Unicorn Parts

[Brain75]

So I went to the junkyard for my own needs today, and having browsed the forums here for a week or 2 since my last travel discovered that there are more than a few folks hunting for "unicorn parts" one of em was the guy looking for a pitman arm from a 1st gen manual steering box. I had a hunch there was one on the 83 4x4 with dual gas tanks and was right.... Anyhow, looking under there I saw there was both tanks, and basically the truck is completely intact other than the bumper+radiator+hood (yanked off to get to the motor) and the motor (gone)... This has me pondering, I know there are several somewhat kinda rare rangers or with rare setups in the yard I frequent the most.
I'm too lazy to reach out to all these guys who posted "wanted" listings and haven't been back in months, but I will ask to the general audience here - anyone holding out for a unicorn part mind posting what you need and I will see if it is in my yard next go. (I have basically already made up my mind to go grab a 2nd gen steering column with tilt and cruise, and there are 2 of those in the yard right now.)

Edit: I'm not out to become a re-seller and make money, and I don't think it will be worth the lower price for me to ship common stuff, this is the stuff you can't get anywhere it seems.... That said, here's the yard's price list, I'll let you guess shipping yourself and then decide if you want a guy to even look

U-Pull-It Price List – Atwood Auto and Metal

www.atwoodautoandmetal.com

As far as shipping goes, all small shipping (USPS/UPS/Fedex) will be from 80751 (Sterling CO), and all large shipping would probably be from either Fastenal (also Sterling CO 80751 store code COSTR )using their "blue lane" service which would be cheapest and slowest or DHL/Yellow/etc from 80751.

As far as ordering and backing out or pulling parts on spec, I have no room to store anything, so it will all need to be "ordered" with a for sure absolute yes and then sent to its new home asap. I don't even have all my crap with me (it's in a storage facility in texas), much less room for "other people's crap" .

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Just so people are aware… shipping costs these days can get pretty stupid pretty quick.

That said…

I’m currently after a D-35 front diff assembly with 4.10 or 4.56 gears (or just the ring and pinion but I really don’t want to mess with gears). A set of 4.88 would be really nice but those weren’t a factory option.

 

[Brain75]

D35's also came on Jeeps.... you happen to know if the bolt pattern is the same? Did they offer em with 4.88 in the jeep land? I didn't even glance at the chevy or dodge sections the last 2 times I was there, but if I am lookin I might as well look in all the right places.

 

[Shran]

Wouldn't mind having a spare 4x4 C5 transmission... basically 83-84 V6 trucks only. Not worth shipping it though. Here's some other things to look for, I don't need them but they're in demand:

Rear gas tanks in good shape - very hard to find... not really unicorn, just not available new.
1354 manual shift transfer cases with the shift linkage
Front & rear tube bumpers from 1st or 2nd gen
1350 fixed front yoke t-case - manual shift
1st/early 2nd gen STX High Rider lift parts - drop brackets, coils, pitman arm, rear leafs, sway bars
93/94 door panels in good shape - these are almost always broken
1st gen Explorer front door panels in good shape
4.0 intake tubes that aren't ripped

D35's also came on Jeeps.... you happen to know if the bolt pattern is the same? Did they offer em with 4.88 in the jeep land? I didn't even glance at the chevy or dodge sections the last 2 times I was there, but if I am lookin I might as well look in all the right places.

It's not, Jeep D35 gears are useless to us.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

First gen longbed fuel tank skidplate.

 

[Brain75]

Problem with your list is that none of the yards left (the epa killed most all of em) are low low rotation, unless you are making a solid order. The 3 I have mentioned before in a few threads are all owned by a big mega corp and they have personalities sure, but they still "move the meat"...
So keeping an eye out will only really play if I have active orders for something and definite "I want it" calls.
I mentioned these yards to a fellow Coloradoan looking for something so unless you read that thread you don't know of em so here they are.
Atwood Auto and Metal- Basically Sterling CO
Andersons Salvage - East side of Greeley CO
Iron Ridge Auto and Metal (formerly Martin's Supply) - Basically 10 miles west of Greeley CO.

All 3 use the same price list, just Atwood tends to wave their hands at little stuff, Andersons is a little hand wavy and Iron Ridge counts every single sensor and pigtail... So for example they all wants $35 for a "steering column" - well Atwood I can leave the wheel, multi switch, lock cylinder all of it attached and walk out for $35, at Iron Ridge that would be a fortune.
I'm going back in the next few days for this gem:

My multifunction switch is acting up and if I am spending $16 for just the switch and I want tilt steering, might as well get everything for $35 (note it even has a key in it - yes it turns it is the right key).

Atwood is pretty much the only junkyard from Ft Morgan north and east to the state lines and beyond a ways, so they end up with all the local vehicles around.
- they only crush the same number out as what comes in.
Andersons is kinda the same thing - their vehicles all have northeast CO plates on em as well.
- they only crush the same number out as what comes in.
Iron Ridge Auto and Metal is less than 15 miles from I25 and is the "money maker" for the mega corp.
- they get "junked" vehicles from all over the country (lots of flooded stuff from hurricaine areas), and they crush what looks like 1/5 their inventory a week, stuff flies in and out of there.

So I can tell you for example, there is no STX or FX level anything in the 2 yards closest to me (Atwood and Andersons) and there is little chance I will ever see one in those yards.

By the time I notify someone there is an STX in Iron mountain and they decide yes they want it and yes they want to pay that much it is gone.

I got bit in the ass just yesterday... You know that Speed Sensor I said I knew where it was in the yard.... well here is a picture of that truck:

Whole first row gone, they had to have gotten 20-30 Fords in (they only replace Fords with Fords) since I spotted it and decided it would be a backup if the weird pigtail didn't work - I took some pictures of how it was all plumbed on 11.14. So about 2 weeks to get that kind of rotation. I actually went yesterday just to get that speed sensor since I knew better than to wait to long.


On your list I can tell ya from memory on some of these:
Rear gas tanks in good shape - very hard to find... not really unicorn, just not available new.
-83 with the pitman arm in the other WTB thread, it has both tanks and fuel lines and everything looks intact EVEN the tanks - it came into the yard before they started destroying tanks with the jaws of life (no selector switch in the cab though)
1354 manual shift transfer cases with the shift linkage
- easy find, I bet there are 2 or 3 in Atwood now
Front & rear tube bumpers from 1st or 2nd gen
- none at the moment
1350 fixed front yoke t-case - manual shift
- probably have one, I am not gonna swear to it though
1st/early 2nd gen STX High Rider lift parts - drop brackets, coils, pitman arm, rear leafs, sway bars
- no dice, no STX in the yard
93/94 door panels in good shape - these are almost always broken
- definitely for sure, they have more 3rd gen than 1st or 2nd, tan absolutely on a '93 I saw, but again get to em quick before someone destroys em to get to the speakers...
1st gen Explorer front door panels in good shape
- definite for sure
4.0 intake tubes that aren't ripped
- no dice, no 4th gens in the close yard and not so many 4.0s in the 3rd gen most are 2.9 or had the intake taken already

 

[Brain75]

Not much chance of a gas tank skid plate, they yank it off with some power tool (destructively) to get to the tank then pierce the tank with jaws of life to get the gas out before it goes to the yard.. EPA rules: no gas, no oil, no environmentally unfriendly fluids in the yard. No mercury switches under the hood either.

 

[Brain75]

Another side point, I am not actively trying to add more stuff to someone's pile who has way too much stuff already (Shran). I don't want to tempt people into collecting a bunch of stuff they "maybe might" need. I was really setting out to get the unicorns, since I am pretty sure I can capture some of those with my little slice of heaven.

 

[Shran]

I'll have too much stuff after I finish collecting just a little more.

Grab those manual t-cases & shifters if you can, I have plenty but people on here are ALWAYS looking for them. You can sell them quick.

Dana 35's with 4.10 gears are good - check door tags on every 89-97. 89-92's that have a 4 cylinder and are 4x4 are somewhat more likely to have them. Newer than that, probably need a V6 truck, 4 cylinder trucks have those stupid hybrid front axles.

95-01 Explorers that have 4.10 rear axles & disc brakes are actually pretty common and if there's not something major wrong with the axle, there is demand for them as well.

 

[Brain75]

Just to be clear, I am not living in the country with 40 acres and a place to store anything... whatever is ordered has got to be sold before I pull it kinda thing (will update post #1 with fact this too) ... I've updated #1 with some shipping info as well.. I'm ok with taking payment after I pull it (at least till I get burnt once)... but I have no place to store prospectus stuff and not gonna be doing anything "on spec" (ulation).

 

[captndiet]

Brain75

I was looking for the 83-88 2wd Manual pitman arm.

The 4wd pitman arm is different.

I sourced a new manual steering box and a new pitman arm that is correct with the exception of the drag link taper needs to be sunk a little deeper.

Hopefully can find my tapered reamer and verify this combo.

Jeff

 

[Brain75]

I missed the 2wd, even though it is right there in the title of your thread... sorry bout that. I don't know if any of the 1st gens are 2wd in that yard, but looks like you worked out literally the same day as I took those 1st measurements anyhow.

 

[MaD]

If you come across an 89 extended cab can you let me know? The main things are interior like the dashboard, seats, trim, etc. A gas tank is definitely something I'm 100% interested in. This place is 14 hours from me, I'd def be down to drive there if there's enough things on it. Wiring too, I don't need it now but would like to buy extra harnesses to have. Thanks bro.

 

[Brain75]

There are 2 that I know of, one was the donor who gave me my "new" front bumper, stone guard, etc - all the front end to fix my P.O. collision damage - that one recently got converted to a convertible, someone must have wanted the roof. the 2nd one I can't remember all the details, but it was rougher originally on the front end.

I have pix of it after I took the bumper, and its stock number (I call and ask "is stock number BLAH still in the yard?" before I drive an hour one way...)

I think the original color was either crystal blue or red and it has been primered grey - the interior was red if I remember right.

Whoever took the roof also took both doors and the seats, the interior was pristine but ugly red - at least before the roof got chopped and it started snowing.


As mentioned the gas tank is basically a no chance in hell with any junkyard now and the EPA - the ONE and only one that might be a good set in Atwood is the 1st gen with 7' bed and dual tanks, it came into the yard before the gorilla processing started. That one has the most rust of any of the trucks in the yard (worse than the 50's and 40's) - a tiny little bit at the top of the wheel wells, nothing typical though behind wheel wells, tailgate, etc and the tanks have surface but otherwise look good.

 

[Brain75]

I don't think you want a harness from an AZ or CO truck, everything is brittle as glass... No rust, but 30 year old plastic and rubber components are shot or disintegrate when you touch em... you want a harness from a rust belt truck