What should be removed from scrap cars?

ok guys advice wanted. I have 4 car's will be scrapping this weekend they are all original GMC parts from factory I have a 95 1/2 ton Suburban, 1991 Caprice, 1979 Monte Carlo and a 1984 Olds 98

Is there anything I should remove of seperate value as scrap BEFORE taking them all 4 to the scrap yard?



Thanks Bunches,

Connie C

Maybe this'll help;
http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/vehic...-crushing.html


Or maybe some other hints here;
http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/vehicle-recycling/

Below is what I remove from most of the vehicles I crush them:


Catalytic Converter(s), alternator, starter, radiator, battery, mercury switches (required by law but also cause im a member of End of Life Vehicle Solutions), AC Compressor, condenser, battery cables to be stripped for bare bright, aluminum rims (if equipped) as much of the under hood wiring harness as I can get for insulated wire, any usable parts, and all fluids.


Some scrap yards also require the gas tank removed so its best to find out first.

But above the link mechanic listed at the top has what other scrappers also remove, some remove more, some less just depends on the yard requirements, local and state laws, and if you have the time. The older cars usually have the best chance of selling parts on eBay or craigslist since parts are getting harder to find every year.

If their a popular car you might want to pop the fender badges off for Craigslist or Ebay.

Thanks guys I really didn't know my daddy and son was always taking them WHOLE not stripping nothing I knew they had to be things that you could scrap seprately as I already knew car's have wiring harnesses. What about spark plug wires? Do they have copper?

Usually the spark plug wires are not worth it due to more insulation then anything. On the Suburban if its a 350 usually you can also resell the intake manifold for more then scrap. You might also want to remove any easy to remove aluminum on the engines such as brackets, manifold if it cant be resold, etc...

Originally Posted by farrarrecycling

mercury switches (required by law

What law might that be?

Most of the laws can be found on epa.gov, searching state laws, and through elvsoultions.org here in Maine and in Mass most yards allow mercury since they get paid for each switch but most states dont want to deal with it due to environmental laws, etc... and only a few states pay for mercury switches either through a state program, or through putting it in there laws. I know most states dont allow any vehicle to be dismantled into the mercury has been removed to help prevent the bullet from being damaged or releasing the mercury in vehicles 2003 and older that have mercury switches (getting rarer with each year reason the EPA wants to end the program in 2017). But for the scrappers who remove the switches most junkyards will accept them at no cost if they know the year, make, model it came from so they can mark it in there records and place the switch(es) in there collection bucket for ELVS.

Some local laws are even more strict depending on area.

Originally Posted by KzScrapper

News to me...knock on wood. Never been an issue here...still knocking.

Nope never been an issue in NC either

Originally Posted by farrarrecycling

On the Suburban if its a 350 usually you can also resell the intake manifold for more then scrap.

Suburban's motor I took out and set it in my 99 suburban of which is one of our scrapping vehicles we use with a lowboy if need be..:-)

Check out core buyers.
Its all about what your time is worth to you.
I list every vehicle I get as a parts vehicle, on cl, for at least a week. They remove parts.
There is no wrong way.
Plenty of info on this in old threads.

i say use the search button.