Need help seeing if this is worth it

[gran coupe john]

When I was that age I didn't ask anybody their opinion. I bought some cars nobody wanted, and or money pits. That is his choice. It is all part of the learning experience!! I wish him well. He will learn, and isn't that what it is all about.

 

[Ohiowoodchuck]

I remember being that age and how I knew everything and how my old man just didn’t know nothing when he tried to tell me stuff. I remember about 9 years later apologizing to him and telling him he was the smartest man I knew. A couple years after he passed, his buddy told me how we was both alike and all the wild stuff my old man done.

 

[Ohiowoodchuck]

When I was that age I didn't ask anybody their opinion. I bought some cars nobody wanted, and or money pits. That is his choice. It is all part of the learning experience!! I wish him well. He will learn, and isn't that what it is all about.

I hope he reports back that he bought the ol girl honestly.

 

[don selleck]

yep I did the same thing.

 

[MMoparDan]

There are some that have insight.View attachment 143848

Oh THAT is so true!

 

[Xcudame]

It

 

[Xcudame]

It wouldn't be horrible if he bought it! And us "old timers" can help a lot! I have some Challenger interior parts that are well used that I could supply for shipping costs @deathproofdodge !

 

[MMoparDan]

It has a title and a vin, and I have the dash that needs to go in it, new door panels, hood, and other miscellaneous trim parts, I have a good friend who collects rate mopar parts who is nearby.

I have a place to store and wrench on it. Signs look good to purchase. But I’m just seeking advice… so far everyone says no way!!! I’d like to say yes way!

Seems like a ratty car (it is) but so far my options are slowly putting money into it rather than waiting longer to buy a complete car!!

I am 100% willing to do what it takes to get this car complete and running again. It’s hard to find someone my age who is willing to put the work in to restore a car.
Not mopar related but I have a 69’ lemans that I’m also working on so I know some of the basics to getting a car back on the road!!!
-dpd

Well it sounds like you've given this a lot of thought. Good luck.

 

[MMoparDan]

There are some that have insight.View attachment 143848

Oh that's too funny, but so true

 

[JDMopar]

Offer him $5K for it and see if he bites. Tell him he can keep those fenderwell headers. That will keep you from having to toss them on the scrap heap where they belong....lol. Check the VIN on the tag, and see if the last 8 numbers are stamped on the core support and the top of the cowl on the drivers side. The VIN should stat out JH23C1B or JH23C1E. What you are looking for on the core support will be 1B or 1E with the last 6 numbers on the VIN tag following the 1B or1E. There are no other hidden VIN's on an E body. If the numbers check out between the tag and what is stamped on the cowl and radiator support, you will know that the VIN is actually for that car. If they don't match, then you need to think long and hard about buying it.

 

[Mopars & Missiles]

Run as far and fast as you can from that car

Would take another $30k to make it worth $20k

uh, no. like Katfish said, ^^^^

Nope...Don't pull the trigger on that one...You will be very sorry.......

Like others with vast experience have said, walk away from this one and find a more complete car. Be patient and save more money.

Hard pass for me. I don't have the time, skill, or money to get that back in shape. The engine bay being cut up hurts.

This is rarely understood or acknowledged,
Cost will always be at least 50% higher than expected when doing the work yourself,
And 100% more when paying someone else to do the work.

When I was that age I didn't ask anybody their opinion. I bought some cars nobody wanted, and or money pits. That is his choice. It is all part of the learning experience!! I wish him well. He will learn, and isn't that what it is all about.

I remember being that age and how I knew everything and how my old man just didn’t know nothing when he tried to tell me stuff. I remember about 9 years later apologizing to him and telling him he was the smartest man I knew.

I've watched this discussion since the beginning, and it has gone as I suspected it would.

A 16 year old will ALWAYS BE a 16 year old and no amount of advice from more experienced men with decades more wisdom and hands on working knowledge of these cars can change his mind. He will have to learn the hard lessons for himself the HARD WAY.

You have been warned by many above who were trying to help you, so please report back on this misadventure you are undertaking in 3 or 4 years (or less) with the results of your project, good or bad. I suspect it will not go easy or quite the way you envision it will.

But what do I know, I'm not 16 anymore?