Typically, the cost of replacing an engine is more than the car’s worth. This is why it’s better to find an alternative to buying a new engine. The engine price at pull a part usually only goes around $200 to $300 (complete engine), and that’s a lot cheaper than, for instance, a new 4 cylinder engine which costs $4,000 to $5,000. If you are looking to get your engine or any other parts from a pull a part location, read on for a comprehensive guide on how it works, types of common parts you can find and their prices, what you need to bring, etc.
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Engine Price At Pull A Part: Overview
A pick and pull a part lot is like a do-it-yourself auto salvage yard. It usually has hundreds, if not thousands, of used and/or junk vehicles. A consumer usually pays a minimal entry fee to access the lots and then you are allowed to browse among the cars, extract any parts that you want. Before exiting, you will pay for the parts.
What draws people to go to pick and pull lots are the affordable prices of car parts. For instance, the average engine price at pull a part for a complete engine in three different pick and pull locations is $238.66. Here is an example of engine price at pull a part:
- Engine Diesel Complete $343.99
- Engine Diesel Long Block $315.99
- Engine Long Block $189.99
- Engine Short Block $151.99
Generally, the engine price at pull a part ranges between $50 and $500 depending on the configuration. Expect to pay 25 percent less for a short-block engine compared to a long-block engine.
One of the main benefits you can get from going to a pick and pull instead of visiting a conventional mechanic or ordering new parts yourself is getting high-quality used parts for a low cost. This means big cost savings, especially when you are seeking expensive parts like transmissions, suspension components, and engines.
As already mentioned, the engine price at pull a part is a lot more affordable and can save you thousands of dollars. That’s one good reason why these lots are also called pull and save or pick n save lots.
Another advantage in going to these salvage lots is that they rarely get stale. They always obtain salvage vehicles and used cars to add to their inventory regularly. This guarantees that there are a lot of parts available all the time.
On top of that, shopping at a pick and pull lot is sustainable. Managers in this lot recycle, reprocess and remanufacture, promoting a more circular economy and reducing the waste that goes into landfills. Also, they recycle scrap metals from junk vehicles, and work with local governments to enhance environmental sustainability.
Engine Price At Pull A Part: How Pick And Pulls Work
Now that you know how affordable the engine price at pull a part is, you probably are convinced to go there. If this is the first time for you to go this route, it helps to know how they work. You enter the lot. Find the car model and/or parts you want. You pull a part (parts) you want, and pay for the part/s as you exit the lot. To put it simply, just pick a part, pull, and pay.
What Tools Should You Take To A Pick And Pull?
Since it is up to you to find the vehicle models you are interested in and extract the part that you need you will need to bring some tools with you. It is recommended to have the following tools with you in a backpack or something easy to carry around:
- Plier
- Hammer and mallet
- Screwdriver set
- Tin Snips
- Combo wrenches
- Ratchet set
- Allen wrenches
- Pry bar
- Flashlight
- Gloves and eye safety wear
- Jack
- Lubricant
- Cloth or rags
You may also want to leave some bigger tools in your car in case you need them, such as a pipe, a drive socket set and a bigger pry bar. Make sure to have a set of coveralls or work clothes in case you might get dirty when extracting a part. You may also want to have a hat and some sunscreen depending on what season you are visiting since these lots are wide open areas without shade. The affordable engine price at pull a part also means you need to do more effort than going the conventional way of buying a car part.
Will pull apart pull parts for you?
In general, you have to do it yourself. That means you have to know how to remove a tire, disconnect a battery, etc. But for some of the bigger car parts such as an engine block, don’t hesitate to ask for assistance from the lot staff.
Most likely you do not have an engine pulling tool at your disposal, but the salvage yard should. But other than engines, do not expect for a staff to lend a hand when it comes to extracting parts, outside of answering your basic questions about the process.
Here are some tips to help you out in removing some of the more common parts that are obtained from pick and pull lots:
- Tires: Loosen the lug nuts after removing the hubcap. If the vehicle is raised, unscrew the lug nuts completely and remove the tire. After taking the tire off, replace the lug nuts unless you also want to take them.
- Batteries: Find the negative terminal and take off its bolt head. Use pliers to take off the nut and pull the negative cable out and away from the battery. Repeat the process with the positive cable carefully so the cables won’t touch each other. You can cover one cable with a rag to prevent this. Finally, remove the securing bracket and lift the battery out.
- Cylinder heads (pushrod engine): Begin by loosening the screws that hold the rocker cover, then lift it off. Then remove the hardware which keeps the arms and pivot balls so you can remove the pushrods. You should be able to reach the head by removing more nuts and bolts. Remove the cylinder head. The process is the same with an overhead-cam engine, except you’ll also need to remove the timing belt.
How do I know if my junkyard engine is good?
Saving on the engine price at pull a part is useless if the engine is bad. The only way you can know the engine is good is to fire it up. But you cannot do this without removing it first. However, what you can do is to take a few steps to reduce the chance of pulling a blown motor. These can save you from spending hours pulling a junk motor.
- Inspect the engine. Skip engines with missing valve covers or heads. But this should not be significant if you intend to rebuild the motor. Examine the engine for obvious signs of issue like holes in the block and crack.
- If you find a motor that matches your specifications, fit a breaker bar and a socket onto the flywheel nut and turn it over. If the engine refuses to turn, it could be seized so find another one.
- If the engine isn’t drained, check the oil and coolant. If there is oil in the coolant, it is a sign of trouble. But this should not be an issue if you are going to rebuild the engine completely. Also, avoid engines with metal shavings in the oil, as it is likely to have a blown motor.
Engine Price At Pull A Part: How do you pull an engine at pull-a-part?
Pulling an engine might sound a challenging task, but if you know and do the right steps, it can be easy. The exact process may vary between vehicles, but the general steps are the same for all. If you find yourself stuck, go to forums or check YouTube for the specific vehicle before pulling the engine. Here are general steps to pulling an engine at pull-a-part:
- Drain all the fluids out of the engine, starting with the oil then the coolant. Check the oil and coolant to see if there are metal shavings and contamination. It will help you determine if the engine is bad before taking it with you. What’s the use of getting a cheaper engine price at pull a part if you’re not able to use it. You can expect some contamination, especially when the vehicle has been sitting for a long time.
- Get rid of the junk and accessories. If you are going to use the accessories of the engine, make sure not to cut or mangle any wires. If not, just cut everything that attaches to the motor with your wire cutters.
Cut radiator, emissions hoses, and coolant using a hacksaw. Be careful not to cut hazardous or high-pressure systems like fuel lines and AC. Freon and fuel are hazardous and should be handled safely before beginning the swap.
Next is the exhaust system. Be careful when unbolting manifolds because a rusted bolt is easy to break and can get stuck in the engine. In case they don’t come off right away (and removing the manifolds aren’t necessary), you might want to cut the pipes instead of removing the exhaust system. It’s a lot easier to work on stuck parts when the motor is on a stand.
It’s a lot easier to access hard-to-reach areas once the accessories like belts, the AC compressor, and pulleys are removed. But if you want to use any accessories, make sure to carefully disconnect them and do not cut unless needed. But belts and crusty rubber lines should be taken off and replaced.
- Unbolt the engine. For safety, chain up the engine to a hoist. If there are no chains, use old seatbelts. Attach the chain to the hoist points or bolt a hoist plate to the top of the engine. Once the engine is chained up, find the engine mounts and start working on detaching it from the car. Never go underneath the engine until you are a hundred percent sure that it is secure.
Next comes the transmission and bellhousing. If you intend to get the transmission too, secure it with jack stands and start unbolting the mounts and u-joints. In some cases, the engine can be pulled out together with the transmission.
- Now that you have unbolted everything, hoist out the engine slowly and carefully. Carefully lift out the engine. If it is stuck or refuses to separate, slowly lower it and check for any bolts you missed.
You may need to take off the hood, inner fenders or cut something out in case of clearance issues. Be sure to move the engine the right way. Never force to remove a stuck engine.
- Congratulations, you now have the engine out. Be sure to carefully guide it down onto a cart or into the truck’s bed. Do not put your engine inside of a car unless necessary because it will leak oil and other fluids into your car. Also, fumes can be hazardous to the driver. Thus, it is best to use a pickup in taking your engine home.
Use tie-down straps to securely the engine into the vehicle for transportation. Make sure you have figured out how to get the engine out of the truck once you arrive home. Once you are home, lift the engine out carefully and put it on a stand for cleaning and repair.
Engine Price At Pull A Part: Other Costs To Consider
If you are considering to go to a pick and pull lot for an engine, on top of the engine price at pull a part, expect to pay for a small entry fee. The admission rates usually depend on the total number of vehicles a lot has in its inventory. You can expect a smaller pick and pull lot to charge a dollar or two for entry. But for bigger lots with more inventory, expect to pay around 5 dollars to 10 dollars for entry.
The admission fee is usually very affordable in pick and pull lots. The prices they charge for car parts are considerably cheaper just like the engine price at pull a part. For these reasons, it is definitely worth the effort to visit an auto salvage pick and pulls. It may require some effort and may get your hands a little dirty but when you think about how much you can save, especially for engine price at pull a part, the time and energy are well-spent.
What you should also be aware of is that pick and pull lots usually ask you to sign a waiver before entering the lot. This is to ensure they are absolved of any liability in case you injure yourself on the lot premises or while you are removing a part from a vehicle on the lot.