Hey, guys!

I’ve briefly introduced myself before, but it’s been a couple months since I was last active on this forum.

I’ve finally gotten around, or am getting around to removing the damaged front end pieces of my 02 Monte Carlo. In any other circumstance, I probably would try to sell the car off or just bring it to a junkyard, but the 3.8 from what I’ve heard is a great engine that has incredible longevity.

Here’s what I’ve done so far:


The hood is taken off, and a majority of the bumper and side fender screws have been removed.

I’m coming on to ask for tips on how to remove the screw that connects the side fender and the bumper. All my attempts right now have been with the car not lifted. Next time I go at it I’ll probably lift the car if I can’t manage to get in the spot where I need to. Or I’ll try turning my wheel to give more room to work.

I’m hoping to go to a pick and pull within the next week or two. It’ll be my first time at a pick and pull, I’m a little bit nervous so if anyone has any tips, what to bring (I’ll be hopefully grabbing some pretty big stuff: hood, bumper, side fender).

I have literally no experience with cars whatsoever. So this is all a learning experience and any tips (no matter how obvious they may seem) are helpful to me! Also, thank you to everyone who responded to my first post and gave me advice and provided insight!

This is the damage the deer did to my car.

 

Make sure you read their rules before you go. Some of these places are super picky - here's a few I've seen before, several have caught me off guard/ had to go home:
-No sandals / must be closed toe shoes
-Must wear long pants
-No firearms
-No torches / grinders / jacks
-No one under 16 (in case you were planning to bring a son / nephew / sibling for company)


Also, make sure you bring all the tools you may need. Some junkyards offer loaner sets, but it's going to be the cheapest, dirtiest junk you can find (and still is probably missing the 10mm). They will always inspect your tools box / tool bag on entry and exit.

Also, for reference, the bathroom is anywhere in the Ford section (joking obviously).

 

Bumpin is right about checking the rules. I got to Pull-A-Part and something that catches people off guard who never went is that they need to pay a $1 to get in the yard. Yep, a cover charge. But this ensures they inspect your tool bag going in and out of the yard and that they can get you to agree to rules and policies. Overall, there rules are pretty simple and no big deal (a couple Bumpin mentioned). If where you are going has a website, check what they have to say there.

Next.... I have a general tool bag. I try to travel "light". Rarely have I used a wheel barrow (aka a junk yard shopping cart). Or Pull-A-Part rents golf carts these days. I like my bag to have most tools I need for the cars I am hitting. So I do NOT have complete socket sets. I have custom rails of sockets that have a few average sizes, the ones I feel I am most likely to need (both deep and shallow). A few extensions, a good ratchet, couple of screw drives and small hammer. This bag has served me well for years. OH and all the tools are Harbor Freight so if I loose anything it was a cheap loss. I have yet to break a tool but I did forget one of my extensions before and had to buy a new one. I don't usually have wrenches in the bag and once in a while I found I needed one. I also have in my trunk a socket set (just in case I am in the yard and find I need a socket I did not bring, sure I can ask someone if they have one I can borrow but best not to expect that). And depending on the stuff I am after, I may have other tools in the car (I may opt not to bring them in as I am usually after multiple things and the item requiring those other tools may not be likely to find).

Best thing to do is if you know enough about what you are after, line up the right tools and make sure they are in your bag. If you just removed the part on your car at home, then you know what you need at absolute minimum.

I prefer NOT to rely on others to borrow a tool to do a job I came in to do, but I find people genuinely nice. The few times I had to ask, other customers were happy to help. And I have been asked and loaned a tool to others before and they always returned it. I think in general, most of the people in these yards are trying to all save a dollar and in general are happy to get a win for themselves and don't mind getting a win for someone else. Heck, I helped some young kids get a window glass (all they brought was a screw driver, they were very ill prepared). I knew the car well enough it was 5 minutes of my time and they were very grateful.