A car with its windshield completely busted out shows a black hole where the engine once was. Surrounding the hole are a jumble of hoses, wires, the shining intake manifold and two bent fenders.

Oscar, who doesn't want to give his last name, has been operating on a car's door.

"Some people say that coming to a wrecking yard and working on cars is good practice," he says. He doesn't want to purchase something. He just wants to know how to take things apart so he can get experience that could help him land a job with a car shop.

Efren Dominguez and Juan Cruses, wearing yellow helmets, are working methodically to remove parts not yet taken from vehicles. Employees of Pick-n-Pull, they are preparing a row of cars for crushing.

"They're pulling off all the cars' alternators and starters, air conditioner compressors" and other items not yet taken, says Jensen.

The cars will go to the auto crusher that the yard maintains, and these last-salvaged parts will be sent elsewhere. Some will be shipped to China. There, firms are famous for refurbishing auto parts and sending them "back out on the world market," he said.

John Bailey has driven from Kemmerer, Wyo., to visit Pick-n-Pull. He is "after some body parts, and I need a hub," he says.

He owns a 1991 GMC Jimmy. He's working on a Blazer, circa 1994-96, but the hubs are about the same.

Bailey's fingers are covered with grease, and he has large dark smudges on his arms. He hunches in the shade, moving socket wrench a bright accent amid the auto grime, and swiftly detaches the hub. He examines it with delight.

"These parts are very expensive," he says, "and you can get them here for little or nothing."

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