Newb from the midwest needs sound advice

[oldbee]

+1, it’s all fixable&you saved another Mopar!

 

[eldubb440]

3.
^^This. Intent is everything and since nobody can prove intent, well....
Buying ANY used car is an "as-is" affair. Buyer beware, do your due diligence, etc.

I hung out on the old eBay Motors discussion board for several years and learned a lot about such matters, especially from the dealers/sellers who also hung out there.
The common threme, time after time, were hundreds of cases of "buyers' remorse" just like what the OP is describing here:
1. Somebody decides they want to pick up the ride of their lives, gets their heads all full of rosy notions that 50+ year old cars drive and run really nicely and without issue like modern ones, and plunk down way too much money for something that looks really great in an ebay ad, usually without either checking the car out in person first or hiring a mechanic/inspection service to check it out on their behalf.
2. They might actually sometimes actually contact the seller (you'd be amazed how many people drop tens of thousands of dollars, sight-unseen, on rides and don't even bother to call the seller!), who is going to naturally paint quite the rosy picture of the car. Buyer takes that story as gospel because well, you know, they want to believe.....
3. The big day comes and the money changes hands and the buyer takes possession and reality sets in. All the warts and niggles of the actual, real-life car present themselves and the buyer feels duped, so they start hollering "fraud!" as the reality of their paying way too much for a car they didn't properly research sets in.
They expect the seller to own up to some real or imagined wrongdoing and to give them some money back. Yeah, right.

Again... behind all the fancy online ads and beautifully written descriptions, beyond the fantasy that there's tons of B-J show quality cars out there for eBay prices and beyond whatever fluffed up promises the seller offers....
What you're left with is the purchase of a used car, usually between two private parties.
The common sense rules apply - do your due diligence, have the car professionally inspected if you can't do it yourself BEFORE you place a bid or make an offer.
Don't get into bidding wars and pay too much.
Finally, accept and understand that ALL such deals carry the understood "as-is" descriptor.
Don't buy a pig in a poke and once the deal is done, don't get all "buyers' remorse" and drive the seller crazy. Honest, deceitful, whatever, money changed hands, deal is over.
As the sellers on EBMDB liked to say "enjoy your new car!"

sounds a lot like online dating...... they never look like the picture and most of them are nuts

 

[moparedtn]

The venue the car was found on doesn't matter.
Bottom line, buying a used car has always involved risk.
If you don't know what you're looking at, get someone who does.
Once money changes hands, it's over.

Welcome to FBBO, best place on planet earth to get help and advice on what to do with that ride now that you own it.

 

[Trey]

The car is great! Body is pretty straight, newer interior. The five speed netted about 16mpg at 70-75mph for the entire drive. Once I tweak a few things: door alignment, exhaust leak at header, get the heater to blow on the floor, toss some new gears in the 8 3/4- howling its *** off, etc. it'll be a bit better. I do need some felt for the window tracks- haven't searched yet, so if any leads/advice, that would be great. This is in Shamrock, TX at the U Drop Inn- great deco building- wish I would have rolled through when open. I'll take some more later.

Thanks again!

 

[khryslerkid]

The car is great! Body is pretty straight, newer interior. The five speed netted about 16mpg at 70-75mph for the entire drive. Once I tweak a few things: door alignment, exhaust leak at header, get the heater to blow on the floor, toss some new gears in the 8 3/4- howling its *** off, etc. it'll be a bit better. I do need some felt for the window tracks- haven't searched yet, so if any leads/advice, that would be great. This is in Shamrock, TX at the U Drop Inn- great deco building- wish I would have rolled through when open. I'll take some more later.

Thanks again!
View attachment 547525

Looks like a nice ride! You'll bounce back. These cars don't depreciate in value.

 

[747mopar]

Sorry to hear about the misrepresentation, been there done that. Bought a car once that advertised "new 350hp crate motor", didn' make it 6 months before it started to rattle... turns out it was a $10 paint job on a 100,000+ mile motor!!! I rebuilt the motor and moved on. Unfortunately these are the types of things that make you a better buyer in the future.

BTW, my 451 combo didn't cost $6,000+.. more like $4,500 with me doing my own assembly.

 

[BDF6]

Nice car, enjoy it!

 

[HawkRod]

Trey,

Welcome to FBBO and sorry to hear what happened.

Everyone is always looking to stroke a 400 block. (Me too, by the way, I just bought one.) But if you have a 383 block already you may just want to consider stoking that and saving yourself some money. 400 blocks aren't cheap. 440 Source makes a stroker kit for the 383 that will give you 496 cubes. The price of a stroker kit will be the same regardless of the block. Maybe just build the block you have? That 383 will run like a scared ape if you build it right!

Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[dieseldazzle]

Take your lumps.
He can just as easily say you pulled the stroker out or may even really believe you did pull the stroker out to dupe him....works both ways...

Just my nickels worth.

Funny Miguel (MigsBigs?) was mentioned.....Kerndog...

 

[Trey]

Update...Gary, the seller, is sending a check for half of what it would cost to build a stroker, minus the value of the 383. I figured him for a stand-up guy, he proved it. I think it's a fair and reasonable settlement for both.
Appreciate the welcomes, and most of the comments.
Now to move on and start gathering parts...Trey

 

[PP1RT]

Good for you!!

Next time have extra eyes look with you. Buying someone lunch is SO much cheaper than getting screwed over. You lucked out this time....learn from it.

 

[eldubb440]

I was wrong..... you made out way better than online dating

 

[Xp29h]

Welcome! After reading all the posts, I would say you did very well! I think you did it the right way and so did the seller! I was wondering how this would end. Like many said, it sucks, but paying for an attorney to fight that one, is taking more cash and giving the old flush! Good for you! Now go build that stroker!

 

[Rick Carson]

Welcome from Canada,nice car, and you did way better than anyone here would have expected i'm sure. Hat's off to Gary for stepping up to the plate