When you’re restoring a car, you need parts, and sometimes you buy a parts car to strip it down. You can even sell the extra parts to pay for part of the cost of your restoration, but only if you strip it down completely.
But what do you need to do to strip a car down completely?
Auto YouTuber ChrisFix goes through the entire process on YouTube, including:
- How to safely work on the vehicle
- What tools work best
- How to systematically remove all parts
- What to do with what’s left at the end
If you have questions about how to strip down your parts vehicle, the good news is that ChrisFix has solid answers. In the following article, we’ll discuss how you can get the best results when you’re stripping down a parts car, including a range of professional tips and easy tricks.
Is it Worth Stripping a Parts Car?
Though many home mechanics pick up the parts that they need at a local parts store, in large restoration projects, it can often make more sense to simply purchase another vehicle of the same or a similar year, then remove all of the usable parts to fix your restoration vehicle.
Another way in which a parts car can be a good investment is that you can sell the parts you don’t need to help finance your restoration or put a little extra money into your pocket. However, it can take some time to find the buyers for these parts.
If you have a little extra space in a garage, backyard shed or storage unit, stripping a parts car to be able to sell the spare parts can make it worthwhile. But if your space is at a premium, it may make a lot more sense to find other options.
One of those options, especially if purchasing the parts you need is too expensive, is to strip the parts car of what you need, then sell everything that is left for scrap rather than selling spare parts separately. This may also be an option if time is of the essence.
How to Get the Best Results When Stripping a Car Completely
Prepping the Site
To start, position the parts car to strip off the parts. Put it up on ramps in the front and jack stands in the back, plus the jack itself, to create a firm base. Work systematically, typically from the front of the car to the back.
Make sure that you’ve got tools on hand, especially an impact driver and a range of sockets, to make the process go quickly. Remove the hood with a partner, as it will get in the way of everything you want to reach under the hood.
Exterior Parts Removal
Next, remove the front bumper and headlights to make it easier to work, followed by the fender wells to access the side skirting underneath the doors. Once those are removed, the front fender can be unbolted and the doors may be removed.
Support the door when removing the last bolt and unhook any electrical connectors so that the door doesn’t fall and become damaged. Continue working toward the back of the vehicle, including removing the trunk lid, rear fenders and rear bumper.
If the vehicle has been damaged and the trunk won’t release, remove the rear seats, so you can access the emergency release inside the trunk. In vehicles where the rear seats don’t fold down, removing the seat bottom lets you flip up the seat back, allowing you to reach the release cable.
Unbolt the trunk lid and rear fender, then pull the spare tire, jack, lug wrench, weatherstripping if in good shape, any electronic components or sensors, and the plastic foam that holds these items. Don’t forget the rear bumper and crash bar, which are in high demand because of accidents.
Engine Compartment Parts Removal
Engine parts often see high demand, even when they’re just used rather than rebuilt, so remove as much as possible. Hoses can be difficult to deal with, so it’s often worthwhile to borrow or buy a pair of hose clamp pliers.
If a part is difficult to access, ignore it, along with any failed parts mentioned when you purchased the vehicle. Once you’re done in the engine compartment, locate your tools to make sure you don’t forget any in the vehicle when you send it to the scrap yard.
Interior Parts Removal
Now it’s time to move to the interior. To preserve the appearance of interior parts, change out your gloves to a clean set of nitrile gloves. Pull the weatherstripping if it’s in good condition, the seats, and, if it’s a high-end vehicle, the floor mats.
For pulling interior components, get a pair of panel-clip tools and cover the tip with electrical tape to prevent scratches. Removing a few screws or bolts will free up the center console. The carpet and headliner can also be removed. Side airbags and sunroof components finish up the interior.
Underside Parts Removal, Scrap Removal and Parts Storage
Move underneath to remove the drivetrain and exhaust system. Catalytic converters can be high-dollar items. Keep the parts organized for easy access. Once you’re done, have the vehicle towed away.
Search for “scrap car removal,” call a local company, answer a few questions, and a tow truck will come for the vehicle, paying you a check for the estimated scrap value minus the cost of towing.
When you’re putting the replacement parts into your original vehicle, mark bolts that you’ve already torqued to spec with paint. In one case, after the scrap and parts were priced out, the parts vehicle made $3,181 in addition to the approximately $1,000 in parts that went into the original vehicle.
What Your Vehicle Needs
Getting your car’s restoration done and on the road isn’t just about getting parts. It’s also about proper maintenance and cleaning to ensure you have less need for replacement parts. If you want to discover everything you need to understand about your vehicle, see what Vehicle History has to offer.
