Junk yard treasures

[Benjamin C.]

I visited my brother in laws junk yard recently, looking for the screw that holds the condensor on the gen. He directed me to the far corner to a early 50's Chevy. I ended up with the original screw, battery top hold down, some original bolts, two brass tie straps, a clip that hols the vacuum line and fuel line together, and an original battery ground strap. The strap is shorter than an original vette, but the head is exactly the same. On my journey out I noticed an old buick. Under the hood, which weighed the same as a toyota, was a washer bottle that was also used on the early vettes.Can't wait to go to the junk yard again....sure beats E-bay. Does anyone know what is the correct color for the washer bottle top for a 54?

[Kent K.]

Re: Junk yard treasures

B.J. - '54 washer bottle top color is sort of a silvery battleship gray.
Regards,
Kent #6201

[Tracy C.]

Re: Junk yard treasures

Some of my fondest memories with my dad are our trips to the Salvage yards when I was a kid in the early 60's. There were always a few 2 door Chevys that became road racers in my mind as I sat behind the wheel as Pop pulled the parts he needed.

When I bought my first car (6 cyl. 66 Chevelle) the first thing we did was go to a local yard and pull the front and back seats from a Gran Prix, a console from a Firebird, and a 350 4 barrel /400 turbohydramatic from a 69 Impala to put in that car. It was a blast.

Still today, walking through a junk yard full of old cars is one of life's greatest pleasures for me. I wish we still had them around like that these days.

tc

[Jim T.]

Re: Junk yard treasures

I can remember an in town yard that I visited a few times on Sundays when I knew no one was there, was about 8 or 9. The reason for the visit was to look under the seats for loose change.

[D S.]

Re: Junk yard treasures

I still hit those salvage yards when the weather is nice. I usually go to small towns where they rarely crush cars and usually the good ones way in the back are the '40s to early '70s. Treasure trove of parts. I look in the glove boxes and have found Protect-O-Plates among other items, tools still left in the trunks, color banded fuses, door switches, wiring harnesses, horns, radiator caps, brass A/C refrigerant caps, etc. In addition to tools I usually bring water, rags, gloves, insect repellant, and knee pads. I cautiously look under the front seats as I'm not looking forward to what might be staring back.

[Joseph T.]

Re: Junk yard pirates

Years ago..when my son was about 6 years old..we flew from St.Louis to Reno and rented a car to go visit a Salvage yard in Carson City, Nevada.

There were several yards and thousands of cars...stacked 3 high.

As we were leaving one of the yards..there were several bearded rough looking characters in raggy junk yard clothes, bandana's etc.. along with some pretty scary dogs.

My son looked up at me and said ..dad are those PIRATES!

They could have been Pirates of the CAR-ribean

[Joe C.]

It's usually the back seat, where............

......things can get a bit "sticky", if you know what I mean.

Joe

[Tracy C.]

that made me laugh Joe...good memories for sure *NM*

[Mike B.]

Re: Junk yard treasures

Like many of you, old junk cars and junk yards sure were heaven growing up. All through the 1960s and early '70s my dad owned a Gulf service station (remember service?). I would routinely spend afternoons after school under his feet helping out wherever possible (often the pedal pump guy during brake bleeding). Out back was a wide variety of junkers. I can remember pushing the space-age gear selector dash buttons of an old Chrysler while I pretended to drive that dinosaur. I also remember an old "backwards car" - a VW beetle that seemed so strange to me once I opened the front and rear compartments. Of course there was always target practice with rocks on windows, headlights etc. What fun!

Fast forward many years later when in college I needed to replace a blown engine in my 1969 Triumph Spitfire. Off to the local junkyard with a few tools. In no time that engine was in my arms with wires dangling and all manner of fluids dripping while I shrugged it into the trunk of my parent's car.

Here in the metro NY area junkyards seem to be all but a memory. Maybe the real estate is too valuable, or maybe environmental regulations have closed them down, or perhaps insurance and liability made self-picking too risky.

No matter. Hanging around working and non-working cars for my formative years have burned an indelible mark on me. But it would be nice to turn the clock back for a just few minutes and be under my father's feet again. Those to me are the good old days for sure!

Thanks for rekindling the memory.

[Tim E.]

Re: Junk yard treasures

I recall often hanging out at a yard in Ames, Iowa. Once, I managed to break the "three on the tree" shift lever of my '63 Nova SS right down at the nub when it was 25 below zero one winter. Only had 2nd and 3rd until I dropped by the junkyard and picked up a new lever. While there, I popped the hood on a '61 4 door Chevrolet and saw a 348 or 409, not sure which, with 3 deuces (in a 4 door with bench seat??). The front and rear carbs were blocked off and only the center one functioning. The car was complete and original (minus whatever rusted away from the Iowa winters). I also remember picking up a full gauge cluster for a '68 SS396 since mine didn't have the gauges...I thought the horizontal needle of the tachometer was unique!