This will probably make some of you sick, but today I decided to haul my 99 Dodge van to salvage. The tranny blew up awhile back...engine was good.
I had previously removed the new battery. The gas tank was full as I remembered so I tried to siphon the gas today. Ended up with a mouth full but got about 6 gallon and then lost the prime. So I tried another method of pumping air into the tank through a second hose with the air compressor. That didn't work either so the rest of the gas went on the ground as I was getting pushed for time to get to the yard.
I tipped the van over with my skidsteer and ripped the cat out slicker'n a whistle, twisted the extending tailpipe off and threw it all in the truck. I never even consider stripping down a motor or tranny as I'm behind on iron hauling anyhow. Left the wiring in there; looked at the alternator that was hiding back behind something or other and left it as well.
When I got to the yard, it was closed due to the weather (snow and wind), but I called the office and must have some clout built up because they said to come on in. A haggared looking bearded man with few teeth and coveralls (probably an iron scrapper...LOL) walked around the van at the gate and said he needed some wheels and tires for his Dodge van. The payloader came with the forks and lifted the van off the trailer through the windows and I used my onboard generator and impact to remove 2 wheels/tires for him. I quoted him $40 for both and he agreed, then asked if I'd take $30. Of course I will and when he went to pay me, he only had $25 cash so I took that and wished him a good day. (I'm a pushover) and he looked like he needed a break in life. He'd bought a 2000 Dodge van from that same yard for $600 he said and the tranny was supposed to be shot but he'd already put 30,000 miles on it since he bought it.
I'd already weighed back empty before selling the wheels to the man so I took my $25 and laid it on the counter and told the scaleguy to take what he wanted. They refused to take anything so I threw $10 on the counter and told them to enjoy whatever they wanted. I guess I'd already lost money on the van by not selling it a week ago before the price dropped by $25 a ton. It all averages out...win some loose some, but I don't have time to strip a vehicle. Ended up with $285 from the yard, $15 from the toothless one, still have the cat, the battery, 6 gallons of gas and an odd taste in my mouth, but the wife is happy it's out of the farmyard !!!
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