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Different, with a fair supporter base and with some of the models quite attractive to me, I started wondering... Eventually maintenance on these vehicles - especially the older pre GM products - will probably become uneconomical. Obviously maintaining the bodies will also be problematic, but probably less so than the mechanicals. Would these vehicles lend themselves to relatively easy transplants of other complete front wheel drive set ups - sub frame etc, eg Volkswagen or Honda into them? Would it be worth the effort?
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1986 Mercedes 200 (W124) (Standard and daily) 1976 Peugeot 404 1800 Stickshift (Standard - awaiting complete resto, engine done) 1984 Ford Cortina (P100) LDV - Cab and chassis restored, interior and glass not fitted, brand new 3 liter engine (last 110kw Sierra XR6 engine fitted and married to 5 speed Toyota Gearbox), load body needed.
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Plenty of out of production stuff is still useable, what the aftermarket won't provide, specialist breakers will. Pre internet it was hard work, these days you can get almost whatever you need posted to you within minutes if you can afford it.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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Yeah, getting bits for an old Saab will still be a lot easier than swapping in another drivetrain for at least a couple of decades. A lot of people still drive much older cars which are no longer supported by their manufacturers. Essentially, anything over 30 years old is running on aftermarket reproduction parts or used originals from parting out other cars. A 40 year old Saab is not any worse off due to the demise of Saab Automobile, as it's highly likely that most similar cars of the era are also no longer supplied with replacement parts by their manufacturers.
Aftermarket suppliers cover an enormous range of old cars and continue to supply parts for them. This is relatively easy for them to do, as they have already 'paid off' the cost of the tooling by producing parts for the car since it was new.
Most consumable parts like filters and spark plugs are roughly universal, or at least easy to adapt from other makes. Gaskets are easy to make one-off or in small batches, you can even cut your own at home. The only parts of an engine which are particularly hard to reproduce are major castings, which last a long time and if you break one you can generally find a good used one from another car somewhere.
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dapper
Part of things
Posts: 293
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I've got a 1990 900 here in Aus and am assured there's plenty of parts here to last its lifetime and probably mine. Plenty of examples on the road as well in decent condition as is the case with plenty of other Euro and Japanese models (see the 'Melbourne Metal' thread). I often wonder if when the time comes, supply dries up back home, whether Oz will be a source for GB retroriders given the quality of what's about here.
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The other thing to remember is that Saabs are so over - engineered that they will happily do 250K plus mileages and generally the engines outlive the bodies.
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RetroMat
Posted a lot
Column Shifting!
Posts: 3,442
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^this! Just tune the original engine! I've had no problems getting bits for my 86 Saab 900 daily, most stuff my local motor factors can get easily. More obscure parts can be had from the various online suppliers. I cant see this changing for at least a decade scan tech are the pattern parts guys and seem to make loads of stuff! www.scantechproducts.com/carparts/en/scantech/scantech-1.129.1.phpIn my fleet I have the Saab; parts easy to get hold of, 1972 Triumph again lots of specialists so parts are easy and a 1979 Toyota. The Toyota is a complete curse word to get bits for! and thats the only one in my fleet that still has a manufacturer in business!
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Last Edit: Jan 3, 2013 18:42:55 GMT by RetroMat
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bazzateer
Posted a lot
Imping along sans Vogue
Posts: 3,653
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The later ones were on GM platforms as well so Vectra stuff will probably fit with a little tweeking. I think the SAAB 2.3T engines bolt up to the Omega gearboxes too.
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1968 Singer Chamois Sport 1972 Sunbeam Imp Sport 1976 Datsun 260Z 2+2 1998 Peugeot Boxer Pilote motorhome 2003 Rover 75 1.8 Club SE (daily) 2006 MG ZT 190+ (another daily) 2007 BMW 530d Touring M Sport (tow car)
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