What do people think is important to look at when buying a Serria donor car? I need to know pre 6 tonight!
I will check Win numbers and engine numbers again v5, check the exhaust on cold start, and have been offered a trundle about so check other bits like brakes then. Is there anything else that is usually worth looking at.
Still looking for a 2.8 granada, but ill probably settle for this is the price remains right!

check the gearbox, depending which type you wanna run. a type 9 is good for quaife gearkits etc and removable bellhousing (fit a nice ally one) mt75 is apparantly larger too, but should still fit a normal tunnel i think. difference (which i always get wrong way round) between type9 and mt75 is reverse is either top left or bottom right.

also engine of course. the dohc is less favoured compared to a pinto.

Ned.

If you intend reconditioning everything then so long as the car is complete then thats ok,but if your on a budget then engine noise is a nono.Rumbling means the bottom end is knackered.Top end rattles mean the cam might be worn.Excessive smoke means the piston rings are probably knackered(although a puff of smoke on startup is ok becaus pinto,s weep oil through the valve seels but this is a cheep fix.White gung on the oil filler cap means the head gasket may have gone.Gearbox should engage all gears easily and lever shouldn,t be too sloppy.There should be no whining in any gear or rumbling from the back axle.Any thing else that is faulty or not working just gives you room to haggle on price but doesn,t realy matter cos you probably won,t need it any way.
Good wheels and tyres are a bonus and check the half shafts for excessive play.

Thanks very helpful!
It was a DOHC. But might think about just placing the granada engine in and use the rest of this...?
Gear stick, the reverse was down to the right. Anyone confirm if this is type 9?
Might be a bargin at the right price. As with anything in life though!

All the DOHC's had MT75 boxes, with reverse right and down, Type 9's are left and up