A friend of mine called me today to tell me he's finally junking his 1985 245 with 205k. A complete rust bucket, but still runs well. I pulled some things from it that I needed for my 1990 with 242k, but I was wondering what I should grab while I have the chance. I don't have room for the entire car although I wish I did. So... any advice on what I should pull and store for insurance? Are there certain things that notoriously fail which would be compatable? (i.e. window motors, tailgate pistons, wiper motor, etc. Thanks.

In addition to what's already been posted, grab the transmission if it's the same type you have, with driveshaft and crossmember. If the engine or head's the same, grab those as well. How's the exhaust and the catalytic convertor? If the tailgate's still good and you're in a rustprone area, grab that as well. The bottom edges are notorious for rusting.

And to reitterate what's already been said, grab everything electronic. Switches, relays, fuseholders, window motors, doorlocks, alternator, starter, the engine sensors and computer if compatible with your car (heck, grab'em anyway, you might acquire another car or help someone else, they don't take much space), all lights and lenses, instrument cluster, distributor, coil, ....

Bram

Chris -

It's hard to know when to stop, isn't it? Take all the fuses and relays, especially the o/d relay and fuel system relays. Check the seats by looking underneath from the front and from the back. If you often have the wish to have the passenger seat adjust its height and base tilt the same as the driver's seat, take the driver's seat or at least the adjustment rack. The seat comes out easy, and the rack comes off easy, and it'll fit the PS seat fine.

If the bottom pad PS side is better that your DS bottom pad, take it. The front seats (and rear in same body style) are interchangeable, but the front headrests are not.

Take the cigarette lighter and the black square covers and all the little covers fron the center control panel. With the cigarette lighter and a spare black square cover you can make an easy spot to plug in a low-power accessory, like a cell phone charger or a radar detector.

Is the trim color the same? Take the carpets, they interchange like the seats do. Then you can get one set super-clean at the U-Spray-It car wash (I got undercoating off a carpet with that) and swap out when needed. Oh, get any door pockets that are good or repairable or black. The black must have different chemical make-up as they are a lot harder to break.

Take the switches that control the dome lights. Take the cargo door wiring harnesses that go thru the hinges, assuming that you have a 245.

Jack and handle? The plastic thingies that hold in the grille. The 25amp fuse holder unless it's really shot. Pull the instrument cluster and take all the lights off the back. If it has a tach and you don't, take that.

Take the dome lights, they are stronger and illuminate better that the stock sedan units - and there's a way to get them to fit. If yo have a 245, sell the dome lights on eBay.

Other's will have more ideas.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

Just take what you can get!

Alternator, wiper motor, tailgate struts (for sure, if they work), taillights, etc.

But also take all the instrument lights (you'll use those eventually), the switches from the interior (window, console, etc), and whatever else you can find with respect to electronics. Just take everything.

Snag the dash plastic plugs in the center console area. Take the dome light assembly, the visor clips, and all those stupid parts that you think you will never need. Becaus when you do need them, you'll be really happy to already have them.