Ownership Verified: My Topless Swedish Model

Well leaking is easy to deal with... Keep adding Silicone until the car runs on the stuff. I still need to do that to my sump actually... :lol:

It makes me sad since the car had a full Gearbox Rebuild (including all parts, labour and fluids coming to ?1294.82) in March 2009. Yes it was at 86k miles back then, but still. Either way I don't want to rebuild the gearbox. It may reach that point in the next few years though.
 
It should be somewhat repairable by a metal worker?
 
The gearbox/bearing...? Not sure a general metal worker would be the right person to send it to...?
 
So small update; still going fine if a bit noisily. And cold.

But hey - I passed the 209,214km mark! That's supposed to be a big one, right...? :p
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NB I don't have a photo on the dot because at the time I was trying not to die by plowing into the side of a truck or other vehicles on the motorway in the torrential rain and wind we've been having. It also shows that from my parents' house to mine is exactly 142.9 miles.

Oh and on the way back on new year's day the thing threw another check engine light at me. Once I got back and reset the ECU (didn't come back on fortunately) I did some more research and have concluded that I was wrong to think there was a connection issue with the dials because Saabs have a built in feature that the temp gauge turns off (aka drops to zero) and occasional CEL when the temperature sensor is failing. Alas a new one of those is about ?10 and should be fitted (hopefully with a new thermostat and coolant) this weekend. Then it should be able to stay at temperature.
 
So update time again.

Thermostat issue is completely solved. New stat and temperature sensor fixed it all; as much new coolant as we could get out of the old stuff (couldn't find the right hose and the plug at the bottom of the radiator was inaccessible). Now gets fully up to temperature in about 2.5 miles/4km at town driving. Excellent stuff.

Also:
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New gearbox! Well a second hand one. Its done 65k miles so should be OK. I'm going to do the clutch, slave cylinder and oil seals on it then get it fitted. Expensive stuff.

Problem with mine is most likely the shaft bearings and I don't have the time or space to replace them myself so a used gearbox at ?45 is the only real option. Adding on the clutch and bearing and seals and fitting and it'll be around ?500 in total. <_<

I got a video (audio only) of the gearbox noise itself. Not that easy to hear but acceleration at 1:37 (and what the turbo now sounds like; no more TURBOBOOSTNOISE[SUP]TM[/SUP]; just a nice whistle that will probably quieten down when I do the manifold gaskets. Putting foot on clutch at 2:39 stops the noise.

Oh and I also reattached the rear numberplate; now with holes and bolts so it won't fall off because the glue is buggered.
 
That's a really cheap gearbox. :D
 
So the car is back to its good old beasty sleeper self. :D I'm so happy now.

Firstly the differential oil seals had to be changed on the new gearbox (well didn't have to be but for the sake of ?11 for new ones...); except that one of them kinda didn't want to come out so took a bit of...destruction to remove. I did this without damaging the sealing surface, amazingly. New one, easy to remove old one, and not so easy to remove old one...

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Then take to a man, with a new clutch and new slave cylinder and return with this old piece of (s)crap and the old clutch (which is actually almost brand new anyway - selling it on so excellent for clawing back some money) and ?210 poorer (for the labour of changing a gearbox and clutch that isn't bad at all).

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The new gearbox feels a bit more solid since its done ~60k miles rather than the old ones 130k. Also now the car sounds perfect again. Apart from the terribly blowing exhaust. One thing at a time... :lol:

As for the money; I have now broken ?3000 for the cost of buying the car and all the parts on it (not insurance/tax etc). :cry: I don't want to spend much more than ?4k to get it finished...
 
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Suspension, brakes and exhaust are the more expensive ones left. Then there's the interior and possibly getting it chipped if I have any money left. :p
 
So there was a deal going on for a free health check at a Saab dealer (or what's left of them). Definitely not one to pass that up. :)

Came back with a few advisories - nothing too major...ish. Nothing that they determined needed immediate attention at least.

- Windscreen damaged (a load of chips on it)
- Oil Leak - Further Investigation required (the sump leaks a bit; I still need to put a bead of silicone sealant round it)
- Rear brake discs scored/pitted. Front pads 50% worn, rears 30% worn. (But they didn't seem to notice the warped discs - I don't know how bad it is since its only under very heavy braking now)
- Track Rod End - Left side damaged/worn. (I know about this and new ones are sitting in my room ready to go in with the rebuild of the suspension)
- Exhaust blowing at rear box and flexi joint (again I am aware of this - can't exactly miss the sound - and plan to put in a new 2.5" cat back exhaust at some point)
- Nearside front anti-roll bar rubber missing (well that was unexpected but may explain why it handles like a pig... Or at least partly :p)

All in all happy that I do know most of what is wrong with my car. All I need now is ?300 of suspension bushings and top mounts, then I can spend a good weekend rebuilding the suspension. New shocks, springs, bushings, tie rod ends, drop links, top mounts, thrust bearings and then one hell of a tracking. :) Hopefully after my next paycheck - despite having to fork out ?550 this month for insurance.
 
So after three weekends of working on it (yeah I know; took a little while longer than intended. Whatever its all free labour and I enjoyed it overall) - the suspension is done. For those uninitiated I replaced with new;
- Springs (lowering)
- Shocks (Bilstein B8s)
- Tie Rod Ends
- Drop Links
- Bushes (Powerflex purple Polybushes)
- Top Mounts & Bearings

The only thing left to do is the rear-axle mount bushes which I will do when I do the brakes, so I can remove the brake lines and drop the rear axle more without concern of breaking them. :)

The result is that the car no longer feels skittish and/or wallowy. Part of the problem was the front shocks had been replaced before the roadtrip so the front was sharp but not refined, and the rear was squishy. It didn't lead to anything near to a good handling car. Suspension is firm (but not too firm - the ride quality is excellent now) and the car handles a lot better even before tracking.

Half-arsed photos; IIRC the rear one is actually from eye-level for reference.
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The only thing I'm not sure on is the front could still drop another 10mm or so. I think the shocks may be used to the old non-lowering springs, so need time to settle still, but we shall see. It still easily clears my driveway wall, which I wasn't expecting it to still be able to do. These photos really don't show off anything tbh - it sits much better on the road now and I'm much happier with its appearance; no more SUV style wheelarch gaps.

The one bad thing with doing this however is that now the suspension has no play in it the bulkhead/steering is...worse. By a long way. I planted it in 2nd today and while it still pulls very nicely the steering went concerningly light and vague (which with the torque steer is a wonder how I didn't end up in a lamppost). The knocking is also worse than ever - I thought it was the buggered tie rod end but since thats been replaced and the knocking is enhanced its obvious its the steering rack moving around in its mount. You know; the brace thats supposed to prevent this shit. Needless to say it is booked into a Saab specialist for next week to have this fixed. Not as expensive as I was expecting either, but still. I could disassemble it all myself but since it involves removing the brake servo and moving the steering rack before you have to get a welder in I figured I may as well splash my cash and pay a man. I was intending to get this done after the roadtrip but frankly its just not quite safe now.
 
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That looks AWESOME! And yes, it will settle a bit - 5, maybe 10mm.
 
Looking great, just in time for roof-off weather too. :)
 
Slight update again; spend since the suspension was finished has been in the range of ?850... :p

First thing was the bulkhead repair. No photos as...well you can't see anything anyway. But all done by a Saab specialist for a surprisingly cheap (but not cheap enough) ?275. The car feels completely different. Much less dangerous and it no longer torque-steers. At all. :| Dayum.

Next up was ordering new brake pads as they had to remove the brake master cylinder to get at the bulkhead so bleed the system etc. Really shows off how bad my pads are... :lol: New Brembo pads (cheap shit to get me by as I can't afford new discs yet due to the next item on this list) ?68 for the full set.

The expensive part is a new exhaust. Mine has been blowing since I bought the car, but its been getting worse. Add this to the issue I was having with hitting the redline in 2nd because I couldn't hear the engine (and I want to) so I paid ?400 for a second hand (but with new flexis) Abbott Racing 3" Sports exhaust and downpipe (with sports cat). Brand new cost is ?750 :D Arrived yesterday and will hopefully be fitted over the weekend. The MOT is due next Wednesday so I've booked it in and I guess it might fail on the current exhaust.
(pics from seller)
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Add to that 6 months' worth of tax at ?126.50 and we're all done for now. The only thing that still needs doing is the brake discs and then the interior. And the roof. Oh and I still need to remove the exhaust manifold to replace the studs that always break (apparently at least one of mine is cracked so any attempt to remove it will break it) as well as the gaskets to get rid of the remainder of the OMGTURBONOISE[SUP]TM[/SUP]. That can be done without removing the turbo or head, but when the studs break if they need drilling out it'll have to be done in situ with a 90 degree drill chuck. Which will be fun. I hope they break so I can still grab hold of them... :cry:
 
Bear in mind that a 5k? car would probably still have most of the issues mine does so if you want a really decent one you'll have to spend another 4k. But do eeeeet (actually don't i'd never actually recommend a saab to anyone :lol:)
 
Davetouch said:
actually don't i'd never actually recommend a saab to anyone :lol:
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Despite that we'd probably all be happy to add one to our collections. I'll take a mid-80s 900 Turbo please. :)
 
Matt2000 said:
Despite that we'd probably all be happy to add one to our collections. I'll take a mid-80s 900 Turbo please. :)
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As someone with a Land Rover you're probably more used to long-throw shifters more than most of us.
 
Next update; brakes and exhaust this past weekend.

Front brake pads might have been a bit overdue... :|
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Doesn't really stop much better, but it stops much smoother and feels safer :p

And the exhaust; hmm... bigger than I expected...
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But after way too long a time; looks much better on the car.
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Unfortunately however it doesn't actually line up with the bumper (I believe that is because its designed for the Viggen/Hot Aero bumper which has the outlet in a slightly different place) so cable ties hold it in place for the time being - it rests against the bumper otherwise; a safety cable will take their place as a stronger solution. I may get the end bent to fit or get an Aero bumper as I need a new rear bumper anyway (although rare colour makes this a bitch).

However the biggest problem of them all; was the flexis. Brand new flexi pipes had been welded in. I don't know who by but whoever did it chose flexis that are about 10mm too short each, so there's a 20mm gap in my exhaust patched up with a repair kit...

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Not impressed. Won't cost much to get a new bit welded in, but its a pain, especially since my MOT is tomorrow so there was no time to do anything else. Hopefully it'll pass or at least the MOT place will fix it for cheap.

Nevertheless the exhaust sounds AMAZING. Not too loud or overpowering ever but get on it and it really comes alive. Tunnels and bridges are a lot more enjoyable already :lol: I took a before and after video, but unfortunately my phone decided to not record audio on the after video. I'll get a new one at some point when I can be bothered. Here's the stock exhaust for anyone interested. That showed up at 69/70dB, and the new one showed up at about 76/77dB IIRC. So a bit louder at idle, but just nicer.
 
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