1986 Saab 900 Turbo - White
Discussion
Great read ..never a 900 owner but had a couple of 96 in the 70's free wheel and column change great cars .Then in around 83 bought the estate version 95? or have I got the models mixed up it was a long time ago .My best mate used to have a two stroke one and used to do club rallies in it those skinny tyres great in the snow ...fond memories .
Edited by woodysnr on Saturday 16th June 15:10
Saabaholic said:
Ex Saab Master technician here....
Nice buy. Thats actually a 1985, and one of the first 16v engines that came out in late 1984
I'm ex SAAB Master technician too.Nice buy. Thats actually a 1985, and one of the first 16v engines that came out in late 1984
The car is a D plate ,so unlikely an 1985.
MOT checker says car was reg January 1987,so well after slopey front cars were being sold.
MJK 24 said:
Great car/thread.
What’s the thinking behind relocation of the battery to the boot?
The factory location is next the manifold and so historically got hot, even with shielding. It also means some of the cables are run awkwardly and the reach in to connect/disconnect can be fiddly. The previous owner moved it to a little shelf which doesn impact boot space, and marginally helps weight distribution.What’s the thinking behind relocation of the battery to the boot?
woodysnr said:
Great read ..never a 900 owner but had a couple of 96 in the 70's free wheel and column change great cars .Then in around 83 bought the estate version 95? or have I got the models mixed up it was a long time ago .My best mate used to have a two stroke one and used to do club rallies in it those skinny tyres great in the snow ...fond memories .
Sounds great, those estates are wonderful but just lacked power and tech for daily duties. The freewheel I think would terrify me!Pericoloso said:
I'm ex SAAB Master technician too.
The car is a D plate ,so unlikely an 1985.
MOT checker says car was reg January 1987,so well after slopey front cars were being sold.
JUst checking the original typewritten sales ticket, it appears to have been built 1986 and sold 1st Jan 1987. Defintiely a sweet spot - older looks, 16V intercooled full pressure turbo!The car is a D plate ,so unlikely an 1985.
MOT checker says car was reg January 1987,so well after slopey front cars were being sold.
Early this morning I set off for my favourite tyre fitter - it's a bit of a drive to Micheldever but they have never let me down and help out with all sorts of request I have.
After consulting the original spec sheets and some other owners, we decided on 195/60s rather than the current 185/65s, as a slightly wider tyre befits a Turbo!
20180616_082539
Good to see the arches, studs, brake lines and surrounding components are in good order:
20180616_082719
I was annoyed some of the balancing weights were fitted to the outside of the alloys, this will have to be rectified, but for the moment I feel a lot safer! The combined age of the existing tyres was 35 years - blimey!
20180616_123133
Into the alignment bay, I had a good poke around the underside, and we agreed all was well. Some tidying and underseal to go on before the winter, but pretty much everything was intact and looking good.
20180616_081936
20180616_081046
CV boots need replacing. I'm sure that will be fun:
20180616_081215
While the exhaust is recent on not leaking, this centre section doesn't look nice at all:
20180616_081602
The drive back was a revelation - grip! Actual grip! Also a large drop in road noise, I had to turn the radio down a few notches - very happy to not be rolling on crumbling biscuits anymore.
After consulting the original spec sheets and some other owners, we decided on 195/60s rather than the current 185/65s, as a slightly wider tyre befits a Turbo!
20180616_082539Good to see the arches, studs, brake lines and surrounding components are in good order:
20180616_082719I was annoyed some of the balancing weights were fitted to the outside of the alloys, this will have to be rectified, but for the moment I feel a lot safer! The combined age of the existing tyres was 35 years - blimey!
20180616_123133Into the alignment bay, I had a good poke around the underside, and we agreed all was well. Some tidying and underseal to go on before the winter, but pretty much everything was intact and looking good.
20180616_08193620180616_081046CV boots need replacing. I'm sure that will be fun:
20180616_081215While the exhaust is recent on not leaking, this centre section doesn't look nice at all:
20180616_081602The drive back was a revelation - grip! Actual grip! Also a large drop in road noise, I had to turn the radio down a few notches - very happy to not be rolling on crumbling biscuits anymore.
Edited by Spinakerr on Sunday 17th June 18:45
Pericoloso said:
Disagree with "chocolate gearbox" comment.
Yes the change isn't great but used with sympathy will go on for hundreds of thousands of miles.
Don't smash it into reverse and chip the idler as the bits of metal eventually float into the pinion bearing,causing huge wear and noise.
On a standard turbo perhaps but once you give them a little tickle the 'boxes get closer to becoming service items. Same goes for the 9000. Transmissions were always a weak spot for Saab.Yes the change isn't great but used with sympathy will go on for hundreds of thousands of miles.
Don't smash it into reverse and chip the idler as the bits of metal eventually float into the pinion bearing,causing huge wear and noise.
JMF894 said:
Pericoloso said:
Disagree with "chocolate gearbox" comment.
Yes the change isn't great but used with sympathy will go on for hundreds of thousands of miles.
Don't smash it into reverse and chip the idler as the bits of metal eventually float into the pinion bearing,causing huge wear and noise.
On a standard turbo perhaps but once you give them a little tickle the 'boxes get closer to becoming service items. Same goes for the 9000. Transmissions were always a weak spot for Saab.Yes the change isn't great but used with sympathy will go on for hundreds of thousands of miles.
Don't smash it into reverse and chip the idler as the bits of metal eventually float into the pinion bearing,causing huge wear and noise.
There are some guys on UKS that have gone through 5 or more gearboxes on a C900.
My 9000 Aero which has been 310bhp for the last 70,000 miles is doing sweet on 225,000 miles. Redline MTL works wonders on these gearboxes.
The VIN starts YS3AD, hopefully that solves it!
Yesterday a few service parts were fitted. I have form with erratic idles in my car history, but I think the Saab may take a bit longer to fully solve given all the vacuums, early Bosch electronics and high mileage parts. Still, number one was the distributor cap, which looks a tad green:
20180616_123552
I'll keep it, clean it with a Dremel and have it as a backup. Genuine Bosch brighteyed replacement:
20180616_123701
Rotor also looked a bit dirty:
20180616_123616
Wet & dry later, and all refitted:
20180616_124503
All the HT leads are in spec, though one is not a genuine Bougicord and has a split in it. To be eyed suspiciously later if I can't get it perfect. Spark plugs are new and correct. Coil is perfectly in spec.
The car ran noticeable better but still not perfect, next stop MAFs, valves, tubes and sensors.
Next up, the cabin filter, which is in front of the driver under the bonnet vent. Gently prise out the tabs and...
20180616_124714
Probably time to change that. Looks like an original Saab fitment!
20180616_125008
Obligatory old and new shot:
20180616_124958
A healthy clean of the area with antibacterial spray also yielded emulsified filter bits and various nasties:
20180616_124833
Purists look away now - I ordered a used spark plug cover that purported to be correct but had '96' scrawled on the back, defintiely wrong. As it was so cheap I just cut the end off and sanded it:
20180616_131659
The rocker cover will come off for painting at some stage so I'll do them both the same colour then.
20180616_132425
Yesterday a few service parts were fitted. I have form with erratic idles in my car history, but I think the Saab may take a bit longer to fully solve given all the vacuums, early Bosch electronics and high mileage parts. Still, number one was the distributor cap, which looks a tad green:
20180616_123552I'll keep it, clean it with a Dremel and have it as a backup. Genuine Bosch brighteyed replacement:
20180616_123701Rotor also looked a bit dirty:
20180616_123616Wet & dry later, and all refitted:
20180616_124503All the HT leads are in spec, though one is not a genuine Bougicord and has a split in it. To be eyed suspiciously later if I can't get it perfect. Spark plugs are new and correct. Coil is perfectly in spec.
The car ran noticeable better but still not perfect, next stop MAFs, valves, tubes and sensors.
Next up, the cabin filter, which is in front of the driver under the bonnet vent. Gently prise out the tabs and...
20180616_124714Probably time to change that. Looks like an original Saab fitment!
20180616_125008Obligatory old and new shot:
20180616_124958A healthy clean of the area with antibacterial spray also yielded emulsified filter bits and various nasties:
20180616_124833Purists look away now - I ordered a used spark plug cover that purported to be correct but had '96' scrawled on the back, defintiely wrong. As it was so cheap I just cut the end off and sanded it:
20180616_131659The rocker cover will come off for painting at some stage so I'll do them both the same colour then.
20180616_132425
Saabaholic said:
Indeed.
There are some guys on UKS that have gone through 5 or more gearboxes on a C900.
My 9000 Aero which has been 310bhp for the last 70,000 miles is doing sweet on 225,000 miles. Redline MTL works wonders on these gearboxes.
And that's why I won't be going above my 315ish eitherThere are some guys on UKS that have gone through 5 or more gearboxes on a C900.
My 9000 Aero which has been 310bhp for the last 70,000 miles is doing sweet on 225,000 miles. Redline MTL works wonders on these gearboxes.
Your old SAAB looks a lot better underneath than most modern cars that are only a few years old !
I guess that was when SAAB made very solid cars which was what their reputation was based upon.
Keep up the good work and updates, it is an interesting journey you are having with this car !
I guess that was when SAAB made very solid cars which was what their reputation was based upon.
Keep up the good work and updates, it is an interesting journey you are having with this car !
That cabin filter seems so easy to replace...unlike the one on my Alfa..!
Also have you considered getting a full stainless steel exhaust system....although I would imagine it would maybe be quite pricey for your car.
I got one fully fitted from the manifold back for about £320, but that was on a 2005 Alfa 156 JTDM.
Also have you considered getting a full stainless steel exhaust system....although I would imagine it would maybe be quite pricey for your car.
I got one fully fitted from the manifold back for about £320, but that was on a 2005 Alfa 156 JTDM.
Pericoloso said:
Saabaholic said:
Ex Saab Master technician here....
Nice buy. Thats actually a 1985, and one of the first 16v engines that came out in late 1984
I'm ex SAAB Master technician too.Nice buy. Thats actually a 1985, and one of the first 16v engines that came out in late 1984
The car is a D plate ,so unlikely an 1985.
MOT checker says car was reg January 1987,so well after slopey front cars were being sold.
I had forgotten that the late Flat Fronts came with the 16v engine. Great car OP, it's giving me an itch for a 16s, been a long time since I had one.
CV boots are easy enough, you just need to pop a spacer in between the upper wishbone and chassis before you jack the car up to stop it dropping. Which gives you enough room to remove the upper ball joint from the hub. With the CV boot off, find the hidden circlip in the CV and the shaft will slide out. Oh happy memories.....
I don't know if that was true or not .
Have some great memories from it.
I didn't go in 86, my MT exam was the next week after the event,in 87 I won the second MT heat but the engine was too hot and when I got spun out in the final,no way it was going to restart.
89 was really wet,bit of a duff year and in 90 we had a really quick car but came away with nothing.
Home Park garage Kingston BTW.
Have some great memories from it.
I didn't go in 86, my MT exam was the next week after the event,in 87 I won the second MT heat but the engine was too hot and when I got spun out in the final,no way it was going to restart.
89 was really wet,bit of a duff year and in 90 we had a really quick car but came away with nothing.
Home Park garage Kingston BTW.
Pericoloso said:
I don't know if that was true or not .
Have some great memories from it.
I didn't go in 86, my MT exam was the next week after the event,in 87 I won the second MT heat but the engine was too hot and when I got spun out in the final,no way it was going to restart.
89 was really wet,bit of a duff year and in 90 we had a really quick car but came away with nothing.
Home Park garage Kingston BTW.
Valley SAAB, Chipstead, small world! I remember picking up parts from you guys, on one of the side roads down to the Portsmouth Road if I remember correctly. There was a little independent in Surbiton too.Have some great memories from it.
I didn't go in 86, my MT exam was the next week after the event,in 87 I won the second MT heat but the engine was too hot and when I got spun out in the final,no way it was going to restart.
89 was really wet,bit of a duff year and in 90 we had a really quick car but came away with nothing.
Home Park garage Kingston BTW.
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