Winter tyres + man-maths = Saab 9000??
Discussion
Wow, great car!
have had 3 9000s (2.3t, 3.0 Griffin & Aero) amongst my 7 SAABs and very nearly bought another recently but went for a 9 3 'Vert as a winter shed instead
Good luck with it!
My Fave 9000 was a run-out model - badged and styled as a standard 2.3T but had the Aero Engine, Suspension and LSD!
(was breathed on a bit as well, so would outrun the 'grale in a straight line)
have had 3 9000s (2.3t, 3.0 Griffin & Aero) amongst my 7 SAABs and very nearly bought another recently but went for a 9 3 'Vert as a winter shed instead
Good luck with it!
My Fave 9000 was a run-out model - badged and styled as a standard 2.3T but had the Aero Engine, Suspension and LSD!
(was breathed on a bit as well, so would outrun the 'grale in a straight line)
Currently running without an APC (boost control) valve fitted after mine failed electrically and wouldn't respond to re-soldering the wires internally.
New valve is on order but for the moment boost control is by right foot only and it has turned the Griffin into a proper old school torque monster!
God knows what sort of power it would be producing if I floored it (I haven't dared due to a desire not to grenade anything) but tentative 1/4 throttle prods result in the boost needle flicking past the end of the red sector and massive wheel spin in 3rd gear!
New valve is on order but for the moment boost control is by right foot only and it has turned the Griffin into a proper old school torque monster!
God knows what sort of power it would be producing if I floored it (I haven't dared due to a desire not to grenade anything) but tentative 1/4 throttle prods result in the boost needle flicking past the end of the red sector and massive wheel spin in 3rd gear!
Edited by 99t on Tuesday 20th January 09:15
The Black one pictured above suffered from blown APC Valves a few times so Lui, the little Master SAAB Tech at Offord, removed it and cable-tied in a big brass valve with a knurled nut on the end, when he lifted the bonnet to show me he said:
"You turna it dis way to go faster, dis way to go slow...when ya ladee wanna driva it..."
I left it alone for 2 weeks and then had to give it a tweak...wow!
My Porsche 944 Turbo had a similar arrangement when I got it, I found it was called a "Promax Boost Enhancer"
"You turna it dis way to go faster, dis way to go slow...when ya ladee wanna driva it..."
I left it alone for 2 weeks and then had to give it a tweak...wow!
My Porsche 944 Turbo had a similar arrangement when I got it, I found it was called a "Promax Boost Enhancer"
My inner hooligan has quite enjoyed acting as manual (right foot) boost controller this week in the absence of a working boost control valve.
Spool up has been viciously quick at times, so much so that I nearly ran into the back of someone I was about to overtake as it came on boost so much sooner and harder than expected!! Ahem.
Not sure the winter tyres have enjoyed the extra boost quite as much as I have though, although they did finally get to sample a little snow this week!
Fortunately, for both car and licence, my new (to me) T5 APC valve arrived today, tested ok and has been duly fitted. All good, boosting to mid-red on full throttle, which is a bit higher than it ever went previously so maybe the APC valve was always a bit duff? T5 valves are a bit notorious for it I guess. May consider a T7 valve conversion if this one packs in as they are meant to be better.
Anyway for now the ultimate performance is still pretty good for a big old bus, more progressive and less raw in delivery perhaps, but still very decent. It feels like it would stay with my Monaro into 3 figures now which it never has before...
Spool up has been viciously quick at times, so much so that I nearly ran into the back of someone I was about to overtake as it came on boost so much sooner and harder than expected!! Ahem.
Not sure the winter tyres have enjoyed the extra boost quite as much as I have though, although they did finally get to sample a little snow this week!
Fortunately, for both car and licence, my new (to me) T5 APC valve arrived today, tested ok and has been duly fitted. All good, boosting to mid-red on full throttle, which is a bit higher than it ever went previously so maybe the APC valve was always a bit duff? T5 valves are a bit notorious for it I guess. May consider a T7 valve conversion if this one packs in as they are meant to be better.
Anyway for now the ultimate performance is still pretty good for a big old bus, more progressive and less raw in delivery perhaps, but still very decent. It feels like it would stay with my Monaro into 3 figures now which it never has before...
Those APC valves do have a reputation for failing, and second hand ones are a bit of a lottery. IIRC my dad ended up buying a new genuine Saab one to fix his boosting issues.
Been out in mine today, still a great old thing. Quite hard to pull out without lighting up the fronts (summer rubber and barely above freezing this morning). Still trying to decide what to do with it. Lots of jobs need doing now. The interior is mint (black leather/suede anniversary) and all the T5 stuff is good and could be used on my 900 turbo. Lots of other bits and bobs (Aero wheels, Anni steering wheel, dash computer, etc. etc) but don't have the time or inclination to break. Even with 6 months MOT can't see me getting much though, saw a decent Anni auto for £500 the other day... I fancy a change but can't really see what else you can pick up for that money that is as complete!
Been out in mine today, still a great old thing. Quite hard to pull out without lighting up the fronts (summer rubber and barely above freezing this morning). Still trying to decide what to do with it. Lots of jobs need doing now. The interior is mint (black leather/suede anniversary) and all the T5 stuff is good and could be used on my 900 turbo. Lots of other bits and bobs (Aero wheels, Anni steering wheel, dash computer, etc. etc) but don't have the time or inclination to break. Even with 6 months MOT can't see me getting much though, saw a decent Anni auto for £500 the other day... I fancy a change but can't really see what else you can pick up for that money that is as complete!
NiceCupOfTea said:
Those APC valves do have a reputation for failing, and second hand ones are a bit of a lottery. IIRC my dad ended up buying a new genuine Saab one to fix his boosting issues.
Yes I knew buying a used T5 APC solenoid was a risk, but so far I seem to have struck lucky by doing so as it's still boosting nicely.In other news, having disconnected the battery to clear any ECU adaptation prior to fitting my "new" solenoid, I couldn't find my glasses anywhere yesterday so had to revert to my spare pair.
Having done about 70 miles since then, I woke up about 3am this morning having an "oh crap!" moment as I remembered where I had left them - on top of the battery... Assumed they are lost forever, turned over and went back to sleep.
Checked this morning and sure enough no glasses on top of the battery. Looked around the engine bay more in hope than expectation and there they were resting on top of the gearbox!
A tad oily but not even scratched!!
Brilliant!
Mine once developed a trange noise and vibration coupled with an increase in performance, I popped it into Offord motor company as I was close where they found that the knob had fallen off the top of my MBC and got trapped between the chassis and engine by one of the mounts!!
Mine once developed a trange noise and vibration coupled with an increase in performance, I popped it into Offord motor company as I was close where they found that the knob had fallen off the top of my MBC and got trapped between the chassis and engine by one of the mounts!!
Thanks very much to the blind b
d in a transit van that decided not to brake yesterday.
Doesn't look too bad at first glance but it was a 30mph+ impact whilst I was stationary so it is goosed underneath, boot floor pushed in and nearside rear wing kinked behind the wheel arch.
Judicious use of a sledgehammer and a block of wood on the slam panel last night means that the boot at least closes again now.
The old girl still drives perfectly, the lights work, and there are no sharp edges or bits hanging off, so ok to continue to use I think. Just means any plans I had for tidying the paintwork and making mint are now pointless.
At least this happened before I spent any cash I guess!
As of now this is a proper bangernomics thread, I'll run her 'till something breaks or she fails the MOT and then sadly break / scrap.
d in a transit van that decided not to brake yesterday.Doesn't look too bad at first glance but it was a 30mph+ impact whilst I was stationary so it is goosed underneath, boot floor pushed in and nearside rear wing kinked behind the wheel arch.
Judicious use of a sledgehammer and a block of wood on the slam panel last night means that the boot at least closes again now.
The old girl still drives perfectly, the lights work, and there are no sharp edges or bits hanging off, so ok to continue to use I think. Just means any plans I had for tidying the paintwork and making mint are now pointless.
At least this happened before I spent any cash I guess!
As of now this is a proper bangernomics thread, I'll run her 'till something breaks or she fails the MOT and then sadly break / scrap.
Bad luck on the crash.
I'd love a mint looking 9000 Aero. Just had a look on PH classifieds and there are no 9000's at all. Looked on Autotrader there are 2 only.
Why so few? People hanging onto them or something else killing them? I used to have a C900 and that died with the inevitable gearbox failure, didn't think the 9000 suffered the same problem.
Just seen this, if I needed a car right now I'd be on it if it goes for sensible money.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VERY-EARLY-1993-SAAB-900...
I'd love a mint looking 9000 Aero. Just had a look on PH classifieds and there are no 9000's at all. Looked on Autotrader there are 2 only.
Why so few? People hanging onto them or something else killing them? I used to have a C900 and that died with the inevitable gearbox failure, didn't think the 9000 suffered the same problem.
Just seen this, if I needed a car right now I'd be on it if it goes for sensible money.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VERY-EARLY-1993-SAAB-900...
Edited by ManFromDelmonte on Wednesday 12th August 15:56
I think people are hanging onto the good ones, but they can and do rust structurally, mainly around the back end which has resulted in many being broken.
Gearboxes, though better than C900 ones, are far from bullet-proof, especially once the boost starts being increased so this will have accounted for a few too.
I would definitely have another 9000, but I fear the odds of finding one, especially an Aero, as sound as this one was, for even vaguely sensible money, are very slim...
Gearboxes, though better than C900 ones, are far from bullet-proof, especially once the boost starts being increased so this will have accounted for a few too.
I would definitely have another 9000, but I fear the odds of finding one, especially an Aero, as sound as this one was, for even vaguely sensible money, are very slim...
What a shame, impressively strong though in an old school way, no crumple zones there, other than the front of the other car!
The newest 9000s are now 17 years old, they were fairly few and far between when I had one 5 years ago in 2010, I think most have succumbed to rot, gearbox failure or the general lack of maintenance most cars endure once they fall into shed territory. Don't know what happened to mine after I sold it but its most certainly not around any-more, it was rot free too.
The newest 9000s are now 17 years old, they were fairly few and far between when I had one 5 years ago in 2010, I think most have succumbed to rot, gearbox failure or the general lack of maintenance most cars endure once they fall into shed territory. Don't know what happened to mine after I sold it but its most certainly not around any-more, it was rot free too.
Shame about the punt. Hopefully no ill effects on you personally.
Where all the 900 / 9000s have gone? B204 engined ones stripped for their engines and fitted into Vauxhalls. The Cavalier underpinnings mean that swaps are fairly easy and the strong bottom ends in the B204 combined with relatively easy home mapping means they are being used more now than ever.
Where all the 900 / 9000s have gone? B204 engined ones stripped for their engines and fitted into Vauxhalls. The Cavalier underpinnings mean that swaps are fairly easy and the strong bottom ends in the B204 combined with relatively easy home mapping means they are being used more now than ever.
So despite its wounding, the 9000 passed another MOT yesterday and still drives beautifully.
The list of advisories is growing though, now including headlight output and the state of the exhaust.
Lights can be re-silvered and exhausts obtained easily enough but the will to spend the money, on what is effectively a write off, is lacking.
The list of advisories is growing though, now including headlight output and the state of the exhaust.
Lights can be re-silvered and exhausts obtained easily enough but the will to spend the money, on what is effectively a write off, is lacking.
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