THE JUNKYARD CIRCLE OF LIFE

Though the notion is strange to my non–car-enthusiast friends, HOT ROD readers will appreciate this—I like to go to junkyards, whether or not I’m actually looking for a specific part.

- John McGann

There are a number of reasons why. First, it’s a good way to spend a couple hours on a weekend. Second, walking the aisles in a big junkyard is pretty good exercise, though I don’t suspect any fitness gurus will be making any workout videos in this particular setting. Third, and the main reason why I like going, is that you never know what you’ll find there.

Yes, the self-service junkyards can be a great learning experience. Seeing cars in various states of disassembly, laid bare in front of you, shows the inner workings of all kinds of systems, from relatively complex overhead cam drive and actuation assemblies, to four-wheel and all-wheel-drive systems, hydraulic line routing, fluid coolers, seat heaters, and lighting groups. It’s cool when you come across something especially interesting like the mechanical four-wheel steering system in a late-80’s Honda Prelude Si; or a GMC pickup with Quadrasteer, GM’s electronically controlled version available on 2002-2005 pickups.