[CET]

I am going to look at a '73 Tornado this morning. Normally I check the obvious things such as compression, charging system, look for leaks, brakes, underside of car, road test - you get the idea. Unfortunitely the tranny is shot in this beast so how can I be reasonably sure the car has not been hit and not properly repaired when I can't even road test it?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

BTW the guy with the car lives in the boonies and a mechanic wants almost as much as the asking price to drive out there and check it.

[izzymiddleton]

Well...What I would do in that situation is I would go and look at the car.Then,I would do the following:

1)Check all engine connections to be connected
2)Get under car and check for leaks
3)Ask what he thinks is wrong with the trans
4)Check the body for major dents and scratches
5)Take a magnet to check for bondo
6)Check the brakes..Good idea also
7)Check the rear diff for leaks

What kind of trans does it have in it?Sounds like it'll make a good car once everything is straight on it!

Good Luck!
Izzy

[CET]

Thanks Izzy.

The seller has no idea what tranny is in it. He says it is a 455 w/ buckets and console. The car is supposidly free of rust excepting for some scratches with a clean int.

I asked him why he is selling it and he says it is too hard on fuel so he bought a Neon to save money.

Will let you know how it runs out ( fingers crossed )

I'll take my d/camera and snap some pics if it is a decent ride.
Tom

[ January 10, 2003: Message edited by: CET ]</p>

[Madd Syntst]

Look in the trunk. For God's sake man, check the trunk. I got put in a ve....

Never Mind

Can you hear me know?

[CET]

I HATE shopping for a car. The guy with the Tornado failed to mention ( after I drove over 65 miles to his house ) that the car is not actually at his house. It is in Grand Prairie which is about 4 hours away. Bonehead!!!!

I looked at total crap for the next 12 cars. Being told by the seller on the phone that is has some surface rust and driving there to find the rear 1/4's are totally gone really ****** me off. Or that massive clouds of blue smoke are ok when you first start the engine.

The best one was the guy that refused to let me start the car by boosting it. It was -16C today and his Mustang would not start. He said I should just take his word that it runs and use a towing sevice to get it home.

I ended up buying an '86 Thunderbird with a 302 in it. It has clean interior, no major dents and some surface rust. Not exactly a Chevelle like I want but not a Chevette either.