Need help assessing this 1965 Dodge Dart 270 4-dr sedan

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Left front has a ding, can't see the right front.....









Left front has a ding
 
An update: the owner's asking price is $5000. I offered $2400 and he balked. I raised it to $3000 and he says he's got an offer from another interested party for $4000 - but that guy's out of town. He said he's got too much money in it to accept my offer. So I'm not sure what to do next. I have a feeling he'd take $4000 from me if I offered to match the other guy. Is that too much for this car?

Also, here's a photo of the only number I could find on the engine block. Does it mean anything?

I'd appreciate your thoughts on the price... Thanks!

IMG_9584.jpeg
 
That looks like the water pump, not the block. Look more toward the driver's side behind the power steering pump. It'll be up at the top edge of the block, just below the head gaskets seam. It's probably painted over, so, you may have to scrape a bit of paint off to see it unless you get the light just right. If you can get it up in the air, or, if you have a real good mirror, you can see what the block casting is above the starter.
 
i'd go $3500 and be ready to walk away. when you get car buying fervor, it rarely works out. i bet the "out of town" guy never materializes
 
After the tires comes the master cylinder upgrade to a duel reservoirs. I think the radio and brake lights are on the same circuit. Probably a fuse but don't tell him. Electronics are getting old and could have corrosion causing higher amperage draws causing blown fuses. And down the rabbit hole you go. I think $3500 is max.
 
I would walk away at 3,000 because it is a 4 door and an early A unless you plan on keeping it a long time you will be the same as him : Way more into it than what you ever get out of it.
 
When you check the transmission fluid the trans must be in neutral NOT PARK! Mopars differ from other cars in that respect.

Looks like a nice western car...
 
Bodyperson said:
You should think about this statement. It's not the buyers fault he into it more than it's worth.
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Right? I mean, he put money into it to make it road worthy and safe. It's not like he bothered to replace the broken antenna or the wheel well moulding.
 
Okay! I got it for $3500 and I got her home without incident! Now the hard work begins... First order of business is to get new tires. We'd like to get white walls, but I'm having trouble figuring out what size tire to get since it has both 185/80/R13 and 175/70/R13 on it. By the looks of it, 13-inch tires are mostly trailer tires these days. Can anyone suggest a suitable size and WW tire that's under $70/tire? Where do you guys look for tires on these old-timers? Most sites don't go back to 1965. Thanks!
 
Flyingbuff said:
Okay! I got it for $3500 and I got her home without incident! Now the hard work begins... First order of business is to get new tires. We'd like to get white walls, but I'm having trouble figuring out what size tire to get since it has both 185/80/R13 and 175/70/R13 on it. By the looks of it, 13-inch tires are mostly trailer tires these days. Can anyone suggest a suitable size and WW tire that's under $70/tire? Where do you guys look for tires on these old-timers? Most sites don't go back to 1965. Thanks!
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Congrats on your a body. For tire the first thing I'd look for are 14 inch rims. Goes a long way in the future and improves handling. You have to buy the tires anyways. Take a ride to your nearest junkyard. Also plan on spending $1,000 - $2500 more before you get in good running cond. Find a good garage that works on old cars. Have them pull the wheels and ck the brakes and brake lines then have them change the trans fluid and adj the bands. Hopefully there is a drain on the convertor and check the adjustment on the kickdown lever. Also it would be a GREAT idea to have them swap over to a dual master cly. (a major safety issue). These things also have mechanical camshafts. So have them do a tune up (points/plugs) and adj. the valves set timing at 12 btdc. Also have them put a wrench on everything as you never know what's been changed on old cars. I'm sorry for all the work but this will at least get you a very good start. PS make sure the battery is always up to charge. And most important HAVE FUN.
 
LO23M8B said:
Congrats on your a body. For tire the first thing I'd look for are 14 inch rims. Goes a long way in the future and improves handling. You have to buy the tires anyways. Take a ride to your nearest junkyard. Also plan on spending $1,000 - $2500 more before you get in good running cond. Find a good garage that works on old cars. Have them pull the wheels and ck the brakes and brake lines then have them change the trans fluid and adj the bands. Hopefully there is a drain on the convertor and check the adjustment on the kickdown lever. Also it would be a GREAT idea to have them swap over to a dual master cly. (a major safety issue). These things also have mechanical camshafts. So have them do a tune up (points/plugs) and adj. the valves set timing at 12 btdc. Also have them put a wrench on everything as you never know what's been changed on old cars. I'm sorry for all the work but this will at least get you a very good start. PS make sure the battery is always up to charge. And most important HAVE FUN.
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If you're not worried about keeping it stock, I'd consider doing a big bolt pattern disc brake conversion and get some 15" wheels for it. I just had a 225/70/14 tire go bad and had to order it. Just had to wait a day, but 14" tires are getting phased out too it seems. If you're going to keep the stock 13" wheels, take a look on the Discount Tire website.
 
LO23M8B said:
Congrats on your a body. For tire the first thing I'd look for are 14 inch rims. Goes a long way in the future and improves handling. You have to buy the tires anyways. Take a ride to your nearest junkyard. Also plan on spending $1,000 - $2500 more before you get in good running cond. Find a good garage that works on old cars. Have them pull the wheels and ck the brakes and brake lines then have them change the trans fluid and adj the bands. Hopefully there is a drain on the convertor and check the adjustment on the kickdown lever. Also it would be a GREAT idea to have them swap over to a dual master cly. (a major safety issue). These things also have mechanical camshafts. So have them do a tune up (points/plugs) and adj. the valves set timing at 12 btdc. Also have them put a wrench on everything as you never know what's been changed on old cars. I'm sorry for all the work but this will at least get you a very good start. PS make sure the battery is always up to charge. And most important HAVE FUN.
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Thank you! If I switch to 14-inch rims will I lose the ability to use the hubcaps? Also, does anyone know where I can find this front left wheel well trim? I don't know if there is a nation-wide salvage search website. Thanks!

IMG_9697.jpeg


IMG_9696.jpeg
 
cudamark said:
If you're not worried about keeping it stock, I'd consider doing a big bolt pattern disc brake conversion and get some 15" wheels for it. I just had a 225/70/14 tire go bad and had to order it. Just had to wait a day, but 14" tires are getting phased out too it seems. If you're going to keep the stock 13" wheels, take a look on the Discount Tire website.
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I think I'd like to keep it stock for now. How can I find out what the original tire size was? Thanks.
 
Looks like that wheel was a replacement off a light blue car. I'd put on the biggest 13" tire I could find if you're not going to change the wheels.
 
Flyingbuff said:
I think I'd like to keep it stock for now. How can I find out what the original tire size was? Thanks.
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13" tires are limited. You may need to just put on what is available.
 
cudamark said:
Looks like that wheel was a replacement off a light blue car. I'd put on the biggest 13" tire I could find if you're not going to change the wheels.
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I think the car was originally light blue and was painted white at some point.
 
13" tires are almost dinosaurs, & a decent selection of 14" are getting harder to find also. There are some aftermarket 15" wheels with the 5 on 4" pattern, you just have to search them out & decide what wheel you would like on the car.
 
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