Buying cars and stripping them off wires

Hello there as you see I am new here, I actually came here to help out my dad who is looking to open up a business but due to his disability and location he needs my help. He has a few ideas and one of them was buying scrap cars, stripping them off parts and wire, strip wires off copper and sell that, and also parts that are still ok to use would be sent abroad for sale and junk sold back to the scrap yard. My question is whether cars at scrap yards have wires in them and whether this idea has been so overused that there is no point in starting and I should tell him to think of something else? I am not experienced with any of this, I'm hoping you could help me and my dad out here, cheers :)

people that are good at maximizing profit strip the wire out of them. I would recommend looking at the car before you buy it. One can tell very quickly if it has been processed for maximum return, usually as simple as popping the hood. I doubt they all have been stripped.

For this I wouldn't buy from the breaker yard, I would look into buying MOT failures that would take to much money to pass MOT. Offer to buy these at a price that you will be able to make money at. I don't know what the scrap prices are there in the UK but I would offer 100-200 quid based on the vehicle and useable parts that are left on it. Breakers are going to do the same thing that you are talking about and if they are going to sell a whole car then they are going to make sure that they make all of their money that they would have made if they parted the car out themselves. When you bring back a shell of a vehicle they will not give you anything close to what you paid for it weather they sell it to you for a set price per vehicle by the lb or by the kilo. Get to know some of the MOT garages in your area let them know that you are looking for MOT failures, that way when they have a customer that has one that didn't pass they can give them your number. Oh and welcome to the forum. hope this helps.

Ive done this before. 2001 Chevy Blazer. Got it on a trade from a car a paid $600 for. If you have the time and a garage, it is definitely worth stripping the wire out. I always take the gas tank, battery, drive shaft, rear axle, engine, trans (if it still works), wire, radio, ECM, air bags, radiator, core support, headlights, and grille. Some times ill offer people to email me with what part they need and ill pick it for them. I got my $600 back and made over $500 more on a truck that didnt run. If you can do the work, go for it

Cheers guys appreciate the help

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lurch

Ive done this before. 2001 Chevy Blazer. Got it on a trade from a car a paid $600 for. If you have the time and a garage, it is definitely worth stripping the wire out. I always take the gas tank, battery, drive shaft, rear axle, engine, trans (if it still works), wire, radio, ECM, air bags, radiator, core support, headlights, and grille. Some times ill offer people to email me with what part they need and ill pick it for them. I got my $600 back and made over $500 more on a truck that didnt run. If you can do the work, go for it

---

Lucky. I barely make 100 bucks per car selling parts. And i gotta wait a month or two to sell enough to make that. I pay based on what I get from the scrap yard. I dont even bother with parts anymore cause nobody buys em in my area.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jord0690

Lucky. I barely make 100 bucks per car selling parts. And i gotta wait a month or two to sell enough to make that. I pay based on what I get from the scrap yard. I dont even bother with parts anymore cause nobody buys em in my area.

---

Thats why i try to get the most popular models. In my area, the Blazer/Jimmy is VERY popular. I see at least 5 a day. Another very popular car is the 96 - 99 and 2000 - 07 Ford Taurus. The transmissions are notorious for breaking down so, if you can find one with a good trans, thats easy money for me. The only problem is finding one that isnt already broke down...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lurch

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jord0690

Lucky. I barely make 100 bucks per car selling parts. And i gotta wait a month or two to sell enough to make that. I pay based on what I get from the scrap yard. I dont even bother with parts anymore cause nobody buys em in my area.

---

Thats why i try to get the most popular models. In my area, the Blazer/Jimmy is VERY popular. I see at least 5 a day. Another very popular car is the 96 - 99 and 2000 - 07 Ford Taurus. The transmissions are notorious for breaking down so, if you can find one with a good trans, thats easy money for me. The only problem is finding one that isnt already broke down...

---

Yeah I find Iv had good luck with F150s and other trucks. A decent condition Dodge Ram is like finding the holy grail. People go nuts over body parts and interior parts. All the 94-2001 (2002 for diesels) are identical body wise and mostly identical interior wise. With the dash and steering wheel being different in earlier models. Yet to come across one. Almost had one but then at the last second as im about to leave "oh ya and no ownership" ....thanks for lettin me know BUD

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jord0690

Yeah I find Iv had good luck with F150s and other trucks. A decent condition Dodge Ram is like finding the holy grail. People go nuts over body parts and interior parts. All the 94-2001 (2002 for diesels) are identical body wise and mostly identical interior wise. With the dash and steering wheel being different in earlier models. Yet to come across one. Almost had one but then at the last second as im about to leave "oh ya and no ownership" ....thanks for lettin me know BUD

---

Thats always fun. The mid 90s F150s and 80s Chevy C series are very popular around here. I actually just picked up a 1986 Chevy C10 for $500 RUNNING. I was thinking about parting it out at first. Im just going to rebuild the engine and use it for scrap. Has one hell of a knock. Sounds like its being beaten with a sledge hammer. Lower end bang. Maybe the mains (i hope)

In nc im trying this same idea. Still at beginning stages.sold few parts on craigslist so try that.if he is a mechanic that helps so he can remove the parts, also offer delivery and installation of parts.im still trying to find sources for the parts that don't sell though like cores, pcm. No luck searching on this site yet. But that's a start for you