3rd Gen 4Runner Salvage Yard Tips, Photos, Stories, Spotted, Strategies, Finds, % Etc

[SURF RUNNER]

[MENTION=130034]Wakko[/MENTION]

Surf, any good yards near austin?

Honestly it doesn't matter if it is a good salvage yard or not. There might be a fresh, minimally damaged, rust-free 3rd Gen 4Runner at the crappiest yard in Austin - the reputation of the yard really doesn't matter.

Just search out the vehicle you are looking for as far as parts. HollanderParts.com is a great place to start. Many of the vehicles listed at HollanderParts.com include multiple photos. Do a radius search from your zip code. Salvage yards sometimes list fresh vehicles on Craigslist as soon as they get them. The key is to get there before everyone else.

This Sport hood is in Bryan, Texas. For some reason it is listed at HollanderParts.com as a regular hood, not a scoop hood. I tried to buy the scoop insert to resell it. The scoop insert is missing the screen and guide (you can buy these for cheap at your local Toyota dealer), but other than that it is in very good condition. The guy at the salvage yard will only sell the scoop insert with the hood for $100 total. The hood is aftermarket, but this is still a good deal. I'm not going to buy this hood or pick it up for someone, but if someone is close enought to drive here this might be worth getting for $100.

By the way, I found out through trial and error that the easiest way to remove the paint pen marks from various salvage yard parts is with rubbing alcohol. It sounds easy enough, but I tried numerous other solutions before trying rubbing alcohol for the hell of it. It came off so easy with rubbing alcohol that I was shocked.

Here is an OEM green Sport hood in Newark. This vehicle has only been at this particular yard since July 31st.

Newark Motors & Export
241 Avenue P. Newark, NJ [email protected]
973-589-5383

This one also has a very clean interior.

Here is a nice 2000 4WD 4Runner in Indiana that has only been at the yard since August 29th.

135 Auto Parts
2450 Squire Boone Rd. Mauckport, IN 47142
812-732-4352

 

[StreetCreeper]

Not very many 3rd gens hit the PnP type yards around here. I think they sell for too much in the insurance auctions.

I saw a fairly clean black 01 in the yards. This is what the driver's side brake looked like:

And the passenger side? Even worse.

Might be related to the smashed in front? Heh, I can't imagine how someone could keep using the brakes like that for so long. The sound had to be horrible. But think of the money they saved by not fixing it!

​

 

[s20004runner]

If you guys are looking for anything in particular, this yard is 10 minutes from me. I was in there 2 weeks ago and they had 250 Toyota's in there(I asked the guy). They have practically EVERYTHING! If they can't ship it then maybe I can help.

They do have a lot of parts, but they charge a premium. I haven't bought anything from them, but in the car-parts.com, their prices are always on the expensive side.

It's hard to find t4r at junk yards for cheap in socal.

 

[ECT_Gumby]

HollanderParts.com

I did not know about this website, seems like a good one to check from time to time.

The only problem is [MENTION=102813]SURF RUNNER[/MENTION] lives too close and will probably scoop up the good deals before I ever see them lol :dammit:

I did find a guy selling an aftermarket hood w/ scoop new in the box for $95 though. Thinking about going to check it out next week.

 

[GangsterOfLove]

If you guys are looking for anything in particular, this yard is 10 minutes from me. I was in there 2 weeks ago and they had 250 Toyota's in there(I asked the guy). They have practically EVERYTHING! If they can't ship it then maybe I can help.

Just what I have been looking for and close to me.

Is this a yard where you can pull your own parts?

 

[thatoneguygeoff]

No they have everything in the back. You just go up to a counter and tell them what you are looking for. If they don't have it they call around to the other local yards and find it for you! This place is 10 minutes from my house.

 

[MN4runnerman]

I posted some of this in a different thread but left out the official pics of my day and saved them for this thread. This salvage yard had an 02 sport that had been sitting for a couple years. The guy who runs the place said that someone ran the engine without oil in it so its toast, but it had everything that I wanted/needed. We just had to get to it because it was way in the back of his property. We asked if we could drive out and he said not in our truck because he didn't want to replace our tires so he gave us a barely running buick century to drive out in(my dad's in the pic). It had an undamaged sport hood which I've been wanting for my '99. The tailgate was already taken. So I went through it and took things my '99 needed so here's the list:

Sport hood(previously picked up 2 weeks ago)
Fog Lights
Turn signal stalk w/ fog light switch
Cargo cover(previously picked up 2 weeks ago)
AC/heat control module
Full set of lug nuts
front and rear and hatch sport edition floor mats
Decent rubber floor mats
front driver's and passenger's seats
silver Sport trim
center console (which i'm selling)
front skids and gas tank skid

 

[StreetCreeper]

I posted some of this in a different thread but left out the official pics of my day and saved them for this thread. This salvage yard had an 02 sport that had been sitting for a couple years. The guy who runs the place said that someone ran the engine without oil in it so its toast, but it had everything that I wanted/needed. We just had to get to it because it was way in the back of his property. We asked if we could drive out and he said not in our truck because he didn't want to replace our tires so he gave us a barely running buick century to drive out in(my dad's in the pic). We had to go back twice to fit everything. It had an undamaged sport hood which I've been wanting for my '99. The tailgate was already taken. So I went through it and took things my '99 needed so here's the list:

Sport hood(previously picked up 2 weeks ago)
Fog Lights
Turn signal stalk w/ fog light switch
Cargo cover(previously picked up 2 weeks ago)
AC/heat control module
Full set of lug nuts
front and rear and hatch sport edition floor mats
Decent rubber floor mats
front driver's and passenger's seats
silver Sport trim
center console (which i'm selling)
front skids and gas tank skid

That last pic of the two-headed truck reminds me of old CatDog episodes...

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

No they have everything in the back. You just go up to a counter and tell them what you are looking for. If they don't have it they call around to the other local yards and find it for you! This place is 10 minutes from my house.

I just went there the other day to pick up a 5VZ motor for a buddies Tacoma.

While I was there, I drooled upon many parts, until they told me the prices. $200 for a set of 01 tail lights!

Left with the motor ($1200), a pair of 231mm tundra calipers for my friends 97 4Runner ($130), and a set of faded 1st gen tail light lenses for my trailer ($20).

Still paid too much.

 

[Flemster]

Recommend Checking out YotaJims! He has a bunch of 3rd gens, just pulled a mirror and a marker light of a sr5 sport last weekend.

 

[ridefast]

OEM Silver Sport hood for sale in Florida. This 4Runner is "fresh". It has been at the salvage yard for only 30 days.

University Auto Recyclers
709 Massachusetts Ave Pensacola, FL 32505

850-435-2983

WOW
Buy the truck and put a bumper on it!!! Then drive!!!!

 

[MN4runnerman]

That last pic of the two-headed truck reminds me of old CatDog episodes...

That was a great cartoon back when they were enjoyable.

 

[Chuckles89]

I just went there the other day to pick up a 5VZ motor for a buddies Tacoma.

While I was there, I drooled upon many parts, until they told me the prices. $200 for a set of 01 tail lights!

Left with the motor ($1200), a pair of 231mm tundra calipers for my friends 97 4Runner ($130), and a set of faded 1st gen tail light lenses for my trailer ($20).

Still paid too much.

You should've come out here to TN and had a pick of 4 5VZs for $200 each!

 

[xcmtb83]

Did anyone else get out for some treasure hunting this weekend?

A few items ended up following me home, funny how that happens. Those include some '99 rear coils to basically restore my factory ride height on my '96, the updated/newer style steering rack guide, an OEM starter to rebuild and replace my janky sounding aftermarket one with and a full set of the thinner black fender flares. No, they unfortunately are not the coveted front mud guard style. I was too late as the elocker was already gone but the axle housing remained. I considered snagging that too but one already collecting dust in my shop is more than enough.

 

[jb10]

Recommend Checking out YotaJims! He has a bunch of 3rd gens, just pulled a mirror and a marker light of a sr5 sport last weekend.

i've seen/heard of YotaJims. do you pull your own parts there or do they do it for you? the website shows a room full of parts

 

[Flemster]

i've seen/heard of YotaJims. do you pull your own parts there or do they do it for you? the website shows a room full of parts

They have shelves filled with popular parts and a bunch of wrecked cars in front, I pulled all my parts of a silver 3rdgen that was in a head on collision. If don't bring tools they will pull what ever you want for you.

 

[97t4r81]

I picked up a bunch of 02 limited 2wd trim pieces. There is more there, I'm going again tomorrow.

 

[mnkeith]

I posted some of this in a different thread but left out the official pics of my day and saved them for this thread. This salvage yard had an 02 sport that had been sitting for a couple years. The guy who runs the place said that someone ran the engine without oil in it so its toast, but it had everything that I wanted/needed. We just had to get to it because it was way in the back of his property. We asked if we could drive out and he said not in our truck because he didn't want to replace our tires so he gave us a barely running buick century to drive out in(my dad's in the pic). It had an undamaged sport hood which I've been wanting for my '99. The tailgate was already taken. So I went through it and took things my '99 needed so here's the list:

Sport hood(previously picked up 2 weeks ago)
Fog Lights
Turn signal stalk w/ fog light switch
Cargo cover(previously picked up 2 weeks ago)
AC/heat control module
Full set of lug nuts
front and rear and hatch sport edition floor mats
Decent rubber floor mats
front driver's and passenger's seats
silver Sport trim
center console (which i'm selling)
front skids and gas tank skid

Might be interested in that center console. And I'm local. Let me know!

 

[MN4runnerman]

Might be interested in that center console. And I'm local. Let me know!

PM coming your way dude!!!! Also check out the Midwest 3rd gen BS thread

 

[SURF RUNNER]

3rd Gen OEM Red Sport hood w/scoop for sale in San Antonio. As of this post it has only been at the salvage yard for 9 hours. Get this now if you need one. See the thread linked below for more info...

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/sale-t4r-items/210109-fs-3rd-gen-oem-red-sport-hood-w-scoop-san-antonio-tx-%24250.html