Basic 318 Mods
I could've inspected it, it's that he wouldn't let the car go to a shop without a non refundable deposit and like you said I ran.
I don’t blame the guy for not letting it go to some unknown shop. Or one he isn’t comfortable taking the car to himself when the need arises.
I had a ‘79 Cordoba years back that at the time was an 11 year old cream puff. Everything worked as it should. It was up for sale for 2K. A prospective buyer wanted a guy to look at it. I said sure and I dropped it off.
He called back a day later saying no thanks you better talk to the mechanic!
I get to the shop and the mechanic there say’s I have something to show you. The first item was a leaking main seal that never left a drop behind. No big deal IMO.
However the next item was a rotted passenger rear K frame mount that the ISO suspension was known for. THAT scared the guy away.
The fix? A whopping $2, .060 metal plate cut to size and welded on both sides after rust removal. It just to a minute to loosen the K frame bolts to drop the K frame.
Job done before lunch. The mechanic said he do the job for a $100. (IIRC) This was 1989/90. The rear main he wouldn’t touch.
The thing here is the prospective buyer got scared over spending $2, loosening & then later tightening up 4 K frame bolts, scrubbing dust and welding sheet metal.
Or he has zero for skills……..