What To Look For When Buying a Project Car

[goos]

Good tips, I've ignored all of these cause im looking for the cheapest car

[meeragray]

Never buy a car if its warmed up when you get there

[aaronrobinson]

Mans buying a $30, 000 project car with all that nowadays

[keepsgoingevr]

Something I do that may seem a little unorthodox. I purchase a new to me used car every year or 2. After a visual inspection on a cold car, I have a friend I bring with me drive the car or truck. The reason I do this is because when you're driving a car you may be excited about getting, you will more than likely not notice certain sounds because you're watching the road and or shifting. As we drive I look all around and listen. I'm free to check out all of the buttons and switches. Once we get halfway through the drive, I hop in the driver seat and complete it. I've actually rejected a vehicle because while in the passenger seat I noticed a super subtle vibration that my buddy driving didn't. We pulled into a parking lot and I had my friend drive around me while I watched the car. Needless to say we found some things that weren't good. So just saying, always bring a buddy. Good luck folks!

[itzl]

This works for anything past 2000. Anything before that expect some mods and a few dings or rust but knowledge on how to repair it is king.

[s_for_short]

Just bought a 1989 Toyota Corolla Sedan with 150k miles for 350$. No blue smoke, hasnt been warmed up, started first try. No leaks. Gearbox is like new, guy was the 2nd owner and it was a 60 something yr old dude. Checks all the right boxes besides high miles but cant complain for the price.

[ogfrom]

Healthy exhausts will have smoke come out but only from condensation being built up, this can happen over night, I also live in a cold area so that could have something to do with it too, I am not sure if this happens in a good temperature.

[ahmadossaily]

Well its not really a project car anymore its a daily

[linkhenry]

Another thing is when you’re looking under the hood check fluid levels, this not only tells you how they maintained it but once you’re in the engine bay looking at stuff usually people cough up information that they usually wouldn’t

[gin]

Shitboxes can be fun. Current daily has warped rotors, abs delete and straight through, but it's a manual V8. So it balances out and will either last forever or be a donor.

[DillyDoesit]

I have warped front rotors on my truck (drums in the rear) dont let that be a deal breaker, it doesnt feel amazing but it is an easy fix for like $200 (in my truck that is), but even if only one is warped you have to replace both, otherwise you will warp the one you didnt replace

[jinmannn]

I check out a NB Miata today. 9 previous owners, 240k miles, 1 accident. I pulled carfax and the first 3 owners put on the 200k miles and the subsequent owners put the last 40k. It’s 2500 obo so we’ll see how it goes. If no frame damage then I pick it up assuming no other offer :)

[thegrimchiefer]

Looking for a project car? Here’s some tips: make sure it’s in factory condition and doesn’t need any projects done on it
Most peoples idea of a project car is something cheap that needs work, not a top of the market factory maintained example to build the motor and twin turbo
Love the vids tho, like the one where you talk about rebuilding the Subaru engine for your classes

[.anthony]

Yessir make sure it’s cold and always drive on the freeway, if they don’t let you don’t buy it

[Redjfish]

Make sure you look under it as well. Especially if your in a wetter climate the car my run well and be mechanically perfect but underneath the frame/body and subframe could be rusted to shit.

[jasoncramer]

Also, if it's 4x4 with a LSD or locker take it and test it. Make sure it works, if it's a manual see how the clutch behaves. Dump it, see if it'll just spin. Slowly bring it up to see if it's burnt. Listen for rattles in the exhaust, and smell of gas.

When my dad bought me my truck (97 ranger 2wd) we just got it and went to fill it up, smelled gas and saw some on the floor. Few months went by amd we eventually found the filler neck had dry rotted away. About 3 months after getting it, noticed the clutch wouldn't fully engage every now and then, weak springs. Now after 4 years of having the truck the exhaust rattles around 1500 rpms under load which is fine

[rfbu]

Check the ac during summer, check if the high speed fan spins at high temp, check if transmission shifts up and down smootly

[Z_zx]

Cool advice but I found a 300zx for 900 bucks so I bought it good condition outside and inside just half the engine was in the trunk but that’s whatever

[cameronbennett-ferland]

Great tips for buying a used car, but it’s not much of a project car if it’s in ship shape

[BurgerKingPlaneGuy]

Start the car and open the oil cap on the valve cover and if you feel a lot of air being choo chood out then the head gasket is bad.
Sniff the transmission fluid, if it smells or looks burned that's a red flag. Make sure the odometer still works, and all the windows and locks work