Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2003 12:28:54 -0300 From: Dexter J <lamealameadingdongnopsamlamelame.org> Subject: Re: Smokin' exhaust - more info.....
Salutations: Andy Evans wrote: > > you may well be looking at some serious work .. The SAAB owner either starts > looking around for another used one or starts fixing whole system problems > because the rest of the shell/systems are pretty good and you might get another > 100,000 miles>> > > That's exactly it. One day I think "this is the end - no more" then the next I > think "I've replaced the radiator, drive shaft, clutch, petrol pump, exhaust > manifold etc.etc. and there's damn near no rust on it - there's enough new > parts to see me on for 100,000 miles, sagging headliner be damned." I really > could do with a 16 valve J reg - one of the last of the classics, and a hatch > as well. But the saloon is prettier.......... > > === Andy Evans === > Visit our Website:- http://www.artsandmedia.com > Audio, music and health pages and interesting links. Well brother Evans - given you have already made a *series* of trips to the shop and thusly invested in the machine - my take is that you should perform the leak down and pressure test the cooling system - then make a point of repairing all that you can in one pass based on the testing.. The trick to saving yourself a lot of cash is to - not - allow the shop to fix one part of a greater system problem because you will be back to fix the other components in due course.. This is expensive as a great deal of paid time is spent tearing down things and putting them back together to fix stuff that could have been dealt with in one pass (assuming you are actually paying for real hours - not 'book time').. You are presenting what really sounds to me like a coolant breach somewhere (perhaps in addition to valve seals) - this would indicate that the engine was overheated at some point do to lack of coolant.. You replaced the rad, I assume it wasn't just because you didn't like the patina on the OEM item.. If the leak down doesn't put air bubbles in your reservoir bottle (thermostat in) thank what ever god you worship - then pressure test the cooling system (thermostat out) to see if it's leaking fluid into the turbo or out from some other surface (sister Laura's wise observation).. Depending on what else the testing tells you - (for example - you discover that a fair bit of air is passing the rings or your head gasket/frost plugs are leaking out from the block) - then you have to make a call about the greater engine.. The upside to having wisely bought a SAAB is that you can then look around for transplants as A LOT of major and minor SAAB components are interchangeable between a lot of years (whole decades sometimes) and model lines.. I'm in exactly the opposite position myself - I have a sweet engine evenly within 3-4 pounds of OEM compression with a turbo that has all the bounce it was released with and an auto tranny that works perfectly.. My shell and interior and window/roof systems and body harness are all pretty much on their last legs (I have the CD - which is a pretty thing I agree).. I have upgraded the exhaust, springs/shocks and have dropped in new motor mounts - but - the car itself is making some lifestyle statements I would not otherwise like to make.. Soooo - I am very close to picking up a mid 90's 9000 5 door with a dead V6/tranny and swapping over the '89 2.0T drive train, supporting engine harness and computer.. It (well more importantly my engine mounts) apparently 'bolt in' and as long as I move over the older gauge cassette, the engine management harness, the cruise controller and swap out the fuel pump - I should be able to roll along until the V6 body finally rusts out - which should be about the time the engine finally has a fatal event.. The springs, shocks exhaust can be removed and boxed for later use on the replacement as needed and I should be able to save the seat heaters and slip them into the rear seats.. I may even take the radio and slip it in the back ashtray with a headphone set up for the kids.. I have been collecting rear interior and door lights for while for transplant into my motor home and may save a few other bits from the dash and window controller units for there or the new body as well.. No one here has any thoughts on the value of the V6 body with dead engine, so I'll have to go with what I think it's worth.. But I don't think it's worth much without a working engine and tranny myself.. The expensive bit will be the transplant.. Anyway - I think you now have all I have to offer you - good luck and please report back as to final disposition.. If you update your site - I wouldn't mind a link back to Radio Free Dexterdyne if you think it's worth the link.. I have built a system that goes out of it's way to protect DCMA rights and have been looking around for links from musician sites to spread the word.. There is a lot of ignorance regarding codex and I think I've come up with a good solution.. No pwob if you don't want to - but it never hurts to ask.. Cheers.. -- J Dexter - webmaster - http://www.dexterdyne.org/ all tunes - no cookies no subscription no weather no ads no news no phone in - RealAudio 8+ Required - all the Time Radio Free Dexterdyne Top Tune o'be-do-da-day Tim Tamashiro - All I do is Dream of You http://www.dexterdyne.org/888/155.RAM
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
