Old mopar's. What do I need to know?

[Dave72dt]

It would have been nice to see the amp gauge while you were starting it or if you turned the lights on or when you backed off the throttle or revved it the first time just after starting or when you turned it off.  Did you see a deflection in the needle to the right as you started it?  Needle a bit to the left of center after it's been running would be normal if the needle went back to the center after it was turned off. 

 

[matt167]

The video was shown to me by the owner. That’s why I wasn’t sure what i was looking at.  Normally I would have turned the headlights on to put a load on it and see what it did. I’m familiar with ammeters just it looked dead to me and I wasn’t sure. The car is 3.5 hours away from me 

[Ivan_B]

Forget about the ammeter, go take a look at it before it's gone. You'll haul it with a trailer anyway. Check the important things liker condition of the body (underneath), brakes, wheel bearings, kingpins, control arms, and steering mechanism.

[Sniper]

With the engine running watch the ammeter turn on the headlights you should see the needle flick towards discharge momentarily until the generator catches up. Or turn the engine off turn the headlights on and the needle will go towards discharge

[matt167]

I’m in talks with the owner about when I can come. Otherwise I probably would have already gone.  Wife told me we should just get it. The guy offered to transport it for me as well but I could also get a U haul transport trailer if needed 

[matt167]

Well I looked at the car. Not as nice as I thought but still nice and above my expectations. The owner wiggled on the price quite a bit so it looks like I’m going to get it… wife had to sleep on it but she actually wants it.

 

itll need tires due to having ancient Goodyear radials ( great shape but I wouldn’t drive them )

[Ivan_B]

1 hour ago, matt167 said:

Not as nice as I thought but still nice and above my expectations.

I am sorry, but I don't follow this sentence... 🤨

Did you take pictures? What's wrong with it?

[matt167]

I didn’t take pictures.. the paint is not as nice as I expected ( still nice enough for me ) and the rear seat is torn in 2 places that I don’t remember seeing… also the front and rear seat materials don’t match.  Front is mint condition… I’ll buy fitted covers to match and that will be good enough for me.   I also don’t think it is charging correctly but I can’t tell really.  The ammeter doesn’t move while running but does show a slight discharge with lights on…. I’m thinking it might be time for a 6v pos ground alternator.   But it fires up and runs great, and it really is pretty much untouched just maintained

[Ivan_B]

14 minutes ago, matt167 said:

I also don’t think it is charging correctly but I can’t tell really.

The quickest check is probably to compare batty voltage running vs. non-running. The rest of the problems do not really sound like problems, unless you are buying a mint daily-driven car for lots of $. All used cars usually need some regular maintenance, and the old ones also have wear due to materials' aging and improper storage

[matt167]

I meant to bring a volt meter but forgot.  I agree. It’s just a nice old car. It needs a little here and there but it’s 70 years old