Alright so im buying a 79 camaro off of craigslist and being new to the older model, i dont what to check for.. My recent ride is a 95 camaro and i guess i could say i know my way around the 4th gen camaros better then any other car. So basically like any other individual, i dont want to get ripped off.. Heres the link http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/1332302701.html Any ideas?

 

I'd ask if he has receipts for the items mentioned, especially the rebuilt motor. If he'll do a compression check that would be nice, but if it runs well, doesn't smoke, and the price is right, I'd use my gut instincts.
Not much different to check than with buying any used car. Look for signs of rippled body panels, rsut, or bondo. Sometimes early Camaros can rust out behind the front or rear wheelwells, if not kept clean down there. Look for bubbles in the paint down low that will indicate rust growing underneath.

 

i see.. Well i took the car for a spin and when turned on it kinda feels like it wants to go off.. i would kinda have to rev it up a bit to prevent that. i dont know if this regular with 2nd gen camaros, but every time i want to turn it on i gotta step on the gas pedal twice and then hold the ignition in the on position to make it start. Could it be a bad carburetor or something else? And if it is, how much for a new one and where can i find it cheap? Thanks

 

Could be carb or vacuum leak or a number of things. Older cars dont start like fuel injected cars so you usually have to give it some gas before you start it. did it run good after starting? Would it idle good?

 

i wount pay moure then 3000 for it

 

Pretty common for carburated cars to not start without hitting the throttle a few times, or holding it down a little. If it doesn't want to stay running, it might just be because it's cold, or needs the choke set properly.
You're not buying a new vehicle, so be prepared for a learning curve as compared to your newer Camaro. If you grew up with carburated cars, it's probably not an issue.

 

I just bought a 79 in june and it does the same thing when it first starts up man... just rev it a couple times and the idle will regulate...then throw it in gear and you will be fine.

 

MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THE FRAME RAILS IN THE REAR, THE TRUNK PAN AND THE FLOORS..... i made that mistake already and i got a rot bucket and had to buy a california body and now i have to swap everything over not a big deal but a big waste of money to buy 2 when i could have just bought 1... just check it throughly hit the frame with a screwdriver a couple times in diff spots and/or squeeze the frame rails between your had and if its squishy DO NOT BUY IT

 

^made the same mistake
I bought a 78 that looked beautiful at first glance with a few little rust spots, and i made the mistake of not throughly looking under the car and now i discover that my rear floors are about to fall out of my car if some fat guy got in the back of my car from all the rust. Take a good look around the car top to bottom looking for rust (and my 78 also starts the say way, its just the way carbs work)

 

if the fenders and quarters have what appears to be surface rust...get under there and see if they are rusting through....trust me my 76 needs new panels because what i thought was surface rust.