99t's Saab 99 Turbo
Discussion
I’ve owned my Saab 99 TURBO for a good number of years now and to my shame have never actually had it roadworthy. I could make numerous excuses as to how this happened, and some would even be vaguely valid, but the simple fact is that I lost motivation a good while back and have struggled ever since to regain it.
This thread then, is an attempt to regain some momentum, and hopefully if I let things slip you chaps will kindly give me a virtual kick up the backside to get on with it…
Anyway, enough “Dear Diedre”, a little bit about the car:-
1978 Saab 99 EMS TURBO Combi (3-door) to name it correctly, in black, as were all of the officially imported examples in 1978 and 1979. Very original and unmolested with approx. 52k miles from new and nearly full history but little used for a long period before (and since) purchase so suffering from lack of use and some degree of tinworm. My original intention was to overhaul the mechanical side of things and carry out sympathetic body repairs maintaining as much of the (mostly) original paint as possible...
As delivered
Interior
No antifreeze or thermostat = rotted head gasket
Rebuilding head whilst fitting new head gasket
Rebuild internal (in block) water-pump as seals shot
Injectors ultrasonically cleaned
Rebuild external wastegate (to right of pic and excuse state of cam cover!!)
Rebuild fuel pressure regulator
Re-bling a few brackets and fixings
The above work was intended to return the engine to basic mechanical fitness and improve the running characteristics since the Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection was a little bit gummed up but as it wasn’t too bad I hoped it would improve with use...
Unfortunately, once running it was obvious that there was still an issue with the head or head gasket seal evidenced by lots of water coming out of the exhaust, coolant loss and an occasional misfire. Heads are known to crack and / or go porous with age and although it was checked and pressure tested during rebuild, I suspect it is harbouring some issues.
In addition, the bottom end showed its displeasure at the previous lack of use by leaking copious amounts of oil from every gasket and seal so clearly I need to start again with the engine out for a full strip down, and it was at this point I spat my dummy out and put the car away for several years!!!
This thread then, is an attempt to regain some momentum, and hopefully if I let things slip you chaps will kindly give me a virtual kick up the backside to get on with it…
Anyway, enough “Dear Diedre”, a little bit about the car:-
1978 Saab 99 EMS TURBO Combi (3-door) to name it correctly, in black, as were all of the officially imported examples in 1978 and 1979. Very original and unmolested with approx. 52k miles from new and nearly full history but little used for a long period before (and since) purchase so suffering from lack of use and some degree of tinworm. My original intention was to overhaul the mechanical side of things and carry out sympathetic body repairs maintaining as much of the (mostly) original paint as possible...
As delivered
Interior
No antifreeze or thermostat = rotted head gasket
Rebuilding head whilst fitting new head gasket
Rebuild internal (in block) water-pump as seals shot
Injectors ultrasonically cleaned
Rebuild external wastegate (to right of pic and excuse state of cam cover!!)
Rebuild fuel pressure regulator
Re-bling a few brackets and fixings
The above work was intended to return the engine to basic mechanical fitness and improve the running characteristics since the Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection was a little bit gummed up but as it wasn’t too bad I hoped it would improve with use...
Unfortunately, once running it was obvious that there was still an issue with the head or head gasket seal evidenced by lots of water coming out of the exhaust, coolant loss and an occasional misfire. Heads are known to crack and / or go porous with age and although it was checked and pressure tested during rebuild, I suspect it is harbouring some issues.
In addition, the bottom end showed its displeasure at the previous lack of use by leaking copious amounts of oil from every gasket and seal so clearly I need to start again with the engine out for a full strip down, and it was at this point I spat my dummy out and put the car away for several years!!!
Did somebody mention a red 99t.
http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=FS...
Nothing to do with me by the way.
http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=FS...
Nothing to do with me by the way.
king love those seats. 
Thanks for all the positive comments; I've loved these cars ever since attending the dealer launch event at Donnington with my parents when I was about 10.
After drooling over lots of shiny new cars and various other static exhibits such as this car...
…although having previously cut up a 99 shell with an angle grinder I can attest to just how much steel is in those screen pillars - they are hollow, but only just!
In fact as an aside, had Top Gear dropped a 99 on its roof instead of a 900 it would probably have done even better - to ease door opening in a heavy frontal impact the 900 pillars were shortened and weakened compared to the 99 ones which extend right down to the bottom of the front wheel arch.
Anyway, I digress; back at Donnington we were then driven round the track in a Turbo by a professional driver at what seemed to me like unbelievable speed, and next had a ride in another 99 with no less that Eric Carlsson at the wheel who was doing braking demonstrations, driving over a device that instantly deflated a front tyre and then braking in a straight line with his hands off the wheel*
Well that was it, I was hooked on the 99t (to the utter bemusement of friends and family who just don't "get" them at all!)
After drooling over lots of shiny new cars and various other static exhibits such as this car...
…although having previously cut up a 99 shell with an angle grinder I can attest to just how much steel is in those screen pillars - they are hollow, but only just!
In fact as an aside, had Top Gear dropped a 99 on its roof instead of a 900 it would probably have done even better - to ease door opening in a heavy frontal impact the 900 pillars were shortened and weakened compared to the 99 ones which extend right down to the bottom of the front wheel arch.
Anyway, I digress; back at Donnington we were then driven round the track in a Turbo by a professional driver at what seemed to me like unbelievable speed, and next had a ride in another 99 with no less that Eric Carlsson at the wheel who was doing braking demonstrations, driving over a device that instantly deflated a front tyre and then braking in a straight line with his hands off the wheel*
Well that was it, I was hooked on the 99t (to the utter bemusement of friends and family who just don't "get" them at all!)
*although I seem to recall a passenger photo emerging later on that showed he actually had his thighs wedged very firmly underneath the wheel!!
Work has now re-started. 
Awoken from hibernaton
Dragged back home
Started stripping down - taking lots of notes and pictures as I go..
There are some exceptions, but access is mostly pretty good once the bonnet and slam panel are removed
One of the access exceptions - I had an absolute nightmare getting the wastegate to manifold bolts off when I did the head gasket first time around - it took me about three long evenings of intermittently swearing, crying and throwing things about before I got all four bolts undone due to a combination of rust and non-existent access to a couple of them. Fortunately I replaced them with stainless so no such problems this time (easier ones to access in photo!)
Making good progress - K-Jet pipes and metering body disconnected and removed. Still to do before engine out; starter motor wiring, gear linkage, driveshafts, oil cooler lines, clutch hydraulics and the engine and gearbox mounts. Plus, no doubt, something I'll have forgotten until I use the engine hoist to test its tensile strength....
Awoken from hibernaton
Dragged back home
Started stripping down - taking lots of notes and pictures as I go..
There are some exceptions, but access is mostly pretty good once the bonnet and slam panel are removed
One of the access exceptions - I had an absolute nightmare getting the wastegate to manifold bolts off when I did the head gasket first time around - it took me about three long evenings of intermittently swearing, crying and throwing things about before I got all four bolts undone due to a combination of rust and non-existent access to a couple of them. Fortunately I replaced them with stainless so no such problems this time (easier ones to access in photo!)
Making good progress - K-Jet pipes and metering body disconnected and removed. Still to do before engine out; starter motor wiring, gear linkage, driveshafts, oil cooler lines, clutch hydraulics and the engine and gearbox mounts. Plus, no doubt, something I'll have forgotten until I use the engine hoist to test its tensile strength....
ShampooEfficient said:
Bloody lovely, all the best with it.
Oh, and pics of the Rangey plz
Cheers Oh, and pics of the Rangey plz
As requested My Rangey thread
99t said:
ShampooEfficient said:
Bloody lovely, all the best with it.
Oh, and pics of the Rangey plz
Cheers Oh, and pics of the Rangey plz
As requested My Rangey thread
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