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I ran up the back of a taxi the other night (his fault, my problem apparently), and was hoping I could get some advice on sourcing parts for my 94 L series wagon. I've not much experience fixing cars, but, after a quote of 1300 labour (not including parts), I've decided to give it a go myself. Im looking for a new bonnet, two headlights, bumper, grill, grill lower panel, possible a new radiator, and a left hand indicator. The rest is just straightening things out. Has anyone had to do this before? What would be a good wreckers around melbourne to find parts? Ive got alot of time, just not much money. So, any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Tom

I have got all the parts you need but im in perth:( might be easier and cheaper to buy a complete car or get one with a stuffed engine and swap your engine over. Not sure if they are as cheap there as here tho... gd luck.

Might be an ideal time to source a replacement type roo bar, instead of a new bumper.
Headlights and blinker....Ebay, possibly.
Metal panels, you'll need to visit the local wreckers. Leone parts will fit. (and are strangley cheaper).

wheres elmore??
lol
i can probably get the spare parts here (south aus)

know of several here in brissy with clean front panels and lights.

You are in Melbourne so there are plenty of self service style wreckers you could visit. If you Google 'Pick a Part' it will give you a start (I like Fussel Rd myself) but there are others. if you check for their weekly specials online you could perhaps get the parts cheaply too (over time).

Realistically I think you should look for a car to strip rather than buying individual parts from a wreckers. Plenty of old L Series sedans can be brought 'whole' for not much money (say $400 or so - I have one in my yard at the moment and it is an RX Turbo!). I think this would be a far cheaper option in the long run.

Cheers
Lee

Thanks for the replies so far. Its a pity all those offers are coming from interstate. I'll definately check out pick a part, though. On the weekend. I would buy a second car, but I havnt got the space. Dont reckon I can manage an engine transfer either.
Tom

G'day tom,

There's two pick a part locations - one in kilsyth and Campbellfield. You can look up what's available here.

Then there's Centre Rd Wreckers in Springvale, and Jolly Rogers, Greens Rd Dandenong. Centre Rd usually has an assortment of subi's but their prices are headed up. I haven't been there in almost a year - mainly because I don't need to be pick a parting atm.

Good luck with it. In a stack you'll be surprised how little something needs to move to make other things not line up properly. It can be difficult to move it back to where it needs to be, especially doing it neatly. That said, you can do it yourself but it won't look like new. The radiator lower support panel, if bent is quite difficult to try and straighten out.

On my sister's L - after hitting a tree at about 40km/h, the lower radiator support panel was bent like a banana. It took someone on the brakes, a block of wood, a lifting chain and a two tonne rangie in 1st low pullling 3000rpm to pull it back out to where it should have been. Hopefully yours is not this bad.

Best of luck with it.

Cheers

Bennie

big trees and , ahem, light poles, have been used in the past to pull things back gently with cable puller anbd chains or reverse gear for stuff at the front. Treat distances for taxis as you would with old volvos with a hat on the back shelf in future eh bud.