Are there any specific things to look out for on a '65 Dart with a 273? (Yes, I know this is not a V8 site, but I like the advice I've gotten here!)

I've gotten more comfortable and confident working on my '74 Swinger over the last year or so, and my son is bugging me to look at a '65 Dart 270 with a 273 V8 and 66K miles. The owner has had it for 25 years, mostly parked for the last 18. He says it starts if you put gas in the carb.

I've seen other advice about what to look for in general, and I learned a few good lessons from my first project car (74 Duster). Now I'd like to know if there are any common and hard-to-fix problems I should look for specifically in a 1965 or a 273.

The 273 shares a lot of similarities with the larger 318 and even the 340 and 360, but some things are unique to the 273 and the other parts won't fit. IIRC the 318 heads and valves won't fit, but I could be wrong. I do know the physical dimensions are pretty much identical. I've never owned one, but I've heard they are durable and can be made to produce power.

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If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.

The only stand out issue for me is the 1965-only cable shifter and valve body if it's an automatic.

You still get the joy of adjusting the valve lash with the 273. The later intake manifolds don't fit the early heads, but 318 heads bolt on and the '85-'90 318 2 bbl heads have similar, closed, combustion chambers. 273/318 valves are generally the same sizes.

Don't forget the driver's side lug nuts are Left Hand threaded so it's righty-loosey.

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Joshua

Thanks for correcting me. It's been a while since I've seen a 273, ever since high school and my friend David had one in a `cuda. I completely forgot about he righty-loosey thing too. I still remember my dad cussing next to his Plymouth when I was a kid.

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If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.

Check it very closely for floorboard and frame horn rot, especially if it is a rubber floormat car.

The driver's side exhaust manifold is 63-66 273 only too. They are kinda scarce if yours is broken or missing.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

A fair number of repairs on the V8 cars are considerably more of a pain in the nuts to do than on the 6-cylinder cars. They made the V8 fit, but the cars were designed for the Slant-6, and it shows.
It is not exaggerating to say the car will need extensive, major refurbishment after sitting for two decades. Virtually every rubber part will have perished (not just hoses and belts, but body and engine and transmission and brake and axle seals, suspension bushings, etc.). The brake hydraulics are utterly untrustworthy and unroadworthy at this point; it'll all need replacing. Very likely extensive rust in the rear axle ring and pinion. Engine, too. Exhaust system, front to back. Tires. And that's to say nothing of bodywork, interior work, electrical repairs from critters chewing on the wires...you will spend many, many times what you pay for the car itself before it is dependable and safe. Cars don't just wear out from use, they wear out from non-use; in many ways faster and worse.
Not really, no.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

The '63 273 is rarest of all; there were exactly zero of them built!

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

318 heads fit just fine, and the '85-'89 "302" (casting number) heads with their high-squirrel* combustion chamber are the favoured upgrade. Note that '64-'65 273s have differently-angled intake manifold hardware, so you can't put a '66-up intake on an engine with '64 or '65 heads without crude drill-out operations. Swapping '66-up heads onto the early engine is easy and problem-free.


(high squirrels only in Washington, Colorado, Oregon, and the District of Columbia; elsewhere it's high-swirl)

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Well, thanks to everyone for the tips, and to Dan especially for answering the question I didn't know to ask, namely how the extended sitting time would affect the "squishy bits." My '74 Swinger sat in a garage from 2006 to 2014, but most of the rubber pieces were in pretty good shape. I suppose 18 years is longer than 8, and this '65 looks like it's been kept outside. Here's the ad if anyone is curious. I haven't looked at the car yet, but the owner says the interior is in good shape except for fading on the seat backs. He also says it had the undercoating and is rust-free and solid. It's probably a great candidate for someone who wants to do a full resto, but I'm not sure I'm up for that. Actually the biggest consideration is I'm only allowed one project car, so this would be a swap for the Swinger, which is almost ready to be a daily driver. As much as I prefer the '65 style over the blocky mid-70's style (and the V8 is tempting), I think the Swinger is a better car for me and my son right now.

The interior's not going to be substantially better than the exterior, which is pretty weatherbeaten. Checked prices for bumper rechroming lately? $$$$. Also, I bet you a case of beer that car has more rust than meets the eye.
Undercoating doesn't just retard rust, it also hides it.
Definitely, and just going by four not-very-illustrative pics, it's priced reasonably.
That is a very wise rule. I wish it had been enforced on me from the start of my involvement in this hobby.
Big satisfaction in bringing a car back to daily-driver levels of intactness and dependability. You're (over)due for new rear springs, which will lift the sagging rear end of the car and restore all kinds of good things (ride height, handling, cargo capacity, aerodynamics such as they are...).
A stock 273 doesn't feel very different to a reasonably warmed-up 225.

Safer, too. Side-impact door guard beams, collapsible steering column, possibly better brakes, more impact-resistant fuel tank and system, better conspicuity (side marker lights, etc), better bumpers, and although the 3-point seat belts in it are somewhat obnoxious in their operation (better modern replacements see links from here).

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

How do you know I don't have a dead guy in the trunk? OK, you just gave me another good item on my do-list. I'm sure I should do the shocks at the same time.
Yes, they are a little obnoxious in how they don't allow you to move once buckled in. Worse, they aren't really safe, because they sit so high up on your gut I think they would go right through your spleen if you actually needed them. Thanks for the link to the replacements. I actually just yesterday called Legendary looking for more modern replacements, but they didn't have them. I'll check out your British recommendation.