Quick OT question - saab related.

Yes they did do a 3-door hatch 900. The red one above is one.

Can't help with the gearbox question, but have a look on www.uksaabs.co.uk

No G I know they did a 3 door just never knew they did a 2 door as ross' appears to be. It confused the hell out of me for a while as something just didn't look right. Kinda gowing on me though (luckily).

www.saabcentral.com/features/saab_900/form_function/features_formfunction_14.htm

When I say the gearbox is in the nose, in actual fact it's just the clutch and primary gear

OK, the engine in a proper 900 in that one is mounted north/south like most RWD cars, even though it is FWD. It si so they could equal length driveshafts.

The engine sits ontop of the box, and load is transfered via a multi row chain. Rather than mess with the final drive you can change things by altering the primary chain drive. I believe No6 is for non turbos and fitted to a turbo you will have massive acceleration but no top end before the rev limiter slams your face into the windscreen. Number 7 is for normal early turbos. Number 8 primary drive gear set is prized as it was only used on certain early models and Some of the latest ones. It gives the best pull and top end combination to allow you masx out the torque the engine can put out when tuned.

The top of the transmission case is the oil pan for the engine.
Later transmissions are the ones to have. Normally it is an engine out job to change, but some of the specialists have a technique. that can do it but just lifting it and lowering a cross member.

if you have it out, do all the wishbone bushes. LHS lower (I think, but one of them anyway) shares with the engine mount so you need to lift the engine to change the bush anyway and they get covered in oil as they are right under the dipstick, where the oil spills when you change the filter and where the oil cooler lines spray when they split and the airstream carries it.

There is some adjustment and alignment you can do if you think the box might have some life in it.
www.saabcentral.com
www.saabscene.com
www.uksaabs.net all have forums worth joining.

Drive shafts changed at the box end as the boxes were improved, so get the shafts if it is from a different year car (one of the specialists will know if you need them).

Later boxes didn't have a drain plug or dipstick/filler, but the dipstick could be refitted. To drain them you removed the end cover off the diff, and cleaned the filter while you were there. Early models had a drainplug and you filled it through the dipstick. Later models where filled from a nut type filler plug.

The boxes are the weakspot on the C900.
Eriksson's do the best custom boxes (not Eriksson industries, they just do refurbed boxes). The ultimate boxes are apparently 4 speed, with chill cast casings and hardened internals with No8 primaries.

They also did a LWB model in the early days. (badged CD I think)
And the 2 door one is the stiffest shell.

Yup. It certainly is.
And Bobz, yes there was the long wheel base CD model. It was the Corps Diplomatic, so embassy people as well as celebrities had that little bit more room than mere commoners..