Instead of using the large wheel barrows at the Pick'n Pull/U-Pull-It type yards. I bring an all-terrain radio flyer. It's skinny enough to fit in between the cars(yard/garden carts are too wide) & it's a good height to stand on when working on the taller engine bays. If something is too heavy I'll get a wheel barrow & throw the little wagon on top.

 

No more posting about taking parts from the junkyard. At all. If you post about putting **** in your pocket or tool box a time out will be given.
Here is the one and only warning.

Batman xj.... good thread. If you see a bad post report it or pm me.

 

sorry, you coulda left my good hearted tips up though

 

You posted illegal activity in all your posts. I deleted it. Im not going to take my time to clean up the **** about stealing from businesses. It is not my job to make your posts ok to be posted.

 

okay, i apologize guys. don't steal. its bad and i'm a bad person for it.

but on a serious note, its always a good idea to get the bolts that belong to the part that you're swapping because we all know just how easily bolts will break or get lost on an xj, and having them with the part is a lot easier than making a second trip back to the junkyard or the hardware store for one bolt. just don't be a doucher like me and steal them. haha

 

When My dad and I would go to the j y ,we would spilt up and map out our finds we also used walky talkies or our cells to help with the hunting

 

we got some pros over here

 

having a idea of what you and your friends have planned for there rigs that way you can keep a eye out for them also. it pays off to take a second set of hands also. remember to always make sure the car your trying to pull parts off is stable and you have a path to step away safely. sometime people move or remove things that are put there to keep people safe.

remember to remain calm and breathe while pulling parts your trying to reuse these parts and getting mad might lead to messing something up example (budding pulled a zj tie rod but hammerd on the end and smashed threads)

set a budget and stick to it. I dont know how many times ive gone and started grabbing parts. was lucky and had first pick on a 95 xj that had lift slider tire rack cowl intake skid plates injector. ended up getting all the parts for around $130 only because i know the counter people.

oh yeah always remember where you set stuff things have a nack for geting lost

 

Go to Walmart and get yourself a cheap foam sleeping pad from the camping section. Cut it down to a size that works for you. It gives you some cushion when laying or kneeling on the ground. I don't mind laying on my nice smooth driveway for a few minutes, but not on gravel, rocks or mud.

 

When I need get down on the ground to get something from underneath the vehicle I find some suv and quickly cut a large rectangle from the rear carpet. I only do this from carpets you know no one will buy, dirty etc. X2 on don't destroy parts someone else can use just to get your part out. I find that xj's I look for parts on are usually respected very nicely. I have gone to the interior and found center consoles, switches, dash bezels, clocks in perfect condition because someone needed a part behind it and did the right thing. I too find xj parts in nearby vehicles. I once found a few front driveshafts in a van. I left them because I didn't need one. Do not assume that all yards let you use a sawzall, ask first I saw a guy asked to leave cutting a skylight out.
and on the above I too grab extra bolts and screws and have a stash in my garage I show them to the cashier and ask "how much" and have yet to be charged. They know people steal so the honesty is rewarded on small stuff they know fits in your pockets.

 

I like to take my cordless impact with a flex joint socket and phillips and flat head chucks. It has saved my butt a few times trying to get parts off that I needed. Its just a little Rigid 18v impact and seems to do the job on some pretty tough bolts. Only thing Iv found it wont remove is the ring gear off the carrier for the rear ends other then that no complaints.

 

Fuses, relays, bits of wiring harness to replace connectors. All those things are frequently given to me by my junkyard. I usually have a small pile of them. They say "don't worry about those" because I'm buying a bunch of other stuff. Lol. Helps me keep spares. Your JY may vary.

Take water. If its hot you will probably need it.

The JY I go to, doesn't let you bring in jacks, so I usually have to find a jack from a car. Usually works perfect.

Try not to break things. I hate it when there is 3 nice door panels, but one is ****ed up because someone was too lazy to take one of the screws out.

Pretty much everything else has been said.

 

Whenever u want to add aux lights or extra switches for whatever you are installing in your car, u usually buy wires from stores right?

What I do whenever I go to junkyards, I usually get long wiring harnesses from inside cargo vans from front to back (behind drivers seat to taillights). Most of the time they usually are around 15 feet worth of wiring.

I buy at least two harnesses every time I go to junkyard so I can stock pile at home.

Great thing about this is that u get all different colors of the wiring, it makes it easier for you to identify which aux electronic u are running in case something won't work.

Most stores have a selection of 6 colors. That's it. And I know most people usually buy red and black, then with all extra stuff they run, it's nearly all red and black.

Another reason why I do this is because of the connectors, I reuse connectors for my devices instead of hard wiring it, so in case of problems, I can just unplug the connectors.

 

Most junkyards would charge like 15 bucks of the wiring harness. The savings goes a long way because it always has at least 8 wires in it, and auto stores charge ridiculous amount of money for a spool of new wires

 

Good idea gonna have to get a few next time Im at the jy