Found this 1982 Chevy G30 Horizon in Pull-A-Part yesterday. Definitely towered over everything else in the yard with that huge roof. Even the wheels were still on the ground, like it wanted to keep on going. Should've explored the inside of it more.
1982 Chevrolet G30 Camper by
FordTorino73, on Flickr
1982 Chevrolet G30 Camper by
FordTorino73, on Flickr
1982 Chevrolet G30 Camper by
FordTorino73, on Flickr
1982 Chevrolet G30 Camper by
FordTorino73, on Flickr
1982 Chevrolet G30 Camper by
FordTorino73, on Flickr
1982 Chevrolet G30 Camper by
FordTorino73, on Flickr
1982 Chevrolet G30 Camper by
FordTorino73, on Flickr
Some high top conversion vans
Chevrolet G20 by
FordTorino73, on Flickr
Chevrolet G20 by
FordTorino73, on Flickr
Chevrolet G20 by
FordTorino73, on Flickr
Chevrolet G20 by
FordTorino73, on Flickr
1990 GMC Vandura 2500 by
FordTorino73, on Flickr
i just went to the local yard yesterday. not much there but i like to browse the yards.
I never had the opportunity to drive one of those super high top camper vans... I've often wondered how they fare in high winds and when turning compared to a regular van?
It doesn't sway much but the wind will blow it all over the highway if you aren't careful. On a windy day I wouldn't drive it any faster than 55. It's a RV, when I am in it I am not in a hurry to get anywhere anyway.
Let's bring this back.
I haven't seen any real custom vans in my junkyard since I bought my van, but I have found some great pieces today.
This was a 1978 E150 in my local yard.
I found two amazing seats in another 80's Econoline.
The fabric and the vinyl was in fantastic shape. It was a well taken care of van.
I found a sunroof in a early 80's Econoline also. I pulled it out. I am on the fence about selling it or keeping it for the van. It just needs a new gasket for the glass, but it should clean up very well.
I also found a chrome KC light, two single post Econoline mirrors, some overhead lights, and a 70's/80's Sun vacuum gauge.
Wow great find! I hope you saved all those parts, they are all worth money
Yep, I saved those parts that I pulled. I wanted to pull more dome lights but most were kinda crummy. One van had some super cool after market speaker covers but were heavily stained from a wasp nest. That was a bummer.
Way cool Charlie!
I love prowling the junk yards looking for old van stuff. Problem is in my area, when the price of scrap was up several years ago, the yards crushed all the older vehicles.
Some great parts left on them vans, is that a Venturi Vent? I hate to see when they double deck these vehicles, literally crushing a lot of good parts. Some of these workers in the yards I have been to, take great pleasure in running the skidder forks through the sides of the vehicles, and act like they are in a demolition derby. One thing I have found, they mostly sell these van parts for pennies on the dollar. The one salvage yard I go to yearly, the owner tells me, I am the only guy who has any interest in the old vans. If he gets a Mid-Dodge in he will stash it in a corner of the yard till I can get a look at it. Later in the 1980s when a lot of these 70s vans started showing up in the yards there was a treasure trove of parts to be had. My wife always says, I have 5 Mid-Dodge's, I just need to put the other 4 together.
Some great parts left on them vans, is that a Venturi Vent? I hate to see when they double deck these vehicles, literally crushing a lot of good parts. Some of these workers in the yards I have been to, take great pleasure in running the skidder forks through the sides of the vehicles, and act like they are in a demolition derby. One thing I have found, they mostly sell these van parts for pennies on the dollar. The one salvage yard I go to yearly, the owner tells me, I am the only guy who has any interest in the old vans. If he gets a Mid-Dodge in he will stash it in a corner of the yard till I can get a look at it. Later in the 1980s when a lot of these 70s vans started showing up in the yards there was a treasure trove of parts to be had. My wife always says, I have 5 Mid-Dodge's, I just need to put the other 4 together.
Yeah, I've been lucky enough to be getting my parts super cheap so far too. Yeah that's a Venturi Vent, but it looks like it's in super rough condition. I'm going to snag it anyway. Howard Furtak told me that weird tube grill and headlight bezel combo was a company called Stull. Apparently pretty hard to find nowadays, so I'm going to grab that soon. Whatever I don't end up using off the front clip I grabbed for the 71-77 swap, I'm thinking about putting that grill on it and doing a custom paintjob on it, then turning it into a stand up bar.
Nice finds. Save the parts....someone can always use them
If you grab that vent, I had a guy’s number who has the top vent for sale, no guts. He wanted $200 for the whole set up.
If you grab that vent, I had a guy’s number who has the top vent for sale, no guts. He wanted $200 for the whole set up.
Out of my price range right now, but I'll keep it in mind. I was thinking about making a template from it to mold new ones. If that works, I might even try some translucent colored Plexiglas ones.
I'm trying. Going to swing by later this week and talk to the owner about grabbing some ports and stuff. There is one blue van in the yard that I have been looking for, but we can't find it. It had a bug shield on the hood, but the chrome grille and front bumper were in excellent condition, and it had a really need cabinet with a mirrored backsplash panel behind it. They had to move a bunch of stuff around last year, but somehow it disappeared. They didn't crush it, so it's just lurking somewhere that I haven't spotted.
Must be a big yard if they can’t find it.
Must be a big yard if they can’t find it.
It is pretty big, but there is even stuff buried in the woods that haven't been touched in probably close to 20 years or more. They are moving a lot of stuff around too. Talked to the owner yesterday, he is a good friend of mine. He said he is going to ride around this week some and see if he can find it for me.
I started cleaning up the sunroof, I think the only issue I’m coming across is the gasket is obsolete. I think I found one that may work but the site has no measurements for it. It cleaned up very well and there was a sticker on the glass of the Virgin of Guadalupe that actually burned into the factory tint. I think that is really cool looking.
I picked these up in a local junkyard for a few bucks. They're all warped and melted near where the pipes came out. I cleaned them up a bit and I'll hang them on the wall when I get a garage.
I also found this old high top Dodge. Everything on the grille is perfect. The rear wasn't and neither were the mirrors.
I don't have time to part it out so I left it.
That Dodge bumper looks pretty decent, for the right price it would be a good core for a rechrome. Wonder what attached to the bar below the bumper.
Nice score on those mudflaps. They should make for some killer garage art. Hopefully when all this crap blows over I can get back to my local yard and do some parts pickin'.
I tried to strip the Dodge grille today. It was held in by two stripped phillips screws. I couldn't do it.
I did find a cool '77 E150 that hit the lot yesterday.
I didn't take the glass or the CB. The CB was covered in shit and I couldn't guarantee it was going to work, there were no wires for it. I couldn't remove the glass without breaking it. I just took some interior handles for the van and a few small pieces that gave me some ideas.
There is a guy in my area who makes a living off of buying old CB's, scanners and other old electronics. He gets them working again and resells them.
Yeah, it was a really cool CB for sure. I may still go back for it this week for some interior lights out of a conversion van.
There is a guy in my area who makes a living off of buying old CB's, scanners and other old electronics. He gets them working again and resells them.
That's awesome. I bought mine from a guy in the area who does that. He bought out an old CB shop and uses his parts to restore and sell.
I may have more pics this week, there is a high top Chevy at another junkyard and a few late 80's Econolines at another. I have noticed that they're not updating their online inventory since all of this started. So I may come across a few more vans.
Awesome finds man. I could spend all day every day scouring scrap yards. Can't get enough of it. So much fun.
I went back to other day to pick up the CB and some jerk bent the Dodge grille on the mounting tabs and a few other spots before robbing the Dodge lettering. Kind of annoyed me that someone would do that.
Looking back on this thread, I still kick myself for not grabbing those Ford seats with the matching pullout bed.
This makes me want to go hunting for van goodies at our junk yard. Good finds
Good hunting. Back in the day I use to go to Pick A Part in my hometown. When you dig and retrieve your own parts its such a great feeling.
I could spend every day scrounging yards if I was allowed to. Wife would kill me though. That Ford looks like it was a nice ride for someone back in the day.
Same here but it would be so much fun
Some things I have spotted recently.
I left them because I didn't want to haul them out of the yard.
Not many vans lately. On Sunday I went to a yard that my brother had visited a few months ago for C10 parts and it was completely empty! Not a shred of anything around. Total bummer because it was in a crummy part of town and usually had older cars inside.
Wow; I can't believe that gear was left in a junkyard find; Good score Charlie !
Oh the things you happen across at the junkyard.
Go back N grab those ft seat swivels
I can't believe what people leave in their vans?! How hard could it be to pull a CB, radio, speakers etc.
It is amazing what people leave in the vehicles.
In the 1970's and 80s, me and my brother had a small junk yard of cars on the 150 acre farm I grew up on. We started out buying wrecked or cars that usually had the motors or transmissions bad on them. Most of the first cars we got were to supplement parts for our own vehicles. When we started realizing how much money we could make parting out vehicles and the items left in the vehicles, we started buying other cars and trucks and parting out. Back than, you could usually buy a vehicle for under $100. At one time I had 5 Mid-Dodges setting on the farm. One of them, had severe front-end damage, I paid $200 for it, took the parts I wanted, ended up selling the mag wheels and tires for $150, stereo system for $100, the motor for $200, tranny for $75, plus some other interior accessories for a few dollars. The van had the Street Van emblems and that was the main thing I wanted.
I hear you Meanmachine. Back in the day I use to always hunt at Pic-A-Part & the Ecology Center as well as a "forever there local junkyard" in Los Angeles and score great finds. Back then you could pull your own parts and many times negotiate the price or even get a "Freebie". Man those days are gone. I need a "Hot Tub Time Machine" !
Gorgeous! I am still waiting for my ultimate Venturi vent/portholes/boogie van score at the junkyard. Those diamonds are choice!
Gorgeous! I am still waiting for my ultimate Venturi vent/portholes/boogie van score at the junkyard. Those diamonds are choice!
Thanks! I’m beyond stoked for them. Now I need to patch up my existing windows to install them. I’ll start a build thread for it soon but it’s a pain doing it from my phone
Lurch760: Nice finds; especially on those bubble windows.
I made a pilgrimage on my lunch break to a junkyard in another city because I spotted something this morning. There was a second gen GMC in the lot that had only been there a week. It had a clean grille and a Venturi Vent on top of it. When I got there, the vent was still there but it was toasted, nothing too usable except the internal mesh.
But check out what the inside of the van had.
These seats were out of a older commercial plane. The cushions doubled as flotation devices.
That was cool. The rest of the inside was pretty cool but thrashed. I scored some cherry tail light turn signal lenses.
I have come across a few Border seizers that were thrashed ... but parts is parts ... needed or spares.
I bought a Venturi Vent at a local salvage yard here a few years ago for $1.00. It has some useable pieces, but I thought I may just use it as a display piece.
Interesting choice for seats.
Like that chevy front end it would make a great bar!
A ton of parts I could use.
Not a real junkyard but I went to a huge garage sale about 40 minutes south of me. The guy is clearing out his huge barn, garage, storage trailers, and vehicle collections. Clearing out may be a generous term because his prices don’t reflect that, but hey. I happen to see this old GMC/Chevy panel that was converted to a trailer off to my side.
Total shame because the Solar Scoop was rotted and cracked. Still pretty cool though.
That would be a great little trailer!
Paid $10. It is for a third generation Econoline.
Good find and nice price.
Good find and nice price.
Oh yeah, he happened to stop on a whim at this yard by Santa Cruz.
He found one boogie van and one standard van. The floor mats were in the regular van. The boogie van was completely stripped of all of its goodies. Total shame as it had some good stuff on it in the yard picture. I wish I could score a good third gen that would smog or is a 1975 that is smog exempt. They're all out in the yards.
That van trailer is really cool. Great deal on those mats. They are hard to come by.
That van trailer is really cool. Great deal on those mats. They are hard to come by.
Oh yeah they are. I flipped them faster than a hot cake. I can now fund the purchase of weather stripping and some small odds and ends I needed for assembly after paint.
A 1974 high top Dodge showed up in a local yard two days ago. I went to check it out today on my lunch. It had some trashed portholes and the interior was pretty rough. Nothing too salvageable in the time I had. But then I saw them.
No cracks or broken tabs. I can clean them up really well and swap some newer 4" Pioneer speakers into them for my van. Very stoked.
This Camaro was in the lot that goes straight to the crusher.
Yep crap on top goes 1st ....lol
It's a shame they will crush that Camaro.
I'm at work and can't access the link; I agree with lukester; How could anyone do that unless it was a total basket case. I had a 1967 RS back in the day.
When I was heading over to pick up my $30 grille today, I passed a salvage yard with two vans in the front. There was a huge honey hole in the back but because it was closed, I couldn’t enter. I just peeked over the fence.
The Ford was last tagged in 1989 and the bumper was very straight. The Dodge had some sweet side windows that were obscured by the junk. This place would be worth checking out later.
Looks like the dodge has those triple angled windows. I bet it’s a cool van
Nice finds. The Ford looks pretty straight, I wonder if the passenger side has windows. Like the rear vendors.
Very nice. Hard to find anything pre 2000 around here, They are quick to crush them
I went looking for some smaller interior pieces included an overhead console. It was kinda barebones inside. I really liked that swivel chair but the bolts were buried and I didn’t have room to transport it.
Front bumper looks in decent shape.
Bumper is great looking and good looking seat.
Not a junkyard find but one parked on the street. My dad knows the owner. It needs engine work but he wants what a running van would cost. The guy used to do carpet installations around the small town I’m from and supposedly has a bunch of carpet. I’m going to have to stop by and talk to him one of these days.
Charlie that swivel seat is sweet. You should go back and get it.
I didn't take any pics of the vans but there was a 1994 G20 in the yard today that was hit almost head on. Everything of value had been removed long before it was scrapped. But it did belong to a vanner.
I looked up the run on Instagram and I did see several pictures of the van before it was scrapped. It was a decent rig.
There was also a 1982 Dodge Ram van. Thing was about as long as a Maxi but wasn't badged as one. All the interior panels were plastic.
Has some decent swivel seats inside. I pulled the digital clock out of the overhead console. I think it needs some cleaning but so far it isn't working.
Went to a scrap yard over the weekend my buddy works out of. They don't sell parts it's basically strip and crush for everything there. Found this old dodge van was the only other van besides a rotted 85 chevy conversion van. This one looked complete, but didn't ask the owner for details. It was locked up and looked like it was being used as a parts shed so it'll probably last a few more years there.
I explored a yard today I haven't been to in about ten years. They had several pre 1981 G10 vans off to the side waiting to come come in. Lots of grilles and tail light conversions.
I found a pretty stripped out Dodge and a third generation Ford short panel.
Someone had beefed up a 5.0 with a Weiand Stealth intake.
Shoot, that intakes worth grabbing.
I'm waiting for pics, my brother found a 1979 Quadravan in a junkyard. It has portholes and some other stuff.
This van was aptly called "rust bucket". Look at the spray foam in the ceiling and all the rust.
There were two third gens with pop out windows.
As samhain said; definitely take the intake at the right price.
Looks like it would have only set me back $45.
Wow! That sounds like a great price. What would that be new Charlie ?
Wow! That sounds like a great price. What would that be new Charlie ?
https://www.summitracing.com/search...k0snL7QIVySCtBh0pTw6BEAAYASAAEgKks_D_BwE Shows $159 to $389
Looks like it would have only set me back $45.
That’s a score. Probably the best intake.
Looks like it would have only set me back $45.
That’s a score. Probably the best intake.
Its about two hours from me. I'm working on getting a Weiand Tunnel Ram for a SBF with both dual and single carb attachments.
Just cruising the streets today when I went for plywood for the bed frame.
Man I need to learn how to post pics. Keep on Truck n' Charlie.
Thats a nice looking one. I have the same problem SDMikey
Charlie helped me with my pics on my new girl ( 74' G10 Shorty ) . He sent me a link on how to post pics and my brain started hurting. Lee has volunteered as well and I appreciate it. I need to seriously learn. You would thinkthere was an EZ process; but again I don't get out of my cave unless it's to hunt or build a fire !
posting pic's is easy ... join flikr ... download pic's to there .. click on pic .. bottom right corner of page has the download icon , the arrow pointing down to a bar... pic " all sizes" , select 800 .... right click pic & copy image link ..... now go to Vannin .. select full editor .. click the little TV screen ... right click .. paste and wala
TAKES ABOUT 20 SECONDS TO DO THIS
83 today with a light on shore breeze not a cloud in the sky ....today
Or attaching a pic easy also ...
With your permission of course; I would like to visit and get a lesson from you Sir frscke1 ' like my maw from Missouri would say : "show me" . That would definitely be worth a lunch to me and I would like to get some Bowtie advice on my 74' G10.
You have my address ... tomorrow afternoon
I hoping to have some pics for you guys this weekend. I may have an awesome find several hours from me.
just noticed your post frscke1 . Since being called back to work; it's crazy. ( 35% staffing levels/I'm lucky to be back ), I will plan a nice dry day off. I was sharing with one of my sons your "interior skills" ; one of many no doubt. I appreciate the open door.
I found a few nice things today. I had to drive 3 hours one way, but I made it.
I stripped what I could from the van. The weather stripping was harder than the metal. She was rough. Most of the aluminum was good, but the interior trim and odds and ends made it the best score. The windshield had a crack the whole length so that was a bummer. I left a lot of pieces behind for anyone else who wanted it.
That sea air will do it.
Inside that Dodge was a lot of boogie parts. I forgot to take an interior pic but as I was leaving, I found a third gen Ford with the Martin sunroof. The crank is bent but the frame and glass is good. I’ll toss a new crank in and keep it for my next van.
Nice finds. Did you grab the visor too ? I'm sure someone would want it.
Nice finds. Did you grab the visor too ? I'm sure someone would want it.
I didn’t, I posted pics onto my Instagram and a guy 20 minutes north of the yard is going in the morning to scoop them up.
Oh man Charlie ; you are the bomb. need to get home and check out the pics. As I shared with you on my "new" 1974 has a primo martin sun roof. My "first" had a Martin as well. I was blown away my current has the same model and looks new.
Just saw pics. Nice score. Where was the yard located ? I've never seen a Martin sun roof with one crank. Mine has two cranks like my first one back in the day. Those seats will definitely look very nice redone and I'm surprised you left the wing and visor on the dodge. Man you could open up a Stop & Swap Charlie !
There's a 1965 Econoline short panel that was just released to Newark CA Pick N Pull on 1/7/21. I haven't visited as it is too far out of my way but it might be worth checking out for someone looking.
Charlie...looks like there are some great junk yards out where you are. Here they hardly ever have vans and they are all 2005 or newer (they are quick to crush everything....especially if it is over 20 years old). I would be in those yards all the time if they were near me!!!
Cali realized rust is as good as gold ... but once the yard is cleaned out by one of us .... Not to many old ones show up .
Ive never seen a Old Show Van in my yards...
Charlie you are amazing Bro, How did you get the intel on the 65' Econoline ?
Charlie you are amazing Bro, How did you get the intel on the 65' Econoline ?
Pick N Pull has a website and inventory with pics for all of its yards. I check it from time to time and plan my trips.
Charlie...looks like there are some great junk yards out where you are. Here they hardly ever have vans and they are all 2005 or newer (they are quick to crush everything....especially if it is over 20 years old). I would be in those yards all the time if they were near me!!!
From what I’ve seen, the yards in Los Angeles are insane. They get classics but they’re usually stripped within 48 hours.
Not a real junkyard but I went to a huge garage sale about 40 minutes south of me. The guy is clearing out his huge barn, garage, storage trailers, and vehicle collections. Clearing out may be a generous term because his prices don’t reflect that, but hey. I happen to see this old GMC/Chevy panel that was converted to a trailer off to my side.
Total shame because the Solar Scoop was rotted and cracked. Still pretty cool though.
i wonder what the deal was on the volkswagons
You can see this one from the highway. Apparently they don't let you go wander the yard these days (covid) but it shows up on google maps. It looks to be in decent shape.
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.3122795,-97.1804631,3a,15y,140.82h,83.08t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sa2mbKAcKsnSlYqeVtgwoCA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
Those two Mopar F Bodies look pretty nice. Usually they’re just rust.
Are these side windows or sunroofs? They have a sunroof lip but only one arm for raising them up. The seller has them advertised as windows, but I wanted to see what you guys thought. He has had them for awhile, I think his price is very high on them.
That's what I thought. I wish I was closer because I would pull the trigger on them for a lot less and keep mine for part sales.
Welcome! I would say sunroof also.
Looks like sunroofs to me.
They are sunroofs. I probably installed over 200 of them back in the '70's. I put one in my brand new '75 Econoline. My girlfriend asked if I could put one in her Toyota. Done. My roommate wanted one in his Cutlass. My younger brother helped me do all three. He got the idea that this was easy weekend money. He made flyers and put them on windshields at the mall. Local van shop made me a killer deal for buying multiple sunroofs. Brother and I were doing 6-8 installs every Saturday all summer and spring ( until snow started in NY ) at $100 profit each vehicle. Paid off my loan on the '75 ( $5,300) along with Cragars and other mods.
Yeah, that's what I thought also because I have a side window with a different lip and edge.
Not in a junkyard but a fenced off yard behind a strip mall. It was a daily last year for an older couple. I think they own the lot. Two busted windows on it.
Barbed wire And razor wire Don't touch that fence
Finally got to wander through a couple local yards today. Beautiful day for it too. Found a few things I could use, grabbed a doghouse cover and a free hammer today, going back to get the plastic interior trim (see my build thread for that stuff). Figured I'd share some fun pics.
Not much left on this shorty, tons of people out there looking for one, and here one sits in a scrapyard.
Good Dodge Sheetmetal
I'm thinking about grabbing the table pedestal out of this one if it's there next time I go back.
Whole row of PT Cruisers
I see very few Aerostars on the road anymore in my area, much less a sweet cargo version like this one.
Another stack of parts getting recycled. I could watch them crush this junk all day as long as they leave the classic steel alone.
Pop-outs all the way around.
This is the one I'm grabbing the plastic trim, doghouse, and wing windows from. Has some decent headlight bezels inside if anyone needs some.
Too rich for my blood.
Red punch buggy no punch back! Plenty of good Astros all over this yard. Some in the distance of this pic.
Plenty of good Dodge sheetmetal. Anyone need the headlight bezels?
Looks like an enjoyable day. Let me know if you come across a clean antenna set up for my 74 G10.
Looks like an enjoyable day. Let me know if you come across a clean antenna set up for my 74 G10.
Will do. Sadly early Chevy are slim pickings in my area, especially in nice shape. That's why we all jumped on that 75 Beauville like a pack of buzzards picking apart a carcass.
No doubt Brother. It was like the scavengers in Madd Max !
So my favorite local u-pull is closing for good at the end of the month. Half price for everything. Nice to find this for a farewell visit.
1981 Vandura 3500 box van. 305, A/C delete, radio delete.
I needed an instrument cluster, grabbed the distributor, and q-jet for spares, the radio delete plate, and the hvac plastic. The column is pretty weathered looking, but I may still go back and pull it.
Old style steering column, new style vent window gaskets in 1981
Grab those wing windows ...
And the side light covers. My rear passenger red side has a small chip. All four would b a great find and please let us know what goodies you were able to save.
Mickey, those side markers are the exact same as the ones on the 68-72 C series trucks. They sell the standard and the deluxe versions here new aftermarket. If you get the deluxe versions, just make sure to superglue the chrome trim on before installing as the factory glue is really weak on those things and the trim rings will fly off going down the highway.
Side Marker Link
I've had my Beauville side markers for 30 years and never had any fly apart. They're factory originals.
Those must be some cheap ass,lights on that site. I paid $14 apiece when I worked at the Chevy store in 90.
I've had my Beauville side markers for 30 years and never had any fly apart. They're factory originals.
Those must be some cheap ass,lights on that site. I paid $14 apiece when I worked at the Chevy store in 90.
All of the new reproduction ones do it. I'm assuming they probably all come from the same place in Taiwan, but they're definitely not from the factory.
kursed; What do you think a set of those newer style side chrome mirrors go for even though my 74' ones are very nice; I like the one piece newer ones that are in most of your pics in that junkyard.
I found a 1973 F100 with disc brakes in a yard today. That’s a direct swap to my E200 suspension but for some reason the bodies are laid onto the ground so I couldn’t even get those parts. Such a bummer.
That sucks. Bring back a wheelbarrow and a floor jack. Block it up on wheels you find laying around.
Tough break Charlie. Hope you can make it work.
That sucks. Bring back a wheelbarrow and a floor jack. Block it up on wheels you find laying around.
Exactly. Around here all the yards weld 2 wheels together and then set the vehicle up on them
That sucks. Bring back a wheelbarrow and a floor jack. Block it up on wheels you find laying around.
Exactly. Around here all the yards weld 2 wheels together and then set the vehicle up on them
I wish. The yards here all have giant signs of what you can and can't bring into them. Floor jacks is number one on the "can't" list. Makes no damn sense to me.
kursed; What do you think a set of those newer style side chrome mirrors go for even though my 74' ones are very nice; I like the one piece newer ones that are in most of your pics in that junkyard.
Which mirrors are you talking about, these?
https://www.jegs.com/i/K-Source/179...Ut9TW7wIVZz2tBh2UHwszEAQYBSABEgLcYvD_BwE
Shoot, sorry Mickey, I missed that question. Yeah I think those are what he's looking for Charlie. If so, I'd go with the reproduction ones that Charlie posted, probably won't get a nicer set for cheaper in a junkyard.
I hate this style personally, but that's just my taste. I want to put those small west coast mirrors I have on mine, but I still need to find the other brackets to mount them. Just keep forgetting to even take the time to look.
Those are the ones that I got for my '73. BUT....in reality the contour is NOT perfect. There is a slight gap from the perimeter to the body. I have looked at a lot of pictures and in reality I think Chevy actually just allowed it at that point. Regardless, they will work. I understand Kursed; it is sort of a compromise. When I was a kid our van had the "three point" mounting bars, which were the worst. A buddy of mine (maybe some of you may know the custom green flamed chevy that he sold some months back) had the small west coast ones on, and he said they were shit and he could see nothing in them. I'm willing to sacrafice a bit of aesthetic for some safety.
I originally bought that style of mirror for my van, then I sold them to my brother for his ‘74 GMC stepside. They worked for his truck. I picked up some West Coast mirrors and some 10†vintage mirrors I found in my dad’s shop. I slapped them together and they look great. I can’t wait to install them.
Charlie those are awesome looking and I can believe the price and now I'm apprehensive about the " fit " and no doubt Leakbox would know.
Leakbox ; can you post some pics of these mirrors ; close ups to see what the challenge is and with your know how and talent I can't imagine a flush fit vis not possible. I have 3 point mirrors now in Excellent condition.
Thank You All Gentlemen.
Charlie those are awesome looking and I can believe the price and now I'm apprehensive about the " fit " and no doubt Leakbox would know.
Leakbox ; can you post some pics of these mirrors ; close ups to see what the challenge is and with your know how and talent I can't imagine a flush fit vis not possible. I have 3 point mirrors now in Excellent condition.
Thank You All Gentlemen.
Here are the mirrors on his GMC. I think it is just a matter where you place them because it is a "universal" fit. Chevy and Dodge used them on vans and trucks. It isn't going to be 100% but you could always use some butyl tape in the mounting holes if you're worried.
So mad he sold that truck. One owner, never left the valley he purchased it from, and it was very solid.
That GMC is pretty hot, bummer it's gone.
Charlie you didn't snag those turbines?! I would have even if just to clean and flip.
I'm really digging that cabinet, shame it's in such bad shape.
That GMC is pretty hot, bummer it's gone.
Charlie you didn't snag those turbines?! I would have even if just to clean and flip.
I'm really digging that cabinet, shame it's in such bad shape.
I'm between checks right now and the unilug looks like a home job.
And the side light covers. My rear passenger red side has a small chip. All four would b a great find and please let us know what goodies you were able to save.
All of the exterior plastic was shot. I took off a side marker light and it fell apart in my hand. It was a round headlight model too, but only fragments of the plastic headlight surrounds were left
I did find some good stuff though!
I pulled the gauge cluster, which is what I really wanted. I got incredibly lucky.
It works great! The plastic lens was filthy and yellowed, so I hit it with some headlight polish.
There is still some yellow, but it looks pretty decent against the black cluster background. Hard to notice the dimple I put in with the polishing cone either when it's mounted up too
Carter-made Q-jet.
Also grabbed the distributor, and HVAC control plastic lens.
I forgot to mention the radio-delete plate too
So I'm super new to all this, I just helped my son find his van (1974 Chevy G10). After all that looking around I decided I needed one too 😠(1985 Chevy g10)
How do I find junkyards that will allow me to pull parts? All I find when I search online are the big name places and they have none of the vans I am looking for. Do yall just go around to the smaller places? I grew up in the south where they are plentiful but out here in Socal I'm not having much luck. Maybe I am searching for the wrong thing?
I couldn't tell you much about CA, but here in VA I just go to the front desk or call and ask if I'm allowed to browse or pull my own parts. If I spot a new yard while driving around and don't have time to stop, I'll make a mental note and go back to check.
So I'm super new to all this, I just helped my son find his van (1974 Chevy G10). After all that looking around I decided I needed one too 😠(1985 Chevy g10)
How do I find junkyards that will allow me to pull parts? All I find when I search online are the big name places and they have none of the vans I am looking for. Do yall just go around to the smaller places? I grew up in the south where they are plentiful but out here in Socal I'm not having much luck. Maybe I am searching for the wrong thing?
I think in SoCal there are LKQ junkyards? You can sign up for alerts on your phone. But in SoCal unless you’re there within an hour of receiving the alert, the van will be stripped pretty fast.
My scores for the day, cost me $20 bill, and a whole lot of sweat. Weather app said 79* yesterday, and 75* today, but in reality it was about 87* both days. UGH! Grabbed the plastic for the A pillars and under the visors.
Both visor mounting plastics were busted pretty bad, and a lot of the plastic for the rear was busted up. I did remove the plastic that goes between the passenger front door and the barn doors, but forgot and left it sitting in the van. The van I snatched these out of was a house painters van, and the majority of the interior was absolutely trashed with paint cans, tools, etc.
Someone busted the center out of the dash which was otherwise perfect, such a shame. Grabbed the one good driver side check strap for the rear doors, other was missing. Two inside door handles, and one inside window crank handle. Also grabbed some brown windlace since mine is currently blue, but I'm switching to brown based interior.
Grabbed two map lights out of a conversion van, started to grab the other two, but I woke up a few hornets and decided that was all I was pulling out of that one for today. Also scored a "Night Ranger: Greatest Hits" cassette in minty condition. Never heard them before, so it was worth a shot I suppose. I'll be going back to grab the plastic I forgot and a few more little odds and ends soon.
Whoa, whoa, you never heard Night Ranger before?
Whoa, whoa, you never heard Night Ranger before?
Well apparently I had heard them, as I just listened to a few songs on YouTube, but all these years I never knew who they were when they came on the radio. "Sister Christian" I've probably heard a million times over the years, as well as "When You Close Your Eyes" and "Don't Tell Me You Love Me". In the 80's I was more into Ratt, Def Leopard, and Motley Crue as far as rock goes. I was also big into the Fat Boys, LL Cool J, Ziggy & Bob Marley, and Peter Tosh. Then all the typical 80's radio pop & new age of course.
Great score! Never any stuff in junkyards around here
Back when I was a GC in Washington, I worked on Jack Blades' house, the lead singer of Night Ranger.
Whoa, whoa, you never heard Night Ranger before?
Well apparently I had heard them, as I just listened to a few songs on YouTube, but all these years I never knew who they were when they came on the radio. "Sister Christian" I've probably heard a million times over the years, as well as "When You Close Your Eyes" and "Don't Tell Me You Love Me". In the 80's I was more into Ratt, Def Leopard, and Motley Crue as far as rock goes. I was also big into the Fat Boys, LL Cool J, Ziggy & Bob Marley, and Peter Tosh. Then all the typical 80's radio pop & new age of course.
I'm still convinced their song Eddie's Comin' Out Tonight is about my buddy Frank. He's 85 now but knew Brad Gillis when he was a kid in Rubicon. He used to do coke with them all!
Nice score kursed; fantastic for twenty bucks.
Thanks guys, yeah this is my go-to yard because I always get reasonable deals and I like to sit at the counter and shoot the breeze with the guys for a little bit if they aren't too busy.
My other go-to yard has all the gold hard to find parts, but he stays so busy he hasn't been able to inventory any of the things I need to get there.
Can't wait to get home ( at work ) to check out your finds on this trip. You always do good Charlie
Can't wait to get home ( at work ) to check out your finds on this trip. You always do good Charlie
I hope so, I got a speeding ticket today. First time in 14 years. The funny thing was I was riding my brakes and had several cars and bikes pass me. I figure it was because I was out of state they picked me out. Such is life.
I’m kicking myself because I was so mad about the ticket, I saw an Astro for sale with crescent moon ports and I didn’t stop to see how much he wanted. If it was cheap enough, buy the van and take the ports. 😂
What state did you get the ticket? My last ticket was in 2012. The officer actually hooked me up and wrote me 25 miles over limit and it was still crazy expensive with traffic school.
What state did you get the ticket? My last ticket was in 2012. The officer actually hooked me up and wrote me 25 miles over limit and it was still crazy expensive with traffic school.
Nevada. All of the tickets I’ve ever had were in Nevada. Ive been popped for 5 over and ticketed for “at speedâ€. Total Baloney.
I got a "OPeed over limit" ticket in Texas .. I guess it was a warning cause no ticket showed up at my house. Speed limit was 85 on that HY ... I was doin a hundred ...
Nice score. Those Dodges have a lot of good parts on them. Drives me crazy because here all the yards want to crush everything immediately especially if it is over 20 years old.
Nice score. Those Dodges have a lot of good parts on them. Drives me crazy because here all the yards want to crush everything immediately especially if it is over 20 years old.
Yeah, these were in a chain junkyard so they probably won't last for more than a few weeks.
Wow what a Great score. Did you get the gold lighting fixtures ? Remember Uncle Mickey if you spot a Chevy.
Cyborg; nice work and usual Charlie you are so lucky to be close to some good junk yards.
I just got a lead on an old yard that has vintage city buses and fire trucks and things. Thinking about looking at some art deco interior lights from a bus to replace my dome lights.
Happy Hunting pontiac59. Good luck; I hope you find some nice vintage; classic treasures.
Charlie; did you get the sunroof from the Ford that " looked " ok ?
Charlie; did you get the sunroof from the Ford that " looked " ok ?
These?
Aren't those out of the Dodge ? Still very nice.
Aren't those out of the Dodge ? Still very nice.
Oh yeah, that Martin RV sunroof. I’m working on cleaning it up and restoring it. Maybe hold onto it.
Good deal. Were the cranks on it good ?
Good deal. Were the cranks on it good ?
No, the crank was bad. So I just held onto it for awhile until I could find some that weren’t messed up. Then I saw the Dodge with two side windows and I snatched it up.
My local yard has a 95 regular top conversion sitting out there and I just found out about it. Going this week to see what's left, it's been there a month.
The 95 was still mostly untouched, just the injectors gone. 293,000 miles on it. $4 or so in change still on the cupholder even though they'd pulled it and put it in the back.
I took a set of seats because while dirty they used the stock base for them, a small overhead console with 4 rocker switches, plus the cluster, heater control and mirrors to flip. The wood cupholder, too, people are paying silly money for those things. The tilt was a little loose and with 293K on it I hesitated to pull it but I may anyways since it's an airbag tilt and only fits about three years of van.
Somebody had pulled out any rear seats or bed/bench long ago and the interior was pretty dirty overall.
There also was an 84 Dodge conversion that looks like it was nice once. Clean tilt with key already out I probably should have bought to flip. It has what was a nice overhead unit but somebody ripped out probably a CB and when they did they broke it in several places instead of fully unbolting it. It could probably be repaired, but I don't know who'd want to do that.
I got video of both, when I edit them and post them I can share links.
The 95 was still mostly untouched, just the injectors gone. 293,000 miles on it. $4 or so in change still on the cupholder even though they'd pulled it and put it in the back.
I took a set of seats because while dirty they used the stock base for them, a small overhead console with 4 rocker switches, plus the cluster, heater control and mirrors to flip. The wood cupholder, too, people are paying silly money for those things. The tilt was a little loose and with 293K on it I hesitated to pull it but I may anyways since it's an airbag tilt and only fits about three years of van.
Somebody had pulled out any rear seats or bed/bench long ago and the interior was pretty dirty overall.
There also was an 84 Dodge conversion that looks like it was nice once. Clean tilt with key already out I probably should have bought to flip. It has what was a nice overhead unit but somebody ripped out probably a CB and when they did they broke it in several places instead of fully unbolting it. It could probably be repaired, but I don't know who'd want to do that.
I got video of both, when I edit them and post them I can share links.
Sweet scores man.
I went to the junkyard today for a replacement passenger mirror for the Astro, they have one, but the darn thing is shoved up beside a Honda Accord so close that I couldn't get the door open to pop the mirror off. I'll go back with a floor jack and see if I can shift things around a bit.
I decided to grab the CD player as mine had a fight with my coffee cup last year and the coffee cup won, but I have no idea when I'll be able to find time to disassemble the old CD player and clean it out or if it's toast. Couldn't figure out how to remove the CD player from the cup holder / dog house cover, so I just grabbed the whole thing.
Then while wondering around browsing for another Astro that they had, the one I got my chrome rims from, I realized they've crushed it... BUT!
I came across this 71-77 Midas camper with all sorts of goodies. The cherry front bumper was laying up inside in the bunk over the cab. Rear bumper is toast. I grabbed the grille without headlight bezels (they are missing, hopefully I'll find them somewhere inside), and the turn signal lenses. Grille with signal lenses and bumper for $50.
I'm going to go back and grab the entire dash, cluster, tilt column and wheel, door panels, and the table with pedestal. Try to grab as many goodies as I can before they crush the darn thing. If the doors are clean, I might grab them too, but I was so stoked over all the other parts, I forgot to look at the bottoms today. I know swapping a 71-77 dash into an 82 will probably be a big pain in the rump, but it's so nice, I've got to give it a try.
Grill is solid with some surface rust, but totally usable. Bumper is straight as an arrow with driver quality chrome. I'll probably have it re-chromed at some point and sell one of my others that have some dings in them.
Table with pedestal is pretty nice. These cool little bench seat beds would be awesome in my van, but I'm undecided on whether I want them or not. Not really the theme I was going for.
Primo dash, doghouse, and tilt column.
Nice door panels, the elastic for the map pockets is shot, but should be easy enough to repair/replace.
I'm even digging the shag, but not the colors I wanted to go with either.
I grabbed a binder manual thing that came with the camper from Midas with a giant map stuffed inside, just to nose through since it looked cool. Might throw that on eBay. Got two unopened boxes of aluminum foil for the shop out of the cabinets.
I would take the doors, nice arm rests and nice vent windows are bringing stupid money.
Speaking of which I'm going back tomorrow for the Dodge tilt, overhead and the tilt out of the 95. Nobody even has an airbag van tilt listed, but the older ones a couple have sold for an insane amount. For the $30 or so they charge I can post them for half what other guys have sold theirs for and make a good profit.
Will pay for a flare kit in no time.
I would take the doors, nice arm rests and nice vent windows are bringing stupid money.
Speaking of which I'm going back tomorrow for the Dodge tilt, overhead and the tilt out of the 95. Nobody even has an airbag van tilt listed, but the older ones a couple have sold for an insane amount. For the $30 or so they charge I can post them for half what other guys have sold theirs for and make a good profit.
Will pay for a flare kit in no time.
I probably will if they're not totally rotten on the bottoms. The vent windows look iffy, but mine on the 82 are shot. The armrest thing is hilarious too, because Chevy used the same armrests in the 67-71 C10 trucks, and they sell aftermarket reproductions in all sorts of colors for cheap all over the net. About $40 for a pair.
Armrest LinkThanks!
Along with my center cup tray Im making some Oak door handles also...
Along with my center cup tray Im making some Oak door handles also...
Those are looking good man. Make sure to show them off for us when you're done.
I woman got excited when we were off road and she just ripped the handle offf the door ... hanging on kinda tight uh ?
I made 2 Oak then one got butchered in the accident .. body shop threw it out ... so time to make s more.
Unbelievable score. Nice hunting.
Back to the junkyard again this morning. I was bummed about the grill not having the headlight bezels, but was just happy to get it all at such a great deal. Opened the doors on the camper to start pulling the dash, there were the headlight bezels tucked in next to the cabinet behind where the passenger seat would have been. They were covered up by a couple nasty 1990's t-shirts so I didn't even notice them yesterday. YAS!
So I worked on it for about 2 hours, then shot the breeze with the owner and employees, some of the regular customers for about another hour
Picked up the complete dash, woodgrain bezel (40something thousand miles on the old girl), doghouse, all the little pieces and parts, 77 GMC owners manual, a folding card table
(worked well to sit my tools on while pulling parts and it will come in handy in the garage for sure), decided to just grab the entire doors since they are so nice and rot free, a battery tray in great condition, a windshield washer jug, the kitchenette table with flush floor mount, the tilt steering column from the rag joint to the cherry GMC steering wheel, and the chrome trim for the door sills and wheel wells inside. Everything for $125, WHEW!
Headlight bezels and washer jug
Decent battery tray
Nice doghouse and cover, the gasket is even in great shape as well as the heat pad. Only has two small screw holes in the front where someone had something mounted at some point, no biggie.
Freebie folding card table
Tilt column in perfect shape. Guys, I was going to use this column to rebuild and make a tutorial for you all, but this thing is mint. Zero slop in the bearings or anything, so cherry. So I will keep an eye out for another column, or possibly rebuild my original for the forum tutorial. They're actually not hard at all and fairly cheap to rebuild.
Beautiful gauge set and bezel. Dash is cherry as well, only one non factory hole where they had a weird push/pull electrical switch running to something in the rear of the camper. I'll use that hole for a fog light rocker switch down the road. The darn AM/FM radio even looks minty fresh. I'm sure this is going to be a bit of a pain to convert my 82 dash to the 77 dash, but it's going to be worth it in the end.
Doors are super solid, only a tiny bit of surface rust in the bottoms, and a couple super small bubbles here and there. Even the door rubbers are in great shape, the rubbers in my 82 are crusty, brittle, and falling apart. I'm guessing because the camper had the front bunk that kind of hangs over the doors by about another 6 inches on each side, it protected them from lots of water damage over the years. The wing windows look a bit crusty, but I still have the one good set in the same junkyard I'm going back to pull soon.
And last, the "Tiidee" brand dinette table with flush mount base and pedestal.
Man, look at you. Scored all day long.
Man, look at you. Scored all day long.
Horseshoe up my butt yesterday and today.
That must be uncomfortable .... lol
That must be uncomfortable .... lol
Sometimes, but I've scored so many deals over the years, it definitely pays off. Father-in-law tells me all the time "Good grief son, you sure have a golden horseshoe up you a@# for finding deals."
Some nice finds there, I love prowling junk yards searching for hidden treasures of van parts.
Some nice finds there, I love prowling junk yards searching for hidden treasures of van parts.
Me too, that's one of my few happy places to escape the world for a while.
Some nice finds there, I love prowling junk yards searching for hidden treasures of van parts.
Me too, that's one of my few happy places to escape the world for a while.
Mine too. Those are some great scores
I use to do a junk yard tour every Spring and Fall, but when scrap prices were up several years ago, the yards in my area crushed almost anything over 15 to 20 years old. There are still some old-timers that have salvage yards in remote areas and know me from years off getting parts off them, and I can walk in the office and they will tell me right away if they got any old vans in recently. One of my best yard's had a row of about 15 to 20 mid-Dodges and they crushed every one of them. The owner told me I was the only guy left who would be looking for parts for that years of vans. Kurse, you mention the peacefulness and serenity of getting lost in the salvage yards, I felt the same way, many of these vehicles had been there for years with trees and brush hiding some real gems and I was like a little kid on Christmas morning when I would find some cool or vintage van item.
Indeed! I was there trapesing around, listening to the wind blow through the trees, birds singing, a deer walking through the brush. Just looking for an Astro van mirror, and stopping occasionally to stare at a long forgotten 60s something sedan.
Then I spotted the Chevy body lines on the fenders of the campers "COULD IT BE!?!?!" I thought, just like a kid rushing to the Christmas tree, my heart sped up in anticipation "New van parts!" they hadn't gotten any new Chevy vans in almost a year, especially older Chevy vans. When I saw it was a 71-77 and the chrome grill was intact, I was every bit as excited as the Christmas morning I opened my Super Nintendo.
The more I dug into that camper, the more cool presents Santa brought me. The grill, the bumper, the dash, the tilt column, on and on.
I've been digging around this junkyard since the early 90's and it has changed a ton since then, but a lot has remained the same as well. In the early to mid 90's they had a whole row of custom vans, maybe 50 or more, I couldn't tell you how many exactly. The row lined the road that leads past the scales and into the main yard. I would walk through and look into all of those old vans, admiring the shag carpet, custom interiors, port windows, and custom paint jobs Part of what made me want to learn how to do custom paint jobs in the first place.
I moved to Daytona Beach, FL from VA in 1993, but I would still visit the junkyard and browse all the goodies with my best friend when I came home to VA to visit family. Then I left FL in 1998 and moved back to VA, life was crazy at that time for me, and I didn't get back to this junkyard until around 2001-02, every single one of the custom vans had been crushed, along with a TON of other 1972 and older vehicles. Muscle cars, hot rods, all sorts of the coolest vehicles in the world, all gone forever. We've had two other yards in our area crush all their inventory when closing down over the years. Hundreds and hundreds of pre 72 cool steel, all gone forever. It's absolutely heartbreaking every time it happens.
But I still like to go and browse, see what kind of amazing deals I can find. It will always be one of my places where I can just go to be alone with my thoughts.
Man you are so lucky kursed. That find was phenominal.
Man you are so lucky kursed. That find was phenominal.
Yes it was, thanks.
Had to drive back to the junkyard this morning to get the bucket of small parts and hardware I forgot and left in the camper. DOH! Luckily my friend that works there spotted it and brought it to the office for me. So here are a few neat little things I found with it.
Strange push/pull switch that was mounted in the lower left of the dash.
Brown defroster vents. The 67-72 C & K series trucks used the same exact vents, and I've only found a couple decent blue ones and one red one over the many years I've been pulling parts for those, so I was SUPER stoked to find these unbroken. You can still order these aftermarket on the truck parts sites, but only in black and chrome that I've found.
Several packages of unopened bulbs to go into the bulb storage bin.
A junior state trooper sticker with the backing still on and seems almost new.
This brass doohickey from what looked like a fireplace tool, but it had a black on threaded on the other end. This will become a shift knob.
Owner's manual
And the Midas camper manual with a big giant map inside and all sorts of neat documentation.
Try selling that old Midas manual on ebay, some of this old camper stuff is collectible.
Try selling that old Midas manual on ebay, some of this old camper stuff is collectible.
That's the plan Stan, as soon as I find time to snoop through it myself, because I'm nosey like that.
I love old documentation and things of that nature, so I'll browse through it once and throw it online for sale for someone that needs it.
wow; those defroster vents are awesome.
wow; those defroster vents are awesome.
Yeah tell me about it. Real pirate treasure for the Queen Anne's Revenge for sure.
Cool finds. I see that I am not the only one who grabs junk yard light bulbs
You just never know what your gonna find.
Cool finds. I see that I am not the only one who grabs junk yard light bulbs
You just never know what your gonna find.
Man these days as much as the little parts cost at the store, I grab bulbs, fuses, nuts & bolts, pretty much anything I can throw in my little bucket of junk. The way I figure, I got such a great deal on all the big parts, I just count all the little parts as freebies. I always let the yard boss look into my van at big parts and my bucket of tools and little parts so he knows I'm not ripping him off.
Yes, one of the things I made sure to grab was the buttons that the interior panel screws go through on the 95. I priced buying some and felt they were fairly expensive, VS. just popping the caps and unscrewing about 25 screws and no charge with the other parts I got.
there is a chevy g20 in the Oceanside CA, LKQ pick a part yard that has a really cool fiberglass overhead console that is in very nice shape. what looks in the pictures like a cubby hole above the passenger side sun visor is actually a mirror. I"m sure can be modified easily to fit any make van. cover it in cloth or vinyl and it would look fantastic. in fact, the entire interior is done in fiberglass panels the same as the console. also the van still has the slider door pop out windows also. sorry, I already grabbed the rear pop outs and taillights
GET IT BEFORE IT GETS CRUSHED.
Description: looking from drivers side
if you go and get it, you owe me beer finders fee. stone brewing dayfall would be accepted.
I tried to add what side you are looking at, but it somehow didn't come out right
I forgot to post that the van with the overhead console also has factory driver/ passenger seat swivels still.
I would have picked all that stuff to flip.
I did finally go back today and get the 1984 Dodge van tilt and the 1995 Chevy van tilt. The latter has three keys for it.
I also picked some more interior bits from the 95 for mine; to save me some effort, I took the two panels on each side of the rear door opening, plus it had like a little box that went between the back and the wheel house which housed the jack.
I started to pull the overhead in the Dodge but it was so hot and I found four more bolts so I left it, I can go back again soon.
What I am also tempted by is a 1980 Pontiac Bonneville has the factory power sunroof in it. It needs a new glass, but it looks like the entire unit just unbolts from the roof. It's a fairly rare option and they wouldn't charge too much for it. So I am wondering how much hassle it would be to put in my van. One of the bigger issues is I'd have to run at least four drains out of it, plus whatever is involved in getting it bolted up and sealed. These cars have a very flat roofline and the same sunroof unit was used in all the GM full size cars of that era so I think it would work in a van.
Video I made on the 1995 Chevy van. Found a surprising amount of money in it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVJpqyArOk8
Found a new yd in Ramona they said they have Chevy vans ... sweet so I drove an hour or so and they had 1 Chevy van.
"oh yeah we had a bunch of them but we crushed 11 during Covid for cash weight. We were broke so ..."
well I told them I wanted bumpers ft N rr , interior trim including over head lights , the swivels under all seats, both back doors with chrome pop outs both ft doors, it had a slider with a pop out window ... I dont want it but it there.... might justtake the pop out from it... couldnt hurt.
long drive for crumbs ...
Found a new yd in Ramona they said they have Chevy vans ... sweet so I drove an hour or so and they had 1 Chevy van.
"oh yeah we had a bunch of them but we crushed 11 during Covid for cash weight. We were broke so ..."
well I told them I wanted bumpers ft N rr , interior trim including over head lights , the swivels under all seats, both back doors with chrome pop outs both ft doors, it had a slider with a pop out window ... I dont want it but it there.... might justtake the pop out from it... couldnt hurt.
long drive for crumbs ...
What a bummer.
Holy Crap, I went to Wrench a Part and founf 4 Gladiator Captians seats w/swivels an old style roof rack and some sweet looking chrome Map lights for each chair and the bed area all for $130. Tomorrow in the AM I'm going to gpo get the Jack Knife bed and any other cool bits I can find
Nice find! those should clean up well.
Nice find! those should clean up well.
Yes! I couldn't believe my timing but the upholstery is very dry and faded. I really wanted the swivels. I'd like to find some low back buckets these seem REAL comfy though
Cut a Whiskey barrel in half for low back chairs ...
Cut a Whiskey barrel in half for low back chairs ...
Yeah those whiskey barrels cost as much as a seat LOL
I'd like to find some that area kinda round and looked like barstools from the 70s. Not sure what style they are but diamond stitched black vynal like an aircraft is where i was heading. I remember old FG chairs with that same style low back, kinda round with the sides have a 45deg angle to them. Maybe These gladiators can be cut down even
Okay, I went back to Wrench a part today and got all 4 pop-out windows the jack knife bed, and a Ladder.
Jackknife seat looked great until I ripped it on the light switch stuffing it in the back of my G20 :/
Probably just clean up and sell the ladder. all the bits are there
Not in a junkyard but a fenced off yard behind a strip mall. It was a daily last year for an older couple. I think they own the lot. Two busted windows on it.
So I have been driving by here on my way to the gym. The van hasn't moved but it definitely looks like the side windows are all busted and that's why it is sitting. I spoke to the guy who owns the carwash next door and he said the owner of the building is trying to sell the building but uses the lot for storage right now. I think I saw him there last night and again this afternoon but I was unable to stop both time. I currently have a lead on two short vans. This one and an honest to god short panel van that was a milk delivery van in the 70's. I need some land
[quote=Charlie99909]I need some land
You and me both! I keep finding smoking deals on vans, but no room to store them, and only a 1 car garage to work on them. I need at least 3 bays, a lift, and about 10 acres.
Looks pretty good. Nice score. Too bad about the tear, Still nice
1990 Vandura in a yard near me. I am gonna scope it today for the slider and see what's left. It has only been there a week, but I am tempted to wait because there is a Lincoln like mine in a closer yard that has only been there for two days and I need stuff off that one.
It had a short slider so I left it alone for the Venturi Vent on the roof. She has a hole in the top and a cracking base due to heat. It might be past saving but definitely has some great parts inside.
I think I can work it, see what happens.
I went to the other one today where the Lincoln like mine was. I picked up some nice pieces for my car. They had a high top third gen Ford with an extended door slider. I ran out of time today before I had to go back to work. I may go back tomorrow for it and the interior pieces on the Lincoln I forgot about.
I’m running to a junkyard tomorrow morning. There’s 3-4 third Gen Econolines there and a few Chevys. One has a Venturi vent.
Youtuber "Adventures Made From Scratch" is a scrapper in Kansas, I noticed a 70-76 Chevy van in a video and commented and he says he has a whole stack of the early grilles for $200 a shot. Does that count as a junkyard find?
I would think so
I epoxied the base of the Venturi Vent and she is water tight now, at least down there. I'm not gonna take the waterproof tape off the top because it is stuck on really well. I don't care about the look because it is just a beater vent. I think I will throw it on the truck camper shell until I redo the paneling.
I found an '83 Chevy G20 in a local yard. It had a lot of nice stuff inside but reeks of cat pee. I took what I wanted from it but I don't think I will do it again because of how bad it is.
It has these sweet side windows on it.
It has a bunch of cool interior panels and dividers, but I couldn't spend more than a few minutes inside.
We're throwing away third gen vans out here like they grow on trees.
This makes me so mad. No rust, it is just missing its emissions components.
Has a 302 with the original carb. It might not sell and then it'll get tossed into the yard to be parted and then scrapped.
I imagine if you take those windows out and leave it a week or so it will smell a lot better inside
I found a 1981 short Dodge panel in a local yard while searching some junkyards online. Gonna get up early tomorrow and hit it at opening. It has a wing, flares, and a vent. Might be some good pickings, especially if it has a slider.
*EDIT* A friend of mine went over a few days ago. Said it isn't anything special and is bare inside.
I just got back from Montana yesterday and I was exhausted. Slept all night and had today off so I decided to hit up two yards about an hour south of me. Glad I did. They had some vans for the last couple of months and most were pretty untocuhed.
Locally we have an RV salvage place that is a huge warehouse and then an out lot. I finally went over to check it out. It has no form of organization what so ever. The perfect place to hunt.
This is how the aisles are.
I was able to come out with a few cool items. Originally I wanted to sell them but I like them so much I'm gonna keep them.
The lights are gold vein like the tiles. I paid a bit more than I wanted to but where else am I gonna find some of this stuff?
This guy is sitting across from the warehouse waiting to be dismantled.
The shop also has some NOS Venturi Vent cranks that I plan to pick up and sell once they find them. They have 5 or 6 pairs of them.
I still have some more tail lights to clean up and post for sale but here was some more of my junkyard haul. I didn't even get to see everything because of the early morning heat.
Oh yeah they are ....grab all the door handles you can get your hands on .... 2 screws and there out. Ft N rear bumpers are getting very pricey also .... inside door panels with all the ele switches, interior door hardware, you may not need it RIGHT now but youll be glad you grabbed all that stuff .....KUDO'S on the yard work ! ! !
I SEE LOTS OF GOODIES TO STILL BE GOTTEN ! !
Not junkyard per se, but this was spotted in Idaho on our way back on Sunday.
I'd ever seen so many vans and trucks parked that looked ready for restoration as I did driving through Idaho and Montana.
Charlie what are those extenders off of? I'm still needing one for my Chevy.
Nice scores on those lights man, they look killer.
Only there for a week but someone came and stripped all the goodies off. There was a Venturi Vent and it was long gone.
This was in a different van about 40 minutes away.
That front bumper and passenger door glass are hard to find.
That front bumper and passenger door glass are hard to find.
Yeah but I have a hard time moving large parts because people don't want to pay for shipping and the ones who want that stuff are usually out of my area. I'd be sitting on it for months until I could unload it.
I jammed up to the junkyard on my break today because an '86 F150 landed there yesterday. It was fuel injection so nothing I could use. But just inside the gate was this 1990 Econoline.
This was sitting behind it.
The van had pop outs but that was about it. I couldn't get the hinges off and the rubber crumbled in my hands so I left the glass behind.
YIKES! Something big had a seat on that thing.
Yeah, Kursed. Wait until I post pics from this weekend's yard trip. 3-4 G vans just hit the yard. I'm going for sliders because I keep getting hit up for them left and right. Might have some other goodies also.
Yeah, Kursed. Wait until I post pics from this weekend's yard trip. 3-4 G vans just hit the yard. I'm going for sliders because I keep getting hit up for them left and right. Might have some other goodies also.
Now your just teasing us ... lol
Yeah, Kursed. Wait until I post pics from this weekend's yard trip. 3-4 G vans just hit the yard. I'm going for sliders because I keep getting hit up for them left and right. Might have some other goodies also.
Now your just teasing us ... lol
Hey, I gotta get stocked up on parts. I may want to retrofit a 90-95 Chevy G10 one day to be an old school looking van.
I gotta head over this Sunday. They only started getting into the yard on Tuesday.
Heck yeah man, sweet scores!
Heck yeah man, sweet scores!
I'm gonna go back in a few weeks. There is an untouched mid Ford that has been out there for a month. Full of wasps, but I was really thinking about the door hinges and door holds it has on it. I need an extension for the ratchet, because I left mine with the truck the other day.
Wow Charlie. You never cease to amaze. Nice finds.
These were a great find. This guy was selling them because he was tired of having them around. He was gonna trash them if I hadn't showed up.
Wow Charlie. You never cease to amaze. Nice finds.
It is crazy what is out there right now.
Here are some pics from the interior of the 1974 Ford in my local yard. She is pretty rusty outside. I have a friend heading up for the column, trans, and brake set up to convert his 3 on the tree.
I went back for the Mid Ford in the lot south of me. They're having a 50% off glass sale this week. The windshield is in great shape and is $35 before the 50% off sale. It is so massive that I would have an issue getting it home. Glass is the one thing the yard doesn't pull otherwise I would pay them to remove it for me.
Huge Dodge pop out.
I had a friend score me some pop outs for my Mid over the weekend. I already ordered gasket and louvers. I am so stoked on it.
Way to go Charlie and Great luck for your Buddy.
Im kinda jealous and Im kinda sad that I cleaned out the yrds near me yrs ago .... only new stuff comin thru
That Corner pop out would be quite a rare object ....I never saw one, ever... not even on a running van .... all has been solid
Do you think it's aftermarket ?
I woke up on Saturday morning with an alert for two 70's Dodge vans in a yard about an hour and a half from me.
Cool, I'll go. Only when I get there, I misread the alert. The blue one was in that yard. The red Dodge was around the corner from my house. Once I got to the yard near me, I realized I left my drill behind. Plus, to make matter worse. The red Dodge was all busted up from the forklift used to move it into the yard. The flares were trashed, the doors were bent. I am thinking about going back for the sunroof as it was a decent His/Hers, but the P/O drilled holes through the frame into the roof.
I would have hauled that bar if I had a truck.
I got the roof rack at least because it was in good shape and I was thinking about using it to complete some partial roof rack kits I have. The louvers are all cut up to fit the ladder and attached to a hinge on the door that is inaccessible because the door is bent shut.
Definitely some nice parts to salvage.
Yeah, I gotta get my truck running because I keep coming across large pieces to salvage. Everything inside that Dodge was soaking wet so I didn't want anything wood. They would have been fine to make patterns but not much else.
I agree. Hope to find a nice set for my 74' G10
Good hunting. It's been so very long I've had time to do any " hunting " or planning for my van. Work is intense and there are rumors of lay offs again due to the computer chip shortage. I had planned on doing a motor and trans swap and now everything is on hold. " The Worst "
The Corvair and the Astro both look saveable.
I'm trying to get to my yard today because they have an 84 F150 like mine but everyone is running late today. I want the brushguard on the front.
I get to the junkyard today and the bumper is gone from the truck. I'm bummed because it had only been there since yesterday/this morning. I started doing a quick walk around of the truck, which was complete and probably junked because of CA smog, and I find the brush guard in the bed.
Someone had removed the bumper and the guard. I even got the fog lights. I didn't even need to remove my tools from the bag.
The Corvair and the Astro both look saveable.
They probably are, but here in VA, if the junkyard has entered the vehicle into the books, they can no longer be sold to be put back on the road. Dumbest darn rule ever.
I get to the junkyard today and the bumper is gone from the truck. I'm bummed because it had only been there since yesterday/this morning. I started doing a quick walk around of the truck, which was complete and probably junked because of CA smog, and I find the brush guard in the bed.
Someone had removed the bumper and the guard. I even got the fog lights. I didn't even need to remove my tools from the bag.
Heck yeah! Sweet score!
looks like some salvageable parts to be had.
Man I'd love to pick apart that thing.
If this van could just talk....
Oh man I want a pushbar for my Shorty, little did I know back when I bought the one for my E350 they'd become completely unavailable.
I get to the junkyard today and the bumper is gone from the truck. I'm bummed because it had only been there since yesterday/this morning. I started doing a quick walk around of the truck, which was complete and probably junked because of CA smog, and I find the brush guard in the bed.
Someone had removed the bumper and the guard. I even got the fog lights. I didn't even need to remove my tools from the bag.
Great score.....and a breeze to remove
I was able to "liberate" this tag from the rear door of what used to be a really nice 80's Dodge conversion. It had the whole package: flares, visor, rear sunroof, running boards, interior with a fold out bed. It was a very nice rig at one point.
El Kapitan is still in business down in LA. They only do Sprinter conversions and the original owner sold the business five years ago. No luck on a warehouse full of old parts.
I'm surprised you didn't get the seats. They look pretty good.
I'm surprised you didn't get the seats. They look pretty good.
I made a quick trip before we hit the road for Santa Cruz. There’s about 5 other vans that just hit another yard that I’ll check out this weekend.
Right on Charlie. Know you will post your finds. Good Luck my friend.
Those were nice seats. Good luck
Those seats do look nice. Did you get those louvers ?
Those seats do look nice. Did you get those louvers ?
No, they were all cracked. Flares also. I’m going back tomorrow to maybe pull the seats. I dunno yet.
Bummer. Seems like that is how I always find them in the yard too.
Here was an 86 Econoline that just landed locally. I get she would have started up with gas and a battery.
Here was an 86 Econoline that just landed locally. I get she would have started up with gas and a battery.
Can not believe that was in the junkyard. Looks way too nice
Here was an 86 Econoline that just landed locally. I get she would have started up with gas and a battery.
Can not believe that was in the junkyard. Looks way too nice
CA Smog is super strict. It was a wheelchair van and from the looks of it, well taken care of. I bet it was a case of "grandpa died, no one wanted the van, so off it went" or it didn't pass smog so junk it. Not a lick of rust anywhere.
Wow, such a waste. I hope some of the parts find a good home.
I need an Ice box for my van.
Scored a load of parts from another RV. Funny the one I got back in the summer was a 1977 Midas, and this one was a 1976 Midas.
I will say I spent about $50 in gas to get them thanks to our current gas prices. Spent a few hours pulling the parts, and another couple today gutting the passenger door.
It's a shame some folks don't know how to pull parts the right way, I bet this dash was cherry aside from the hole cut for a CD player, but the dude parting it out broke the darn dash in half and busted a lot of the top up trying to get it out.
I got both complete doors with a tiny bit of rot in the bottom, grill with some rot, good front bumper with guards, what was left of the dash, and a tilt column. Some of the parts are spoken for, but when I finish picking through it all, I'll post what's left in the for sale section.
Both nice scores.
Charlie I am blown away this was in a yard. That interior looks primo; I'm also having Deja vue: that blue shag looks identical to what I had in my "original" 1974 back in the day with black tuck n roll.
I wonder if that over head light has the cover laying around.
So cool. Hope you can salvage some nice parts.
Both nice scores.
Charlie I am blown away this was in a yard. That interior looks primo; I'm also having Deja vue: that blue shag looks identical to what I had in my "original" 1974 back in the day with black tuck n roll.
I wonder if that over head light has the cover laying around.
So cool. Hope you can salvage some nice parts.
I have that same light NOS in the box. I’m going to use the pair in mine when I’m done.
Looking for a side conversion window for a 1986 Chevy G20 trans aire conversion van... I will get measurements for it tomorrow, I would like to replace my broken window...
Looking for a side conversion window for a 1986 Chevy G20 trans aire conversion van... I will get measurements for it tomorrow, I would like to replace my broken window...
Try posting in the "Wanted" section, you'll probably get better luck there.
Rusty & Charlie's neighbors ...
Rusty & Charlie's neighbors ...
Me to my neighbors
That is classic; both pics
Found it ...
i would love to have the rear seat setup from that 86 econoline van
I went to the junkyard across town today to go over any last pieces of a 78 Dodge in the lot before they junk it. It was thrashed and there was nothing left, except for the two pieces of glass in the LeVan Skyport. I took them for spares. I think I will tint them a real nice mirror, after I clean all the overspray off.
I pulled these windows from the Skyport at the junkyard for spares.
That was a running F250 60 days ago. No frame rot, mild bed rust, and a 302 automatic. Total shame.
Man O Man those yard rats are quick ...
I would have nabbed that wheel off the back of that Chevy for sure.
I need to track down a set of door handles with chrome buttons. Mine has the black plastic ones and they stink.
This was in a local yard last month. She was already really rough inside for only being there a day. I grabbed one of those side windows to have for a skylight on a future project. It has probably already been crushed because my buddy went back a few days ago and almost nothing was left on it.
I officially stripped a 1969 Club Wagon in my local yard. I got everything I wanted off of it over the last two weeks. These were yesterday’s last come up. Chrome window wings to go with the chrome pop outs I pulled, the door windows (my third pair), a fiberglass V8 shroud (rare!), and this doesn’t include all the factory bracing I removed or the window regulators. It’s a shame it was a lower optioned Club Wagon and didn’t have the power steering, power brakes, or AC. I would have been in hog Heaven.
That A/C would of been a nice score for sure
In my excitement today, I only snapped one picture. 1973 E300, fully loaded with all the goodies but nothing I want or need for my van. I only took the mirrors and a few small things. Someone took the grille and she was a beaut.
That front bumper looks primo man, I would have snatched that for a spare.
I agree. That bumper is nice
Did ya grab all those wing windows ?
The bubbles on the sides? No, I took their hardware though. One operator was broken, it’ll be good for parts.
No the wing windows on the dirver and passenger doors
Especially if the rubber is in good shape and if they are chromed
Oh, no I didn’t. The van has been there for a month and was untouched. I might go back and get some more next weekend.
I was thinking the same thing on those Chevy vans
I might go back next weekend and pull the roof racks and ladders. I dunno, though. People aren’t buying like they used to.
But you need to beef up your inventory for when they do ....
That would be a GREAT name for a van ... The Love Dungeon !
Any small parts worth saving in that Chevy? What year was it
I would be curios to know the year of that chevy as well. That Dodge grill looked pretty clean
Any small parts worth saving in that Chevy? What year was it
Everything was really rough, heavy mildew odor as well.
Overhead console, and the heart windows if they were left.
Overhead console, and the heart windows if they were left.
No heart windows, they were just wooden cutouts to look like heart windows.
I found an 88 Dodge in a yard where I was at yesterday. Shame, it was clean. Probably wouldn’t pass smog or it was grandma/grandpa’s van no one wanted. The flares were toast and someone beat me to the visor and vertical louvers. But it wasn’t a waste.
I scored this awesome tube grille which as already been picked up by a friend and someone on here wanted some 80’s turn signal housings. I picked them up, holler at me.
I was at a swap yesterday and managed to find a bunch of parts along with a right and left flare for a friend’s Dodge for $5 each. Can’t beat that.
Nice score. Those side windows are unique as well the way they are shaped
Nice finds as usual Charlie. Lucky man
You always have some interesting pics Charlie. You should publish one of those large table books on Vintage Vans. I really appreciate the pics and you sharing your finds.
I wish there were some yards like that around here. Here they are quick to crush everything and I hardly ever see a van over 15 years old
I hear you. Charlie is so Lucky to have so many "gold mines" close by
I hear you. Charlie is so Lucky to have so many "gold mines" close by
It definitely seems like it
1979 Dodge in my local yard.
There was an 84 GMc diesel with 116k on the clock and original paint. It was a union vehicle they ditched in the junkyard. Factory panel van with a real varnished wood interior. Phone died before I could take pics of it. So clean.
This was for sale when I walked into the yard.
No price.
Nice!!! I have only ever seen one van older than 2005 in the yards around here. They crush them so fast
I found some bubbles and floor mats today
wow neat interior, so cool.
As usual; nice score. That interior is cool. Sad to see it in the boneyard
Charlie' did you snag those seats in the Dodge ? They look worth saving
Charlie' did you snag those seats in the Dodge ? They look worth saving
No, I don’t have any space for them. I sold the port already and I was starting to take them apart to clean up. When you’re hot, you’re hot.
You work hard Charlie. Your finds are amazing. Especially your time capsule treasures.
I don’t wanna drive in the rain, but someone dumped a short 1976 Chevy 4x4 van in a junkyard an hour away. California smog strikes again.
I don’t wanna drive in the rain, but someone dumped a short 1976 Chevy 4x4 van in a junkyard an hour away. California smog strikes again.
Yesterday I saw a mid 70's Chevy for sale with (of all things) a bucket boom attachment! Looked, at just a glance, to be in very good condition.
I didn't have time to stop.....
I don’t wanna drive in the rain, but someone dumped a short 1976 Chevy 4x4 van in a junkyard an hour away. California smog strikes again.
If you went and got that 4x4 you'd LOVE to drive in the rain !
And the snow & floods ... I do ... nothing stops MY 4x4 !
Except a head gasket ...lol
Charlie; hope you can get out to look at that 76' 4X4 Shorty and send some pics.
The weather was too bad this weekend, didn’t want to go to the junkyard with the heavy wind and rain.
...
Same yard as that shorty Chevy just got a 65 8 door Ford. It supposed to pour this weekend. The freeway was flooded last weekend.
Be safe. Can't wait to see your pics when you get out there