Newbie looking at an 83 13B -- risky?

JonnyVon · 02-13-2009, 01:09 AM

I talked to the owner over the phone today. My basic impression is that the engine is sound and it runs well, but it'll need plenty of polishing around the edges.

The pretty-good: 160k on the chassis. The motor is non-original and starts well with the choke on, smokes a little at startup but not after, not sure if it has stock seals or not; it's been compression-tested and apparently passed that properly. The guy has a lot of spare/aftermarket parts available, but he personally only put in the new clutch and rear brake shoes. The heat and air work fine and there's a new radiator, hoses, thermostat, and oil fluid brake lines at least. The lights work and pop up fine. Also, it's in premix mode.

The bad: It'll take cosmetic work. Rust will have to be dealt with, the front fender is on but should be replaced (bashed in some), and the paint job it was given was okay but is peeling on the fender and I'll almost surely wind up repainting the car to match replacement parts. The door seals will need to be replaced, and there's a tape deck in it but the wiring is flaky; the back two speakers aren't there but the front two work. It could use new shocks, and he wants to give me a better rear end with it. The shocks could stand replacement (which he also has lying around), the bushes are worn, and the handling is a bit loose. The water pump gasket is leaking a bit, as well.

Did I miss anything I should ask for when I check the car out in person? The feeling I get sight-unseen is that the car will certainly drive but I can keep myself plenty busy during the spring putting it in better mechanical shape and improving the cosmetics.

02-13-2009, 01:09 AM	#9
JonnyVon The Newbie Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	I talked to the owner over the phone today. My basic impression is that the engine is sound and it runs well, but it'll need plenty of polishing around the edges. The pretty-good: 160k on the chassis. The motor is non-original and starts well with the choke on, smokes a little at startup but not after, not sure if it has stock seals or not; it's been compression-tested and apparently passed that properly. The guy has a lot of spare/aftermarket parts available, but he personally only put in the new clutch and rear brake shoes. The heat and air work fine and there's a new radiator, hoses, thermostat, and oil fluid brake lines at least. The lights work and pop up fine. Also, it's in premix mode. The bad: It'll take cosmetic work. Rust will have to be dealt with, the front fender is on but should be replaced (bashed in some), and the paint job it was given was okay but is peeling on the fender and I'll almost surely wind up repainting the car to match replacement parts. The door seals will need to be replaced, and there's a tape deck in it but the wiring is flaky; the back two speakers aren't there but the front two work. It could use new shocks, and he wants to give me a better rear end with it. The shocks could stand replacement (which he also has lying around), the bushes are worn, and the handling is a bit loose. The water pump gasket is leaking a bit, as well. Did I miss anything I should ask for when I check the car out in person? The feeling I get sight-unseen is that the car will certainly drive but I can keep myself plenty busy during the spring putting it in better mechanical shape and improving the cosmetics.