Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 11:20:25 -0700
Reply-To: Aristotle Sagan <killer_jupiter@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Aristotle Sagan <killer_jupiter@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: salvage yard experiences?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
There are a number of Pick and Pulls in San Jose.
1.) Take Oakland Road North from 101 to the first stop light, turn right and
go down through the curves, it's on the left. (1065 Commercial St)
2.) Take 880 N from 101 take the Montegue Exit East. Turn right on
TradeZone. Left hand side. I think it's still there. Use to have a bunch of
vans.
3.) Take 87 South from 280 or 101 to Alma Street East, go to Monterey
Highway, turn south on Monterey and it's on the right (1675 Monterey Hwy).
I wouldn't take kids and wife to any of these places. This is place for you
to explore a bit, see how things are put together. Drop them off at the Mall
or local Barnes and Nobel Bookstore.
As far as interaction? You pull the parts and walk up and pay for them. It's
don't get any simpler.
tim in san jose
----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Oda" <craigoda@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 10:45 AM
Subject: salvage yard experiences?
> 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.
>
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