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Ha! Good question. I started it with a few friends many years ago. It’s got a custom made exhaust, engine mounts, drive shaft and loom. The engine is turned 180 degrees. Then a Vauxhall Omega gearbox is used to connect it all. The idea behind ditching the 2.0 straight six it came with was that you can get a lot more power very easily - the 9000 engine is very strong and can run 500hp without having to change much internally. The trionic engine management system was well ahead of its time too. I’m afraid to say that large amount of it was done ten years ago and has not really been touched since then. Life and numerous other cars having got in the way! When finished it has the potential to be great fun though. I went to the Retrorides gathering last year in the missus’ 900 convertible. Was a great day out and will definitely be going again this summer, probably in a 900 though. Exhaust wise: I was really pleased with BSR. They were easy to deal with, cheapest priced and with quick delivery. Would recommend. It may be worth your time checking on a Saab forum if there was anyone near you who has a spare exhaust to match up. Alternatively I will be selling very cheaply the 3” JT exhaust from this I’m due course so you’d be welcome to look at it if you were done this way. wow, some project! it'd be great to see that on the road. That's fair enough. good idea, i'll put a message on the FB page. Where about are you roughly? I am always up for a small road trip for car parts, and if i can get confirmation of a mach, or close enough that minor modding will make it fit then I am game. what does 3 inch offer over 2.5 inch or vice versa? i'm guessing a bit more noise but does it take more restriction off the turbo? Is there any reason particularly you are going down in size? I'd love to have the BMW on the road too. Or even better at a track day. I keep saying "this year, I'll finish it.."
Also - to correct myself, engine has been turned by 90 degrees in that, not 180. D'oh.
I am putting the smaller diameter exhaust on for a few reasons: as the car gets used for autobahn trips it'd be nice to get it that bit quieter at 120-130 which I'm hoping this will do. The JT that is on there at the moment is not awful but is well used. It make a lovely popping on the over run which I will miss. I was going to ask £50 for it and am down in Hertfordshire if you fancied it.
I may well lose a few hp going smaller but it won't be far off 300hp still.
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Shortcut
Posted a lot
I won't be there when you cross the road, so always use the Green Cross Code.
Posts: 3,037
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Nice. Love a big SAAB. Had a 9-5 Aero HOT estate a while back.
Miss: The mid range grunt, comfortable beyond all reason, huge
Don't miss: 20mpg, always "something" not working, low oil pressure issue, clutch killer her.
Love the original gunmetal wheels the best. Very tough!
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This space available to rent. Reach literally dozens of people. Cheap rates!
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Really nice to see another Tipo 4 being cared for. Same for the Thema! Fantastic how such a concept (which is the defacto standard now) started with this set of cars and proofed how different they can be. I'm almost tempted to collect one of each. Here's mine: forum.retro-rides.org/thread/210503/1997-alfa-romeo-scrapyard-perfectI researched a lot into the Tipo 4 platform. There is essentially the Fiat-Lancia version, the SAAB version, and the Alfa Romeo version. They all started from the same CAD drawing of the floorplan, front subframe, front suspension, bulkhead, and doors and then all went their own way. The rest of the body and the rear suspension were never part of the platform; only the mounting points of the rear subframe were the same. The 3 companies had no clue what the others were doing other than studying spy photographs. The doors were a big debate between SAAB and Fiat-Lancia as SAAB wanted better side impact protection. The front subframe was adapted also by SAAB for crash protection. This debate happened before Alfa joined. Alfa Romeo got in the game late (their development of a big car stranded for lack of money... typically) but Alfa already had design work from Pininfarina. To fit the design ideas to the platform they changed front suspension, bulkhead, and doors. So leaving only the floorplan. The front subframe was roughly the same (but mounted with a spacer to lower the powertrain) but they changed the mountings of the steering rack. By the time the 164 was about ready the others were already on the market. And Alfa had no money to retool the production plant. That is when Fiat stepped in. Only after buying Alfa Romeo they got to see the 164. I'm sure Fiat had assumed it would be possible to do more cost-sharing but it was too late as the 164 was finished by then. So I think none of the parties were very happy nor did they get the cost savings they wanted. The only part that is identical for all cars is the front wishbone. The midsection of the exhaust is similar due to the shared floorpan but since all cars have a different rear suspension design the interface to the rear silencer is from different angles. It might be that the front struts are the same for Fiat-Lancia-SAAB but the Alfa ones are very different. Still... Fiat took the platform concept further within their company and build some legendary cars. The rear suspension of the 164 lived on in the 156 and 166 even. SAAB turned away and to GM. |
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V-8: 1988 Corvette - 5.7 TPI
V-4: 1973 SAAB 96 - 1.5
4-boxer: 1975 Alfa Romeo AlfaSud - 1.2
2-boxer: 1965 Panhard 24BT - 0.8
4-line: 1982 Suzuki SC100 Whizzkid - 1.0
4-line: 1997 Alfa Romeo 164 Super - 2.0 TS
4-line: 2010 Renault Wind - 1.2 Turbo
4-line: 2021 Citroen campervan - 2.2 HDI
4-line: 2022 Alpine A110 - 1.8 Turbo
2-line: 1973 NSU Prinz 4L - 0.6 --> for sale
2-line: 2021 Honda Rebel 500
EV: 2024 Nio ET5T
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So I think none of the parties were very happy nor did they get the cost savings they wanted. The only part that is identical for all cars is the front wishbone. The midsection of the exhaust is similar due to the shared floorpan but since all cars have a different rear suspension design the interface to the rear silencer is from different angles. It might be that the front struts are the same for Fiat-Lancia-SAAB but the Alfa ones are very different. Still... Fiat took the platform concept further within their company and build some legendary cars. The rear suspension of the 164 lived on in the 156 and 166 even. SAAB turned away and to GM. When you say the rear silencer is from a different angle do you mean the exhaust tip? I can see the tip of the exhaust is entirely different to mine, but the pipe leading into, and the backbox itself to me, from the pictures, looked to be a good fit for the Lancia from the Saab. |
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I am putting the smaller diameter exhaust on for a few reasons: as the car gets used for autobahn trips it'd be nice to get it that bit quieter at 120-130 which I'm hoping this will do. The JT that is on there at the moment is not awful but is well used. It make a lovely popping on the over run which I will miss. I was going to ask £50 for it and am down in Hertfordshire if you fancied it.
I may well lose a few hp going smaller but it won't be far off 300hp still.
For £50 it is well worth the gamble I would say. As engineer says the mid is the same, so that should fit straight on. worst comes to the worst i am sure i could sell it on for £50 to someone in the Saab owners club if it is no good. That is just down the A1 form my family near Peterborough, so it's a decent little trip really trip. I shall PM you as my dad is popping down to Essex this weekend. if you aren't too far of a detour for him he can pop and get it. If not i shall look to come down some point soon. |
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I believe there is a difference in the angle after the midbox section. So the entry into the rear silencer. But... thinking about it. This might be unique to the multilink suspension of the Alfa. The others have different suspension but are all more or less a beam.
And even if it isn't... a grinder and welder can sort that out.
For the Alfa I bought a complete new exhaust (aftermarket OEM spec) by collecting from 3 different webshops. Just last year.
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V-8: 1988 Corvette - 5.7 TPI
V-4: 1973 SAAB 96 - 1.5
4-boxer: 1975 Alfa Romeo AlfaSud - 1.2
2-boxer: 1965 Panhard 24BT - 0.8
4-line: 1982 Suzuki SC100 Whizzkid - 1.0
4-line: 1997 Alfa Romeo 164 Super - 2.0 TS
4-line: 2010 Renault Wind - 1.2 Turbo
4-line: 2021 Citroen campervan - 2.2 HDI
4-line: 2022 Alpine A110 - 1.8 Turbo
2-line: 1973 NSU Prinz 4L - 0.6 --> for sale
2-line: 2021 Honda Rebel 500
EV: 2024 Nio ET5T
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I believe there is a difference in the angle after the midbox section. So the entry into the rear silencer. But... thinking about it. This might be unique to the multilink suspension of the Alfa. The others have different suspension but are all more or less a beam. And even if it isn't... a grinder and welder can sort that out. For the Alfa I bought a complete new exhaust (aftermarket OEM spec) by collecting from 3 different webshops. Just last year. Thank you, that's interesting and good to know. I shall consider that when experimenting with the exhausts. |
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Really nice to see another Tipo 4 being cared for. Same for the Thema! Fantastic how such a concept (which is the defacto standard now) started with this set of cars and proofed how different they can be. I'm almost tempted to collect one of each. Here's mine: forum.retro-rides.org/thread/210503/1997-alfa-romeo-scrapyard-perfectI researched a lot into the Tipo 4 platform. There is essentially the Fiat-Lancia version, the SAAB version, and the Alfa Romeo version. They all started from the same CAD drawing of the floorplan, front subframe, front suspension, bulkhead, and doors and then all went their own way. The rest of the body and the rear suspension were never part of the platform; only the mounting points of the rear subframe were the same. The 3 companies had no clue what the others were doing other than studying spy photographs. The doors were a big debate between SAAB and Fiat-Lancia as SAAB wanted better side impact protection. The front subframe was adapted also by SAAB for crash protection. This debate happened before Alfa joined. Alfa Romeo got in the game late (their development of a big car stranded for lack of money... typically) but Alfa already had design work from Pininfarina. To fit the design ideas to the platform they changed front suspension, bulkhead, and doors. So leaving only the floorplan. The front subframe was roughly the same (but mounted with a spacer to lower the powertrain) but they changed the mountings of the steering rack. By the time the 164 was about ready the others were already on the market. And Alfa had no money to retool the production plant. That is when Fiat stepped in. Only after buying Alfa Romeo they got to see the 164. I'm sure Fiat had assumed it would be possible to do more cost-sharing but it was too late as the 164 was finished by then. So I think none of the parties were very happy nor did they get the cost savings they wanted. The only part that is identical for all cars is the front wishbone. The midsection of the exhaust is similar due to the shared floorpan but since all cars have a different rear suspension design the interface to the rear silencer is from different angles. It might be that the front struts are the same for Fiat-Lancia-SAAB but the Alfa ones are very different. Still... Fiat took the platform concept further within their company and build some legendary cars. The rear suspension of the 164 lived on in the 156 and 166 even. SAAB turned away and to GM. Thoroughly enjoyed that reply. Very informative, thank you. Your 164 thread was one I have been following too. 18 years ago I had just started working at an Alfa Romeo specialist and the 164 was always something I enjoyed buzzing around in (along with the 145/6 ti - man I loved those) I am putting the smaller diameter exhaust on for a few reasons: as the car gets used for autobahn trips it'd be nice to get it that bit quieter at 120-130 which I'm hoping this will do. The JT that is on there at the moment is not awful but is well used. It make a lovely popping on the over run which I will miss. I was going to ask £50 for it and am down in Hertfordshire if you fancied it.
I may well lose a few hp going smaller but it won't be far off 300hp still.
For £50 it is well worth the gamble I would say. As engineer says the mid is the same, so that should fit straight on. worst comes to the worst i am sure i could sell it on for £50 to someone in the Saab owners club if it is no good. That is just down the A1 from my family near Peterborough, so it's a decent little trip really trip. I shall PM you as my dad is popping down to Essex this weekend. if you aren't too far of a detour for him he can pop and get it. If not i shall look to come down some point soon. Happy to hold it for you when it does come off, just waiting for the sport cat and 3" to 2.5" adapter to get it all fitted up. Sorry it won't be this weekend though. Would be cool to know if it fits as that would open up a whole load of options for you and other owners. I'd be interested to see if the climate control units were swappable too. |
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Mar 26, 2020 20:11:40 GMT
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Few more smaller jobs now completed just to continue the renew and improve ethos.
Headlights. I'm still working my way towards the perfect set up on one of these, the E36 headlights were great but hard to set up and suffered condensation. I am now using refreshed reflectors in standard headlights and trying out a few bulbs. I also put a brand new head light relay in as the old one was pretty tired and would occasionally leave the lights on after the car was switched off. While I was there I put two new headlight wiper blades on as these usually get overlooked and left.
Had some Osram H1 bulbs in and wanted to try out LED head light bulbs to see if they gave a nice light, good coverage and without causing glare to oncoming traffic.
I used next doors van to get an idea of the beam cut off. And a private road for an idea of beam throw and colour.
Standard LEDs Standard LEDs Standard LEDs Another little thing I did whilst ordering the new exhaust was to get new seat memory buttons as the 'M' was stuck so it could not be programmed. With both of us using the car now the memory positions is nice to have. The new exhaust is now on too and I am absolutely chuffed to bits with it. It sounds just right without being obtrusive. Car feels like it pulls as well as before too. If anything it's a bit shocking now as you don't hear quite how fast you're going which you did with the old system.
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Mar 26, 2020 20:33:18 GMT
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Exhaust looks spot on 😎 indeed the whole car is fantastic!
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Jul 12, 2020 20:01:30 GMT
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Exhaust looks spot on 😎 indeed the whole car is fantastic!
Thanks. Coming along well now  |
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Jul 12, 2020 20:09:39 GMT
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Only a small update this weekend - tidying up a few small bits of the interior. After nearly 200,000 miles the seat belt buttons had unbelievably worn through. Fortunately Saabits have just started stocking new ones.  The new ones are satisfyingly red too compared to the faded red of before.  At the same time as ordering those I ordered a new passenger sun visor. Old, broken one:  And the new one nicely in place:   |
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Aug 25, 2020 11:53:04 GMT
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Have done a few more tidying up jobs recently. Only little things but they were bothering me and needed sorting! The door light. All 9000s end up having broken door lights at some point. Because of this they’re a nightmare to get hold of and people charge an arm and a leg for tatty used ones. I managed to get hold of two new ones in Sweden and snapped them up. Before:  After:  I have also swapped the old stereo out for a JVC Chameleon with a Bluetooth adaptor hidden out the back. At the same time as doing this I got hold of a new gearknob. This was really overdue as the original one was falling to pieces.  It was discovered that the Intercooler was leaking at the bottom. This is the second standard Intercooler I’ve blown out now so I was not keen to use another one. I managed to get hold of an Allard (Not Abbott Racing) made Intercooler which is a lovely bit of kit. Designed to fit in the standard space, loads more efficient and very strongly made. Put new Maptun pipes on at the same time. Also had a new pulley wheel for the drive belt fitted as it was starting to squeal.  |
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Aug 25, 2020 12:29:26 GMT
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I do love a good type 4 platform car. Very nice! I'm also dead jealous of having a proper cruiser in the fleet. Doing mileage in an MGF and an X1/9, while not necessarily awful, does make you appreciate something comfy, fast and quiet  |
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Aug 25, 2020 20:10:45 GMT
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I do love a good type 4 platform car. Very nice! I'm also dead jealous of having a proper cruiser in the fleet. Doing mileage in an MGF and an X1/9, while not necessarily awful, does make you appreciate something comfy, fast and quiet
Thank you
I know exactly what you mean about having a good cruiser. The only other cars that are taxed at the moment are the Westfield and the Swift. Both of those are great fun but no good for any distance.
At 4000 rpm in the 9000 you are cruising at 120mph, in the Swift you are doing 80mph. Makes a huge difference to even short motorway trips.
This was in Germany, we regularly have cruise control on for long periods at this velocity and above with no drama:
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Aug 29, 2020 19:23:46 GMT
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Just realised I’d not updated about the change of wheels. I finally got the refurbed Superleggeras back the other day as the garage that had them had completely closed down due to Covid. Put some Michelin Pilot Sport 4’s on and then weighed them to get an idea of the difference between the 16” winter wheels and the 17” summer wheels.   In total 11.2 kg of unsprung weight saved whilst going up a wheel size. I then cleaned up the winter wheels and put them in some Saab wheel bags I’d been lucky enough to get hold of:  |
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Aug 30, 2020 19:25:11 GMT
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Aug 30, 2020 21:51:43 GMT
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Man that's a cool looking thing |
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Sept 13, 2020 18:19:43 GMT
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Just a quick trip update now we’re safely back. Car performed perfectly apart from the central locking which was a worry sometimes as it controls the fuel flap. 6 countries (inc England) 1809 miles 275 litres of fuel 29mpg average with a tank best of 35.1mpg 150mph top speed 62mph average speed    I remain impressed with how it pulls above 100mph - hence the poor mpg this time! |
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luca24
Part of things
Posts: 275
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Sept 22, 2020 20:07:51 GMT
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Love this, you never seize to amaze me with your 9000, proper car cared for properly and driven right too! Good job on the wheels too! Got to be 1 of the best black Aero's out there hands down, or in fact any colour!
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Audi B5 RS4 Goodwood green.
Saab 9000 Aero Saab Clinic Tune
Mk1 Volvo V70 T5
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