aero
Part of things
Posts: 70
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Sept 29, 2020 6:43:49 GMT
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Really lovely- enjoying this thread massively. Nice work on an increasingly rare bird- love to see these being saved. Thanks redblock, it makes not an enormous amount of financial sense doing what I’m doing, but I don’t think I’ll be too far down one finished; maybe a grand over what she might or might not be worth, but it’s been (mostly) a lot of fun doing some of it myself and spending a lot of time finding and collecting various parts, but mainly meeting some great fellow saabers along the way. |
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Sept 29, 2020 7:03:51 GMT
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Did you know it was salvageable before you bought it?
I once got an extremely fast lift home from work in one of these but all the dash trim was wood or fake wood.
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aero
Part of things
Posts: 70
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Sept 29, 2020 9:56:37 GMT
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It was a total leap of blind faith! Basically I was browsing copart using the pre 2000 model year filter and there it was near me in westbury. It was just as lockdown was looming. I had 10 minutes to look at it with a copart guy guarding the old girl, I couldn’t see under it because it was sat in a huge puddle and I couldn’t get the hood up because of the smash - I had found an advert for her on car and classic from September of the year before, so I knew she’d potentially been looked after fairly well prior to the accident, but it wasn’t the most sensible of decisions.
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Sept 29, 2020 10:06:31 GMT
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It was a total leap of blind faith! Basically I was browsing copart using the pre 2000 model year filter and there it was near me in westbury. It was just as lockdown was looming. I had 10 minutes to look at it with a copart guy guarding the old girl, I couldn’t see under it because it was sat in a huge puddle and I couldn’t get the hood up because of the smash - I had found an advert for her on car and classic from September of the year before, so I knew she’d potentially been looked after fairly well prior to the accident, but it wasn’t the most sensible of decisions. Bravo for the leap |
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60six
Posted a lot
(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
Posts: 1,679
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Sept 30, 2020 21:42:38 GMT
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Nice work on the inner wing - and love those pipes - although I converted my water turbo feed pipe to braided hose to ease removal. Same turbo as mine, the awesome TE05 - 12B. Are you going for a 3 inch downpipe? Also strongly recommend relocating the battery to the boot area as it really gets too hot in it's normal position - the heat shield in between the battery and the manifold elbow is my least favorite bit of the cars design. Relocation is really easy to do. You will need a boat type battery tray with a screw down holder for the battery itself, and doing the relocation also frees you from the rare expensive battery the 900 needs - the positive and negative terminals are swapped in position, making batteries harder to get and expensive. What I really love about yours is that it has the flatfront bodykit and bumpers, later style front end and 4x108 stud pattern. I am assuming that you don't have the front wheel handbrake? Not much fun at all until you take it to an MOT and watch them do the handbrake test on the rolling road. ... If you get stuck for any spares, give me a shout. I have a chargecooler setup but needs someone who can weld aluminium as the cooler itself has split inside. Those make a much better alternative than the stock intercooler (which is totally ineffective due to it's daft position) Thanks for such a comprehensive reply! In answer to your questions, I think I do have a 3 inch down pipe (matron), and am thinking about relocating the battery, but as I spent £145 on this beauty, which can be bolted in anyway but upside down I think I’ll keep as is for the time being. The mixture of bumpers isn’t necessarily on purpose, thanks to the generosity of members of the uksaabs community, I do have slope fronted bumpers and side parts to go on, but that will only happen in time. There are just so many things that need doing! Hoping to get the engine is over the next 10 days, and as she hasn’t been on the road since November, will be a momentous moment when we fire her up. Am very interested to see what type 8 primaries drive like too, having only driven a Carlsson before, which I think also has them, and was very laid back, we shall see. Same battery manufacturer as one that I bought when I first had my three inch downpipe (the single greatest upgrade for these cars) - trouble is, the heat ended it's life after only a year and it only had a years guarantee. Stick a temp guage on the side of the battery and that's all the convincing you'll need. When you use a three inch DP on the standard elbow it's utterly pointless. The elbow knocks the diameter down to 2 inch then all your downpipe does is make the car sound nice. You can feel the restriction in acceleration. Once I got the 3 inch elbow the car felt possessed. I no longer had a nice respectable classic! Sorry for my excitement but it really is one of the best cars ever made, and not enough people by far have tried them. |
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Some 9000's, a 900, an RX8 & a beetle
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tdk
Part of things
Posts: 967 
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Sept 30, 2020 21:56:49 GMT
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It was a total leap of blind faith! Basically I was browsing copart using the pre 2000 model year filter and there it was near me in westbury. It was just as lockdown was looming. I had 10 minutes to look at it with a copart guy guarding the old girl, I couldn’t see under it because it was sat in a huge puddle and I couldn’t get the hood up because of the smash - I had found an advert for her on car and classic from September of the year before, so I knew she’d potentially been looked after fairly well prior to the accident, but it wasn’t the most sensible of decisions. Brave! I'd love one of these. |
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aero
Part of things
Posts: 70
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Thanks for such a comprehensive reply! In answer to your questions, I think I do have a 3 inch down pipe (matron), and am thinking about relocating the battery, but as I spent £145 on this beauty, which can be bolted in anyway but upside down I think I’ll keep as is for the time being. The mixture of bumpers isn’t necessarily on purpose, thanks to the generosity of members of the uksaabs community, I do have slope fronted bumpers and side parts to go on, but that will only happen in time. There are just so many things that need doing! Hoping to get the engine is over the next 10 days, and as she hasn’t been on the road since November, will be a momentous moment when we fire her up. Am very interested to see what type 8 primaries drive like too, having only driven a Carlsson before, which I think also has them, and was very laid back, we shall see. Same battery manufacturer as one that I bought when I first had my three inch downpipe (the single greatest upgrade for these cars) - trouble is, the heat ended it's life after only a year and it only had a years guarantee. Stick a temp guage on the side of the battery and that's all the convincing you'll need. When you use a three inch DP on the standard elbow it's utterly pointless. The elbow knocks the diameter down to 2 inch then all your downpipe does is make the car sound nice. You can feel the restriction in acceleration. Once I got the 3 inch elbow the car felt possessed. I no longer had a nice respectable classic! Sorry for my excitement but it really is one of the best cars ever made, and not enough people by far have tried them. I have a crack in my elbow, hairline but a crack nonetheless, where did you get your large elbow from? |
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60six
Posted a lot
(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
Posts: 1,679
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I bought a full JT 3 inch exhaust about 15 years ago. Took a day to fit as its tight and fiddly, but the elbow was with it. You have to contact JT and request one made - Mine was 450 complete with elbow.
Trying to find pix
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Some 9000's, a 900, an RX8 & a beetle
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aero
Part of things
Posts: 70
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Thank you, I have a JT exhaust but I think the elbow is stock - pics would be great if you get the chance
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keif
Part of things
Posts: 14
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Bookmarked......
Looking forward to watching this get back on the road.
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aero
Part of things
Posts: 70
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Small update, no pictures for once (unless you want to see an e38 filled with Saab parts ...), but I’m off to Cambridge first thing tomorrow to take the gearbox off, water pipes on, water pump, stat etc, belts, and various sundries.
Plus put the new dash in and hoover, hoover, hoover the dust out.
Pictures of all this will be forthcoming.
In other news I had two pints of cider yesterday, and foolishly bought a Clio 200 RS from a car auction site, so I’ve got that to think about too ...
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60six
Posted a lot
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Posts: 1,679
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A clio 200 RS? nice! what did you pay? Found a picture of the engine with downpipe, and my car in satin. It was ok for a little while but was the wrong colour for satin. Now it's gloss. The heatwrap made a massive difference to the temperatures, and the amount of times I burnt myself I had to wrap it.   I finished a can of WD40 and wrapped that around the coil as it was looking rather rough - The coils rarely ever break but do start to look knackered so I cut out the can and wrapped it around. This one modification tells me more about the person asking about it - some people think it's actual WD40 and I just agree with them. Can you imagine the questions if I covered it with a can of 'vaginal antibacterial freshner spray' as my mate wanted me to ? |
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Last Edit: Oct 2, 2020 23:38:16 GMT by 60six
Some 9000's, a 900, an RX8 & a beetle
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60six
Posted a lot
(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
Posts: 1,679
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Regarding the turbo elbow - I could probably make you one if you buy the tubing. I keep forgetting I bought everything for mine about 15 years ago, and even then things were a little scarce. I even managed to buy two brand new front wings back then (2005) from sweden for my 900 and 9000.
Now, brand new parts seem almost obselete apart from the consumables like brake discs, pads, etc.
I just bought two rear calipers L&R for 100 quid as they fit 900's and 9000's and always sieze up.
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Last Edit: Oct 2, 2020 23:33:12 GMT by 60six
Some 9000's, a 900, an RX8 & a beetle
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aero
Part of things
Posts: 70
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That great info thanks 60! Fairly lengthy update incoming after a long day in Cambridge yesterday. The aim of the day was to get her inside, hoover at least some of the dust out of the interior, and reinstall the dash. Mission mostly accomplished, and here’s the pictorial evidence:   Using a trolley Jack we managed to steer her all the way down to the corner at the back of the picture, nearly lost her down the slope on the left, then backwards into the garage; luckily she’s very light without the engine in. Then it was Henry the hoover’s time to shine!  After awhile she even began to look more like a car inside:   So with some of the dust removed it was time to get the dash internals back in place. 900’s have a set of clever little rollers bolted on to the back of the firewall and 4 bolts that then hold it all up once you’ve swivelled it back into place, and after a lot of wd40 based cleaning, a fair bit of swearing and cajoling we got it all in:     The steering column was a bit of a pig, but it’s all really very straight forward. We even found time to retape the wiring loom and get it neatly clipped away against our newly painted firewall:    Remove the now redundant and fairly massive fog light wiring:  And move the sought-after Saab auxiliary gauges up to the top dash and the stereo cage down to the lower pod:   Oh and my switch pack appears to be from a 9000 and the wrong colour so out that came:  A long day! Home by 11pm last night in torrential rain, safely powered by e38 v8 goodness:  Taken in warmer months ... Anyway, she’s up for sale soon as this week, the engine goes into the Saab! |
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60six
Posted a lot
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Posts: 1,679
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Your 900 looks really nice indeed - I much prefer the look of the early bodykit at the rear - the angle is sharper and you get a nice view of your twin tailpipes from the side. Are you intending on using the saab as a daily? Mine was for many years. What about some info on the Clio cup!? Your switchpack for the windows, locking and roof is the right one for a late model. There wasn't a 2 door 9000 and those buttons tend to be in K & L reg 900's, which I find to be better and do not stick. I stuck a small 12v relay on the door solenoid circuit so I could have remote central locking - something like this: www.amazon.co.uk/QIACHIP-Wireless-Transmitter-Receiver-Entrance/dp/B081C9D3CG/ref=pd_lpo_23_t_1/260-2548188-8739409?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B081C9D3CG&pd_rd_r=2cea62b2-0225-40d1-8576-26d9d0ae13b5&pd_rd_w=4R7T9&pd_rd_wg=kjx8T&pf_rd_p=7b8e3b03-1439-4489-abd4-4a138cf4eca6&pf_rd_r=PB9F040P591YP5GX0NEW&psc=1&refRID=PB9F040P591YP5GX0NEWSaved a lot of stress on the worn key mechanism & door locks. Whilst you are in the centre console area remove the dire reverse lockout. You then see my favorite overengineered failure of the 'triangular centre console bolts'. They went to all this trouble to create a secure bolt to stop the centre console being removed easily but failed to realise that all you need is a flat headed screwdriver to remove them.... This reverse mechanism fails often and leaves you stranded, or you break the shifter mechanism in frustration as it prevents the key moving as well as locking you in reverse. It's a smoother shift without it, although purists would not agree. You mentioned type 8 primaries - Do you have those with it? I blew my gearbox up last year and could only get hold of a type 6 primaries gearbox as a replacement - It now has the most time-warping acceleration in fifth but you are pushing 3k revs in 5th gear at 70, so long distance isn't comfy! I have some 7 primaries to fit thankfully. |
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Some 9000's, a 900, an RX8 & a beetle
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I applaud both your bravery and your choice of car. It is already beginning to look spectacular.
I've always loved Saabs, when I was ten TURBO just sounded so exciting.
I'm now on my third but mine have all been post-GM cars.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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eternaloptimist
Posted a lot
Too many projects, not enough time or space...
Posts: 2,578
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Looking good.
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XC70, VW split screen crew cab, Standard Ten
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Just such odd, cool cars. Nice!
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melle
South West
It'll come out in the wash.
Posts: 2,010
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You mentioned type 8 primaries - Do you have those with it? I blew my gearbox up last year and could only get hold of a type 6 primaries gearbox as a replacement - It now has the most time-warping acceleration in fifth but you are pushing 3k revs in 5th gear at 70, so long distance isn't comfy! I have some 7 primaries to fit thankfully. Couldn't you fit the primaries from your old box? Swapping the gears/ chains is a quick job with the box already out. Mine has a "long" box that came with 5 primaries from the factory; I fitted 7s when I did a lot of Autobahn miles, but I've gone back to 6 now the car sees more hilly country roads than motorways. |
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www.saabv4.com'70 Saab 96 V4 "The Devil's Own V4" '77 Saab 95 V4 van conversion project '88 Saab 900i 8V
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aero
Part of things
Posts: 70
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Your 900 looks really nice indeed - I much prefer the look of the early bodykit at the rear - the angle is sharper and you get a nice view of your twin tailpipes from the side. Are you intending on using the saab as a daily? Mine was for many years. What about some info on the Clio cup!? Your switchpack for the windows, locking and roof is the right one for a late model. There wasn't a 2 door 9000 and those buttons tend to be in K & L reg 900's, which I find to be better and do not stick. I stuck a small 12v relay on the door solenoid circuit so I could have remote central locking - something like this: www.amazon.co.uk/QIACHIP-Wireless-Transmitter-Receiver-Entrance/dp/B081C9D3CG/ref=pd_lpo_23_t_1/260-2548188-8739409?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B081C9D3CG&pd_rd_r=2cea62b2-0225-40d1-8576-26d9d0ae13b5&pd_rd_w=4R7T9&pd_rd_wg=kjx8T&pf_rd_p=7b8e3b03-1439-4489-abd4-4a138cf4eca6&pf_rd_r=PB9F040P591YP5GX0NEW&psc=1&refRID=PB9F040P591YP5GX0NEWSaved a lot of stress on the worn key mechanism & door locks. Whilst you are in the centre console area remove the dire reverse lockout. You then see my favorite overengineered failure of the 'triangular centre console bolts'. They went to all this trouble to create a secure bolt to stop the centre console being removed easily but failed to realise that all you need is a flat headed screwdriver to remove them.... This reverse mechanism fails often and leaves you stranded, or you break the shifter mechanism in frustration as it prevents the key moving as well as locking you in reverse. It's a smoother shift without it, although purists would not agree. You mentioned type 8 primaries - Do you have those with it? I blew my gearbox up last year and could only get hold of a type 6 primaries gearbox as a replacement - It now has the most time-warping acceleration in fifth but you are pushing 3k revs in 5th gear at 70, so long distance isn't comfy! I have some 7 primaries to fit thankfully. Good to know about the switch pack! She’ll be a daily except when and if the local council use salt on the roads. The Clio is a 2010 200 RS, one owner, 48,000 miles and will be a daily/and occasional track day car, it’s one of these:  Picking up tomorrow! Yes the Saab has type 8 primaries, which having never driven her I have no idea what that feels like. She doesn’t have the reverse great lockout thingy luckily. In terms of the bumpers, I’m returning her to her slope fronted original self as I personally don’t like the flat front look as much, I have all the bits and I’ll do it one she’s home. |
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