Buying a 21 turbo

[Hippo]

Where should I look and what should I check, buying a 21T?
Think this kind of info will be usefull for many people, not just for me.

As for my particular case, here's the story:
Due to the time/money problems and the fact, there's no offers of 2ndhand spares for 21t, my restoration project has been freezed.
Last week an ad in the newspaper has appeared (the first one for the spares or car for the last year) with the offer of the tungy 1988 ph1 21 turbo. For about 850J. So I decided to sell my unfortunate recipient (n/a R21) and buy the turbo, that goes, not lying wracked in the garage.

So 2 days later I contacted the guy and met him to see the car and to discuss the price.

Here's what I've checked:
1. the enging is running, having some problems:
* noise - the rockers/valves need adjusting
* starting not too good
* 1300 rpm idle - don't know, what's wrong
* drinks fuel
* oil leaks all over it (looks like it never been washed)
2. Brakes are working, no pedal play, untill ABS goes on
3. Turbo have shaft play (the car is smoking badly both black&white)
4. pushing the gas hard makes the car shake several times per each gear while driving (it's reaching full boost at 4000 rpm on 1st gear and cuts off) so I guess the wastegate needs claening/replacing
5. no any play on steering
6. F/L shock absorber is jammed fully compressed, so the tyre is going on wheel arch in turns
7. F/R shock upper mount is torn, knocking on the cornrers
8. intercoolers & boost hoses look fine
9. radiator is damaged a bit, but no visible leaks
10. electric cooling pump is pumping
11. rear shocks are from n/a saloon, without the springs
12. back box is all rusted, needs replacing
13. all electric stuff is working
14. the car was hitted on the front, 'cause the headlights, nosecone, bumper are from the non-turbo car.
15. some dents & rust on the bode (rear arches are awfull)
16. the gear shift is moving roughly, not as smoth as I expected
17. the clutch and throttle pedals are much softer then I expected

Now, some questions:
1. What else should I check?
2. would you by such a car (remember: it's the only 21t for sale for 2 last years and you whant to have it badly)?
3. How much am I looking to spend on repair to fix what I have just listed above in UK prices?

[andie frederick]

Hi m8. just something to start you on your way. you said the car is bad at starting. this could be the idle speed sensor on the front of the engine, or it could be that the car is only running on three cylinders , that could explain the high fuel economy and the high idle speed to keep it running. Four things to check. idle speed sensor / plugs / injectors / HT leads, if this fails i hate to say it " Cylinders " . Hope this helps. Andie .

[Hippo]

thanx for reply, Andy. But I'm sure all 4 cyllinders are working. I think it's idle control valve too.
The guy told me, that he had changed the spark plugs, trying to solve the problem, but than the car stopped starting at all. So he cleaned the ones, he removed, put em back and than managed to start the engine.

[DaveL485]

From the sound of it you'd be better travelling over here to buy one. That list sounds expensive.....if you buy it use it for spares maybe?

[andie frederick]

"Just what i was thinking Dave", there's a lot better out there.

[Hippo]

there are two reasons, why I need it here, not in UK or elsewhere:
1. rihgt-hand drive cars are off-law here, unless they were registered till 1994.
2. price. I can find a 21t that will be way better for the same money in the UK or a bit more expansive (about 3.000 EUR) in continental Europe. BUT: + the delivery (about 500 EUR) + (be prepered) custom import tax (about 4.000 EUR: 2 EUR per cm3 of the engine displacement, if the car is older than 10 years).

So buying nice 21 t outside my country is a good idea, but too expansive idea. This will cost me no less than 6000-7000 EUR, while I'm planning to spend no more than 3000 EUR on it. Service and some parts are cheap here.

[Smallboy]

you could always get one from the UK then we could 'cruise' it over with a few of us and 'forget' to bring it back...

[Larsson 7]

Yeah get a uk spec car and drive it to your place, then strip it down, don't tell customs that though just let em think your on a cruise and will be leaving the same day.

You will then be able to transfer all parts from the uk car to your very sick 21T.

[Hippo]

sh........t! It's not starting at all when hot!

help please

[andie frederick]

Hi mate, try looking at the coil. Check that you have a spark from it when its hot. Old coils break down when hot. Andie.

[no1girlracer]

sh........t! It's not starting at all when hot!

help please

Have you done a compression test at all ? I think that would be one of my first things to do.

[Hippo]

thank you for your replies.
I'll get the coil and compression checked by this weekend.
All I've done yet is a new air filter, some injector cleaner added to fuel and got interior cleaned. I own this car just for 2 days. :roll:

PS the air filter is RamAir polyurethane cartrige (goes into std box). I've ordered this 1.5 year ago for my previous 21 (non turbo) and it didn't fit the n/a engine (but it fits the turbo engine). So it was given back to shop. The second time, I bought it, it was on a sale and twice cheaper :lol: So now it's finally in use.

[DaveL485]

Sounds like the coolant temperature sensor is faulty, if the engine thinks its cold when its not it'll be trying to start the car on choke, which is very hard when hot.

[Hippo]

I'll chek that too. Thank you for advise, Dave.