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03-18-2015, 07:21 AM
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#1
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Mongo the Meet Coordinator
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 16,938
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Old car buying: Questions to ask
Lets say you were looking at on older, ~68 era fbod, and it was located far away. You want to ask the seller as many questions you can before taking a drive to check out the car and potentially buy it.
I assume seller could video areas etc, so any problem areas to look for?
Questions that would be wise to ask?
Thanks
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KirkEvil
repo bigals turd gen and part it out to a loving home
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03-18-2015, 07:47 AM
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#2
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BadMod
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: hamilton, nj
Posts: 8,889
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Pretty much any and all of the sheet metal. Depends on your concerns.
If you look at some of the threads on pro-touring or lat g. Or remember wildbillys old car. You will know that it may not even matter. Solid looking cars can be basket cases once you get into them...
Where is the far away place it lives now
__________________
So much stupid, so little time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 79CamaroDiva
It started before I drove your car. I just have to look at it the wrong way and your car poops parts.
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Mercerville MotorSports, LLC
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03-18-2015, 07:49 AM
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#3
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Mongo the Meet Coordinator
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 16,938
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I think its down in SC, so a drive isn't the end of the world.
Basically, the car runs/drives and looking to see if I can pick up any issues prior to committing to any journey down.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KirkEvil
repo bigals turd gen and part it out to a loving home
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03-18-2015, 08:00 AM
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#4
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: milltown
Posts: 1,497
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it depends on what the seller is claiming it is, and what pictures he already provided... if they are saying its numbers matching yada yada i want date codes, and the whole nine. if hes saying its rust free but shows no pics of front/rear winshield mouldings, trunk etc then i want that too. what do you know about the car already?
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2002 Camaro Sunset Orange Mettalic, V6, 5spd, bilstein HD shocks and struts, eibach pro lowering kit, eibach f/r sway bars, lakewood PHB, UMI 2 point subframe connectors, energy suspensions poly master bushing kit
daily econobox and first car
1986 IROC-Z, T56, MGW shifter, Heads, Cam, Holley Stealth Ram 350, t-top, tubular LCA with relo brackets, adjustable PHB, belltech sway bars, ground control weight jacks, SLP mid length headers, 3in w/borla XR1, RIP 3 10 bolts, 12.7 @ 109 so far.. atleast its faster than stock  SOLD
1971 Camaro LS3/T56/9in, cam only and still carbed, RIP 2 10 bolts, 11.62@121
03 Blazer 2 door - salt sponge
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03-18-2015, 08:05 AM
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#5
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Mongo the Meet Coordinator
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 16,938
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Its not numbers matching I would guess and frankly, do not care if it isn't.
Just looking at old cars for a summer daily driver for the old man. He found this car and wants me to think of questions to ask the seller. Seller claims it's daily driver status, but that can vary drastically from person to person.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KirkEvil
repo bigals turd gen and part it out to a loving home
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03-18-2015, 08:09 AM
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#6
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Admin.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Hamilton, NJ
Posts: 20,165
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eyes on the car >> anything else.
title title title. pics of vin, cowl tag, title.
__________________
Vent Windows Forever!
The looser the waistband, the deeper the quicksand. Or so I have read.
Feather-light suspension, Konis just couldn't hold. I'm so glad I took a look inside your showroom doors.
Hey everybody, it's good to have you on the Baba-too-da-ba-too-ba-ba-buh-doo-ga-ga-bop-a-dop
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03-18-2015, 08:18 AM
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#7
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Meet Coordinator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: brick/pt. pleasant beach
Posts: 19,368
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Is it going to be an ls swap immediately? But ya, you have to really check EVERYWHERE for rust. Not just looking at the surface but digging deep and far to find any and all rust. Like mentioned, the windshields can get nasty. I'm sure you can look around and find other areas that are very common as well.
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03-18-2015, 08:18 AM
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#8
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^^^Lover of bad cars^^^ Meet Coordinator
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Whitehouse Station
Posts: 2,269
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going to have to look over it with a fine toothed comb in person unfortunately. No way you'd be able to judge the car over the internets. Like bonzo said, those 3 are very important, and eyes are the most.
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1986 Honda VFR750 - 89.3HP to the wheel
2000 Trans Am M6 - Mods: Yes.
2018 Durango R/T - AFE Intake, JLT Catch Can, Stainless Works Catback, Vinyl Dodge Racing Stripes
2003 Toyota Matrix XRS M6 - Injen CAI, Borla Muffler, TC Wheels, Rear Sway Bar
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03-18-2015, 09:55 AM
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#9
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Ayatollah of Rock N Rolla / Admin
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 12,573
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A lot of **** can happen in almost 50 years.
You can have him take pics of every angle of the car and every section of the undercarriage. Maybe a video of it running, if the engine is supposedly a high dollar build. Get a picture of the VIN, the trim tag, and the title IN HIS OR HER NAME.
If/when you decide to go look at the car, post up as there's a bunch of stuff you can do to prevent yourself from getting screwed. I got burned on the '69 Camaro however things were the opposite with the Nova. I could not give less of a **** about the drivetrain that it had. Body damage will kill you.
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03-18-2015, 10:50 AM
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#10
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Millstone twp
Posts: 541
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Pictures can only help so far. I recall a story of a 1st gen Camaro bought from "down south" via pics. The pics showed the car very well. Car arrived and still looked nice. Further investigation found 1 inch of bondo on the doors (and other places). You have to be able to poke, prod and put a magnet to the car 
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03-18-2015, 10:56 AM
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#11
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Mongo the Meet Coordinator
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 16,938
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Car starts and runs, has video of this.
I told my dad to ask for more specific videos, wanna verify car gauges work and when hot the motor doesn't clank, trans shifts cleanly etc. Drivetrain is stock AFAIK.
Again, fairly certain he won't buy this one, but come summer I am sure he will get more serious about looking so info like this is good to know.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by KirkEvil
repo bigals turd gen and part it out to a loving home
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03-18-2015, 11:24 AM
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#12
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Ayatollah of Rock N Rolla / Admin
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 12,573
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LTb1ow
Car starts and runs, has video of this.
I told my dad to ask for more specific videos, wanna verify car gauges work and when hot the motor doesn't clank, trans shifts cleanly etc. Drivetrain is stock AFAIK.
Again, fairly certain he won't buy this one, but come summer I am sure he will get more serious about looking so info like this is good to know.
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Is the engine/trans combo pretty much stock?
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03-18-2015, 11:34 AM
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#13
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Mongo the Meet Coordinator
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 16,938
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WildBillyT
Is the engine/trans combo pretty much stock?
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AFAIK, its 100% lame 1960s stock stuff.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KirkEvil
repo bigals turd gen and part it out to a loving home
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03-18-2015, 11:54 AM
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#14
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Ayatollah of Rock N Rolla / Admin
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 12,573
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LTb1ow
AFAIK, its 100% lame 1960s stock stuff.
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It's cool that it runs and drives but for the most part that's not nearly as big a deal as body and rear rail issues.
You could probably score a driver quality 350/TH350 setup for not that much money ($1000?) if you had to start from ground zero. Having to replace, say, a quarter panel will run you a lot more than that.
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03-18-2015, 12:19 PM
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#15
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Mongo the Meet Coordinator
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 16,938
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WildBillyT
It's cool that it runs and drives but for the most part that's not nearly as big a deal as body and rear rail issues.
You could probably score a driver quality 350/TH350 setup for not that much money ($1000?) if you had to start from ground zero. Having to replace, say, a quarter panel will run you a lot more than that.
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I have stressed that point many a time to him. I am sure I fix or replace any drive-train related issue for much cheaper than sourcing body work.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by KirkEvil
repo bigals turd gen and part it out to a loving home
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03-18-2015, 12:20 PM
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#16
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NJFBOA Co-Founder
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: All up in your kool aid!
Posts: 12,235
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Ask about the title in detail, not just if it exists or not but if it is in the name of the person you are buying it from or someone else. If it is an older title that was signed over and dated years ago but never transferred NJDMV can be ball busters about it. To protect yourself there should be a DMV affidavit that you can have the seller sign and notarize to avoid some of the potential hassle.
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03-18-2015, 01:27 PM
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#17
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13 Second Club / Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Franklin Lakes, NJ
Posts: 8,694
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Aren't floor and trunk pans common rust areas on 1st gens?
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03-18-2015, 01:28 PM
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#18
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Admin.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Hamilton, NJ
Posts: 20,165
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cowl by the windshield and down by the rockers
vinyl top?
__________________
Vent Windows Forever!
The looser the waistband, the deeper the quicksand. Or so I have read.
Feather-light suspension, Konis just couldn't hold. I'm so glad I took a look inside your showroom doors.
Hey everybody, it's good to have you on the Baba-too-da-ba-too-ba-ba-buh-doo-ga-ga-bop-a-dop
Last edited by BonzoHansen; 03-18-2015 at 01:28 PM.
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03-18-2015, 01:35 PM
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#19
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Mongo the Meet Coordinator
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 16,938
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Its a 'vert I think, its about the ugliest combo you could get.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by KirkEvil
repo bigals turd gen and part it out to a loving home
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03-18-2015, 01:44 PM
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#20
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NJFBOA Co-Founder
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: All up in your kool aid!
Posts: 12,235
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Quote:
Originally Posted by qwikz28
Aren't floor and trunk pans common rust areas on 1st gens?
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In any 45+ year old car the car is the area prone to rust. lol
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03-18-2015, 03:27 PM
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#21
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Millstone twp
Posts: 541
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EVERY area in a 1st gen is prone to rust  I think I have seen rust in every body panel there is (in the case of Bill's car, every panel on 1 car! )
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03-18-2015, 03:41 PM
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#22
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Ayatollah of Rock N Rolla / Admin
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 12,573
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KevinW
EVERY area in a 1st gen is prone to rust I think I have seen rust in every body panel there is (in the case of Bill's car, every panel on 1 car! ) |
LOL.
You saw the abomination firsthand.
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03-18-2015, 04:25 PM
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#23
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^^^Lover of bad cars^^^ Meet Coordinator
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Whitehouse Station
Posts: 2,269
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im sad I missed it 
__________________
1986 Honda VFR750 - 89.3HP to the wheel
2000 Trans Am M6 - Mods: Yes.
2018 Durango R/T - AFE Intake, JLT Catch Can, Stainless Works Catback, Vinyl Dodge Racing Stripes
2003 Toyota Matrix XRS M6 - Injen CAI, Borla Muffler, TC Wheels, Rear Sway Bar
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03-18-2015, 05:21 PM
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#24
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BadMod
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: hamilton, nj
Posts: 8,889
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WildBillyT
LOL.
You saw the abomination firsthand.
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Me too
My dads was almost as bad too, luckily mine is the opposite
__________________
So much stupid, so little time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 79CamaroDiva
It started before I drove your car. I just have to look at it the wrong way and your car poops parts.
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Mercerville MotorSports, LLC
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03-18-2015, 05:21 PM
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#25
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BadMod
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: hamilton, nj
Posts: 8,889
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LTb1ow
Its a 'vert I think, its about the ugliest combo you could get.
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What do you mean?
__________________
So much stupid, so little time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 79CamaroDiva
It started before I drove your car. I just have to look at it the wrong way and your car poops parts.
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Mercerville MotorSports, LLC
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