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Parting a car, need advice on what to keep.

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Old 06-23-2014, 02:10 AM
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Parting a car, need advice on what to keep.

Hello,

I have a pair of firebird that have been sitting in my driveway for 5 year, much to the chagrin of my neighbours. Unfortunately, I never got around to do them, when I had the time I did not have the money, when I have the money I do not have the time ! Such is life.

So, since those cars are "flintstone" deals I figured that the proper thing to do (instead of sending them to the crusher for 300$) is the take them apart piece by piece, catalog everything and put it all on ebay.

Now I don't have the time to do it myself so I'll have to pay a friend to do it.

What I would like to know is, which parts are worth saving and which should just go to the crusher with the skeleton ?

I can take apart every single part, even the few still good stamped unibody parts by drilling the spotwelds out. My friend is also very careful and I'm sure he can take apart the more delicate parts intact.

I have posted all of the pictures to a imgur album, link as follows. Please let me know what I should keep !

Thanks !

Here is the album link http://imgur.com/a/qKxNJ
Old 06-23-2014, 03:32 AM
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Re: Parting a car, need advice on what to keep.

Have you tried putting an ad on craigslist to see if somebody wants to buy the whole thing?

I'd try to do that rather than having to part it out and crush the body. But if you're set on taking them apart then you should start with the obvious... Pretty much everything. It's all worth money except the rust. Lots of little parts on the interior that can be put into another car and lots of parts under the hood that somebody might need out there. Whether it's the whole complete engine/trans/fuel system/ecm/wiring harness combo or the door panels, the complete dashboard, gauges, steering wheel, seats, console, wheels, the outside mirrors new sell for 130 bucks a piece, and the t-top panels go for $150 each if they're not cracked. The rear spoiler or the whole hatch while you're at it, the tail lights, front headlights.
Old 06-23-2014, 08:47 AM
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Re: Parting a car, need advice on what to keep.

Parting cars out on eBay is a full tine job. If you are going to have someone else do this than it will have to be someone who has knowledge of these cars and eBay.
Easy to find out which parts are desirable by reading the forums and want ads. Don't expect a lot of spoon fed info on this as you will be competing against people on the forum who do it for a living.
I would follow the above advice and see if you can sell them as whole parts cars first, if no luck identify the few really valuable parts then take the rest to the crusher.
Old 06-23-2014, 12:42 PM
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Re: Parting a car, need advice on what to keep.

Absolutely every part of those cars has some value above scrap but it all depends on how long you want to store the parts. The most valuable parts I saw in the pictures were the entire a/c delete setup, deluxe "gta" door panels, powerbulge hood, and the two tone black sets. Those parts will probably sell the fastest everything else will be a waiting game. As far as value, the parts are worth whatever someone will pay. Check completed ebay listings and closed classified threads on here to get an idea on value. You don't happen to be near nj do you?
Old 06-23-2014, 02:38 PM
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Re: Parting a car, need advice on what to keep.

A perfect dash pad is the most valuable item in these cars.
Old 06-23-2014, 02:54 PM
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Re: Parting a car, need advice on what to keep.

I cringe when I hear the word "crusher." You have a plethora of fine parts! Have you priced a new back hatch with glass lately? Any glass for that matter. Spoilers? Somebody out there is looking for this stuff all the time.

As the above members mentioned, selling them whole would be easiest; just keeping them out out the crusher.
Old 06-23-2014, 03:13 PM
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Re: Parting a car, need advice on what to keep.

You could probably find some sucker like me who'll buy the whole thing.
Check my threads to see the 'beauty' I bought

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Old 06-23-2014, 03:26 PM
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Re: Parting a car, need advice on what to keep.

Thank you for the replies, I will make an effort not to waste the good parts then.

Can I assume that engine/tranny/driveshaft/differential/shocks/springs/brakes/exhaust/radiator+fan are bad or not worth saving even if they still work ?

Would any of the unibody parts be worth removing, like the trunk interior, roof, firewall, shock towers, radiator support ? Is there any need for those kind of parts or are they almost always good even on wrecks ?

thanks again !
Old 06-23-2014, 04:22 PM
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Re: Parting a car, need advice on what to keep.

I saved my car from the "Pick n Pull" here and eventually the crusher.

The place that allows a car to be picked clean is the Pick n Pull.

Some of the cars there are beyond repair and they give guys like me the opportunity to replace parts on my car that are needed.

Your cars may not fall into that category so good luck with them.
Old 07-27-2014, 07:05 PM
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Re: Parting a car, need advice on what to keep.

Hello,

from the advice in this thread, I decided to take the cars apart to sell the parts.

We are about half way done with the first car (I think a 1987 firebird).

I will later post better pictures of the parts individually but I just had a few pictures I could post here that I took "in-process"

If you know of parts that I can safely throw away, I would love to hear about them

Are any of the sheet metal worth drilling out ? Like for example if the drive shaft well piece is in good shape, is there a chance that someone could use it ? What about firewall /"cole dash"/ rad support, etc.. ?

Here are the pictures

http://imgur.com/a/1XDzt

here is a video too

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