Spending the night at Pick N Pull

[charmalu]

I had a close one today, almost had to spend the night in the back seat of some old junker.

I haven`t been to PNP for a while, so Saturday I hit one of the yards, pulled parts off a 83 300D that isn`t in all that bad of shape, got some good window reg and vac door Actuators, looked like new, and a blower motor with the squirl cage looking almost brand new. and a few other odds and ends.

Then I was getting tired, and was late in the afternoon, decided to hit the other yard real quick to see what is there. had 10 min, so made it quick.
Wow, there was a 83 240D, 4-spd, Signal Red, 183k (indicated), no rust anyplace, checked floors, rockers, wheel arches, under the rear wheel trunk area. nothing, nice and clean. no accident damage, except where PNP dinged the right door and fender with the forklift moving it around.
the molding around the doors was nice and shiny, not the usual milky look. had a Berverly Hills sticker on it, so it was well taken care of in it`s early life. Had been an automatic and 4-spd swapped in at some time. did a good job. still had the VCV on the IP.

So Sunday i went back, pulled window regs and Door actuators, pass seat, drivers seat back, three of the inside chrome door pulls. (nice and tight). right door mirror, MB tex off the rear seat, and foam pad off the drivers seat. 2 door panels and the L/R inner door handle. want to put it on the drivers door, always looks like they cheapened out on the handle.

Valentines day on Mon and couldn`t go yesterday, but got an e-mail from PNP for a 2 day sale for people that have the Tracker card. get points with the card and they send a $20 coupon every once in a while after so many points. so this is a 1/3 off, so can`t pass it up.
Rained an inch last night, and was sprinkling this morning, and black clouds didn`t look too inviting for laying under a junker pulling parts. so i finally get out of here at 1pm, and takes about 1 hr to get there.

I have been reading through Funola`s 240d tach thread.
DIY tach for 240D w EGR- easy!
and this being an 83, decide this is one of things I need to remove.

I start off first to remove the peddle assenbly (Clutch/brake). everything comes apart easy enough, except for the top left 13mm nut. (one of the 4 that hold the Brake booster to the peddle assy) Just couldn`t get in to it with swivels etc... the damn MC is in the way, and finally removed it and was a straight shot to it. I really didn`t want to remove it, wanted the practice in case I have to do it to one of our daily Drivers. just don`t want to mess with The MC and have to bleed it if I don`t have to.

I remove the EGR Black Box behind the pass kick panel easy enough. but decide to remove the wiring harness. there is a large plug with all these wires going to where, I don`t know .
so remove the dash and center consoul to expose the wires. there is a large harness that is under the dash below the windshiels, wrapped in this sticky black tape. so I use a razor blade knife cut through all this stuff working my way to the fuse panel, and the grounding points. one wire to the 14 pin cruise control plug, one to the spedo speed sensor, one to to #14 in the fuse panel. then under the hood cut through another harness bundle to remove the black cable from the crank sensor pickup.

glad I use the blue Nitrial gloves, as I had this black sticky goop all over from the tape.
I load up everything on my cart to head out. was getting cold and figured it was about closing time. noticed there wasn`t anyone out in the yard working. get up to the office area, all the wheel barrows are lined up, and the doors are shut, the lights are on and I don`t see any one inside . so I knock on the window and finally a guy comes to the door and said, "we are closed" looks at me like, where did you come from? there were 2 guys and the MGR counting the money.
couldn`t pay for anything, so stacked it in the corner behind some tires in the office area.

The guy said last summer one guy did get locked in and spent the night in a car. but had been drinking, so wasn`t too bad I guess.
but this ain`t summer, and it is cold and rainy, and don`t feel like spending the night in a wet stinky junker all night. another 10 min, and I would have.


Charlie

[jt20]

Well....

I am touched. In fact, you inspired me to paint!

This picture is for you, Charmalu. Happy belated V-day!

[Stretch]

You should have stayed the night - I've been told everything comes to life just after dark...






Wooooooooooooo!

[layback40]

Did they have a couple of junk yard dogs? You may have spent the night stuck up a light pole with the dogs snapping at you !!!

[Stretch]

Originally Posted by layback40

Did they have a couple of junk yard dogs? You may have spent the night stuck up a light pole with the dogs snapping at you !!!

Yeah and then you see on PeachParts the following day someone's posted a new thread called:-

"Gripper keeps my parts safe - what do you do to protect yours?"

[benhogan]

A bunch of fanatics. Ooops, so am I.

If it wasn't for the wife, I would have 10 cars.

[mach0415]

Same here, Ben. Although, I am picking up another 85 SD tomorrow. The wife actually thought it would be a great idea...hmmm...I wonder what I did right so I can plan to reached those ten

[WDBCB20]

Originally Posted by mach0415

picking up another 85 SD tomorrow. The wife actually thought it would be a great idea...

Oh, so you collect them too? Your wife's right.

By the way it's "Der silberne Schlitten" -German grammar is a bit like German engineering: always more complicated than you'd expect given the function it's meant to perform.

[chasinthesun]

You would of been ok ,unless ,you were sleeping in a car next to a big crane with a big magnet swinging from it.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by benhogan

A bunch of fanatics. Ooops, so am I.

If it wasn't for the wife, I would have 10 cars.

I'd buy a car every 10 days or so, if I let myself.

Great story, Charlie! (Charmlu) Love the descirptions of that '83 240D!!!

[SirNik84]

A few years back and the Rancho import yard I was pulling an oil pan, and it seconds before they closed. That yard was cool because all those guys knew me and one of them was a Mercedes guy. They drove around with the bull horn telling people to get out, and I just stayed under the car. The guy came back and saw my feet and asked how long I was gonna be because they were closing. I said less then 5 minuets. He sat there with me and watched me pull it and we talked Mercedes. Then when we got to the doors he had them open them for me. They said the register was closed. The counter lady was upset that I was still there but the other guys thought it was cool. They let me pay cash and take the parts and put the money in the til the next morning. I only had $30 worth of parts.

I miss that yard, those guys were awesome. One time they put out their new t-shirts, I asked how much and the guy didn't tell me, acted like he didn't hear me. Then when I was leaving he asked my size and tossed me a shirt and said "keep it."

They have all new people now, and a new manager, and its business as usual. they don't even care to get to know the people... maybe all the nice ones got fired for being to nice

[Dieselkraut23]

Originally Posted by SirNik84

A few years back and the Rancho import yard I was pulling an oil pan, and it seconds before they closed. That yard was cool because all those guys knew me and one of them was a Mercedes guy. They drove around with the bull horn telling people to get out, and I just stayed under the car. The guy came back and saw my feet and asked how long I was gonna be because they were closing. I said less then 5 minuets. He sat there with me and watched me pull it and we talked Mercedes. Then when we got to the doors he had them open them for me. They said the register was closed. The counter lady was upset that I was still there but the other guys thought it was cool. They let me pay cash and take the parts and put the money in the til the next morning. I only had $30 worth of parts.

I miss that yard, those guys were awesome. One time they put out their new t-shirts, I asked how much and the guy didn't tell me, acted like he didn't hear me. Then when I was leaving he asked my size and tossed me a shirt and said "keep it."

They have all new people now, and a new manager, and its business as usual. they don't even care to get to know the people... maybe all the nice ones got fired for being to nice

Yeah i was with you that guy was Fonzy LOL he was the coolest one that worked there!

[Dieselkraut23]

Hey charlie what yard was it?

[charmalu]

Originally Posted by Dieselkraut23

Hey charlie what yard was it?

North San Jose yard off Commercial.

there is also a 280E, Ivory, no interior, good sheet metal. forgot what year it is. had what looked like a good Servo, pulled it, dang, had a crack up the back side.
Did pull both door mirrors though.

This morning I get out of here about 8am to head over the hill to the SJ PNP, get there just after 9. traffic is all screwed up. was lightly raining when I left, and a little harder on the hill. the State has the large lighted overhead signs they can display messages on. " reduce speed, wet road, foggy etc..." everyone has to slow down to comprehend as to what that means . so it slows traffic down a 1/2 mile or more creating additional traffic problems.

Did see one jeep wrangler with snow on the roof and spare tire, so must have gave them a dusting up on summitt rd/Skyline road area above Saratoga. foot hills east of SJ are all white too.

Rain finally lets up until I get to PNP then picks up it`s tempo. Bite the bullet, get my overalls on, coat, load the tool cart and off I go. retrieve my stash from last night in the office, and head back to the 240. finally get the last wire traced down from last night. a black with pink stripe, runs down to the switch Over valve on the right inner fender. this is for the EGR. then remove the cable with the pick-up sensor going down to the crank pully.

The rain picks up to a down pour, so I jump in a nearby MB with windows and doors to sit it out, I do this 5 or 6 times and finally realize the feeling of cold wet pants and shirt from my leaking coat.. In the mean time two non speaking english guys show up and pull a few parts off the 240. then go down to the 280E. one wants to borrow a flat blade screw driver.

Iam getting a little too wet, and work my way towards the 280. they are trying to remove 2 perfect chrome cowl grills. trying to pry them off, break one. dang I was going to pull those, saw them when I first got there this morning. but figured no one would be pulling them today . that will teach me. so I showed them how to punch out the center pins. at least one was saved.

Don`t see really nice door mirrors often, I decide I better pull the 280`s. then see the perfect Servo, until I get it off and see the crack.

By the time I get to the office, my cheap crappy chinese shoes are leaking and my socks are wet.

So three mirrors, brake clutch assy, 240 instrument cluster, wiring harness, and the rubber piece that directs the heat to the center vents, came to $98. this is with the 1/3rd off.
I really wanted to pull the 4-spd and Fly Wheel also off the 240.

wonder if I e-mail PNP they will give me a Rain Check?

(quote )
You would of been ok ,unless ,you were sleeping in a car next to a big crane with a big magnet swinging from it.

You know, there is a scrap yard right behind PNP. with this huge pile of steel, and a very large crain with this huge magnet.

(quote)
Did they have a couple of junk yard dogs? You may have spent the night stuck up a light pole with the dogs snapping at you !!!

Luckly, I haven`t seen any dogs in the yard, but PNP does have an electrified high voltage fence that will give you a charge.

(quote)
I am touched. In fact, you inspired me to paint!

This picture is for you, Charmalu. Happy belated V-day!


Gee, thanks John. I didn` know you were such an artist. there is a box of chocolates and Roses on the way.


Charlie

[mach0415]

Originally Posted by WDBCB20

Oh, so you collect them too? Your wife's right.

By the way it's "Der silberne Schlitten" -German grammar is a bit like German engineering: always more complicated than you'd expect given the function it's meant to perform.

Thanks for the correction. Internet translators have a slight tendency to suck.