RE: Saab 9-3 HOT | Shed of the Week
Discussion
MrB. said:
Also worthy of note on these is the oil strainers, so a sump drop and clean with upgraded breather kit is essential, as is checking the bulkheads around the steering column. Very prone to fracturing.....as I know all too well! (I'm a sucker for a Saab - on my 7th)
Only if it's the later black-top (T7) engine. The earlier red top uses the older more reliable PCV and strainer system. waynecyclist said:
Filibuster said:
This must be the best car for a grand in the UK atm. Great shed!
Sorry but that is rubbish, look hard and you can find better than this for the moneyingenieur said:
Assuming it's the last red top engine it is the strongest most boostable engine Saab made.
You could fit a new turbo and get 400-500hp out of this on standard internals.
Whether or not the rest of the car would hold up would require further testing...
If it lasted 10 seconds putting out 500bhp I would be astonished.You could fit a new turbo and get 400-500hp out of this on standard internals.
Whether or not the rest of the car would hold up would require further testing...
Saab's of this age and price point are very much like the same era of Alfa:
Charismatic things, with a very loyal fanbase
But you need to be prepared to forgive it various atrocities along the way. No £850 Saab is going to be problem free, but it sure beats an Astra, and everyone needs a little torque steer in their life.
I agree with the point on similar era Volvo's being a bit better screwed together. The P2 Volvo's really are a leap above the P80 cars for being screwed together properly, even if they aren't quite as boxy cool.
Charismatic things, with a very loyal fanbase
But you need to be prepared to forgive it various atrocities along the way. No £850 Saab is going to be problem free, but it sure beats an Astra, and everyone needs a little torque steer in their life.
I agree with the point on similar era Volvo's being a bit better screwed together. The P2 Volvo's really are a leap above the P80 cars for being screwed together properly, even if they aren't quite as boxy cool.
ingenieur said:
waynecyclist said:
Filibuster said:
This must be the best car for a grand in the UK atm. Great shed!
Sorry but that is rubbish, look hard and you can find better than this for the moneyhttps://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201121...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201131...
My Civic is 8 years newer and was not much more money, Facebook, ebay etc would bring up much better choices than this Saab.
This earlier models must have been a poor handler indeed. A colleague of mine had a black 9-3 LPT back in 2009 and he remarked on how wayward it was, and that if you tried to put too much power down mid-bend the front would dive off towards any camber. One of those cars that can change lanes without you having to touch the steering wheel!
Olivera said:
ingenieur said:
Assuming it's the last red top engine it is the strongest most boostable engine Saab made.
You could fit a new turbo and get 400-500hp out of this on standard internals.
Whether or not the rest of the car would hold up would require further testing...
If it lasted 10 seconds putting out 500bhp I would be astonished.You could fit a new turbo and get 400-500hp out of this on standard internals.
Whether or not the rest of the car would hold up would require further testing...
waynecyclist said:
ingenieur said:
waynecyclist said:
Filibuster said:
This must be the best car for a grand in the UK atm. Great shed!
Sorry but that is rubbish, look hard and you can find better than this for the moneyhttps://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201121...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201131...
My Civic is 8 years newer and was not much more money, Facebook, ebay etc would bring up much better choices than this Saab.
Court_S said:
benzinbob said:
Another Friday, and if it’s not a Volvo it’s a Saab. Really do not understand the fascination with the crusty old things..
Found anything better on the PH classifieds in budget then?Fantastic car for the money I had the adsattly the same model but convertible as my first Saab same year w 99 in 8years I had it it never cost me a penny prior to me owning it it was my mother's and she bought it at 18months old ,valmet built all convertibles so this is definitely a trollhatten Swedish Saab I've since had another 2 another convertible and estate sportwagon,the world is definitely worse for no Saab's,if they were still in production eyd carry on buying them.
benzinbob said:
Lol of course I haven’t. This guy. What you’re saying is I’m consigned to looking for Volvos and Saabs all my life? And this is the best that’s on PH classifieds?
No, I’m just asking what is better in the PH for sale section currently?On the face of it, seems ok for less than a grand (unless it is a total s
tter).Olivera said:
ingenieur said:
The engine would be fine but the transmission wouldn't last long unless you were very careful. Which is more-or-less what I said.
The engine wouldn't be fine.Nothing for the rotational assembly required. No pistons, no crankshaft, no rods... all standard.
And just to show they're not an irresponsible barry boys tuning company if you change the vehicle to a later 9-3 without the strong engine the highest stage is 335hp and for that you have to change the pistons: https://www.maptunparts.com/tuning-kits/saab-9-3-i...
Tuners of later Saabs who want to make 750-800hp Saabs use the earlier red-top engine from this era of Saab. With this being a cut-over model it's equally possible it'll have the later engine with the black cassette and isn't the same beast.
ingenieur said:
waynecyclist said:
ingenieur said:
waynecyclist said:
Filibuster said:
This must be the best car for a grand in the UK atm. Great shed!
Sorry but that is rubbish, look hard and you can find better than this for the moneyhttps://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201121...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201131...
My Civic is 8 years newer and was not much more money, Facebook, ebay etc would bring up much better choices than this Saab.
Sorry to post a picture of my own car, but this was under £1k on Facebook.
Edited by waynecyclist on Friday 14th January 15:03
ingenieur said:
It would be fine. Here's one of the premier tuning companies telling you what would be required for 430hp: https://www.maptunparts.com/tuning-kits/saab-900/1...
Nothing for the rotational assembly required. No pistons, no crankshaft, no rods... all standard.
And just to show they're not an irresponsible barry boys tuning company if you change the vehicle to a later 9-3 without the strong engine the highest stage is 335hp and for that you have to change the pistons: https://www.maptunparts.com/tuning-kits/saab-9-3-i...
Tuners of later Saabs who want to make 750-800hp Saabs use the earlier red-top engine from this era of Saab. With this being a cut-over model it's equally possible it'll have the later engine with the black cassette and isn't the same beast.
It absolutely would not be fine. That's a long list of parts, and it's not for as much as 500bhp.Nothing for the rotational assembly required. No pistons, no crankshaft, no rods... all standard.
And just to show they're not an irresponsible barry boys tuning company if you change the vehicle to a later 9-3 without the strong engine the highest stage is 335hp and for that you have to change the pistons: https://www.maptunparts.com/tuning-kits/saab-9-3-i...
Tuners of later Saabs who want to make 750-800hp Saabs use the earlier red-top engine from this era of Saab. With this being a cut-over model it's equally possible it'll have the later engine with the black cassette and isn't the same beast.
Then you would find at 500bhp:
The head gasket would blow out at that bhp
The other gaskets are worn/knackered and would blow out at that bhp
The radiator/cooling circuit is utterly inadequate
The intercooling circuit is utterly inadequate
The bearings/rings/bores are worn and therefore aren't suitable for this kind of power
Hundreds of other things
All equals never making 500bhp or if it does the engine grenading in very short order.
Olivera said:
ingenieur said:
It would be fine. Here's one of the premier tuning companies telling you what would be required for 430hp: https://www.maptunparts.com/tuning-kits/saab-900/1...
Nothing for the rotational assembly required. No pistons, no crankshaft, no rods... all standard.
And just to show they're not an irresponsible barry boys tuning company if you change the vehicle to a later 9-3 without the strong engine the highest stage is 335hp and for that you have to change the pistons: https://www.maptunparts.com/tuning-kits/saab-9-3-i...
Tuners of later Saabs who want to make 750-800hp Saabs use the earlier red-top engine from this era of Saab. With this being a cut-over model it's equally possible it'll have the later engine with the black cassette and isn't the same beast.
It absolutely would not be fine. That's a long list of parts, and it's not for as much as 500bhp.Nothing for the rotational assembly required. No pistons, no crankshaft, no rods... all standard.
And just to show they're not an irresponsible barry boys tuning company if you change the vehicle to a later 9-3 without the strong engine the highest stage is 335hp and for that you have to change the pistons: https://www.maptunparts.com/tuning-kits/saab-9-3-i...
Tuners of later Saabs who want to make 750-800hp Saabs use the earlier red-top engine from this era of Saab. With this being a cut-over model it's equally possible it'll have the later engine with the black cassette and isn't the same beast.
Then you would find at 500bhp:
The head gasket would blow out at that bhp
The other gaskets are worn/knackered and would blow out at that bhp
The radiator/cooling circuit is utterly inadequate
The intercooling circuit is utterly inadequate
The bearings/rings/bores are worn and therefore aren't suitable for this kind of power
Hundreds of other things
All equals never making 500bhp or if it does the engine grenading in very short order.
I still liked it though.
I'm pretty sure this would have the same B205 T7 engine as my 9-5. In LPT form it only makes 150hp but a stage 1 Maptun takes it to 225hp/250 lbs with no other modifications and third gear overtakes are great with no turbo lag as it uses a smaller turbo than the HPT. You do need to fix all the boost leaks first though so new vacuum lines and an EVAP pipe. Sludge problem is easily fixed with the revised breather pipes which most would have had by now if they are still running. I've got no reason to keep my 9-5, other than it's comfy and I like it.
The only comment I'm making is regarding the strength of that bottom end in the Saab B204. It is legendary. Like I said in my first comment, I don't know how well the rest of the car would hold up.
Here's some evidence to back up what I'm saying... it's always better if you have some evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOozWy5C3IM
700hp.
In the comments section the owner describes the use he has got out of the standard engine internals. No relation to any of this but was easy to find.
Q. "How long have those stock t5 pistons and rods been run for? Any reliability issues at that high of power? What cams did you run on this setup?"
A. "Total of like old 150000km old rods and pistons that I put another 50000km on through various power levels. 250hp, 320+hp, 430hp, 700+hp. They work for a lot of power, no real major reliablility issues upwards 700+hp in terms of power, but they can cause quite a bit of scuffing at like 7000+rpm due to the nature of the T5 piston design and with slightly worn bores. I ran it at 700hp for like 3 months and daily driving it beating on it every day."
Here's some evidence to back up what I'm saying... it's always better if you have some evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOozWy5C3IM
700hp.
In the comments section the owner describes the use he has got out of the standard engine internals. No relation to any of this but was easy to find.
Q. "How long have those stock t5 pistons and rods been run for? Any reliability issues at that high of power? What cams did you run on this setup?"
A. "Total of like old 150000km old rods and pistons that I put another 50000km on through various power levels. 250hp, 320+hp, 430hp, 700+hp. They work for a lot of power, no real major reliablility issues upwards 700+hp in terms of power, but they can cause quite a bit of scuffing at like 7000+rpm due to the nature of the T5 piston design and with slightly worn bores. I ran it at 700hp for like 3 months and daily driving it beating on it every day."
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff