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.
>