wild saab hunting
"Saga" came to me in a package deal. For
$100, I got this lovely, Kermit-the-frog green (Emerald Green in Bjorn Enväll
parlance) and a rotted-out 1972 95 wagon, which is to be a glass donor for
my Finnish friend Vesa and not much else! Only reason I had to pay anything
was due to the fact that the seller had a new V4 clutch kit, and that's
what he paid for it in 1985! He informed me, after having driven to the
location wherein the two cars were left (in a field, an hour north of here)
that I was to have to clean him out, and take both cars. Well, I had only
inspected the 95 at this point, and due to the immense amount of rust on
it, the prospect of dragging an equally rusty 99 home was not something
I relished. I returned a week later to check things out. While the wagon
proved a challenge to move, the 99 was not in bad shape at all in terms
of rust.
Rust spot #1 - the inner door insulation crumbled and absorbed
moisture
Rust spot #2 - the trunk floor drain hole grommet absorbed moisture
Hauling her home entailed borrowing a large trailer, and the
help of my fiancee Kyndra and my neighbour Tom. We went up on a Sunday afternoon
to remove the 99 from the site. Upon arriving, we were able to get 3 out
of 4 tyres up to pressure, but not the left front! Turns out the bead of
the rim had rotted out having been in the wet ground for 10 years or more.
The perfect, unused spare was fitted, and a recovery strap was put around
the front bumper and hooked to the truck. Slowly, Saga came back to life
in a short roll. The right front wheel was still stuck, and the remains
of the exhaust were dragging 90 degrees off! We forced the rear of the exhaust
over the rear axle, then jacked up the right front, put a breaker bar and
a 1 1/4" socket on the hub nut , and I kicked down hard. The wheel
freed up. Rolling the 1500 or so lb. 99 onto the trailer (no engine or tranny)
was very easy, and we found that the hydraulic brakes even worked, as did
the e-brake! Many good looks en route home towing the 99 on the trailer.
saga gets home!