Rust, rust, rust. Crawl under it and check the whole underbody. Here in TX I've seen some huge holes in old Burb backs.
I assume you're buying it to restore, not just a beater, so remember the interior is very expensive to repair but a paint job is cheap.
I'd ask some questions about the 454. Has the owner rebuilt it? If it's a 60 over 454 on its last legs, how much is it really worth?
If it's a manual tranny, just find out how old the clutch is - no biggie. You're on your own about an auto, I never mess with 'em.
I think I'd also check for driveshaft slack. With a 454, the shaft may be loose. If it's the ujoints and the owner doesn't know that, use that as a talk-down on the price. If it's the druveshaft, remember a new one will cost $250-$300. It's not fun to spit out a driveshaft.
-- Mike
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