in the junkyard world. If we don't have it we don't have an issue telling you where you might be able to find it?

What kind of selfish person knows where someone else can get access to parts they need to fix their cars and won't tell them? It's public property. share the knowledge. If everyone thought that way this website wouldn't even exist because everyone would want to keep their mods and how they did it a secret.
 
One thing that bugs me is when people Harass you for tools ,

I was ripping an oil pan off for a cavilier and I brought exactly what I needed a few sockets an impact drill and I pry bar to remove it.

I got asked three times while I ripped the oil pan off as fast as I could to get the hell out
because a bunch of philipenos kept talking to me wanting to borrow my "awesome" drill like screw off you brown nosing bastards LOL
Just because I went there prepared that doesn't mean I'm going to supply you tools so YOU can remove something and waste my time
 
I was at the local pick n pull yard today and it was -20 celcius. My fingers didn't like being out of my gloves. It was cold.

I am nice to DSM's but almost anything else in the yard is take the part out as easy as possible.
I feel bad every time i see a 6 bolt go through my yard, N/A or turbo. We seem to have a lot of these engines compared to what i have been reading in this thread. There were 2 6 bolt 4g63 sohc galants there today and a 7 bolt 4g64 colt vista.

And tool borrowers suck. What were they thinking, going to scrap yard with no tools? What kind of plan is that? I usually go scout out the yard and if there is something good, i go back with the tools i need.
 
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