Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 18:29:16 GMT From: "Jim Harrison" <jlharrisonnopsamspring.com> Subject: Valve Job Advice - Diagnosis
I am an old Saab enthusiast recently returning to the fold. I've had a 1964, 1969 (96), 1971 (96) and a 1973 (97, Sonnet). I recently bought an 88 900T with 148,000 miles, Compression is 150, 125, 120 155. I haven't yet receive the Benchley manual I ordered and have no idea what the specs call for. The car billows blue smoke for the first ten minutes and then burns none once warm. It is not using anti-freeze or oil in significant quantities. No oil in water or water in oil. I had two opinions as the oil problem. One said head gasket the other said turbo seals. I would like to make the car reliable. Can anyone tell me what's the problem? I am a weekend mechanic and have a good machine shop nearby. If it is the turbo: 1. How big a job is it to pull the turbo? (I've got a turbo rebuilder one town over, so I can get the job done inexpensively if I pull it myself.) and 2. Is it still worthwhile to pull the head and scrape excess carbon and lap the valves before it gets worse? If it's the head, I am considering doing the head removal and replacement and letting the machine shop grind or lap valves, check/plane the head surface. 1. Should I tackle the removal and replacement myself? 2. Do I need any special tools? 3. How long should it take me? 4. What should the machine shop charges cost me? My thanks in advance for your advice. Jim Harrison jharrisonnopsampp.com