Sorry for this being off topic, I know you guys really know your stuff about cars and i figured this is pretty close to a 3rd gen. I found what looks to be about a 78 79 would be my best guess a Trans Am with a 403 Olds in it, it is pretty beefed up and the guy only wants 3k for it, It has a nice paint job on it with the bird on the hood, no T tops and its an Auto and has a 4 bbl in it. A few other specs that i couldnt memorize, I was wondering if you guys have any tips on things i could ask him or things to look for on the car to see if im getting gipped. Thanks alot
Mitchell

 

403 old was a good motor. Most never make it past a junk yard, they go right off into the racing world. You can get some loot out of one if you build it. But them 2nd gens rust bad under it. Even if its in deep weeds crawl under it and look. The leaf spring like to pop through the floor n trunk. Pick up or remove the back seats. The springs pop through right there.

sounds a tad high but maybe its clean with no under body rust and so its worth it. I see the rusty ones with nice motor's go for $2-1500 every summer.

I kind of don't like em as the handle for crap compared to a 3rd gen. A stock 3rd gen will run circles around one on a road course. I also don't like the steering feel. I had an 80 camaro and it felt like I was the guy driving the firetruck at the very back. very disconnected and swingy. The 2nd gen does have a 50foot hood.

 

I went down and looked at it, the back lights were kinda broken out of it, the roof had a few small dents in it and the bird on the front was starting to peel off. It is in running condition and it isnt in weeds he moved it from where it had been sitting to put it on display for people. I got up under it the exhaust look good and the wheel wells and wherever i could feel under it felt solid just had alot of mud buildup on it which i chipped away and still felt solid. I couldnt really see the miles on it me and my g/f best guess at looking at it is either 73k or 113k or 173k its really hard to tell and the guy wasnt home at the time. Had some specs on it that i read said flowmasters 2 1/2 to the muffler 2 inch back from there 4 barel, steel crank and something else. Said the heads were seomthing 3 degree or something like that (no idea what the means) but the car didnt look bad besides that. the inside needed alittle work the slap stick looked like it was kind of carelessely put in and the passenger side seat was alittle ripped up.
What do you guys thing from what i told you, do you think that the fact that he left a car like that get dirty and piled up with mud and didnt clean it off before he soled it shows that he may have not taken care of his car or is tht just me?
Thanks
Mitch

 

3K???? run dude. paint eeling, caked in mud. i bet if ya pull the valve covers you will find oil coking so deep thad the valves are making dents.

if you do buy, plese spend like six hours inspecting the things every nook and crany.

 

with a $3000 sticker and nothing obviously majorly wrong,
you should see if the guy would split an inspection with you. Find the closest shop to him and find out how much an inspection is. They will get the car up on the lift and check everything out.

He shouldn't mind as it will help sell the car if you don't buy it and pay for half.

Its not an unreasonable request for a $3000 car.

 

I live in PA and they came out with these new inspection thing you need for exhaust and stuff. And I looked and the car hasnt been inspected since 11- 03 do you think this means he cant get the thing inspected??
Mitchell