Checklist when buying? (Pics added)

[Grizzly]

I was wondering if ya'll would chime in with a list of things to check for when buying a 3rd gen Charger. I am looking at 72SE with a 440(not original, slightly built) in it. If you could name some things off, even if it sounds like it would be a blatantly obvious thing to check for. Thanks folks.

[RD]

framerails for rust, get a hammer and ding them

floorboards

VIN matches the fendertag and the fact that the car actually has both located where they should be located

is it a vinyl roof car or not?  check for rust in a-pillars and rust bubbles under the vinyl.

trunk pan for rust

how long has it sat?

is it registered and insured?

HELL, does it run? go into gear?  no major vibrations?

look at leaf spring mounts, are they rusted out?

look at the fuse box for any cut or jimmy rigged wiring sequences (this will automatically tell you if there are electrical problems) check on engine side firewall and starter relay also

LASTLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY:

Get pictures of all the above and post them on this website so we can help you determine the cars worth, its options, and if we see anything wrong with it.

hope that helps.

[topduarte]

With any car older than 25 years, need to check that all of the trim is present as it is expensive and hard to find sometimes; rust is obvious, also check for all electrical connections that have not been hacked up; body panels lined up (if not sign or wreck or bent frame), pull carpet if you can to see if water has been sitting under it for years.

Also, is it recently inspected to make sure it is drive worthy!

There are tons of itmes to check for!!

Otherswill chime in!!

[4402tuff4u]

cylinder compression, oil pressure, steering play......

[Troy]

I saw this on Totally Auto's site and it's a good starting point:
http://www.totallyautoinc.com/checklist.html

Troy

[Grizzly]

I saw this on Totally Auto's site and it's a good starting point:
http://www.totallyautoinc.com/checklist.html

Troy

Hey thanks! Thats a really nice little checklist. Attached are some pictures of a Charger I will be getting unless I find something very wrong with it....

[41husk]

thats a nice looking 3rd gen  good luck on the purchase.

[TruckDriver]

  Nice car! If you get it you'll have to register it on the 3rd Gen site. I wish my trunk floor was that solid. I have a rust free '72 SE except for the trunk floor (leaky trunk seal for the past 20 some years in the desert) And I yet have not been able to find anone that actually has them in stock yet

[andy74]

looks pretty good! i would ditch the hood though,just my opinion,but those scoops seem kinda goofy.make sure you check that underdash wiring,its kind of a pain in the ass,and expensive to replace,it will give you some bargaining power,how much you have to give for it?

[Grizzly]

looks pretty good! i would ditch the hood though,just my opinion,but those scoops seem kinda goofy.make sure you check that underdash wiring,its kind of a pain in the ass,and expensive to replace,it will give you some bargaining power,how much you have to give for it?

I agree about the hood, but I really like everything else.....moderate interior work to do, which I can and still drive it though. I guess there is an original hood that the owner says comes with it and is very good shape. As for the price....well...I havent paid for it yet but hopefully it won't be too much. I know, I know... that answer is vague but I havent finished it yet and am trying not to get caught up in the price. Everything being solid and what not, what do you think it's worth? I understand you havent seen the vehicle, but assuming everything is good, about what's it worth you think? Its got a non-numbers matching, slightly modified, newer 440 engine(Edelbrach intake,4 brl. Holley carb) and 727 Torqueflite tranny, it has dual Flowmaster exhaust and new Hedman headers and the rest is pretty much what you see.

[andy74]

if it is as nice as you say,and drives good,6-8 grand,in my neck of the woods

[RD]

In Kansas, you wouldnt see anyone give more than $2,500-$3,000 for it.  Too much aftermarket and non-original equipment on it to warrant a higher price.

[NHCharger]

Up here in the rust belt you could get 7k for that easy.

[ramit]

if it is as nice as you say,and drives good,6-8 grand,in my neck of the woods

That is about what it would bring up here in minnesota also.  Probably closer to 6 than 8 though.

[Grizzly]

I'm going to get it tomorrow!!!! Woohoo!!!!

[Grizzly]

Well I went to drive it and if I liked it, I had the money to buy it for a little over 7K. Every thing about this car was sweet, no rust, everyting solid and well taken care of or refurbished. I was stoked. Started it up...it sounded sweet! It shift points were a little lower than I liked and I was nervous about that, but all in all not bad. Drove it around town for a few, got on the freeway and it seemed to do well also. We got back towards where I was parked and as the Charger is excelerating I hear a slight screech up front and an accompanying very slight vibration. I am a little concerned now. It starts getting worse and soon I am smelling something getting hot and then burning rubber. We turn off the main road and pull it over as the aftermarket temp is shooting towards the red zone on the gauge. We get out and radiator fluid is running on the ground under the front tire and steam is rolling out. We popped the hood, pull the pins and take a look-see. The pulley on the water pump I believe, has two sheared off bolts on the after market pulley head. This pulley was rotating in a very oblong manner gouging the aftermarket radiator fan and dislodging it from the radiator. The remainder of the belt is wrapped around two other pulley heads and is no longer rotating around the alternator or anything for that matter. So, I told the guy I couldn't buy the vehicle. He seemed like a very honest fella and was saddened by this but he said he understood and seemed to be truly surprised with this breakdown of the Charger. I have split feelings as I feel saddened because I really wanted it and on the other hand I am glad it didn't happen AFTER I had bought it. Aside from that, man it was very nice vehicle and my search continues......

[GTX]

I'll be damned if that's not almost a twin the the old '71 SE I used to have.
Except the goofy snorkel scoop, my interior was black and I paid $800.00 for mine.
'course it was like 1985 or something.

I think mine even had those front tires!

Hey thanks! Thats a really nice little checklist. Attached are some pictures of a Charger I will be getting unless I find something very wrong with it....

[Silver R/T]

nice ride

[Grizzly]

I'll be damned if that's not almost a twin the the old '71 SE I used to have.
Except the goofy snorkel scoop, my interior was black and I paid $800.00 for mine.
'course it was like 1985 or something.

I think mine even had those front tires!

Hey thanks! Thats a really nice little checklist. Attached are some pictures of a Charger I will be getting unless I find something very wrong with it....




Funny thing was that the current owner bought it in Olympia WA, then took it to Portland OR. I was gonna buy it and I live in Olympia WA also...it would have been full circle. You don't live in OlyWa do you?

[chargervert]

When something like that happens,thats when you go for the kill,you say not one penny over 5 grand! I'm sure you will be able to fix it with the 2 grand you saved,and have change! You would be surprised how many people say, I will take the 5 grand,just get it out of my sight! Looked like a solid car! If you look at other 3rd gens,always check the front frame rails between the back of the Kframe,and the firewall,thats where the frame rots on those cars! Good luck in your quest!

[andy74]

i agree,this sure seems solid,id try and get it for 5 or so,and fix the mechanicals-it will still be cheaper than doing body work,and it looks like a great start-good luck!

[Grizzly]

One other thing I thought was odd. It shifted just fine but the fella said it had been re-geared before. I thought ok, that gets done, but it was at about 3k RPMs at 65mph. Thats too high. I had him manually shift through the gears and it shifted fine both that way and just automatically, but for some reason it had a weird gear ratio to be running like that. The speedo was off by 25MPH which is indicitive off re-gearing. The tires that were on it were stock tired size and even taking into account for a different tire size to match the new gear ratio, it still seemed way to much.