I've had my '63 Dodge Custom 880 4 door for 2 years now, I've put a lot of time and effort into replacing parts, making rust repair panels and just generally making sure she's good to go for those long haul cruises...she's by no means in great shape, as there's still a lot of rust to replace, but mechanically aside from some finicky gauges she never lets me down and gets 18mpg on the highway regularly with a 2bbl 383, 727 trans and 2.93 geared 8 3/4 rear...recently the fella I work with that I bought my '68 D-100 pickup project from has been hounding me to sell or trade him the '63...and it's such a hard decision to let it go or not...on the table is a really decent '52 Coronet coupe with no ***le and very little rust, a 413/727, 4 M/T Medallion slot mags and $700...I've got about $2,200 invested into the '63, and a ton of miles and good times, but I think it may be time to trade her away and let someone else deal with all of the rest of the rust and electrical issues I haven't tackled yet on her...how many of you have been in this position and regretted it?...I know I can't keep every car, but this one is my cruiser, runs and drives and I'd be without a drivable old car until my pickup is done...I can't help but go back and forth about being able to get a reasonable offer that I'll likely not get ever again, and keeping her and finishing what I started...any sage advice from you other fellow HAMB'rs?...
The question you have to ask yourself is "What is in it for me?" Do you like the new car better than your old one? Is the 413 something you want? What about no ***le, is that a problem in your State? No one but you can decided the answer to those questions. Don
The 413 isn't anything special, just a 70's motorhome setup...I have a vision for the '52 coupe as an all out kustom, and I can likely get a ***le easily...I know ultimately it's my decision, but it seems like every day I change my mind 2 or 3 times for different reasons...the '63 isn't desirable, worth a hell of a lot or in that great of shape, but it's cool as **** and always gets me home no matter how far away I am from home...the '52 is a long term project if I get it, and my '68 Dodge pickup won't be done and drivable until late this Fall...I went years without a driver, and I'd hate to miss a summer of cruising because I took the first offer that came along...
If Chrysler, DeSoto and Dodge are off brands, then quit using all of my hemis up ya damned jerks ...I'll quit buying MoPars when the general public quits trying to shove Model A's and SBC's down my throat...and, brother, if a 10:1 compression 383 that does 120+ on the interstate isn't traditional, then I feel sorry for you...even if it is mom and pop's 4 door grocery getter...I think the only thing keeping me from giving this car up is the turn key dependability and not having a cruiser for the summer...
Put the 383 in the pick up. Oh wait thats not what ya asked. Does the 413 run? Would the over all trade get the pickup on the road sooner? Could you get what he's offering if you tried to sell it? Whats a hemi? Would I look good with a spray tan? These are things that need to be answered
MN is easy to get a ***le. go ont he website and there's a sheet you can download when you buy/trade.
Well, you have a 63 so it qualifies for Back To The 50's. Perhaps you should hold off on this until July. Hey wait a minute....I have a Model A with a SBC!!!!! Are you sayin' meez cars not kool???
Dont sell because someone wants to buy,thats putting the cart before the horse. The car will always be salable so dont give up your cruiser till you have the truck done. You know the your answer already,dont get pushed into selling it.
The 413 doesn't run as far as I know, but I have a running 361 in need of a trans...I have been tempted to swap the 361 into the '63 just to keep that 383, but it's a lot of work for no reason...and I hate Back to the 50's...absolutely hate it...
Bad idea, I traded a running daily driver for a cooler project, and ened up never getting it on the road and ******* thousands away. Never mind getting jumped, and my throat slashed by steak knife weilding banditos while walking home from work. Driving old cars is cool, you have an old car that drives, so your set, just cruise.
False. It's worth more than the other car. Don't trade. Reliable cruisers have an x factor that needs to be added to the equation. Just keep putting miles on the cruiser.
Well if You want my opinion, if I had one project going already, and one drivable, road-ready vintage/fair-weather car on the side to enjoy, go to shows in etc.etc. that You say You have put a lot of time and work into, I myself wouldn´t trade it for another project. That´d be my most sensible way of looking at it. Another matter, subject to taste as it may be, I think the ´63 Sounds like a cool car to have.
that just made me sick i traded my driver for a cooler project hopefully i don't meet the same fate (out thousands and no whip)
I sold the car, p***ed on all of the trade garbage and got cash for it...haven't worked on the pickup in months, but I'm getting my motivation back now and should have it drivable for next season with a different 413 I picked up from a friend of mine...thanks for all of the advice fellas...
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