About a week back, I was browsing the facebook marketplace (which is the only real thing I use facebook for anyways) and spotted a 1996 R estate for sale outside of chicago. I contacted the poster, and eventually spoke to the owner, who told me that I could have it this week for $400. Now, I don't know about you, but $400 between me and my dream car? Done. So I went to go pick it up and drove it back in the worst rainstorm I've seen in a decade. Because of all the lightning going on around us, I named it Brixt, which is the Swedish translation of lightning.
So, background information:
Blixt is a genuine 850 R with 157,xxx on the currently broken odometer. IF ANYONE KNOWS HOW TO PULL ACTUAL MILEAGE OFF A OBD II 850 PLEASE LET ME KNOW! He has some minor surface rust on two doors and the tailgate, probably a 6/10. His charcoal interior is in good condition, maybe a 7/10. As you can all see, at some point in his life he developed cleft-bumper, so my plan is to mount a GLT bumper on him for the time being. He has numerous mechanical boo-boos, but he runs and drives at the moment. I will admit that I have never dealt with one of these turbo cars so I am a bit frightened but willing to learn. He has a lifter tick, so any advice on that is also appreciated.
Here is all of the things I plan to do to him as the months go by. He will not be my daily driver, and I will be keeping him unregistered and uninsured until I fix him back to good mechanical condition, and he'll also get to live in my grandma's out garage during winter.
Things to be done:
- Brakes, check and replace all four sides pad and rotor wise, pulling slightly to left
- Timing Belt, and all accessories
- Full stage 0, and removal of that dumb K&N filter. If anyone has a top to a turbo airbox please let me know.
- throttle cable and clean throttle body with upgrade to N/A throttlebody
- Oil pan flush and re-gasket / seal
- check turbo and replace all vacuum hoses, I will definitely need some help with basic turbo maintenance here
- oxygen sensor, currently check engine light for it
- exhaust, very loud and smelly right now, considering an IPD solution or stock which ever is better.
- there's a dead spot in the steering, could use adjustment. Also steering wheel is out of alignment
- Oil leak on back side of engine near transmission I noticed the day after buying, any idea? cam seals? rear main seal (gulp)?
- climate control is blinking multiple times when car is first started, diagnose using vol-FCR
- Identify and solve lifter tick, possibly change out lifters if necessary
But hey, the suspension is fine!
I know that's a lot, but this is my big fixer upper. This car has potential and I'm determined to see it through.
Here he is in his current, albeit fading, glory:
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Video of the lifter tick:
So, background information:
Blixt is a genuine 850 R with 157,xxx on the currently broken odometer. IF ANYONE KNOWS HOW TO PULL ACTUAL MILEAGE OFF A OBD II 850 PLEASE LET ME KNOW! He has some minor surface rust on two doors and the tailgate, probably a 6/10. His charcoal interior is in good condition, maybe a 7/10. As you can all see, at some point in his life he developed cleft-bumper, so my plan is to mount a GLT bumper on him for the time being. He has numerous mechanical boo-boos, but he runs and drives at the moment. I will admit that I have never dealt with one of these turbo cars so I am a bit frightened but willing to learn. He has a lifter tick, so any advice on that is also appreciated.
Here is all of the things I plan to do to him as the months go by. He will not be my daily driver, and I will be keeping him unregistered and uninsured until I fix him back to good mechanical condition, and he'll also get to live in my grandma's out garage during winter.
Things to be done:
- Brakes, check and replace all four sides pad and rotor wise, pulling slightly to left
- Timing Belt, and all accessories
- Full stage 0, and removal of that dumb K&N filter. If anyone has a top to a turbo airbox please let me know.
- throttle cable and clean throttle body with upgrade to N/A throttlebody
- Oil pan flush and re-gasket / seal
- check turbo and replace all vacuum hoses, I will definitely need some help with basic turbo maintenance here
- oxygen sensor, currently check engine light for it
- exhaust, very loud and smelly right now, considering an IPD solution or stock which ever is better.
- there's a dead spot in the steering, could use adjustment. Also steering wheel is out of alignment
- Oil leak on back side of engine near transmission I noticed the day after buying, any idea? cam seals? rear main seal (gulp)?
- climate control is blinking multiple times when car is first started, diagnose using vol-FCR
- Identify and solve lifter tick, possibly change out lifters if necessary
But hey, the suspension is fine!
I know that's a lot, but this is my big fixer upper. This car has potential and I'm determined to see it through.
Here he is in his current, albeit fading, glory:
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Brixt begins by Charles Conto, on Flickr
Video of the lifter tick: