Editing How to find cheap parts (section)
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==Head for the junkyard== Many parts can be purchased for pennies on the dollar at the local recycling yard. Not only does it save you money, but it saves another part from being manufactured new. Why buy a new wheel when there are 500 of them in the junkyard that just need a rattle can paint job? Some geographic areas are more conducive to salvage yard operations and others just are a little lean. Some places it's not much of a savings, while others are fun, inexpensive, and still operate on the good-ol-boy mentality. Wheels, axles, differentials, body parts, electronics, driveshafts, transmissions, gas tanks, hardware, and glass are things that are commonly available at junkyards. Many used engines and driveline pieces that they sell as running replacements are still in cars where they can be tested, driven, and heard running before you plop down the cash. Some even offer a 30-day warranty. Another thing you might pleasantly find at junkyards is that the cost of buying a larger part can save you money. If you need a set of heads, chances are it's only a few dollars more to buy the whole engine. Then you have extra parts you can keep or sell to offset the cost. Save your pennies, save the environment. You can also often find great freebies at auto repair shops. While it's not often acceptable to use worn-out parts, some customers want their tires replaced even though there is still good tread on the old ones, or new shocks because the ones they put on last month are too stiff. You'd be surprised what gets tossed. If you make a relationship with the shop manager or owner, chances are they'll be very happy that you are carting off their trash because it saves on disposal costs. Larger dealership service departments are great for this. Most of the replacement parts that the manufacturer covers under warranty get sent back to the source for testing or proof that it was failing, but some less-specific parts like axles, engines, gas tanks, transmissions, and electronic parts don't get sent back. Most of this bonepile gets picked through by the techs in the shop, but many times there are very large piles of neat stuff. Make a friend in the department, and have fun digging.
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