Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 12:34:19 -0700
Reply-To: Tom Young <tomyoung1@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Young <tomyoung1@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: salvage yard experiences?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
There's several "pick your part" sort of yards in the SF Bay area. I've
visited the Richmond, Oakland and Hayward yards. You pretty much have to
luck out when you go since there's not lots and lots of Vanagons - I've been
to each of them when there hasn't been a one - and they're not going to tell
you on the phone if any are in the yard. I'd say their biggest source of
income is the entrance fee.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Young '81 Vanagon
Lafayette, CA 94549 '82 Westfalia
---------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Oda" <craigoda@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 11:45 AM
Subject: Re: salvage yard experiences?
> Jim,
> thanks for the description of the experience. I guess you don't have
> any recommendations for a yard in the SF Bay area?
>
> Also, do I just drive over to the yard for the experience? Or, should
> I call first and ask if they have a lot of vanagon parts. Pick-n-pull
> seems like a nice large place that would be a good place to start.
>
> On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 11:09:24 -0700, Jim Kennedy <jk@projectdesign.com>
wrote:
> >
> > From San Diego: salvage yards are tons of fun and can yield lots of
goodies.
> > Bring your basic tools and wheel barrow to put stuff in. Bring plenty
of
> > cash, because you don't want to find all kinds of useful stuff, and come
up
> > short. Bring close-toed shoes etc. Once you enter the yard, a
visceral,
> > primal feeling comes over the normal male, with all these cars and parts
for
> > the taking. It can be a little exhilarating. ONE TIME, I was in the
yard
> > (I only go once a year or so) when the forklift brought a fresh Vanagon
> > (about 1987 model) and set in on its stand. This car was so good
looking
> > and complete, I could not figure out how it ended up in the yard.. It
had
> > every single part on it, but alas, I only had a few dollars on me..
> >
> > Have fun
> >
> > Jim
> > '87 GL
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Craig Oda [mailto:craigoda@GMAIL.COM]
> > Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 10:45 AM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > 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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