Zen in the junkyard

Found an 2007 Altima V6 6 speed manual last week. Came back today to grab some parts.

Grabbed the flywheel and ecu today. Unfortunately the clutch itself was totally fried, missing the friction material on one half.

In reply to Run_Away [FS] :

Hmmm ... so you took apart the drivers side suspension and then just dragged the trans out that hole?  Being a rwd guy I just assumed pulling the engine.  

Unbolted the front knuckles from the struts, axle nuts off, get some slack in the brake hoses and ABS wiring, dropped the Y pipe (secondary cat was cut out before it hit the yard), unbolted the front and rear engine mounts, unbolted the steering column at the rack, then dropped the whole subframe. 

Brake hoses, abs sensors, and power steering lines are still sort of holding the subframe in place, but it's on the ground. 

Then just shift cables, clutch line, wiring, and trans mount and the transmission is out. Engine hangs by the passenger side mount. 

Not a job for hand tools, lots of big tight bolts.

I did some wrecking yard therapy today and came across this. IIRC someone here was wanting 4 lug Miata front hubs but don’t recall who or which thread it was. Anyway, there are 2 Miati, so 4 hubs. The car this pic is, or was going to be, sporty. It has a roll bar and if you look at pic the spring is green so maybe a non-stock spring. The struts looked to be KYB.

Also, since this is a wreck yard thread y'all might have some input on a question I thought of while being one with the yard. 

I need an A/C compressor (at minium) for my Ranger. There is a nice "looking" one there. As I checked things out I wondered if a wreck yard compressor might be OK - OK as in no shrapnel. Once it is out of the truck would looking into where the a/c lines attach be a useful exercise to see any shrapnel? 

The price is $40 + 5 core vs. $120 plus shipping.

In reply to L5wolvesf :

I would get new but AC is voodoo magic to me.

Today was learn Ford engines day in the junkyard but as always I'm easily distracted. 

First I noticed this MX3 and it's 7k redline. 

This K5 gave up a toggle switch for the Model A.  Honestly don't know why something this clean would be sent to the yard.

I'm looking at all the Ford trucks and all I'm finding is 7.3s and 4.2s until this F250.

What's that under the hood?  Why is a 5.8 aka 351W. This one should have roller lifters vs my older flat tappet one.

Another square body gave up a toggle switch.  This one a Suburban. Again pretty clean body.

I got distracted by a 66 Cadillac Fleetwood in the first row of the GM section.

Gotta love the interior and taillights.

Someone already took the 429 and the switch pitch th400 trans.

Then I wondered over to the old car section. They moved some out but the Ford with 351 2bbl was still there. I looked at the sticker and it was a Cleveland so no wonder someone took it. 

Walking towards the Ford car section I notice an IROC-Z.

Open the door to see that someone had a nice roll bar in it.  Looked it over and entire drivetrain was gone including rear axle.

As I got closer to the Ford section a Fox body with 5 lugs caught my eye.

Hmmm SVO ...

All the important engine stuff gone.

I'll need a T5 for the Model A. Decided to scout out 3.8 Mustangs for the holiday sales.  Few down from the SVO someone already pulled this one.

Then a couple over this 99 has one.

Next row this 99 and 2000 had them also.

In all I count 6 T5s still sitting there and about 3 that have been pulled.  I think I'll be fine in a couple of weeks. 

Based on the hacked up wiring, the Ranger valve cover gasket, and the roller cam/followers left behind on that SVO, there used to be some upgrades there that somebody got. 3" tail pipe too.....

In reply to gumby (Forum Supporter) :

Don't forget the 3g alternator too.

Went to the junkyard on Saturday and this was the most interesting thing I saw, almost seems like a shame it was there. 

.

In reply to EvanB (Forum Supporter) :

I like those wheels.  I would have had a hard time leaving the yard without them.

And the e24 behind it

As a northerner, seeing all these rust free cars as "junk" really hurts....

L5wolvesf said:

I did some wrecking yard therapy today and came across this. IIRC someone here was wanting 4 lug Miata front hubs but don’t recall who or which thread it was. Anyway, there are 2 Miati, so 4 hubs. The car this pic is, or was going to be, sporty. It has a roll bar and if you look at pic the spring is green so maybe a non-stock spring. The struts looked to be KYB.

Probably Tein springs for anyone interested.

Did the MX-3 have the Recaros? Those are great seats.

In reply to dxman92 :

I remember looking at them and not being impressed so I'm thinking no.

EvanB (Forum Supporter) said:

Went to the junkyard on Saturday and this was the most interesting thing I saw, almost seems like a shame it was there. .

That's weird. We went to a smallish local yard down here Saturday morning and this had just come in:

There was also this silly clean '89-91 K5 Jimmy:

And a 2nd Gen EGT in one of the best colors:

And Mike Ehrmantraut's car, for you Break Bad or Better Call Saul fans:

We walked around for a while and didn't buy a thing, but it was nice to get out for a bit.

dxman92 said:

Did the MX-3 have the Recaros? Those are great seats.

One just came into one of my local JYs (metro Detroit) that looks like it has them, if my googling serves well. Look comfy, kinda wish I had a car that needed them!

This is such a neat thread - thanks you guys. Its always neat to see the fun and interesting cars you all have in your local yards.

are there websites with people picking the local Pic a Parts and Junk yards ?

My friend is looking for a drivers door for his ex rental "mustard" colored Chevy express van box truck .

Someone crushed it when he opened the door to get out , and an original "mustard" colored one will be less "cop bait" than the primered one (wrong year too)  that he has now.

I know about car-part.com  but none there....

Thanks for the info

In reply to californiamilleghia :

Row52.com but they don't have a lot of smaller local yards.

Yesterday we had a planned trip south to Merritt Island to pull a RX8 front suspension. 

Road trip!

It ended up being at a one man yard with about 100 vehicles. Here's the RX8 and me showing my best side. 

Here's Lil Stampie being my helper. 

First I noticed that the RX8 was missing is strut bar which was supposed to be still there. Then I saw that it was pretty rusty. When I got to the four bolts holding the subframe on I couldn't budge them. I tried my Milwaukee impact and my large breaker bar. Finally decided that it was a lost cause and wandered the yard. 

Lil Stampie and I play a version of punch buggie. Old bugs are 5 and we also play 10 cylinders and above with one punch per cylinder. I cleaned up by spotting this bug and XJS.

They had a Saab 95 wagon.

Some wheel porn for Michael. 

I'm assuming this is the yard "truck".

Jealous of the vent windows on that yard hauler!

Saw this yesterday!

Then there was this...

I hope the JY gods forgive me for today...