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It sounds as if your carb is seriously hosed, and some previous owner who didn't want to rebuild/replace it tried to solve the problem by disabling the choke and then by removing the air cleaner so he wouldn't have to take it off every time he wanted to start the car!
I agree with the other person who said that if it won't run with the flap all the way open, it's too lean -- could just be filthy jets, but if your carb is a FoMoCo, it may have the dreaded worn-throttle syndrome (metal of the carb body wears around moving parts of the throttle plate, allowing extra air to leak through and making the mixture go lean.)
So, I would say that (assuming you want to save money) step 1 is to remove the carb, clean it, and put a rebuild kit in it. The little FoMoCo isn't very complicated (a Capri version was my very first carb rebuild job) so you shouldn't need to be an expert mechanic to do it -- assuming you can FIND a rebuild kit and it comes with instructions. Something to do at your kitchen table on a chilly night... and if it doesn't work, all you're out is your time and the cost of the rebuild kit.
If a rebuild restores the carb to health (i.e. engine runs OK with choke flap open when fully warmed up) then all you have to do is solve the choke problem. You might be able to get all the auto-choke plumbing and hardware from a Saab salvage yard (check the classifieds) but an easy fix is to buy a "manual choke conversion kit" from an auto supply store and install it. You just run the cable back inside the car so you can open and close the choke. I like this better than an auto choke because it's simpler and more reliable, although it does require a bit more management.
If this fixes the carb problem, all you need to do is get an air cleaner from a salvage yard and you're set.
If the carb can't be resurrected via a rebuild, or if you can't find a rebuild kit, or if you just don't want to bother, I concur that a Weber 34ICH is a good replacement. Buy one from one of our Saab parts specialists (see classifieds) rather than GenericCheapestParts.com, to be sure you get the correct linkage piece and jets. The carb neck is about the same size as the FoMoCo, so theoretically you should be able to adapt the stock air cleaner to fit, but since you don't HAVE the stock air cleaner you might want to buy one made to go on the Weber instead.
, Sat, 14 Jul 2001 14:49:27
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