A rookie question:

How do you go about finding a junkyard with a TH2004R? Do you pull it yourself? How hard is it to pull? Do you take your own jack and stands?

at least around here, most recycling yards pull em and shelve em, you just ask at the counter.

Same way everyplace I have ever been. Cars with usable engines and trannies usually have them pulled when the car arrives. If you happened to find one still in a car out in the yard, the yard would take their hoist, front end loader, whatever, and pull the engine and trans out.

I have been in a lot of junkyards all over the US in the last 20 years, and I can't think of a single one I'd lay on the ground in. Too much broken glass, rusted metal, vegetation, and 'biological hazards' (snakes, etc).

Hopefully you have some 'Pick-N-Pull'/Pick-A-Part'/'Pull- your-own-parts' type places arond your area (locals feel free to chime-in with specifics!).
These are my favorite places to find "organ donors" for upgrades :thumbsup:
If you promise not to tell anyone I will give you my double-super-secret-200 4R-donor-cheat-sheet...
Donor cars for 200-4R
Make Model Years
Olds 88&98* 81~90
Olds Cutlass 83~87
Olds “442’s” 85~87**
Pont. Grand Prix 84~87
Chevy Malibu 84~87
Chevy Monte Carlo 84~86
Chevy Impala* 85~90

* = Full Size/Wagons
** = Performance shift points & mods.
There - that should help you alittle...

Yes - I like to "pull my own" (that didn't come out right :confused: ) transmissions... Then I not only get to see the overall condition of the car to see if it may be a good 'donor' but, I can get ALL the parts from the car I will need to install it - including, but not limited to;
-the Trans (of course)
-the linkages - Including the TV Cable, the Carb. Mount and every stinking piece I can find and unbolt, including any on the car(s) next to it that even look remoutely interesting... you never know, and the yard will not cahnrge me anymore if I 'bundle' everything together so it looks like it all goes to the trans anyway... (note - they once told me they just throw this stuff away anyway - I hate to see mechanical things thrown away...)
-the Yoke - I usually just saw the driveshaft off if its still there - or you can take a large "swing-press" (hammer...) with you and beat the u-joint out, if the driveshaft is laying on the ground already, and then take the yoke...I tape it into the back of the trans to keep the fluids (if any still remain) from draining out in your car/truck...
- the Flexplate/Convertor - get both anyway, even if you need a new one for your set-up. You should buy and use NEW bolts for the flexplate when you install.
- the Crossmember/Mounts - if they will unbolt with the unit I take them home...
- the cooling lines - I usually have to replace/remake new ones - but, I have use some salvaged ones and I at least have and know the fitting sizes used...
- the electrical wiring and connectors - I follow the wiring clear back to the firewall connector if possible and cut it off just past the connector - then I have all the right stuff to reconnect later...
- every damm bolt within ten feet of the 'donor car'... they may be needed... someday...

They are really pretty easy to pull if you have the tools - complete SAE & Metric 3/8" set with a couple 'loooooong' extensions to help get the upper bolts. A set of end wrenches and a couple screwdrivers for loosening clamps and prying things apart...and a hammer...
Having a friend (e.g.=anyone you can trick into going with you with the offer of a few beers or a burger "when we're done"...) to help you, will negate having to have any kind of "jack" with you - or you can just loosen it up and drop it down onto a tire or ____? (insert something softer than the area below car here...) by yourself - it usually works for me this way as most my friends are 'on-to-me' and my son always seems to be "busy" that day... The cars are self-levitating (some one/thing is already holding them in the air...) at most these places, so you don't need to worry about jacking them up and keeping them in the air for your work.
A Bigggggg Hammer is also usually a good thing to have with you....or did I already say that?

I would suggest you just go to your local place and walk through to get "the-lay-of-the-land" anyway - even if you don't go to get parts that day - it will give you a good idea of what is going on and you can watch others beat on the cars for awhile - cheap entertainment...

As always - JMHO's;
John

that brings back fond memories... John. Been awhile since IK been "boneyard pickin" but it sure is fun. The last time I was in a yard, I got to watch "the professionals" pulling engines and tranny's. They use 2 tools. A large front end loader, and a cutting torch.

I took my 2004r out of an 87 pont. grand prix at one of the "ecology" yards here in San Diego. Since i was by myself, after i had the trans loose i found 2 inflated tires and put them under the pan and pulled the trans back onto them and then back onto one tire then to the ground and out from under the car. As previously posted, get everything you can. Man you sure can get creative when you have to.

Tom