blu-nightbreed posted:

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Fantastic!!!! I knew from the symptoms it had to be the cold start valve... but glad it was just a wiring issue. Italian cars are wired like a plate of pasta, I know this from experience....

As for my project car, my poor little convertible Saab has issues. After a new top, new tires, new coolant, oil change, new brakes, rotors, and rear calipers, new plugs, cap, rotor, wires, new exhaust, new driver's seat leather, new stereo, new belts, valve cover gasket, fixed headlight issues, new ignition key and shifter lock, and repaired washer motor.... It's been sitting in my garage since mid June, as the engine has started making that "couple of marbles in a coffee can" rattle of impending lower-end-bearing-DOOM. She needs an engine.

It's still running, although I don't drive it, since in that car if I throw a rod it goes through the transmission (no separate oil pan).

Looking at options. I've decided to rebuild it, because while it's not economically viable (I'll never get the $2500 or so back out of the car once it's rebuilt) I have a wholly irrational love of the car, and once I get the engine done it'll just need a coat of paint to be pretty much factory perfect) and I intend to drive the hell out of it. There's a very good independent Saab mechanic near me who'll do it, although it may take him several months to get around to it, and it'll cost at least $2500.

Otherwise, I might tackle it myself with a buddy of mine. We've done a few engines and transmissions before together on his cars, and I figure he owes me one. Problem is, in the Saab 900, you must essentially disassemble the entire front of the car -- the engine and trans are one unit, mounted backwards longitudinally (the belts are against the firewall, the clutch is at the radiator... wtf?) and you must disassemble the suspension to get the engine out, then separate it from the trans just to see the bearings. It's a load of work, but the rebuild kit for the engine is only about $300 for bearings and rings, and I can get a rebuilt turbo for another $300 or so (or the kit for $150). Would be a savings of cash but also a beast of a job...

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Taebaek_of_Baekjae posted:

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A Spyder?

I had one when I was in highschool. I can't tell you how many times I wished I still had it when making the drive from Bellingham to Burlington.

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LaceTP posted:

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As in B-town WA? :P I'm moving from Alger back to Mount Vernon this weekend. lol.

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CutchaGuy posted:

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Holy crap, Blu! And here I thought that only Italians are bass-ackward when it came to cars! I was looking at pictures of the Saab 900...not a fan of the coupe model, but the convertible was actually really cool looking. I can easily see why you like that model.

In Economics, that $2500 you put into the car is a "sunk cost." You are right in that you won't see that money returned, but Econ folks also say that people won't do something unless they see a benefit outweighing the cost of doing/buying something. I can see you paying that cash, but I can see you doing the rebuild yourself to not only save money, but also really getting involved in your car. I wish I had the skills and ability to do similar things: remove engine, clean out everything, do a proper prep and paint of inside and out, update the wiring harness, and reassemble so that I would know more. But alas...

I'm going to focus on creating and replacing all the wood panels, building a box in the trunk to dress it up nicely, and remove the back seat and put in a shelf instead. Going to be a fun couple of years!

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