S series are getting harder and harder to find

[Waiex191]

Originally Posted by dakota1820

How hard is that to do?

I've had my engine and transmission out for rebuild. It seems like it would be a matter of removing the automatic, putting in a manual, and then adding the clutch pedal and stuff. Plus you would want to swap in a manual ECU, though I think people have kept their ECU and done the swap.

You can search for some threads as others have done this on the forum, or perhaps they will speak up.

[dakota1820]

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/d...261713570.html

He lowered the price from 2,000 to 1,800 I should be jumping on it I think. Someone talk sense into me one way or the other. 😂

[cgg17]

They are getting harder to find, and the decent ones are more expensive. Essentially you are paying for the cleanliness. Mechanical work can all be replaced, but interior, exterior, and frame pieces are hard to find new ones of.

[dakota1820]

Very true I'm seriously thinking about the wagon I posted above if it was a stick id be buying it right now .

[nealt]

HA! I physically drove that white one actually... thought it was going to be nice and I wanted it to be nice... but I had to pass. The ironic problem with these cars, is that they can look so good on the outside.
One thing that caught my eye was that the sway bar broke off the frame... so the bracket was welded on half-hazardly.

[dakota1820]

Originally Posted by nealt

HA! I physically drove that white one actually... thought it was going to be nice and I wanted it to be nice... but I had to pass. The ironic problem with these cars, is that they can look so good on the outside.
One thing that caught my eye was that the sway bar broke off the frame... so the bracket was welded on half-hazardly.

No kidding? When did you drive it? It does look good in pictures . Was that the only thing wrong with it? Or where there other issues?

[onlinebiker]

Originally Posted by trottida

Is the garage attached to your house? I haven't fact checked this but I don't believe OSB or Plywood has a sufficient fire rating for use in interior spaces attached you your dwelling. You may run into some red tape with insurance and such. Double check before you do anything.

Very good point..

My garage is 75 feet from the house....

[alordofchaos]

http://www.differentracing.com/tech_...anny_swap.html

Low Saturn did the first auto to manual swap on an S-series, documented at his site.

Like Waiex191 said, you can keep the auto PCM. You'll always have a CEL for trans codes, though. Some folks said they can feel a slight flat spot when accelerating that would correspond to when the auto PCM would be shifting gears.

The other weird thing is that the auto PCM will not disengage cruise when the RPMs don't match the map. That means you could have a DOCH engine and DOHC auto trans PCM but install an MP2 manual trans from a SOHC car but retain cruise.

[Melissa_M]

Originally Posted by alordofchaos

http://www.differentracing.com/tech_...anny_swap.html

Low Saturn did the first auto to manual swap on an S-series, documented at his site.

Like Waiex191 said, you can keep the auto PCM. You'll always have a CEL for trans codes, though. Some folks said they can feel a slight flat spot when accelerating that would correspond to when the auto PCM would be shifting gears.

Sounds like a possible problem. Where I live, state inspections are required and the CEL cannot be illuminated. Although....I have heard that people find ways to get around these inspections.
I wonder if you provide some documentation that it might be excluded. If it is an invalid code for the car.

[Jim@HiTek]

Just so happens I have a '01 SL1 SOHC, 4-door Sedan, AT for sale! Good car and has the RV's tow plate and wiring installed to tow it 4-down. It only has 78,000 miles on it. Asking $2756 because I'm in a town with 22 RV parks so the tow package adds value. And I've pretty much fixed all the standard SL1 issues over the years I've owned it. Even the rippled head gasket has been changed. Oh, and the ECT is the brass one now. Oh, and the tranni has the main valve coil changed. And on and on.

I'm over here in the desert of the west near Las Vegas and the local junk yard had 5-7 Saturn's in various condition last I checked. It was interesting when I found them all as I'd been looking all over the country, even in Iowa, at various junk yards and usually I'd only see 1-2 Saturn's, if any. Strange that I ran into so many here 55 miles west of LV. Speaking of Iowa though, I was in one junk yard in Fairfield and though they didn't have any Saturns, they had ~100 ECMs for them. Strange huh?

[nealt]

No kidding? When did you drive it? It does look good in pictures . Was that the only thing wrong with it? Or where there other issues?

Interior was less than to be desired (looks different when you are in it). Felt like I was pulling a pop-up camper. Engine or brake booster was making a strange noise. Stunk like fake air freshener. Shifting problems when going uphill. This was a college students car... which he ended up buying another... and doesn't drive this one anymore... if that tells you anything.

[dakota1820]

Yeah says a lot. Very sad! Ugh.

[toggenburg]

Here you go Dakota, low miles, 1997 SW2, but automatic.

https://www.sovereignauto.com/vehicl...02b4edbccb37db

[Macgyver]

Here’s one for $2k, the price is outrageous. The car looks like it was in a police pursuit, hit multiple things/people, and just got out of impound. This is a $500 car.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2000-Saturn...1/293981343155

[cgg17]

Originally Posted by Macgyver

Here’s one for $2k, the price is outrageous. The car looks like it was in a police pursuit, hit multiple things/people, and just got out of impound. This is a $500 car.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2000-Saturn...1/293981343155

Scrap value, even $500 is way too much

[Waiex191]

This is a $500 car.

[dakota1820]

Originally Posted by Waiex191

This is a $500 car.

Looks good for $500!!

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...9135720130255/

I'm looking at this tomorrow. Apparently the radiator appears to be leaking all the pictures and videos look good no door sills rust interior was decently clean. Radiator is seeping at the top other than that they said they don't believe there is any issues. Anyone have thoughts or opinions.

[Bill Murray]

Nice looking car. No small car being sold today is half as attractive in my view. If they were making them new, I'd buy one again. An S-series with a ~200hp turbo and a six speed trans would be a sweet package.

[Waiex191]

Originally Posted by dakota1820

Looks good for $500!!

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...9135720130255/

I'm looking at this tomorrow. Apparently the radiator appears to be leaking all the pictures and videos look good no door sills rust interior was decently clean. Radiator is seeping at the top other than that they said they don't believe there is any issues. Anyone have thoughts or opinions.

I saw that was in Illinois and thought you were close - I'm about 5 hours away though. I'd sell my $500 car as I'm not driving it for a while and I've got a motorcycle to commute on in the summer. The good, the bad, and the ugly are all laid out here:

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=234273

If I do sell the SC2, I'll look for a desert or southern 5sp wagon to rebuild someday. If I don't sell it, I'll rebuild it after I finish my other project, then drive it for another 23 years.

[Zeebins]

Originally Posted by Jim@HiTek

[B]they didn't have any Saturns, they had ~100 ECMs for them. Strange huh?

Almost certain they pulled the ECMs before crushing the car, as well as any other parts they have a bunch of on hand.

There's a lot of pretty beat up S-Series out there, but even those are in better condition than one that have been long crushed.