Scrap metal prices are bad, what can you do?

Originally Posted by rustbelt

What all do you take off of a scrap car? Alt, rad, start, battery, catvert, maybe aluminum rims, then whatever from its shred weight, anything else? Im trying to learn how to make a living with scrap vehicles as my bread and butter. But when this thread was made shred steel was down to $40 a ton in missouri. Unless a vehicle is a classic or sought after car I dont want to take parts off and sit on them untill they sell either, but Iim trying to understand how the vehicle guys are still making a living when steel gets that low. How much is made off of the average midsize four door car like say a mid 90s chevy lumina, without selling parts? Any help is much appreciated.

Luminas have more then scrap value for a demo car, gm w body cars, sell for decent money minus rims and cat to guys who build compact demo cars. Tons of cheap cars out there now, I've been buying up running driving, but not driver quality, cars left and right for under $200.