Date:         Wed, 23 Jun 2004 10:45:19 -0700
Reply-To:     Craig Oda <craigoda@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Craig Oda <craigoda@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      salvage yard experiences?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Part of the joy of owning a Westy is keeping it running.  I'm
approaching the upkeep and maintenance of the vehicle as a hobby.
Right now, I'm considering taking the next leap in my hobby and
investigating a salvage yard.  I've never done this before.  Actually,
the possibility of having a poor experience is making me hesitant to
go to a salvage yard.   Could someone with experience going to salvage
yards and getting parts for a vanagon give me some advice?  If someone
has experience in the SF Bay, that would be awesome.

The things I'm looking for in a salvage yard:
  - availability of vanagon parts.  Or, a way to find out if the parts
are there before driving down to the shop
  - fair price that I don't have to check at other sources.
  - waiting room or some other safe place for the wife and kids
  - friendly or efficient interaction with the person at the yard I
would have to deal with

If I look at the pick-n-pull web site, it shows a picture of a nice
waiting room.  There's a pick-n-pull in north san jose, CA that I'm
considering going to one weekend.  Are these reputable yards and
enjoyable to go to?

I also called a shop in East Palo , CA.  The owner was really nice
(Infinity Salvage).  However, he didn't have any vanagons that he was
parting out.

I live near Stanford University, so a yard from Redwood City to San
Jose would be convenient.   Do you have recommendations?

I'm looking for double middle seat for the Westy so that I can carry
six people.  My parents are coming to visit their grandson again.

If I have a pleasant experience at a salvage yard in the SF Bay area,
I may one day try to get a temporary 1.9L waterboxer to drop into the
van while I crack the case of the existing engine and check the
camshaft for wear.  Though, this would be further down the line.