Does anyone else here view the Pull-it-Yourself Junkyard as "Peaceful"?

[V6UnderPressure]

Just a thought as I wandered through the local U-Pull Junkyard. It seems everytime I go there, I just hear the wind, and all is quiet. Only the occasional clattering of tools in the background. As I look in every car for special parts (Like a Buffet!), I always wonder what kind of story goes with that car, who has owned it & what its been through. I find things that remind me of my childhood. Recently, I found a 1986 Mcdonald's Monopoly gamepiece. This brought me back to my grade school chicago field trip. Hell, I remember trading them with my fellow students at the time. Even the different cars each bring back a piece of my past. The minute I walk in there, everything just seems so calming. There is no one to tell you what you can and can't have. It's one place I like to go to relieve stress. Is this heaven? Yes I sound like I'm reciting poetry but I just thought I'd share this with all of you. Do any of you feel the same way? Thanks all!

Scott

 

[MeanBuicks]

Yeah, the boneyard is definitely a great place. It is sad to see certain automobiles so beaten, battered and run into the ground. But at least they are still there to donate what's left to their still-running counterparts.

 

[turbojimmy]

Yep. 'cept for the bees. And when you see that someone has junked a perfectly good example of what you're driving - in much better shape.

I spent a lot of time at my uncle's boneyard when I was young. Hours at a time going from car to car to car. Hundreds of them. Most of his are wrecks (as opposed to worn out), so you spend a lot of time reconstructing things in your mind. The fresh local wrecks, closest to the road where the tow truck drivers would dump them, often had hair and scalp stuck in the windsheild, gauze and bandage wrappers on the floorboards. Some had A-pillars cut and roofs peeled back. Some obviously had been underwater, some with other cars' paint on them, others with tree bark jammed in perfectly round indentations. Some burned to a crisp. What would always make me stop and think the most were the steering wheels all twisted out of round from people holding on to them at the point of impact. When you find some personal effects it makes you think. It is peaceful, but in a graveyard sort of way.

My local u-pull-it is mostly worn out stuff. Much easier to look at.

Jim

 

[V6UnderPressure]

Originally posted by turbojimmy
Yep. 'cept for the bees.

Hehe, Yes, forgot about the Bees! **
* * * * * * ** * *
* * * * *
Scott

 

[BoostKillsStres]

Forget the bee's I HATE the WASPS!!!....those things are EVIL I tell you!!!!!!!!

 

[Geoff87]

Originally posted by Scott4DMny
Just a thought as I wandered through the local U-Pull Junkyard. It seems everytime I go there, I just hear the wind, and all is quiet. Only the occasional clattering of tools in the background. As I look in every car for special parts (Like a Buffet!), I always wonder what kind of story goes with that car, who has owned it & what its been through. I find things that remind me of my childhood. Recently, I found a 1986 Mcdonald's Monopoly gamepiece. This brought me back to my grade school chicago field trip. Hell, I remember trading them with my fellow students at the time. Even the different cars each bring back a piece of my past. The minute I walk in there, everything just seems so calming. There is no one to tell you what you can and can't have. It's one place I like to go to relieve stress. Is this heaven? Yes I sound like I'm reciting poetry but I just thought I'd share this with all of you. Do any of you feel the same way? Thanks all!

Scott

The sign of a TRUE Junkyard Dog!!

 

[metal-box]

Originally posted by turbojimmy
And when you see that someone has junked a perfectly good example of what you're driving - in much better shape.

LOL!

Do you know of any good u-pull its in Southern/Central NJ?

 

[turbojimmy]

Originally posted by metal-box
LOL!

Do you know of any good u-pull its in Southern/Central NJ?

No I don't, sorry. I grew up in Northern NJ so I'm only familiar with the locals. Roxbury Auto Wreckers used to be my favorite hang-out, but I don't get there very often anymore. I swing by once in a while to see if there are any Regals out there, but you really don't see them anymore.

If you have A LOT of time, Kobers is a really cool place. I haven't been there in about 10+ years but I think they're still open. He's in Washington out by PA, off Rt. 57 I believe. They've been there since the 40s I think, so he has an entire mountain covered in cars from that era up to the present. Trees have grown right through the older stuff. He's got street names in there so you don't get lost. Funny thing is, the guy that runs the place knew where everything was. Last time I was there I was looking for a GTO hood for my LeMans. He actually had a couple there - even though at the time the car was almost 20 years old.

Jim

 

[gn85]

Can't say it's something 'poetic'.

Sorry, that first description was a little much. I was waiting to say you go running through large tulip fields next.


I must say though, I do agree. The junkyard is a 'heaven' for gearheads. It is fascinating to check out some of the cars there. Especially when you go there every once in a while and ya find new cars. I even found my ex-girlfriends car that she wrecked in a boneyard. Wow... she smashed that thing good. The best had to be that I was picking parts off that car for my GN.

I like to go through the boneyard sometimes and brainstorm. If I'm working on a project and I can't quite come up with the solution, I'll go to the boneyard and take a look at other cars. Amazing what you can piece together.

 

[Joe 1320]

I used to think I was a little "out there". Now that I see I'm not the only one, the junkyard rules!

 

[Benched]

I like the range of emotions you go through when you see a possible donor from a distance. Your mind is going through the possibilities..header panel, bumbers, door trim...

And if it is a TR then your heart starts racing, your brain starts spinning. Was it stolen? Did somebody give up on it?

I once saw an 87 GN, and I was with a fellow TR enthusiast. The drive train was already gone, but there was still salvagable items. Jimmy Carter and Henry Kissinger would have been proud of our mediating on who got what. Peace and pieces were kept. Unlike when your buddy comes over and there is only one beer left in the refrigerator.

 

[V6UnderPressure]

Re: Can't say it's something 'poetic'.

Originally posted by gn85
Sorry, that first description was a little much. I was waiting to say you go running through large tulip fields next.

Sorry, didnt mean to tickle your feminine side!

 

[V6UnderPressure]

Originally posted by Benched
I like the range of emotions you go through when you see a possible donor from a distance. Your mind is going through the possibilities..header panel, bumbers, door trim...

And if it is a TR then your heart starts racing, your brain starts spinning. Was it stolen? Did somebody give up on it?

Right on the Money! THIS guy knows what I'm talkin about. Thank GOD I'm not the only one. I feel better now.

 

[leo wagstaff]

the peace and quiet can be very soothing.

 

[SPOT MY 6]

Scott,
Which yard did you go to? The U-Pull-It on 141st right by I-57? I was at one of the yards off Archer where they stack 'em 2 high. I was looking for coilpack/ignition modules and needed to look under the hood of the car on top. I walked over to that car and the door jam was parallel to my face. I wanted to open the door so I could pull the hood release. I opened the door, and the WHOLE door jam was FILLED with wasps! There had to be hundreds. It was a tight squeeze between the cars so I ducked under the door and ran as fast as I could and left my tools under the hood of another car. Since the area was then infested with wasps and I needed to get my tools, I put my flannel over my head and made a run for it. Luckly I got outta there without any stings!

BTW, if you read this tonight, there is going to be a TON of people at AJ's in New Lenox on RT.30 tonight. Guaranteed to see a street race tonigh. Im leaving here in like an hour. If you dont know where AJ's is at, its on RT 30 right before it meets I-80.

 

[OmahaKnight]

I worked the counter at a u pull it yard for a number of years and I know exactly what you mean. A lot of my customers were regulars who came out religiously. Some daily, most weekly. One advantage I had was I had first dibs on cars that came in so I was able to buy quite a few nice cars with minor mechanical trouble and sometimes VERY minor trouble (84 rust free Cutlass Supreme 2door with a clogged fuel filter). Working there I met some of the nicest, strangest and DUMBEST people on the planet and had quite a few experiences as well. The stories I could tell would be a never ending thread.

 

[jsta6]

One man's trash...is another man's treasure...

I could definately go every day. But then again, if I did, it might not be so "special"...

 

[Ken Cunningham]

Anybody ever take stuff apart in the boneyard just to see what they look like underneath? When I wanted to redo my headliner, I had no idea what I would run into in removing it. So I went to the boneyard to see how the trim was held on, what had to be removed, etc. Before I tore into my dash, I did it on a junkyard Regal. Leave with my tools after 2 hours and no parts, but a real education.

 

[gn85]

Originally posted by Ken Cunningham
Anybody ever take stuff apart in the boneyard just to see what they look like underneath? When I wanted to redo my headliner, I had no idea what I would run into in removing it. So I went to the boneyard to see how the trim was held on, what had to be removed, etc. Before I tore into my dash, I did it on a junkyard Regal. Leave with my tools after 2 hours and no parts, but a real education.

I have to agree with you there... some of the guys who work in the junkyard are pretty crazy at tearing things apart. A little bit too much with the blue wrench. But, it is good to see what you're going to run into before you go tearing your own car up.

 

[Renthorin]

Can be frightening too

I was at a yard in Northern Ohio many years ago. I had wandered waaay back from the gate, maybe 300 yards or so.

It butted up to some woods and I got to thinking that I could die out here and no one would ever find me. (I was in the Ford section.......)

I rounded the back end of some big sedan and there was a white/tan sheepskin seat cover half under the car......completely covered in red transmission fluid!!!!!

I swear I almost crapped myself....it looked like a butchered animal or something.

On a positive note, I was tring to find out how the rear seats come off on a G-body and when I pulled it up there was a Storm Trooper figureine in perfect condition underneath it.

I still have it today.