480 bhp and 1360 kg Saab 9000 Aero
Discussion
Quick update - Decided to keep the 9k but take it off the road for the rest of the winter and to do some much needed work to it, which includes:
- Fit cabin filter
- Some welding in the engine bay - part of the intercooler it looks like
- Solve idle issue
- Oil leak has stopped but perhaps remove cam cover to inspect gasket
Have picked up a daily driver.
Going from 20 to 60 mpg should be helpful in saving up for trackdays and further work, bit of a no brainer really.
- Fit cabin filter
- Some welding in the engine bay - part of the intercooler it looks like
- Solve idle issue
- Oil leak has stopped but perhaps remove cam cover to inspect gasket
Have picked up a daily driver.
Going from 20 to 60 mpg should be helpful in saving up for trackdays and further work, bit of a no brainer really.
Following a pretty hectic Christmas period, I've finally got back round to this project.
The 9k has been off the road since early December, when the idle started going all over the place, pulsating from below idle (almost stalling) to 1500 rpm then holding at 4000 rpm.
Not only that but it lost pretty much all boost.
Having taken the car to the mechanic, he diagnosed that it was in fact the inlet manifold that was leakier than a leaky thing; this despite the fact that I had it re-welded only a month prior!
At this point I'd lost patience and as the oil started seeping out again (although not anywhere near as bad as previous), I decided to sell up.
However, as I'd have struggled to sell it with a leaky manifold, I decided to keep it and start planning ahead for my first summer of trackdays.
Recently wheelynutz recommended Dave (Froggy I believe, top bloke!) at Newcastle-Under-Lyme MOT centre as Dave actually worked on the inlet manifold in its original form around 8 years ago.
Dave tested the inlet and found that while it was pretty poorly bent and cracked, the fact it has Jenvey parts meant it was definitely worth saving.
This is now complete and looks much better and is back with mechanic ready for install.
Later this month mechanic will be removing the sump which I will be taking to Dave who will be deepening it to give a baffling effect; an essential modification for track use.
While the sump is off mechanic will be investigating the oil leak - it's possible that the leak was caused by worn-out ancilliaries so that's an engine top-end out jobbie.
Yes it's been a pita but the prospect of getting this thing on track is so enticing. Also there's no pressure to rush with things now I'm running the Aygo as a daily.
Aim for late April is to have the following work complete:
Inlet manifold and new gaskets refitted
Sump deepened and baffled
Oil leak fixed inc. new ancilliaries
Refit cabin filter and sound deadening
Dyno at Street Racers, Leicestershire to compare with 9-5 which was dyno'd at same place. While it's made '430ish at the hub' in the past, i'm led to believe that with the 630cc injectors it's impossible it can make more than 460 at the fly. Be interesting to see anyway.
Trackdays:
Donington
Road trips:
Nürburgring in September
..and chubby good breakdown cover
Later in the year:
Brake work
Install LSD and full gearbox rebuild inc cryo treatment etc.
Install gearbox cooler
The 9k has been off the road since early December, when the idle started going all over the place, pulsating from below idle (almost stalling) to 1500 rpm then holding at 4000 rpm.
Not only that but it lost pretty much all boost.
Having taken the car to the mechanic, he diagnosed that it was in fact the inlet manifold that was leakier than a leaky thing; this despite the fact that I had it re-welded only a month prior!
At this point I'd lost patience and as the oil started seeping out again (although not anywhere near as bad as previous), I decided to sell up.
However, as I'd have struggled to sell it with a leaky manifold, I decided to keep it and start planning ahead for my first summer of trackdays.
Recently wheelynutz recommended Dave (Froggy I believe, top bloke!) at Newcastle-Under-Lyme MOT centre as Dave actually worked on the inlet manifold in its original form around 8 years ago.
Dave tested the inlet and found that while it was pretty poorly bent and cracked, the fact it has Jenvey parts meant it was definitely worth saving.
This is now complete and looks much better and is back with mechanic ready for install.
Later this month mechanic will be removing the sump which I will be taking to Dave who will be deepening it to give a baffling effect; an essential modification for track use.
While the sump is off mechanic will be investigating the oil leak - it's possible that the leak was caused by worn-out ancilliaries so that's an engine top-end out jobbie.
Yes it's been a pita but the prospect of getting this thing on track is so enticing. Also there's no pressure to rush with things now I'm running the Aygo as a daily.
Aim for late April is to have the following work complete:
Inlet manifold and new gaskets refitted
Sump deepened and baffled
Oil leak fixed inc. new ancilliaries
Refit cabin filter and sound deadening
Dyno at Street Racers, Leicestershire to compare with 9-5 which was dyno'd at same place. While it's made '430ish at the hub' in the past, i'm led to believe that with the 630cc injectors it's impossible it can make more than 460 at the fly. Be interesting to see anyway.
Trackdays:
Donington
Road trips:
Nürburgring in September
..and chubby good breakdown cover
Later in the year:
Brake work
Install LSD and full gearbox rebuild inc cryo treatment etc.
Install gearbox cooler
madwrx said:
it might be interesting while the box is apart to install a cheap temp sensor in the gbox sump,to give you some idea just how hot its all getting. synthetic gbox oils are pretty tough but if its getting REALLY hot you may need to drop it a couple of times a year imo
Good call, have recently bought an oil cooler. Next on the list will be to order one of these, which will go in during box rebuild. Shouldn't be on all the time though apparently, only during track use (when really needed).https://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/p/mocal-electri...
good call- if you,ve got some indication of temp you can virtually turn it on and off as needed- the cooler will add some extra volume of oil too- will definately assist in keeping it all together.
i tend to find , full bore starts up to 3rd gear is when the damage is done lol.
if your getting lots of problems it might pay to pull some timing in the low gears to take the pressure off a bit.
That's the sump deepened and baffled:
According to my welder the 9000 sits at a 12 degree slant so he's modified it, adding a drain hole on each side of the baffle to let any oil from the other end to get back into the pan.
Next steps are to refit the sump and inlet, then order some 875 injectors and take to Noobtune for mapping, ideally with boost pegged back some more in 2nd but full boost in 3rd.
Slow progress but it's all in the right direction
According to my welder the 9000 sits at a 12 degree slant so he's modified it, adding a drain hole on each side of the baffle to let any oil from the other end to get back into the pan.
Next steps are to refit the sump and inlet, then order some 875 injectors and take to Noobtune for mapping, ideally with boost pegged back some more in 2nd but full boost in 3rd.
Slow progress but it's all in the right direction
madwrx said:
if you were looking for better drivabillity and possible 570-580bhp (maybe more) top end, you could change the old 71 compressor wheel for a gtx3071r wheel
.these basically are a lighter amd much more efficient wheel.
the front housing will need machining for the taller compressor wheel which is pretty standard upgrade work for most turbo companies -
if your feeling flush the whole CHRA can be bought to up grade to a ball bearing centre as well and maybe the newest 9 blade turbine wheel.
compared to an old school 3071 the gtx core will pull into the boost threshhold quicker and make the same power with lower boost. the larger wheel flows more air per revolution- good upgrade imo -
my own turbo is having a 3076 gtx CHRA being fitted at the moment to replace the noisy chra in my bb turbo.i should be able to give some feedback after its fitted-
Hi m8 did you ever end up fitting a 3076 GTX? Cheers.these basically are a lighter amd much more efficient wheel.
the front housing will need machining for the taller compressor wheel which is pretty standard upgrade work for most turbo companies -
if your feeling flush the whole CHRA can be bought to up grade to a ball bearing centre as well and maybe the newest 9 blade turbine wheel.
compared to an old school 3071 the gtx core will pull into the boost threshhold quicker and make the same power with lower boost. the larger wheel flows more air per revolution- good upgrade imo -
my own turbo is having a 3076 gtx CHRA being fitted at the moment to replace the noisy chra in my bb turbo.i should be able to give some feedback after its fitted-
Collected the 9k from mechanic last night and it's had the new inlet installed and cam cover gaskets replaced, which has put a stop to the oil leak.
Unfortunately though there's lots of dirt inside the engine so presumably it'd benefit from a carbon clean or such like.
Additionally since it's been off the road for so long the battery is drained flat, which led to a complete breakdown on the way home after letting the revs drop too low (low fuel didn't help). Up until that point it was driving like a dream. Smooth and violent at the same time.
67 bhp was getting a bit tedious so sold the Aygo (daily) and tomorrow I'm collecting a lovely little black Phase 1 Clio 172 - Considering Jenvey ITBs but this could wreck its aptitude as a daily driver. Apparently though ITBs are more efficient but I'd imagine the 4 little devils under the hood would be goading me on to hoof it all the time.
Is it possible to get something more evocative for shed money?
Unfortunately though there's lots of dirt inside the engine so presumably it'd benefit from a carbon clean or such like.
Additionally since it's been off the road for so long the battery is drained flat, which led to a complete breakdown on the way home after letting the revs drop too low (low fuel didn't help). Up until that point it was driving like a dream. Smooth and violent at the same time.
67 bhp was getting a bit tedious so sold the Aygo (daily) and tomorrow I'm collecting a lovely little black Phase 1 Clio 172 - Considering Jenvey ITBs but this could wreck its aptitude as a daily driver. Apparently though ITBs are more efficient but I'd imagine the 4 little devils under the hood would be goading me on to hoof it all the time.
Is it possible to get something more evocative for shed money?
The drive back from collecting the Clio was pretty impressive. It's no ball of fire from a rolling start but off the line it's rapid! Around 6 seconds 0-60: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNUlfEdwU0c
Makes for a pretty interesting driveway at my house share; new housemate who just moved in turns out to be a fellow petrolhead and sold his XJ8 and bike for a very clean W210 E55 AMG.
Clio just failed its MOT, needing the following:
- Window popped out of runner/regulator
- Battery needs securing
- Suspension ball joint needs replacing
- Exhaust blowing
- New wiper blades
- New washer fluid pump
So back on my bike and on foot it is, yet again! Then it's time to get the 9k through its MOT and to decide whether to find storage for it, or sell it on and put towards a house deposit.. tough one..
Makes for a pretty interesting driveway at my house share; new housemate who just moved in turns out to be a fellow petrolhead and sold his XJ8 and bike for a very clean W210 E55 AMG.
Clio just failed its MOT, needing the following:
- Window popped out of runner/regulator
- Battery needs securing
- Suspension ball joint needs replacing
- Exhaust blowing
- New wiper blades
- New washer fluid pump
So back on my bike and on foot it is, yet again! Then it's time to get the 9k through its MOT and to decide whether to find storage for it, or sell it on and put towards a house deposit.. tough one..
Edited by Nutty9000 on Friday 27th July 13:38
So.. erm.. this happened..
Swapped back for my old 9-5
Please comment on this thread as this one is basically done now..
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Swapped back for my old 9-5
Please comment on this thread as this one is basically done now..
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
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