Need advise on '73 Electra

Ok so I need some advice on an opportunity for a 1973 Electra 225 Ltd. It's the 2 door hardtop with a 455, TH400, and posi rear. The guy selling it says it has a little over 100k miles and is in very good condition but hasn't been started for about 6 years. It has been sitting, covered and winterized with the spark plugs removed. The body has a few rust spots here and there from sitting around and the interior is more or less perfect. He said that it ran very well 6 years ago but when he tried to start it recently the ignition was stuck. He said it would most likely have to be towed home but the asking price right now is very reasonable.

Any advice on this situation would be greatly appreciated and if anyone knows if this starter issue is common/easy to fix that'd be great.

Thanks in advance.

-Rick

 

Why the he77 did he remove the plugs? NOT a good move. Check the oil and see if it looks watery before you try to spin it. Put a socket on the crank bolt and see if it is frozen. If it's not frozen up, it will spin easily with no compression.

If you like it, see if the seller will let you try to get it to run as a condition of you buying it. Maybe he'll let you.

I'd be a little wary of this one, unless you were going to rebuild it anyway.

 

Rick -- these big Es do not bring much money with fewer miles in known great running condition. I would have to know what you mean by reasonable but with this many unknowns I would not get beyond $500-1000 unless I knew a lot more about the issues with it and I had investigated the alternatives. If you say it has a few rust spot here and there on the outside generally when you get to the backside where the rust started the damage is much, much worse. I would pass and look for a perfect example with no issues.

 

He is asking $800 right now which means $500 would probably work. I'm going to look at it saturday morning so I can always report back with an update.

Anything else I should specifically look for?

 

Look at these from the bottom up and the inside out. If it has rust walk. It is too expensive to deal with. If it has been stored ourtsde walk. If it has a vinyl top you most likely should walk. Usually damage has started at the bottom near where it meets the body. Look in the trunk.

It is hard to inspect one without it being on a lift. I would be concerned about what is really wrong with the engine. It may be that a piston is stuck in a cylinder wall.

 

I was lucky that My '76 was stored inside for the 10 years before I bought it.

 

6 years is a long time for a car to sit and not run. when you check it out try to get underneath the car and see how bad the rust has gotten to the fuel and brake lines. the rotors , brake drums, and the suspension also suffer when a car sits this long, especially if its outdoors, covered or not. ask the owner if its still got the same gas when he parked it. if it does dont even think about starting it without getting some fresh gas in it. the old gas has turned to varnish and will damage your valves. be careful and good luck.

 

Like others have said you should be a able to find a good condition running one for not a ton of money. As this website illustrates the sport models are what is popular with folks. You can get the larger Buicks even in very decent condition for a very reasonable price.

 

Thanks so much for all the advice. I'll let you all know how it goes. I will post some pictures too.

 

True. I plan on keeping mine for a long time for that very reason! Boats are very cool!

 

Rob that white Electra looks so nice. You should definitely hold on to that.

 

If you can get it running and it only costs a few hundred dollars, I'd buy it, as long as the rust isn't very bad.

 

if that car was near me, it would already be in my driveway

 

Thanks Rick. Good luck on getting the car you're looking for.

Rob

 

Pics!Pics! NJ cars aren't usually that bad.But do look at the frame and body mounts around the rear.

 

Ok so here's the update. I'm not impressed with the body. I feel like there is too much rust for it to be worth the time and money. The interior however is immaculate. It would need more effort than I think it's worth so what I think I have decided is that I'm going to pull the motor, trans, and posi rear and transplant them into the Regal.

As always, suggestions/opinions are more than welcome.

And here are some pictures...

 

Pull the engine/trans- I'll take the rest. A trip to Pa./Del. is coming up very soon. The rear won't fit in your Regal. The trans will,but you would have to have a driveshaft made for it. I have a 3.73 posi out of a 442 Olds that would bolt into your Regal. Maybe we could do a trade?Hmmm. The Electra uses a longshaft TH400. A shortshaft trans would be a little better,but no big deal at all.

 

You are about 45 minutes from my aunt/uncles place in Oxford,Pa.

 

did you check to see if the motor runs? too bad it sat outside for so long.