Jewels in the Junkyard

Hunting parts in salvage yards is part of the fun of restoring or rebuilding older, classic cars. The thrill of finding that perfect part, the one the dealers have been out of since 1958, provides a sense of accomplishment that keeps your enthusiasm going on long projects. It's kind of like an Easter egg hunt for adults. But before you grab your wrenches and go trophy hunting, there are some things you should know.

The Hunt
Although there are many types of salvage yards (the fancy term for junkyards), all share something in common: The responsibility for finding the correct part is up to you. If you go to a retail auto parts store and tell the counter person you need a generator for a 1958 Chevy, it is his or her responsibility to fish out the right box and slap it on the counter. If it turns out to be wrong part, you can take it back and get another. But in the world of salvage yards it gets a little more complicated.

It's up to you to look over the part and make sure it is the right one before you hand over your cash.
For starters, many salvage yards strip wrecked cars as soon as they arrive, filing the salvageable bits on shelves (or stacking them in huge piles) and crushing the hulls to make room for the next arrival. After a while it gets difficult to keep track of what components came out of which car. And since most auto manufacturers make countless changes during a model run, it's nearly impossible for salvage yard operators to keep up with them. For instance, if you tell the counter person you need an intake manifold and fuel injection system from a 1998 Camaro, the one they have on the shelf may be from the right year but the wrong model. It's up to you to look over the part and make sure it is the right one before you hand over your cash.

Trading Places
Before you leave home for a junkyard jaunt, make a list of everything you need, including part numbers and, if needed, photo prints or tracings of the required part. If you are replacing an existing part, take the old one with you both to check for fit, and to use as a trade-in. Many salvage yards expect a "core charge" if you don't have an old part to trade in. They really don't care about the quality of your trade in, so take the worst example you have.


Everything gets even more complicated when you are buying parts to use in an engine swap or other conversion work. If you buy an engine, transmission, rear end or other part and it doesn't fit, the problem is yours. Although some salvage yards do not accept returns at all (be sure to ask), others have a multi-tiered price structure. The least expensive price has a "no return" policy, while the next higher price allows you to exchange the part for another from their inventory. The highest price allows for cash refunds, usually with a small restocking fee.