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I hope this doesn't protend the future. If Volvo 200 series salvageable parts suppplies dry up, what's next? Owning a SAAB 900?
In need of a front chair, I set out for the venerable find-anything-you need parts yard North of Allentown known as EZ-Pull thinking I'd find at least one or two good donor cars from which I could at least find a decent seat bottom.
They had NOTHING for me. (well, one car with the blue cloth I wanted, but it was full of peet hair. Wif'e allergies prevent this purchase). EZ-Pull is one of the largest car yards I know of. Usually they have a dozen good 200's. Eveerything Saturday was old, picked over. And there weren't many to begin with.
It's like there is this sudden absence of 200 cars available.
Anybody else experiencing this where you are?
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I am having the same problems too. I live NW of Chicago and most of the pre 1990 Volvos are rotted out/gone. (We use too much road salt in the winter time). So anyway when I do go to the junk yards, there eather WELL picked over or there just so beat up theres nothing to use. I find that the EBAY commuity has people picking up all the high dollar stuff and reselling it. I guess the only way to keep our bricks alive is to keep in touch like what we are doing now. So sad how things are changing like this, I used to have so much fun going to the "u-pull-it" yards, its a slow and painful death to a really neat era.
Take care,
Jonathan
1983 245 GL, 159K
1981 245 DL, RIP
1979 245 DL, RIP
1985 244 DL, about 160 hard miles, sold
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Seems I saw a TON of Volvos in Puerto Rico the last time I was there. They are shipping them overseas, now.
The last time I went to the local Volvo junk yard to find a donor seat for my daughter's "new" '85 240, the best one on the lot was the one from her just recently totaled '83 242.
They are becoming difficult to find.
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Puerto Rico, huh?
I thought driving a hour to my favorite yard was a burden.
Now I understand why everyone in the junkyard is speaking English more than before.
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Freakin' eBayers! That's where all the good stuff is going....
RP
--
RP '87 245 (Ol' Blue)273,000 mi, '93 245 (Ruby)150,000 mi, '02 BMW 325, '98 Mustang Cobra, '87 Harley Heritage....
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I have just stopped reading all their posts. Except for a few good deals from reputable on-line vendors, like Brickboard spondors RPR Company, auctioning fan motor replacement kits as a loss leader, I never found many bargains there.
Secretly I always pittied those poor Brisksters up in Oregon who never semed to have any pick 'n pull yards around. They were always so willing to buy my expensive-to-ship Turbo wheels and spend $15 for a milage badge, whatever.
I fear it's coming full circle back onto me now...
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Hi Zee,
Long time no speak. I trust you're well.
200s are plentiful in the scrappies over here at the moment as the youngest ones are nearly 10 years old. This, however, surely can't last as the supply of road going 200s dries up.
Might be time to get a seven (as did I). Same, but different. Many engine and box parts are common to the 200 and the bodies seem more durable, at least in the UK.
Regards,
Big Rich.
--
'86 245, B230A. 161k. Old 200s never die, they just live on in other cars.
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Hello, Rich.
Yes it has been a while since we communicated. Wasn't there a time you were going to visit my area in search of some relatives? We could have gone out 'junkin together!
(now, we might as well just cry about the lack of parts over a pint or two...)
I was always looking at the 700 series supply over the past couple of years thinking, as you, the 200's are getting fewer.
Trouble is, the 700's are even less plentiful in the yards here.
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Sure seems like they're drying up down here too, Zee. More competition in the pick'n'pulls now, too, with folks taking parts to resell. The 240s are picked over pretty well in a few days.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore
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Figures. Just like fish used to be so cheap until it became a "health food" fad to get away from beef.
On the other hand, the on-line aftermarket parts are very cheap which makes it almost O.K. to go ahead and buy new.
Just no fun, though.
Heck, I even searched the yard Saturday for another guy whos mother-in-law sitting out in the hot parking lot told me had has a couple of old Volvos at home he might part out.
Well I found the guy's wife (taking a badge from a Bronco II). Then I found this guy.
What rotten luck. He wasn't interested in selling me any chair. He wanted to BUY a car!
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posted by
someone claiming to be broken login guy
on
Mon Jun 24 07:13 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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Don't forget the "ebay factor".
Here's what's going on: Some parts (and I'm not just talking Volvo here) sell for more on ebay than the DIY yards charge.
Unless you get there the minute the car is put out, don't expect to find ECU's, p/w switches, and other small bits worth big bucks.
The pirates go in and grab all the cherry stuff they can make a quick buck from on ebay. I see it all the time. See that nice 240 over there? Take a look, there's no relays or ECU's in it. It has real nice seats, because nobody wants to ship those.
Life's unfair, isn't it?
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I hink you have a point about ebay sellers getting the goods. But how are they getting to them before you or I?
Unless they are guys who would otherwise be junking their own cars, or yards who believe they can get a better dollar on-line, so, they just keep their cars in the "holding area".
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posted by
someone claiming to be Alex
on
Mon Jun 24 06:26 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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Yes, and no. There are two Pick -n- Pull branded lots within decent driving distance of my house. The closest (#1) is well organized, has a great taco wagon outside, and doesn't usually have too many volvos. I usually see more Volvos *in the parking lot* than in that yard. Actually, most of the Volvos that I come across there are usually picked over quite well (*all* have been missing driver's door power window switches, intercoolers are gone, door handles, etc). The last time I went I saw an 84 760 Turbo w/ a nice Nissens radiator (boy I sure hope it's there on Tuesday when I go back) and a pretty complete looking B23FT. The other one is poorly organized, but the one time I went it had lots more Volvos (none that I was looking for unfortunately). Apparently fresh stock arrives every Thursday morning.
- alex
'85 244 Turbo
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Sounds like Thursday is garbage day around your house.
I, too, find it difficult to get in on the "good stuff", like anything plastic.
Never found a good radiator in all the years I have been out 'junkin.
Every one traced green with leaked coolant.
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posted by
someone claiming to be Bob
on
Mon Jun 24 17:19 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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Hey Alex...
If I recall correctly, I am on the other side of the Big Red Bridge from you.
Where is this junkyard that you speak of?? Zee one with the taco stand, that is.
Most of the ones that I know of lie on the other side of the Big Grey/Silver Bridge.
-=Bob=-
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posted by
someone claiming to be Alex
on
Mon Jun 24 18:20 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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The Richmond one. Since I'm in Marin it's really easy to get to:
101 to 580 (over da other silver bridge)
580 East to Cutting Blvd/Harbor Way
Cutting to Harbor (left off 580 to cutting, first left after is harbor)
Harbor Way to Pennsylvania (the 2nd one -- up a hill, there are two in a row)
Pennsylvania to Market (it's on the left)
Got a couple ground beef tacos -- (had to post to ba.food) included cilantro, cheese, and a neat-o sweet and spicy pickled pepper. At $1/ea I was pleased.
Don't you touch that 760 :)
- alex
'85 244 Turbo
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There are a couple of yards around here (College Station,TX) That have a lot of 200 series stuff and do not crush if stuff doesn't turn. I did find a regular treasure of Volvo stuff from 122,140, 160, 240 and 700 series stuff in an unnamed lot with no signs. The guy even has old Saabs, M-B, BMW, Kaisers, VW original bugs etc. It is so much fun to walk through. Of course there are critters around such as fire ants, snakes, noxious weeds etc, but the parts are there.
dick
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Not to forget hornets and junk yard dogs!
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Don't these pick and pull places change out their inventory on a regular basis? I thought I read somewhere that cars live in these yards for about a month before they are crushed. You might check more often for 200 series cars in hopes of being the first one to arrive with tools in hand.
>>>>In need of a front chair, I set out for the venerable find-anything-you need parts yard North of Allentown known as
EZ-Pull thinking I'd find at least one or two good donor cars from which I could at least find a decent seat bottom.
They had NOTHING for me. (well, one car with the blue cloth I wanted, but it was full of peet hair. Wif'e allergies
prevent this purchase). EZ-Pull is one of the largest car yards I know of. Usually they have a dozen good 200's.
Eveerything Saturday was old, picked over. And there weren't many to begin with.
It's like there is this sudden absence of 200 cars available.
Anybody else experiencing this where you are?
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Well, I have a few parts vendors out there poaching the good stuff on a regular basis. Then they go to the Carlisle Import Car Show each spring to sell off their inventory. Meantime, they install used parts in their used car inventory when they "Mechanically recondition" them.
I think it's also a matter of these 240's getting older and less disposed of. They were passed down to the college son or daughter of the last decade and landed in the yards during the mid to late 1990's whenthe rust got the best of them.
It never used to be a factor of churning inventory where I shop. You could find the same cars there from Spring through Fall. Even the next year for some.
But to visit three places and find nothing good. That seems like a supply drought.
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posted by
someone claiming to be Ringlee
on
Mon Jun 24 02:09 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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Another big concern is the disappearance of "u-pick" lots and their conversion into corporate behemoths focused on inventory turn. The lesser cars and their parts are scrapped.
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Yes, indeed!
The very car I am picking parts for ('84 244GL) was way out of place where I found it is the Honda-mostly yard. I am sure it would havebeen crushed by now had I not seen the value in her.
"Thank You, Baby, for the past 12,000 miles! You've been wonderful!"
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posted by
someone claiming to be Jack
on
Mon Jun 24 01:38 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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There were 3 at the pick and pull yard here in Columbus, Ohio...
I had been told that's about what I'd find so I didn't have any expectations...
I was able to find a good condition map pocket, a/c switch, temp. switch handle and a primo tail light assembly (it must have been recently replaced on the 83 245 before it was junked!)
so overall I was happy but I'd be happier with 12-20 to choose from... and I need a new seat as well...
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