Look for play in the steering; ie the steering wheel turns well before the wheels start to move, column moves up and down etc. (It does adjust so make sure the adjuster is tight)<br>
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Look for wear on the inner edges of front tyres<br>
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Look for rot especially in the cills and chassis rails. Boot floor, top of rear window, rear arches, front of front wings, bottoms of doors, base of windscreen pillars/front scuttle, front panel are all rot points where you may find filler. See if the headlamps wobble as this belies the condition of the mounting panel.<br>
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Check viscous coupling for play (if it has one)<br>
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Check there is a thermostat fitted and that the temperature doesn't exceed halfway at idle without being driven.<br>
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Standard mild stell exhaust blowing will probably mean replacement with an aftermarket s/s one<br>
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Listen for diff whine when driving.<br>
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Second gear will crunch first on a rapid change on a worn 'box<br>
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There should be little or no delay in the overdrive kicking in.<br>
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You should have a good couple of inches of travel in the clutch pedal. listen also for spin or squeal.<br>
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Look where the car is normally parked to see what drops out of it when its still.<br>
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Look for worn carb mounts - lean gently down on the carbs and you'll see all the splits appear.<br>
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Listen for rattles from the top and front of the engine which get louder when you take off the filler cap. A good engine 'hums' a tired one 'chatters'.<br>
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Look under the front carb; there is a slot cast into the block on the vertical face. This should be neither dribbling water or oil and it shouldn't be gummed up with anything either. These would indicate a worn waterpump.<br>
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Bored now and off to the gym; no doubt others will fill in the inevitable gaps!!!!
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