Very knowledgeable about my old squarebody. I think you could build just about any truck you wanted from what they have on hand. I even saw some knee knocker doors in really good shape! They have always been fair and quick with the parts to keep my 40+ year old truck on the road. I will be back!
I normally don’t leave reviews, especially bad ones, but sometimes people just need to know to stay away from a place. The events I am describing occurred over the space of about two years and include three different incidents.
I went to these fellows because I needed some rear end work done on my pickup. While my truck was at their shop they decided (without my permission) to replace the front right brake rotor because they claimed it was too worn. Instead of calling and asking, they just put on a used one which they had lying around. They didn’t charge me for the used rotor but they did charge me for the labor. Unfortunately, the used one was warped slightly and created a vibration whenever I applied the brakes. Unbeknownst to me this would inevitably result in premature wear of the front right upper control arm and a hugely expensive bill later on down the road.
Thinking that these guys had done a good job, I recommended their service to another friend of mine. We had her vehicle towed to the salvage yard and dropped off. The owner, Ronnie, said it would be at least 9-12 weeks (approx. 2-3 months) before they could even get to it. This was the same answer she and I had gotten from several other shops so I didn’t think anything of it. Since the vehicle wasn’t drivable, we left it there. After a couple of months, we started calling to see what the status of the vehicle was. We called once or twice a month and each time we were told the Ronnie was out running errands and that he would call us when he returned. This went on for about six more months. At the time the entire USA was having supply problems due to the ongoing effects of COVID, and we had other vehicles, so we tried to be patient.
Eventually I called, but instead of asking for an update on the vehicle, I asked to speak with Ronnie about getting an estimate on a repair. This time, miraculously, Ronnie was available and came to the phone. When I explained that I was calling about my friends vehicle, he became irate with me and told me that the vehicle was no longer on his lot. He said that someone pretending to be us had already picked it up. I didn’t believe him, but on the chance that he was telling the truth, I asked if he had gotten any information from the pretenders and he said that he had not. By his own admission, he had simply given possession of my friends vehicle to some stranger without verifying their identity. I cant prove it, but I suspect that he actually sold the vehicle or parted it out to line his own pockets.
This ultimately lead to my third incident with Ronnie and his people. I took my truck back to him and asked him to diagnose a rattling noise that was coming from underneath. Truthfully there was a rattling noise, but in reality I was really using it as an excuse to see if my friends vehicle was anywhere on the premises. It was not. Ronnie and his son, however, tried to tell me that the rattling noise was from my engine and that a bearing was going out. I told them both that the engine in my truck was basically brand new so it should not be throwing a bearing, but they insisted that I needed a new engine, and tried to sell me a used one off their lot. I told them I would think about it.
I left and took my truck to another mechanic shop. They put it on a lift and we found the rattling noise. It was from a cracked piece of aluminum on the right catalytic converter. We also found that the warped rotor (Which Ronnie and his boys had installed without my permission) had caused the right upper control arm to wear prematurely. In fact, it was so bad that the entire arm was moving forwards and backwards almost half an inch. I feel very lucky that front end didn’t collapse while I was driving it.
Terrible place to do business with. Had a truck towed to the for a rebuilt transmission and a bad oil leak. The owner Ronnie would never call me with a update. Every time I would he seemed to always be out. If I did catch him answering he phone he would just delay me. My vehicle sat at his shop 6+ months I’m from the east coast so I could not afford to tow it. I finally showed up to take me truck. They acted conformational as if I was doing something wrong? I ended up fixing the oil leak outside there gate in about 2 hours. Something they couldn’t seem to do in 6+ months
They get a 2 * only because it's one of the better looking salvage yards. It is very organized and looks decent from the road (I live nearby).
However, their customer service is severely lacking. I called to ask if they have a certain window regulator/motor (they do). I asked how much, and he said $75, and when I mentioned that I can get a new one for $50, he rudely snapped that I should just get a new one then. Alrighty then. I'll stick with the salvage yards in the Northeast area of town.
This man was a nice guy at the beginning, then when I went back cuz he had given me the wrong part I had spoke with one of his hands and was told they didn't have it, he told me to go back after lunch to get a refund, I proceeded to find the part elsewhere, when I went back the owner said he had the right part, i let him no since thy told me thy didn't have it I went else were, he refused to give me my money back being he gave me the wrong part to begin with!!! He was very rude!!
These guys are very respectful and they know what they are doing. I’m very very pleased how they got my truck running. Thank u so much from the bombcity k9 crew. U guys are awesome.
Southwest Salvage has been owned by the same owner for over 35 years and now his son helps him keep the salvage yard. But this isn't like any junk yard you have ever seen! It is clean and organized all parts that belong together are and everything is in orderly rows. That do not just get rid of old car parts they can also order new parts at a really awesome price and if they are not backed up with work they can even do engine and body work.
Elderly owner had a very punchable face, and an aggressive attitude that invites conflict.. Poor work, and poor salesmanship.. Middle School vocabulary, and mechanical skills to match.. It may be wise to assume anything coming out of this yard is a death trap, and keep your distance. Buyer Beware and/or bring your boxing gloves..
Bought an overdrive for my truck couldn’t find it without having to buy the whole transmission but southwest was willing to sell me just the overdrive. Love this place after a month of looking the part. Wish I knew about this place when I first started looking for it
I went out there to get me some tires that a pretty good selection course they're all used tires not a bad price though of course I found the part I need nice guys out there.
This counts as MINUS 5 STARS, the people here are straight up bald faced liars, especially a guy named Ronnie who I think is one of the owners, our truck broke down in August and needed the transmission rebuilt and some minor engine work so we had it towed there as he was the cheapest shop with the fastest repair time, jump forward 4 months and the truck was still not fixed, claimed to be hunting a part that we found in a matter of minutes and ended up having to order it ourselves and have it shipped to him as we are in NC, two more weeks and no word from him so we made arrangements to have the truck hauled back to NC and fix it ourselves, the ordered parts we sent him were thrown in the truck out of the boxes, and the truck had sat so long that the batteries were completely dead, turned out that noone had touched the truck or attempted the engine repairs other than to remove the old part, they did supposably rebuild the transmission, at least it appears to have been removed and reinstalled but it is NOT fixed, after we had the truck running and attempted to drive it the transmission is still doing exactly what it was before repairs, I would NOT recommend this business to anyone for ANY reason, and I fail to understand how they are even still in business
I would rather be broke down than buy anything from this scam. If your not local don't get your vehicle worked on they will try to hold it hostage and milk you for money while not even working on it.
