Forums

Topic: Wrecking Yard Etiquette  (Read 2796 times)

Offline Smelly_Cat

Wrecking Yard Etiquette

« on: August 24, 2010, 05:56:06 PM »
I copied this from here,  It is great info and he writes well.   SC
http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/tech.htm

Wrecking Yard Etiquette

Perhaps one of the greatest part sources available is your local wrecking yard. Whether you call it a junkyard, wrecking yard or "u-pull-it", you can't deny that it is an excellent source for good, yet cheap, parts. Unfortunately, because of abuse many wrecking yards are no longer allowing the public into their lots. This means that we loose a valuable source of parts, and prices become higher for parts that we can get (we must now pay for them to remove it, which may or may not be done correctly). Therefore, everyone who frequents wrecking yards should follow a simple set of rules. Not only as a courtesy to others, but to make sure that their own source of parts will be available in the years to come.

1. Please don't steal
    This should be a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised. Just because an individual buys one piece of interior trim, it does not mean that this individual can shove another 10 pieces of trim into his or her jacket. I know you've heard it before, that stealing hurts us all. And it's true. If wrecking yards see a constant problem with the number of parts going out verses the amount of money going in, then it is a large incentive for them to make their yard "out of bounds" to the public. It also goes without saying that many yards are now employing cameras to prevent theft.

2. Preserve the interior
    If you are working on a car with a good interior, please do not leave doors and windows wide open to the weather. You may not care about the interior parts, but it is likely that someone else does. Nothing ruins interiors faster than a few rainfalls.

3. Don't just break stuff
    Please remove the part you are after properly. This means not destroying the area around it in a mad dash to get what you want. Remember that someone else may be desperately searching for the part that you just broke. On the same token, mindless destruction is also a bad thing. Breaking windows, taillights, etc. just because you can may be fun, but keep in mind that those are also common parts others need, and are the property of the wrecking yard.

4. Consider lending your tools
    We've all been there: at a wrecking yard 10 miles from home, only to discover we forgot the 10MM socket. And we've also all had someone refuse to lend out their 10MM socket sitting idle in their toolbox. Since you know how this feels, it shouldn't be a large stretch of the imagination to realize what it's like when you refuse to lend a tool to someone else. A little good karma can go a long way in this world. Though it certainly doesn't hurt to keep a close eye on any tools you have on loan.

5. Above all, be careful
    Don't do something unsafe. Examples include smoking around fuel, lifting with tire-change jacks in soft soil, etc. Such a hazard is not only a problem for your own safety, but can be harmful to others around as well. It is also worth stating that the last thing a wrecking yard wants to deal with is an injury on their property.

Offline volksnick

  • Secretary
  • Club Member
  • Chattanooga
  • Joined: Apr 2009
  • Posts: 4304

Re: Wrecking Yard Etiquette

« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2010, 10:36:04 AM »
This got me thinking. I know chattanooga doesn't have an actual pull-a-part but I've heard we have the u-pull-its. Does anyone know anything about wrecking yards that are open to the public? Last time my old man and I checked with one it was only open to mechanics or dealers etc... If yall know of any good junk yards, hows about posting them on here.

the last local one my old man took me to was where the new walmart is near signal mountain. Apparently his father took him to that one as well (he passed in 62!!!) We got trim for the grab handles for a 72 El Dorado. The guy that bought that car looked at buying my baja before I got it driving.

Offline travisyoung

Re: Wrecking Yard Etiquette

« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2010, 11:07:35 AM »
I remeber the one on signal mtn blvd,  my dad took me there and we got some pop out for my first car a 72 beetle, that was in 92-93

Offline Ret.Bugtech

Re: Wrecking Yard Etiquette

« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2010, 03:06:54 PM »
Signal Mtn. Auto-parts.   This was my 2nd home when I had my 1940 Merc. vert in the mid-50's

Offline volksnick

  • Secretary
  • Club Member
  • Chattanooga
  • Joined: Apr 2009
  • Posts: 4304

Re: Wrecking Yard Etiquette

« Reply #4 on: August 30, 2010, 08:45:18 AM »
I guess no one knows of any local ones. I had to get my fix in Birmingham on Sat coming back from the show. A pretty solid 74 std in the U-pull-it across the street from the pull-a-part. It was a good time and I got the running boards and the cardboard glovebox for Bonnie.

I would still like to hear if anyone knows the closest junk yards the public can go in

Offline Ret.Bugtech

Re: Wrecking Yard Etiquette

« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2010, 11:55:19 AM »
I think there USE to be a all VW yard somewhere around Maryville.  Don't know if its still there.

Offline volksnick

  • Secretary
  • Club Member
  • Chattanooga
  • Joined: Apr 2009
  • Posts: 4304

Re: Wrecking Yard Etiquette

« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2010, 10:31:08 PM »
I did find that one a couple years ago. It was super awesome. Its in Greenback, TN just south of Maryville. It was this old couple's house who ran a VW parts business and went to all the shows. Now they are old and disabled and only sell parts when people wander in. Their whole basement is organized with shelves and parts in a warehouse fashion and their yard is a wrecking yard with parts vehicles everywhere. Pans and buses and everything buried in leaves. A shed full of fenders and hoods etc...  I picked up a spare wheel and some other various 'new' parts.

I'd be interested in organizing a drive  up there sometime and do some parts hunting. Anyone else interested? I still have their business card somewhere...

Offline HowieDoin

  • Fort Oglethorpe, Ga
  • Joined: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 46

Re: Wrecking Yard Etiquette

« Reply #7 on: August 31, 2010, 08:28:09 AM »
sounds like fun to me, count me in.

Offline ASBug

  • Varnel, Ga
  • Joined: Jan 2008
  • Posts: 3032

Re: Wrecking Yard Etiquette

« Reply #8 on: August 31, 2010, 12:22:12 PM »
I'm in.
I have heard of this place.
Is it right off of HWY 411?
Let me know when.
KC

Offline volksnick

  • Secretary
  • Club Member
  • Chattanooga
  • Joined: Apr 2009
  • Posts: 4304

Re: Wrecking Yard Etiquette

« Reply #9 on: August 31, 2010, 01:53:37 PM »
it's something around 5062 Miillsaps Dr, Greenback, Tn. That's about where google maps street view shows lots of VWs. I am indifferent as to when. I know I'll be going to CYW the first weekend in Oct....

There was an error while liking
Liking...

About Us

Chattanooga's oldest and largest club for air-cooled and water-cooled Volkswagens, since 1998. Join Us

Follow Us

© 1998-2025 Scenic City Volks Folks