Who has bought a 'new to them' ride and had problems right away?

Tony- It doesn't KINDA stink, it DOES stink! That guy obviously has no consience. I think you've got the right at***ude about it . Not much can you do at this point anyways, except make it right. No doubt you will.

Bernie

 

No difference at all as far as the top was concerned..and you are 100 percent right, very poor quality
I was just very surprised when i dug into it and saw how it was done and thought i'd share. I already knew it was put back on, That didn't bother me. Welding isn't something i'm scared to do.. In fact i love to fab and weld.
I own, and chopped my own 53 chevy so i have no issues what so ever with the top being re installed.
The 'it runs great' was where i had the problem..

I was sharing my experience, just like i was asking for other's to tell thiers.
It's all good

 

I'm more then just funny looking...............

 

after a few less than stellar internet car transactions,,,,.....unless it's a killer deal,,i wont ever buy another one that way,,but if i do,,i will expect the worst


,,,with that said,,,please check out my car for sale in the cl***ifieds!!!!

 

did you FULLY weld your roof on sir, or did you use bondo and bubble gum? I prefer the bondo and bubble gum method myself

 

aluminum tape covered with bondo!

..dont laugh,,,i actually saw someone do that to cover up some rust on a pick up truck last week,,ok,,you can laugh!

 

What, no screen or newspaper? i'm dissapointed.

 

It's definitely a Buyer Beware world out there.

Me, when I sell something, I decided a long time ago that I don't guarantee ANTYTHING. Everything is sold AS IS. I will be as honest as I can be, but when you're talking about cars that are 50+ years old, sometimes, you just don't know.

My driver 57 Chevy: A lot of things worked just fine for the old fart I bought it from, but he only drove the car around his neighborhood one a month or so. When I started putting some miles on it, I found all sorts of surprises. Did the old guy screw me? Nah, I don't think so. He was just tinkering around. Me, I started DRIVING the car, something no one had done for 30 years.

"Ya puts down your money and you takes your chances."

 

I've been there many times, too, Tony and feel your pain and disapointment.

You've got the correct at***ude and I respect that - you're not sitting around moaning about it, but gritting your teeth and making it right. You're also fortunate to have the skills to make it right. Look at it this way - now the truck will be YOUR build, not somebody else's and you'll have a good story to go with it.

 

Well, I on the other hand bought a vehicle off a guy I didn't know, off the internet, and never took the unit for a ride. I didn't even know if I could fit in it! Best deal I ever got, and he even delivered it.-MIKE




Oh ya, been driving the ****in' wheels off it all summer. Thanks, Tony!!

 

I bought a car a while back that was supposed to have a 350 in it.It turned out to be a 307, I didn't really care, I had planned on using a different mill anyways..I was still peeved at myself for not checking the numbers though, I figured that the 350 would be a good engine in an el camino I have sitting around.

 

[quote=Burny;2202418]Tony,

I feel your pain. I recently purchased a 54 Merc that looks real nice, but has started to show it's true inner self...Good thing is that it's mostly periferral- brakes, wiring, suspension etc. I think sometimes you see a car that has that look and you "over" look the issues, or just plain don't see 'em....kinda like some woman- she may be hot on the outside, and you are stoked at first, but then when you get to know her, she starts to show those signs of past relationships, wear and tear, shoddy repair work. maybe she just has some bad wiring from the factory! Either way, she just may be a safety hazard!

Good thing with cars though, is just about anything can be fixed...

At the time Burny purchased this Merc, I offerred him up my good friend Ozzie's 50 Chevy fastback for $15.5k, It really has absolutely no issues, but Ron's mind was already made up on the Merc Custom as this puppy is more of a clean stocker with widened rear wheels on a slight Ca Rake.
Burny told me of his woes before the weekend of the Primer Nats, he stayed home working on the brakes. I indicated that the other car is still available @ a negotiable price if there is anyone here who'd like to have something like this.
On to another friends purchase, Over this same weekend that Burny was working on the Merc, Adriene-(Harvey's Broiler Girl) and I took a drive in a 50 Willys Jeepster. Upon the test drive, I noticed that the clutch sang while engaged=no big deal-probably a throw-out bearing.

The lady & gentleman selling it also stated that the brakes pulled right, They pulled left=no big deal-probably a brake adj. Now here is where it gets interesting-Adriene inquired if we can drive it home? They said the lights were dim? Alright we took it out for another test run, stopped to grab a burger @ In N Out, hung awhile, then literally started out to their home across the street.

I get to the driveway of In-N-Out, engine dies, I try to restart, no dice. Hit it again with the lights off. fires right up. gp another 200' lights on,Dies again-Go figure. Fires right up again, I back it into their drive way & hand them back the keys, thought it was just cold blooded even though we were experiencing 100+ temps.

I then check the radiator, looks like rust but smells like stop leak.
I inquire as to why the coolant was rusty? He replies that he had a leak @ the t-stat housing and has since replaced that.

We return during the late afternoon saturday, Adriene has a commitment and I have been up since 6am dealing with cars.
They again suggest a roll back, I state that I'd rather take a chance & find out now whats up "really" with this.

After grabbing a Famous Star, we embark on "a most dangerous mission"! I take this puppy up the Simi Valley Grade into the San Fernando Valley @ temps higher than a c-note. The puppy climbs the grade like a champ. While churning along @ 60mph I notice a hum....

I pull over @ Porter Ranch and let the puppy cool. @ this point Adriene has to scoot, as she'll be late for her appt. I continue on my trek,exiting Balboa to the p*** over The great Eicler tract of the Balboa Highlands down to where Foothill Bl. begins. Now here is where I must thank our Hot Rod fore-fathers. I took the original PRC route home that was from the 1952 run, which provided a fairly scenic as well as diversified demographrically populated area.-I couldn't have made it home w/o knowing that route from what I have read in the mags from way back when.

I finally came across an Auto Zone, bought a 50/50 mix and proceeded on my way home at which time it was now dusk.
I click on the lights, about 7 secs later, the Jeepster dies, I say What. I kill the lights, ****er lights right up! so I figure that the lights are somehow wired into the ignition circuit & are drawing way too much current/resistance for the circuit. I drive home from Tujunga to Temple City with me clicking the lights on/off the whole way home.-Made it though with no other mechanical mishaps.

This is why it is always wise to have a vehicle completely checked out by a certified ASE tech or the like. It may save you bones on the purchase price or in headaches @ a later date. So Buyer Beware!
Good luck with the truck, we all learn from these purchases.

 

Hey Mike, that truck was one of the best ride's i've ever had. Even with that one, i spent a lot of time in the beginning to make it a truly reliable truck. I miss it, is the reason i decided to get another truck. Remember i even asked you a few time's to drive it before we even did the deal..I wanted to make sure it was what you expected, and wanted before you gave me any cash..
That really was a smooth, easy deal with you..Thanks man.
But it was a ***** to make that last ride in it..felt like i lost a family member when we left..
I'm VERY pleased to hear your happy with it too..I knew you would be

Kevin, thanks for the story..Glad that was the only mishap yo uhad and you made it home..
As far as having a certified tech or the like's check it out.. That's what i do for a living, going on 18 years now. I've checked hundred's of car's for people, including the 57 Boones bought last month..
But, this time i missed the boat..
If there is an up side to this, i'm damn glad that this one was for me. Had i checked this for someone else looking to buy it and this happened, i would feel terrible about it..
My at***ude has been getting better every day that p***es about this and am looking forward to making this truck as reliable as that 33 Mike posted..
You are absolutely correct in saying we all learn from these purchases. I have..
Thanks to all for adding your input to the post, and for the well wishes on my new truck.
Thing's have a way of working out, and this is no different.

Tony

 

I've been on both sides of the fence.

Over 5 years ago when I bought my '57 Ford, it seemed to run good, the body work seemed decent, and the price was more than right. The fella I bought it off of was an old timer and had only put 100 miles on it a year. Once I took ownership of it & started driving it, it was all downhill. I rebuilt the carb, distributor, clutch, pressure plate, machined flywheel, new shifter. Worst of all the rear main was bad off and it hemmoraged at least a quart a day. It took me months and I finally got it running perfect (except for the oil leak), and the rear main totally let go, which caused a tire locking seize at 70+ mph. Out came the Y block, in went the Mopar.

On the other hand, I bought my 57 Chevy Bel Air and my current daily, my 98 Mustang GT, and both were solid reliable cars requiring very little work.

 

Well dude this one is to cheer you up! the vehicle im speaking of is O/T for this site but i bought a vehicle for 10 G and looked it over very good. bought it and decided to drive it home..about 1.5 hour trip. I get 27 miles from home when i hear a muffled boom under the hood. i figure a radiator hose or something like that and as im working my way across 2 lanes of traffic i start to see orange smoke comming from the cowel..dam as i get it to the shoulder and stop the ***** is on friggen fire! **** i grab the fire extinguisher and try to out the flame but no luck total loss on the e-way 10 g down the tubes, i called the guy back he said sorry that ****s cant help ya and my insurance co. said "should have had it insured" we would have covered it! lesson learned! but it ****ed..at least your beast made it home!

 

it never ceases to amaze me what some people will do for money.
i have a 48 f1 i traded a 41 plymouth coupe for that was supposed to be a driver. the deal went down on a rainy night. i was stupid enough to take the ***hole for his word. the front wheels didn't even have brake lines going to them. i barely got it stopped before going into garage. truck is still sitting, as soon as i get over my poor decision on the deal i will get it running.

 

Hmmm...




Lessee....
Yep...
yep...
yep...
yep...

I have had to do major work on every car I have ever purchased, including the off the lot Brand new Jeep that exploded a power steering hose on the way home from the dealer.(God, what a peice of **** that thing turned out to be.)

Nowdays, I prefer to buy them not running..at least that way, I know what to expect.
The 64 Delta 88 Wifey bought as a parts car last weekend turned out to be nicer than expected...pleasant surprise-all it needs is brakes to be a decent cruiser...so, of course, I'm gonna cut it up for peices of the starfire.
BRILLIANT!

 

Holy **** man, that ****S!!
Sorry to hear about that..

I've only bought a few old car's that were in running condition, and even those i had to do work to to make them "right"..
I think i'll stick to my normal 'buying **** boxes that don't run' as i alway's have.
At least then when i have to spend money on them right away it'll be expected

 

So the truck is what you & big Mike call Tommy solid..
Dont overwhelm yourself man...this is nothing for you...
Hell, most of my ride have been like girlfriends--Look good on the outside, was alot a fun at first but literally drained me mentally, physically & financially!
But i still chase them...