I'm just wondering but is anyone still finding good parts at the junkyard? I go to the local Pick and Pull when they have a Fox T-bird or Cougar to try and find spare interior bits and trim parts that are exclusive to our cars. Of the 4 cars that have show up at the yard this year (all 87-88 Cougars) none of them have had anything worth taking. The interior parts are usually trashed or faded badly and the exterior moldings are beat to hell. My guess is that since the newest of these cars are 25 years old (almost) is that the ones that make it to the junkyard are really basket cases with pretty much no usable parts. I remember when I was 17 and I bought my T-bird (2002) that I could go to the junk yard and find T-bird/Cougar specific trim pieces in good shape. Not any more. I think ebay and this forum are my only source for parts.
What about you guys? Are you still fining any good interior parts or trim at the junkyard?
I will say this: if you're an MN-12 guy now is the time to buy parts at the yards. I see lots of 94-97 Mn-12s at the yard. The 89-93 cars not so much as they tend to rot out bad up here. Plus the AOD are earlier 3.8 are not as durable as the 4R70W and later 3.8 in the 94 and up cars, causing the earlier cars to be rarer on the ground here.
Few cars even in the yards around here. Like you said, when there are.... they are totally beat and rarely anything worth getting. The parts on them are worse than whats on my car, or even worse than my backup spare bits.
I cant imagine the parts outlook in another 10-15 years.
The worst cars are after sitting in the yards for any period of time. There was an 83 5.0 bird that looked brand new, minus the forlift holes through both doors and center console. The seats were mint white leather with no fade marks or rips.The next time I saw it about 2 weeks later, the whole interior was trashed and all the seats had rips and knife slashes all over them, as well as the tail lights being busted.
When ever I see a good taillight in a yard, I pull it and set it in either the trunk or backseat of the car, so atleast kids don't just run around busting them out.
Here in California at my local Pick Your Part there's always at least 1-2 fox tbirs/cougars last month there were about 6 5 four eyes and 1 aero cougar.
I can tell that the damage to the interior pieces of the T-birds/Cougars I've seen in the yard have happened over the course of years. They seem to have spent their last years either sitting in some one's yard/garage (you can tell because the city stickers are a few years expired). If not they were owned by messy/sloppy people who didn't care what the inside of their car looked like or what they did to it.
These cars are getting really old, in terms of finding interior and trim parts. It's going to be a pain in the future as no one is making reproduction parts. Next year the '83 cars are going to be 30, and the '88 cars will be 25. At least I can finally get antique plates for my T-bird when I renew them :)
yah finding parts for my 83 is almost impossible, you almost have to rely on finding stashes of nos parts from collectors to actually find any usable parts. or make your own.
This year was a total bust for me at the junk yards. I found 3 87-88 T-Birds locally that I hope will still be available once I'm able to buy them. 2 are fixable ant the other will be for parts. We're closing on a house today so my extra funds are going to the house.
I think 80-82 birds are even harder to come by. when I got my first 80 (in 2001) you could still find some parts for these in junkyards. now when I look, they never have these cars in the yards anymore. wish I was smart and salvaged everything 10 years ago when I could still find them
They also made a lot fewer 80-82 cars than 83-88 cars. I never remember seeing an 80-82 Thunderbird driving around. Maybe when I was really young but not once I reached driving age.
I used to have a 81 XR7, was my first car.
That car was made four years before I was born ;).
Its one of those situations where it is sometimes easier to buy an entire car for parts rather than waste time hunting in yards for ever increasingly rare "nice" parts. If you have the time, space and ability, I would buy decent example of a "less desirable" example and strip it clean, sell off what I can't use at all and then clean, bag and store the remainder. Finally, have the stripped bare chassis, minus what ever sheet metal could be salvaged, hauled to the off for recycling. You'd might be surprised at what you can dispose of and what someone else might have need of. I did this to a TC a few year ago that was completed rotted in the front end (frame rails and dog house), but had good quarters, floor pans, roof, glass, decent doors and trunk pan. It took some time, but I actually made a bit of "profit" by selling it off piecemeal and helped out 11 other buddies and myself at the same time. The icing on the cake was that I was able to dispose of the remainder of the carcass for $200... the parts car only cost me $400 and only my time to carefully dismember her.
I've tried to find something but so far I've only found 1 86 cougar near Denver.
There doesn't seem to be a network to check what's on hand at most junk yards. You just have to call and check one at a time. I haven't even checked 10% yet though, I just haven't had the time.
It seems that most junk yards just crush anything that old.
When s metal goes down, they s the bigger cars to maintain profits.
Around here, tear apart auto has an inventory, as do most pick and pulls. My favorite junkyard doesn't though.but its only a mile or two away and only $1 to get in.
I think our situation is not isolated--a lot of 80s car collectors are having this conversation, with some of the blame aimed at Cash for Clunkers. This program eliminated a lot of good, running cars as our cars were ideal candidates--EPA fuel mileage and relatively low values, which could be exceeded by trade-in CFC values. CFC meant that the cars had a limited yard life before they were required by law to be crushed. :(
The u-pulls here have a good stock of Fox cars, the thing is that you have to get to them quick.
Once they have been in the yards for a few days, they have been picked and abused beyond use by others.
They will go after a certain part, and if they rip everything else to shreds to get to that part, they don't care.
It's sad...
A couple weeks ago, I had fairly good luck finding parts.
I got 3 87-88 bird tail lights in about perfect shape, a center console and dash surrround, a actual fox trip computer (first I've seen in a fox...), and a bunch of other parts. I almost bought some ltd manual mirrors, but after test fitting them, I don't think they would work well.
One junkyard had 3 86 tbirds, all full power in decent shape, but no center console. Another yard I got skunked, another had about 4 87-88 birds, including a 87-88 tc with the entire rear axle (rare here), but interiror was screwed up, and another yard had 2 83-86 birds, but nothing super fancy, other then the good center console I picked up. Also had one or two 81 cougars, several ltd's and one mark 7 h.o. found some gt40 heads, but no intakes on ford explorers. A couple of gutted 94-04 mustangs, no engine/tranny, and mostly stripped intireor.
That was my black Friday shopping this year.
3 tail lights in almost perfect shape (I have a full spare set!)
1 center console, 1 trip computer (decent shape)
Couple of trim brackets, a floor shift surround and two "cubby hole"center console trays.
All for about $50 and a mornings fun. Took me almost twice as long to swap in the center console, delete the drivers power seat, wire in the stereo and speakers (p.o. cut all the. Stock wires for some reason to wire in a stock 85-88 stereo?). Had enough for a couple weekends, gonna do the trip computer when I get bored, or when the car is down to fix the transmission.
Only weird thing, I didn't see a single 83-88 cougar.
Right now the car has 1st and 2nd as useable gears, but revs and slips in 3rd with any added throttle. Going to plan on either a 5speed or a rebuilt aod around tax time.
PM sent...
want gt40 heads man if you can spare them,, would better like the complete upper set but any piece of the puzzel is good for now.
It's odd but if a Fox is in the yard near me it's always a Cougar. I found one last week and it was trashed. It was an 87 LS 5.0 with a floor shift. Red with red leather.
There are a but load up here I come across good stuff all the time
Just stripped a few things off a 88 TC
What jy? any good parts left?
Pick n pull in the high desert Some not many
The snow belt sucks......
I love the jy I go so often I find good stuff some times
But so dose the rest of SOCAL FTL
Well, I didn't find it at a junkyard, but I did get a TC gauge cluster with the 140 mph speedo in it today. That's gotta count for something. I already have on in the Sport, but couldn't turn down the chance to get it.
If any one was close to me, we have about 4 birds in the junk. 2 TC and a couple cougars. Then some other fords.
Soul, if you go back, what yr/shape are the front bumper covers in? I need a 86' T/C cover, rear reinforcement bar, trunk lid w/o rust and a good scratch free windshield. Let me know what shape and the cost. I could probably meet you half way.
I'm also going to hit a couple u-pull-its around here to see what they got (if any). I need some other stuff anyway.
I wonder if the bird up here got crushed yet
What do the 140 speedos come in ?
They were Ford Motorsports pieces that were bought through the dealer and installed at the dealership, or at home. They are getting harder to find all the time.
Sweet kinda like the ones they had for the mustangs
The TC are an 87 and 88, I think we have a couple of mid 80 cougars, I think the bostonian (sp?) edition bird we have is that year but was wrecked in the front. I'll check with dad to find out.
Yea I bet
Plenty of cars here. The local pick. Part had 2-6 fox birds/cougars on any given weekend. Also I found a honey hole of fox birds and cougars about 30 mins from my house. I was there about 2 months ago and there were no less than 15 complete t/c's (87-88). Not to mention the 30 or so other birds n cougars. The big bonus is the guy doesnt crush anything. The downside is that his prices are a but above the standard u pull it pricing. But if ya gotta have the part he's the goto guy.
The yards around here used to be like that until s prices went through the roof. Now it's been a few months since I've seen any around here.
I went today but showed up late UGH lol they were closed
Rumor has it that a yard about 1.5hr away has some foxes in it. Hoping to have the free time to go up here soon. Also been told they dont crush cars to often either, so my fingers are crossed!!
Junk yards are great
But the local pick a part upped prices kinda sucks
But you find good stuff ........ Like cobra R's lol
Does the guy have any 83 stuff? I haven't been to a local yard for a while but last time I was at one there was only a picked over 87. Is the guy 30 mins from you a pick and part place where you can pull your own parts?
I'll have to keep this in mind. :hick:
It's a pick a part yard. I'm sure there's an 83 or two in there.
You have a pm
Guys, I'm asking for a help again. I'm looking for few parts, but here, in central Europe, there are no junkyards with american cars.
1) front driveshaft part (http://"http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?35031-WTB-Driveshaft-transmission-ending-for-Turbo-Coupe-with-automatics") from car with C3 or A4LD transmission
(http://i2.frsimg.com/images/detailed_images/TheDriveshaftShop_S13_2_2337_14063.jpg)
2) body molding pieces (version with silver stripe is OK too)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tbgVUGBj7Po/T8IL29RPfkI/AAAAAAAADLc/zhG8Dv60vXM/s640/IMG_0071.JPG)
(http://obrazky.trinom.org/obrazky/cs4v_chybejici_dily.jpg)
3) these black plastic pieces under the door handle screws (all 4 pcs)
(http://www.abload.de/img/krytkysroubkurgr1v.png)
4) few more other parts, but these are the most important now. I can send you the list later.
Thank you very much!
I wish I had the money I would buy that TC in the yard
Seems like everyone needs something lol
PS: I have US shipping address, so you son't have to be worried about shipping abroad :)
Headed to a local yard to pick some pieces off of this, this week. Mainly the spoiler for sure, if anyones in dire need of anything let me know and Ill see if I can get it. My sister sent it to me, but looks pretty complete as far as I can tell. Small yard in the dead of winter, everything should still be there when I get there!!(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu112/highraven1999/ResizedImage951362847939392_zpse0648e37.jpg)
Hopefully it thaws out by then! :hick:
Looks to be a pretty complete car, get some more pictures if you can.
I haven't been able to find one in my area for about a year if I have they're usually rotted out I found a nice 85 5.0 asked to buy it from the yard they said they wouldn't sell the whole car then crushed it two months later
Made a 50 mile round trip to the next nearest Pick-N-Pull after finding this:
http://row52.com/Vehicle/Index/1FABP46W7GH162961
A sad sight indeed, Looks like the car was dumped in a lake or something. Interior is rusted and nasty and supports were crunchy.
It's also a factory Manual...
I took a bunch of body and random TC specific parts. This is the first 4eye TC I've seen in the Junkyard in my 10+?years of Junkyarding.
Thought I was going to be over $200... But register guy just looked at the stuff and got lazy and only charged Me for large things. For $111 I got cart full o' TC goodies.
Marchals gone sadly, Got the brackets though.
Turbo was on it still. Don't know how the heck to get it unbolted without troubles, Also don't know if it's seized or not.
Someone took the shifter, Pedals hard to get at with the electric seat all the way forward.
(http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m555/Aesthetikz2/Junkyard/IMG_20130413_163826_zps105b4179.jpg) (http://s1131.photobucket.com/user/Aesthetikz2/media/Junkyard/IMG_20130413_163826_zps105b4179.jpg.html)
(http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m555/Aesthetikz2/Junkyard/IMG_20130413_163627_zps25cbb533.jpg) (http://s1131.photobucket.com/user/Aesthetikz2/media/Junkyard/IMG_20130413_163627_zps25cbb533.jpg.html)
PS: Side Moulding is SO exhausting to pull off... And I feel like our Astro Van only gets around 10mpg.
that's a sad bird lol
They just put out a 1979 Mustang Cobra "Turbo" at the local PnP. Car has been kind of molested... Has a stock painted up 302 now, Would have got the hooker long tube headers but they cut off connections and welded them to basically straight pipes out the back... I grabbed the hood scoop.
1989 Super coupe also, engine hasnt been touched yet, Would have proabably got the Supercharger, But passed at almost $250+Tax...
my buddy just stripped a 79 in the yard
I went today no bird love ... There was a sc but yea the sc was gone I wonder what they paid lol
Sc on Craig's list around hear go for dirt I would just buy a whole car lol
I just had a young guy drop off two doors off an "85" cougar. They have power locks, power windows, power mirrors, and door handles (spares). I also bought a pair of "87" hood hinges w/ springs, sport coupe rear axle w/quad shocks. He wanted to sell me the power seats, but I didn't want them. Arizona is great for parts, they are cheap and only wear and surface rust to worry about.