Welcome to the first episode of Wheeler Dealers USA, where your host Mike will buy, fix, and flip a scruffy classic for fun and profit!
This month's episode features a hot Swede from the days of high-pressure turbochargers, a 1990 C900 Turbo!
We found this gem on the craigslist a mere 4 miles from the shop with what was described as a bad head gasket, asking price: $500
After consulting with our mates we looked at the car and discovered it probably had a massive vacuum leak.
A deal was struck and we brought the old girl home for the princely sum of just $350 squids!
We got her back to the shop by just driving. Initial diagnosis seems spot-on, there's a vacuum leak or a timing issue, but once you build RPM's (and boost), it runs awesome! (Seriously, this thing hauls the mail. I've never had a stock 80's turbo car, and I've had nearly all of them, pull like this. Not even F2T's...)
The engine is the venerable B202 16 Valve 2.1L turbo 4-cylinder. Notice that it's mounted "backwards" in the engine bay. The pulleys are by the windshield and the clutch is by the headlights. The transaxle sits under the motor. It's had the head totally rebuilt in 2009, but less than 1000 miles ago.
The interior is the weakest part. The driver's seat is split, the headliner is missing, and it's pretty grungy.
The paint, however, looks entirely saveable.
Follow along as we repair the mechanical issues, polish up the cosmetic ones, and get this old girl back on the road and with a new owner. Target date: September 21!
Awesome grab, Jav, but you need more cheeky, regional words in your post to be like that other Mike and Ed
In reply to Strike_Zero:
My cheeky regional words would be things like "granola", "tree-hugger", "tofu", and "environmentally conscious".
A mop will fix that paint right up. Overall, it's in good nick, but it's let down by that interior. I'm sure Mike has a connection at a local breaker's yard to take care of that.
One question, when you agreed to a price to buy it, did you ask the seller to put his/her hand out?
Missing headliner is almost normal on these, for some reason both the 99 and 900 suffer from "the sky is falling" syndrome.
In reply to JohnRW1621:
I know that. I also never factor in my own time. That's why it's a side job and not my 9-to-5.
Damn, look out your window to the East.
Look harder, do you seen a green looking Englishman waving at you (or is he giving you the bird?) from SE Michigan. That's me, I'm green with envy. I paid double that and was more than happy with the price. You got a screaming deal. My headliner is currently in the basement having been stripped, epoxied and fiberglassed back into shape waiting for the application of some tartan material before going back in.
Nice score, just work faster than me.
Javelin wrote: A deal was struck and we brought the old girl home for the princely sum of just $350 squids!
Actualy in squids it was only 223 GBP!
In reply to Adrian_Thompson:
I should mention that it drives fine. The PO was basically a kludge. My shopping list includes a spool of vacuum hose and auto wiring.
So what is the asking price and how much am I going to beat you down on it
And if you want payment in squid I can arrange that as well.
How much do you want for it? Never mind that I'm in PA, I've got people in the PNW.
Can we get a rust report?
In reply to HappyAndy:
I don't know yet. Give me a chance to make sure the motor is A-OK. It will definitely be offered on a GRM discount.
It has 0 rust. None, nada, zippo.
Tom_Spangler wrote: A mop will fix that paint right up. Overall, it's in good nick, but it's let down by that interior. I'm sure Mike has a connection at a local breaker's yard to take care of that.
That works!!
Javelin wrote: In reply to Tom_Spangler: I did! I should have gotten it on video!
"I just bought . . . a Saab 900 Turbo!!"
Other than getting it running right and cleaned up?
I wrenched on those a dozen years ago...
good luck on the headliner... not easy... not cheap big PITA to get a new one up there...
since the head was "done"... I'd check everything to do with that repair - cam and ignition timing, vacuum connections, etc.
IF there is to be any rust in that car it will be in the lower front frame channels - the sections where the axles pass through. The collect crap, and hold water.... but this isn't the right coast so you may be free and clear
Wow, cool project, always wanted one of those but was scared away by the transmissions and general cost of upkeep/repair.
Be sure to give it a good key before painting anything.
p.s. I read it all in Mikes voice in my head.
Cuda wrote:Mazdax605 wrote: I always thought the term was quid.Rhyming Slang
Thanks for the link, but they clearly say quid on the tv show.
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