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An automatic? Have you ever driven one? All the more reason to swap out both motor and tranny as a unit, IMO, recovering compression and converting to stick in the process. Auto gearboxes appear to eat themselves just as readily as 5spds and my car, also acquired as an automatic, was already completely missing 2nd gear at 80k fewer miles than the one you're considering. We can't necessarily infer that your gearbox is trashed, but it wouldn't be a surprise... Disregard all references I made to shifting and synchros in my previous post, and see if they'll let you drive it around their junkyard. At least get it started and see if it consistently wants to budge at all of the appropriate points in "P-R-N-D-2-L". I hear different cars can drop different gears in the course of their deterioration, but I know very little about automatics besides They Suck and how to get rid of them.
As for that 16V NA motor: $200 for less hp/torque and additional wiring/compression compatibility issues? No thanks. I know there are successful low-pressure-turbo hybrids, but they're hardly plug-and-play. (Search for "LPT" and variations if you're interested. I think there's even a FAQ) Besides, I've definitely seen high-inventory ads in the parts classifieds here from Saab-specific mechanics/dismantlers in the NoCal/Oregon/Idaho range. You might want to talk to those guys and see what they can offer in terms of complete, running replacements, perhaps even warranted for a short term, before committing to a head gasket swap that may or may not be this car's biggest issue...
I dunno, just how intimate do you wanna get with this car, and how much time/space do you have in which to do so? I like 1988 as a model year, and if I owned a few unzoned acres and a huge barn I might snap that car up in a heartbeat for $200 if it was pretty enough, but I sure wouldn't depend on driving it immediately the way it sounds.
posted by 12.107.151...
, Sat, 25 Mar 2006 15:14:53, Thu, 23 Mar 2006 21:50:26
, Thu, 23 Mar 2006 19:40:53
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