1996 850R Sedan -

bmessina · 08-08-2012, 04:59 PM

Bought this: http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=262034

For $1200. Not running, body in slightly rough shape (despite "excellent" description). Pics to follow tonight.

Owner said it died around the corner from his house 2 years ago and it hasn't been touched (by anyone) since. Not by a mechanic, not by himself (not mechanically inclined at all). I've taken a pretty good look at it since (and before) I got it.

It's got oil in the pan, no burnt or other really bad smells other than a slight gas odor. Transmission fluid looks old, but does not smell bad either. Coolant level is good.

Checked around the back of the engine, wait a minute... The hard hose coming off the turbo outlet looks like it popped out of the soft hose connecting it to the turbo.

So tonight I'll be changing some fluids, slapping in a new battery, and hooking that hose back up tonight to see if it starts! I'm guessing yes.

dieselboy · 08-08-2012, 05:03 PM

If that's all it is score. I'd eyeball the timin belt before starting it though. Sitting that long it could be trash and snap 10seconds after you start it. It's real easy to pull the upper cover and rotate the engine around by hand.

Cheap insurance IMO.

bmessina · 08-08-2012, 06:23 PM

Oh yeah, thanks for mentioning that. I did as you describe before I bought the car and it checked out. Timing belt is in good shape.

Plus, the previous (and only - it was a 1 owner car) said after it died he restarted it, but it wouldn't go faster than 10mph. He drove it right home and there it sat.

bmessina · 08-08-2012, 09:40 PM

New battery, a poke here and there, cranked it for a bit with the coil wire off to circulate some oil, and....

It started right up, idled with hardly a complaint for about 10 minutes. Ran the trans through the gears, built boost fine. WOOOO!

MrBill · 08-08-2012, 11:51 PM

That's a good deal

bmessina · 08-29-2012, 04:36 PM

Had to jump through some hoops to get it back on the road, not shockingly.

One of the tires had been flat the entire time it was sitting (2 yrs), and that destroyed the sidewalls. I noticed it was a mismatched tire anyway, so replaced it and completed the set.

Also, the reason it had blown the turbo hose off was the BCS. It had failed and was overboosting. I bypassed the unit so I could drive the car to get smogged, but the tech noticed it and failed the visual (passed on the numbers though). Replaced the BCS with the fancy IPD unit, passed smog no problem on the re-test.

The car is still way underpowered though, and has a few other minor issues. Stage 0 still underway...

http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=264801

242teeI · 08-29-2012, 10:08 PM

Congrats!

Get some pictures up.

08-08-2012, 05:03 PM	#2
dieselboy Whooty patrol Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: SoCal/ Ramona	If that's all it is score. I'd eyeball the timin belt before starting it though. Sitting that long it could be trash and snap 10seconds after you start it. It's real easy to pull the upper cover and rotate the engine around by hand. Cheap insurance IMO. __________________ '82 242t turbo+, intercooled, 3" exhaust, 13" brembos, coilovers, saabspoiler, 18"s, flathood, dying m46, etc. '97 f-250 psd, d60, locked, chromoly axles, shortened and bob'd. '91 940irs rallybil, holset, gutted, olive drab rollered on paint, browntops etc '90 F-250 project. Lots of links, tube, and coilovers.

08-29-2012, 10:08 PM	#7
242teeI Board Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anniston, AL	Congrats! Get some pictures up. __________________ -82 242 GLT Turbo+I Stage 0, 15psi, 3" catless TBE, WORKING Air Con... 190k -85 245 GLT Turbo-I pos, rusty, sold-88 245 DL -SOLD 90 244 GL Sold -96 850R Estate, 97k miles. -96 850R Estate, 230k miles. -96 850 Turbo Estate blue.. -05 Subaru Impreza WRX STi CGM 27k - 95 Toyota Land Cruiser Locked

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08-08-2012, 06:23 PM	#3
bmessina Board Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Alameda, CA	Oh yeah, thanks for mentioning that. I did as you describe before I bought the car and it checked out. Timing belt is in good shape. Plus, the previous (and only - it was a 1 owner car) said after it died he restarted it, but it wouldn't go faster than 10mph. He drove it right home and there it sat.

08-08-2012, 09:40 PM	#4
bmessina Board Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Alameda, CA	New battery, a poke here and there, cranked it for a bit with the coil wire off to circulate some oil, and.... It started right up, idled with hardly a complaint for about 10 minutes. Ran the trans through the gears, built boost fine. WOOOO!

08-29-2012, 04:36 PM	#6
bmessina Board Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Alameda, CA	Had to jump through some hoops to get it back on the road, not shockingly. One of the tires had been flat the entire time it was sitting (2 yrs), and that destroyed the sidewalls. I noticed it was a mismatched tire anyway, so replaced it and completed the set. Also, the reason it had blown the turbo hose off was the BCS. It had failed and was overboosting. I bypassed the unit so I could drive the car to get smogged, but the tech noticed it and failed the visual (passed on the numbers though). Replaced the BCS with the fancy IPD unit, passed smog no problem on the re-test. The car is still way underpowered though, and has a few other minor issues. Stage 0 still underway... http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=264801