Bought 21000 mile 69 dart. Need road trip advice

Thanks for the advice and the welcome.

I don't think the cooling system has been touched and looking at the radiator the corners all have collapsed fins. I'll have to do something about that.

When I say valve chatter I should say valve clatter. It almost sounds like a diesel engine when it's cold. I'm not sure it's the valves. It could be an exhaust leak or something else. It's a lot louder than a tick. It seems to quiet down when the engine is warm.

I own a 66 beetle and am used to loud rattly engines so I'm not sure how much engine noise is normal on a slant six.