Best Junkyard Mods
 

I know a lot of us on this here mighty Yotatech aren't made of money and build our rigs in stages and/or on a budget. Also, it seems a lot of us are also very fond of our local junkyards and u-pull its. I know I'm at most of the local yards at least twice a month.

So what are some of the "Junkyard Mods" that can be done? Straight out of the yard and start modding your rig (with the exception of bushings, paint, etc.) Pics would help for out-of-the-norm mods. Hopefully going to try and keep this to 86-95 as that makes up the majority of whats in the yards today.


My junkyard mods to my 87 4Runner:

63" Rear Chevy springs from a 2001 Chevy 1500 4wd 2 leaf + OL
Late-style steering box (95 4Runner, quicker ratio)
'85 4Runner brown/tan interior w/ incolmeter (sp?)
V6 Calipers
W56 and all 5spd swap stuff from an 85 4Runner
88 F-250 Front shocks for the rear (stiff, but were longer than what was on there to flex the 63s more...2 bucks a shock man)
V6 4.56 diffs
Found a rear Husky liner floor mat for the rear ($2 !!)


I'll probably think of more and add to the list...

So any ingenious junkyard warriors out there trying parts on for size?

Crown Victoria horns or better.

Don't recall how your horns are but us 3rd gens have wimpy beep beep Road Runner horns.

I found a newly wrecked Crown Vic and the horns are reasonably better. PIAMM is the brand name.

chevy Z71 tow hooks

due a litlle trimmin and drillin and there you go....

subscribed. I see stuff I want but never have money to grab it lol.

I had a set of F250 dual horns in my 79...alot better than the "beep-beep"

I go to pic n pull alot, ive been able to find all of the missing interior pieces and a few exterior pieces that ive needed, as well as everything i needed to redo the interior upholstry on my 86 4Runner. Things like springs and shocks i buy new.

SR5 gauge cluster :great: ok, it's usually around $40 for the gauge pod, plus whatever they might charge you for the oil pressure sending unit if you snag that too, but it's the best bolt-in mod I've ever done :D I've also grabbed the lighted ash tray assymbely, the glove box light, and factory dash speaker boxes from the same wrecked 4Runner :great:

but outside of a Toy, in the past, I've found a chrome exhaust tip and a cell phone clip, lol :roll: oh and a 10lb bowling ball :think:

Supra AFM
V6 Calipers(coming soon)
liftgate struts for swingout tire carrier

I just scored a new (well it looked almost new) OME steering stabilizer for $3. I love junk yards.

Transmission cooler from 90's Ford Explorer 4.0 & It's a perfect fit too ($10 bucks) Believe it or not I also picked up my JVC deck from the pick a part for $30 bucks & it was just like new, got my SR5 gauge cluster too.

I have also taken many cadillac air ride compressors over the years ($15 bucks) You need to JB weld one air passage & it will pump an air tank up to 160 PSI. Great for air horns, air shocks or air bags.

There is great stuff to be had out there!!!:good:

Lets see...... not all of this was bought at the junk yard by me, some of it was shipped from junkyards across the US so I think it still counts.

Supra MAF.
SR5 gauge cluster.
Factory roll bar pad.
Shoulder belts for the rear passengers in the 89 4runner.


Wow I thought I'd done more than that. I guess I need to hit the pick-n-pull this afternoon. :)

Got some 91 Celica Buckets seats that are sitting in the kitchen just waiting to get put in. I keep intending to get some 63" chevy springs but have been to busy recently. I've also get an SR5 cluster that needs to go in.

Damn I need some time off so I can work on my truck.

our junkyards have lots of semi's..so my next time out to one..im grabbing some air horns from one of em..lol..might even try that Caddy air compressor thing..heck i know the junkyards got PLENTY of old air tanks that are still good..then all i gotta do is get some fittings...some hose..some valves..and HELL YEA!!!!! a real horn

You'll be wanting one of THESE:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AKmdIFMT9I[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBn0ZBD519s[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSVgJsQU_ac&feature=related[/youtube]
[youtube][/URL][URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDJPLxwuMyA&feature=fvw[/youtube]

OMFG!

:good: i watch those videos all the time!! :banger:

check hornblasters.com

Here is my old lincoln.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqxB65NuseQ

holy crap, I can't believe I've never thought of that!!!

dude, I gunna have to go caddy-scrap'n on my next pick'n'pull visit :D

You guys got a little more info on the cadillac air ride compressors like what model cars and years.

Dont know much about cadillacs.

THanks!!!

I'm doing a leaf pack rebuild ( truck springs).
4.56 diff gears.
Missing trim.
4Runner seats in my pickup.
Still looking for a center console.
My fake A/C button. =)
Replace all the those nuts and bolts that your somehow manages to lose over time.
The front bumper mounts to the front fenders are notorious for rusting apart. Replace them with junkyard ones.

Yeah, The caddy air pumps are under the hood. the larger big caddy's have the pump on the drivers side up by the master cylinder. You can't miss it. The smaller caddy's will usually have the pump on the drivers side as well but toward the front. The way it's set up you can run about 80 psi through it, great for air shocks or something like that. To build more pressure though you will need to pull the head off, remove the solenoid & jb weld one of the passages. After this you can pump up to 160 PSI. Now this is a small pump & great for a small tank like a 1 or 2 gallon tank. I have used them on a 5 gallon tank as well but the compressor gets pretty hot & I wouldn't recommend it. If I had one laying around then I would take pics of what needs to be done, but I don't. sorry. I may pick one up next time at the pick a part & do a little write up.