Looking at a '77

[mbaran]

So after reading all of the "horrors" of the middies, I'm a little scared

I am looking at the '77 pictured below. It's at a body shop now where the PO had it converted to a slantnose rear and carrera front look. The car has brand new white paint, brand new leather recover interior and new carpet and headliner.

Bodywise it looks great, but I haven't seen the car upclose, just drove by it, I'm going to inspect it tomorrow.

The shop has taken over the car as a lien for unpaid work, so the shop owner has no information on the engine.

What are the most imporant things I can look for, to see if its an okay deal?

He is asking $7,995 which I think is fair for a car with new paint/interior and looks very good.

I plan on some type of engine replacement, so I am not worried about long long term longevity, but I don't want it to blow up next week either.

I appreciate any replies!

Also, the guy said it needed a smog pump since it wasnt working, he would replace it before I picked it up...

[TT Oversteer]

77's are great cars. They have many good features such as galvinized bodies, first year of boosted brakes, adjustible spring plates. The only real problem area is the 2.7 issues that are well documented here with regard to pulled studs and the thermal reactor exhaust that cooks the valve guides. But many of those still running have been upgraded and repaired. If the car is as nice in person as it looks in the picture I don't see how you could lose at that price even if you put a 3.0 or 3.2 engine in it. The main things I would check would be any presence of rust around the front suspension pan, battery area, rockers, and bottom corners of the rear window. Unless the car was driven in a rust belt area it should be ok. It looks like the shop did a turbo look conversion on it. See if the flares on all 4 corners are metal and how well they were attached. I would think it would cost more than $7995 to do a turbo look conversion with complete paint correctly so be suspicious................

[slodave]

That looks more like a turbo front end.

Make sure the tires and rims are the same size. Maybe it is the pic, but the left front tire looks funny compared to the rear and the front center cap is not painted or missing.

[mbaran]

I am also looking at a slantnose converted 74 for 10,000obo. I like the 74 only because it is smog exempt and I can do some crazy engine things and not worry about BAR and CARB.

Is the 74 drastically different from a 77?

[mbaran]

it just wasnt painted. The tire looks weird probably because of the backspacing?

[slodave]

Check the tires when you look at the car . It may just be the pic.

If you are seriously interested in either car, you'd be best off getting a PPI for them.

[mbaran]

So what are the negatives of a 74 vs a 77? I know about the galvanized body, but anything else outstanding?