newmexguy

Shows the mentality of most of these places. Still remember finding a first gen Monte Carlo atop a heap, in a New England yard in the late eighties. Late in the day, on a Saturday. No time to pull perfect dashboard with complete harness. No time off during week. Asked them, very nicely, can this be saved until the following Saturday? Yeah sure buddy. Of course, when went back next Saturday, they had forked the hulk, through the windshield, moved the forks up and down, and destroyed the dashboard, along with the once perfect dash pad. A several hundred dollar sale, out the window. Typical.

You have tried: www.car-part.com? www.row52.com? Row 52 is nearly flat-lined, but they still list stuff in California yards. Most other states have dropped off their database. And no more pullers. Yep, I tried that, meaning a puller on their site, thinking, wow, I can sell here too. Nope, it turned out to be a joke. Every puller I sent a message to, didn't respond. No responses to my classified ads. No responses to my replies to their wanted ads. Really? A couple of requests - for $5 to $10 plastic parts in Albuquerque area yards - 200 plus miles N of my location. Okay, am going to spend 7 to 8 hours total seat time - to chase plastic parts - that are likely either GONE, or DESTROYED by the SUN. You're kidding me. A complete waste of time, regrettably. Very similar to the old www.junkyarddog.com, unfortunately. Meaning becoming worthless. Those cars have dissipated from Borderland yards. There were never many here, anyway. The local yard had three subarus when they crushed out - a '77ish coupe, an '84 wagon, and an '87 wagon with a dual range transmission. All were too risky to buy and try to resell, due to several factors. Limited market. Distance from potential "buyers". LOGISTICS (the gorilla in the room) or the physical act of moving the stuff.

Offed a southern NM bodied five speed 4 x 4 wagon body three or so years ago. Simply too far from the "buyers", wherever "buyers" may be. Put it on craigslist several times over. A young man from Ruidoso came and bought the carcass for $300, he had previously bought the 49K spare EA82 engine I had. Threw in many of the extra parts, as finding homes for them is certainly not easy. Believe his name was "Wyatt" I might have his contact info, in one of my old phones. He might have other stuff, including southern NM hulks. You could also try the AZ user, here, "azdave". Am sure something could be uncovered in metro Phoenix.

Uhaul charges MILEAGE if it is anything beyond just a few miles local. Mileage on the tow vehicle meaning their "box" truck. Something to consider, it will get spendy real fast.

Still have a fairly good quantity of Eighties "box" or EA-82 parts, most left now, are smaller items, that will ship easily enough. Most of the larger items, to include parts wagon, have been disposed of, or sold off, due to difficulty in finding homes for them, and the LOGISTICS. You can always browse my ads, I do keep them current, and can do package deals on remaining items.

Older, pre Legacy Subarus were never numerous in the borderland. They petered out in the pick a parts, over a decade ago. Suspect the pacific NW might be different. While they were here, though, the metal parts were excellent.

Sold my '89 parts wagon roughly three plus years ago. Via a Denver craigslist ad, yep it took forever. Young man from Ruidoso came down and bought both the Wagon, and the spare 49K mile EA-82 engine assembly in two separate trips. Don't recall his name, possibly "Wyatt" but he's Subaru Kid to me. I could see if I have his contact information in one of my older phones. Am guessing he's on Social Media, am not on those platforms yet.

Figured you'd see this type of behavior over here in New Mexico. Not in Texas. I've actually had reasonably decent to good DMV service here. Although it's gotten very difficult to "retitle" old cars that have dropped out of the database. I have an assortment of NEW engine service parts - gaskets, Timing Belts, hoses, rad cap, etc for these era cars. Also reposted some other parts I still have earlier today to include Rotor/front Hub assemblies, and Two piece driveshaft. Am fairly close - 300 miles West of you so if youre' interested in anything, let me know. Dave S. las Cruces NM

Would agree with the earlier statements that the cars have dissipated from the yards. Don't check foreign rows that often, but it's been a LONG time since a "box" model ('85-'94) has been spotted - either on the road, or in a yard. Pulled a pair of Manual racks years ago from donors, at the time figured they'd have some value - as opposed to the more common power ones. Still have them, btw, need to get them onto a platform, where's their's exposure, where perhaps some customers are, such as giving Ebay another shot or ugh marketplace.

All the "old timey" radiator shops here (las Cruces NM) are gone. A few persist in older industrial areas E of downtown El Paso, forty miles south. There are few cheap options left. Your approach is interesting and resourceful. I've heard good things about "Maine Radiator" but suspect they too, are very spendy.

www.row52.com to locate a Donor car in a Participating Yard (most are pick a parts) You will not be able to call them and narrow it down, for a specific part. One would have to GO to said yard, and physically be there to LOOK. Most self serve yard business model revolves around scrap, and processing cars through in as little time as possible. Often 3 to 6 months, then the entire row is pulled, and scrapped. www.car-part.com to locate item via more traditional type of yard, where individual parts are often removed and inventoried. Many of these type of outfits also have EBAY store presences.

1981 was the first year for the "standardized" 17 digit VIN. Have no idea if it applied to ALL foreign cars at that time.

Wonder why they never built a Brat off the '85-'94 Box generations. Probably wouldn't have as been as collectible, though.

Neat, interesting fix!