1972 Saab 99 L - Green
Discussion
Many, many years ago in a fit of over-confidence I thought I could re-build the carbs on my MG Midget. This was pre-youtube and I was just working from a very brief description in the Haynes Manual. I ended up having to take a box of bits to a local specialist to fix them for me...
It did run much better afterwards.
It did run much better afterwards.
The 99 remains at TR autos for a a carb rebuild - the team down there are stretched but with the arrival of summer my wife is itching to get out and about!
While that 'Schrodinger's overdraft' hangs over us, I thought it worth posting up this from the latest issue of Top Gear, as my wife and 'Soil' were invited to a photo shoot with the supremely talented (and all round lovely person) Amy Shore. There may be more to come from those two days, but for now here's the headline image, and yes we do have a print of this up in our house!
Of course, depending on Tommy's investigation of our carb and engine this may be the last we ever see of it, but at least we have a good photo, right?
While that 'Schrodinger's overdraft' hangs over us, I thought it worth posting up this from the latest issue of Top Gear, as my wife and 'Soil' were invited to a photo shoot with the supremely talented (and all round lovely person) Amy Shore. There may be more to come from those two days, but for now here's the headline image, and yes we do have a print of this up in our house!
Of course, depending on Tommy's investigation of our carb and engine this may be the last we ever see of it, but at least we have a good photo, right?
Spinakerr said:
The 99 remains at TR autos for a a carb rebuild - the team down there are stretched but with the arrival of summer my wife is itching to get out and about!
While that 'Schrodinger's overdraft' hangs over us, I thought it worth posting up this from the latest issue of Top Gear, as my wife and 'Soil' were invited to a photo shoot with the supremely talented (and all round lovely person) Amy Shore. There may be more to come from those two days, but for now here's the headline image, and yes we do have a print of this up in our house!
Of course, depending on Tommy's investigation of our carb and engine this may be the last we ever see of it, but at least we have a good photo, right?
Three shots also here:While that 'Schrodinger's overdraft' hangs over us, I thought it worth posting up this from the latest issue of Top Gear, as my wife and 'Soil' were invited to a photo shoot with the supremely talented (and all round lovely person) Amy Shore. There may be more to come from those two days, but for now here's the headline image, and yes we do have a print of this up in our house!
Of course, depending on Tommy's investigation of our carb and engine this may be the last we ever see of it, but at least we have a good photo, right?
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Spinakerr said:
I took the opportunity to get stuck in under the bonnet - there is a slight oil leak, and the cam gasket was solid so I had secured a NOS cork item from the eBay. It looks like some of the oil was weeping from the bolts themselves, which have a rubber and brass washer over the cam cover. I couldn't track these down.
You haven't pictured these but they sound a lot like bonded dowty seals as used for hydraulics etc, although I've never seen brass ones no doubt they were/are available as a special order; zinc plated steel or stainless steel versions are readily available.Interesting Car that, my Father had a Green 99L too, UYG 99L, I think Saab made a point of getting matching plates.
I remember being a tad disappointed with him about it, he used to have a Cortina 1600E, when it came time to change it, he was going through a few choices, The Saab, a Lancia Beta, and the one I really wanted... an Alfa Sud ti.
I was gutted when the Saab arrived, in green too!
He kept it for maybe 20 years, changed the engine twice, the dolly unit was swapped from Saab version (1850cc?) then again for the 2L version, the gearbox too, at least twice. He finally swapped it for a 900, then again for T16.
He was an Engineer ( not an Architect!!!!!) I think he liked the quirky nature of them.
I’d still prefer the Sud though.....
I remember being a tad disappointed with him about it, he used to have a Cortina 1600E, when it came time to change it, he was going through a few choices, The Saab, a Lancia Beta, and the one I really wanted... an Alfa Sud ti.
I was gutted when the Saab arrived, in green too!
He kept it for maybe 20 years, changed the engine twice, the dolly unit was swapped from Saab version (1850cc?) then again for the 2L version, the gearbox too, at least twice. He finally swapped it for a 900, then again for T16.
He was an Engineer ( not an Architect!!!!!) I think he liked the quirky nature of them.
I’d still prefer the Sud though.....
Spinakerr said:
The 99 remains at TR autos for a a carb rebuild - the team down there are stretched but with the arrival of summer my wife is itching to get out and about!
While that 'Schrodinger's overdraft' hangs over us, I thought it worth posting up this from the latest issue of Top Gear, as my wife and 'Soil' were invited to a photo shoot with the supremely talented (and all round lovely person) Amy Shore. There may be more to come from those two days, but for now here's the headline image, and yes we do have a print of this up in our house!
Of course, depending on Tommy's investigation of our carb and engine this may be the last we ever see of it, but at least we have a good photo, right?
What a fantastic thing to have happen, I'm sure this will form part of the ongoing history when the carb is fettled. It sounds like it's in good hands, so fingers crossed! While that 'Schrodinger's overdraft' hangs over us, I thought it worth posting up this from the latest issue of Top Gear, as my wife and 'Soil' were invited to a photo shoot with the supremely talented (and all round lovely person) Amy Shore. There may be more to come from those two days, but for now here's the headline image, and yes we do have a print of this up in our house!
Of course, depending on Tommy's investigation of our carb and engine this may be the last we ever see of it, but at least we have a good photo, right?
Spinakerr said:
The 99 remains at TR autos for a a carb rebuild - the team down there are stretched but with the arrival of summer my wife is itching to get out and about!
While that 'Schrodinger's overdraft' hangs over us, I thought it worth posting up this from the latest issue of Top Gear, as my wife and 'Soil' were invited to a photo shoot with the supremely talented (and all round lovely person) Amy Shore. There may be more to come from those two days, but for now here's the headline image, and yes we do have a print of this up in our house!
Of course, depending on Tommy's investigation of our carb and engine this may be the last we ever see of it, but at least we have a good photo, right?
What an awesome image and feature, congrats!!While that 'Schrodinger's overdraft' hangs over us, I thought it worth posting up this from the latest issue of Top Gear, as my wife and 'Soil' were invited to a photo shoot with the supremely talented (and all round lovely person) Amy Shore. There may be more to come from those two days, but for now here's the headline image, and yes we do have a print of this up in our house!
Of course, depending on Tommy's investigation of our carb and engine this may be the last we ever see of it, but at least we have a good photo, right?
Re. the carb - is changing to a more common type an option? Back in the day people seemed to be swapping carbs all the time or are you very keen to maintain the originality?
shalmaneser said:
Spinakerr said:
The 99 remains at TR autos for a a carb rebuild - the team down there are stretched but with the arrival of summer my wife is itching to get out and about!
While that 'Schrodinger's overdraft' hangs over us, I thought it worth posting up this from the latest issue of Top Gear, as my wife and 'Soil' were invited to a photo shoot with the supremely talented (and all round lovely person) Amy Shore. There may be more to come from those two days, but for now here's the headline image, and yes we do have a print of this up in our house!
Of course, depending on Tommy's investigation of our carb and engine this may be the last we ever see of it, but at least we have a good photo, right?
What an awesome image and feature, congrats!!While that 'Schrodinger's overdraft' hangs over us, I thought it worth posting up this from the latest issue of Top Gear, as my wife and 'Soil' were invited to a photo shoot with the supremely talented (and all round lovely person) Amy Shore. There may be more to come from those two days, but for now here's the headline image, and yes we do have a print of this up in our house!
Of course, depending on Tommy's investigation of our carb and engine this may be the last we ever see of it, but at least we have a good photo, right?
Re. the carb - is changing to a more common type an option? Back in the day people seemed to be swapping carbs all the time or are you very keen to maintain the originality?
Personally I would go with fuel injection though, I much prefer FI to carburettor.
Jhonno said:
Surely there has to be a different carb that will fit, and probably be better.. The Weber 32/24 for example?
Comparatively few Saabs use carburettors. The vast majority of them are fuel injected so I guess there is going to be massive scope for improvement if Saab didn't really put much into the carburettor cars. I think these days you can even get bolt-on single point fuel injection systems which fit into the place where the carburettor used to be.
ingenieur said:
Jhonno said:
Surely there has to be a different carb that will fit, and probably be better.. The Weber 32/24 for example?
Comparatively few Saabs use carburettors. The vast majority of them are fuel injected so I guess there is going to be massive scope for improvement if Saab didn't really put much into the carburettor cars. I think these days you can even get bolt-on single point fuel injection systems which fit into the place where the carburettor used to be.
There are options for injection systems based on carbs, but it is ££££ and tends to involve running new fuel lines/wiring/new fuel tank the costs are significant, especially if you don't do your own work.
Spinakerr said:
The 99 remains at TR autos for a a carb rebuild - the team down there are stretched but with the arrival of summer my wife is itching to get out and about!
While that 'Schrodinger's overdraft' hangs over us, I thought it worth posting up this from the latest issue of Top Gear, as my wife and 'Soil' were invited to a photo shoot with the supremely talented (and all round lovely person) Amy Shore. There may be more to come from those two days, but for now here's the headline image, and yes we do have a print of this up in our house!
Of course, depending on Tommy's investigation of our carb and engine this may be the last we ever see of it, but at least we have a good photo, right?
This is fantastic -- was the image of the windy coat taken whilst the baffles were removed on your V8 and foot on full throttle?While that 'Schrodinger's overdraft' hangs over us, I thought it worth posting up this from the latest issue of Top Gear, as my wife and 'Soil' were invited to a photo shoot with the supremely talented (and all round lovely person) Amy Shore. There may be more to come from those two days, but for now here's the headline image, and yes we do have a print of this up in our house!
Of course, depending on Tommy's investigation of our carb and engine this may be the last we ever see of it, but at least we have a good photo, right?
Saab liked their own special Stromberg as did BMW who used a really weird variant, the 175CDET on early 520's from the time this Saab was built.
The usual option was to give the Stromberg a distance test and fit an SU. A 1.75 inch SU HIF should be ok with the needle from a 2 litre BL engine as a starting point.
A new old stock original Stromberg would of course be ideal.
I love these old Saabs. They built the 99 for yonks - 15 years or so. They had a certain breed of owner as well, jolly good sorts who favoured continental cars and who wouldn't be seen dead in a Cortina.
The usual option was to give the Stromberg a distance test and fit an SU. A 1.75 inch SU HIF should be ok with the needle from a 2 litre BL engine as a starting point.
A new old stock original Stromberg would of course be ideal.
I love these old Saabs. They built the 99 for yonks - 15 years or so. They had a certain breed of owner as well, jolly good sorts who favoured continental cars and who wouldn't be seen dead in a Cortina.
I-am-the-reverend said:
Saab liked their own special Stromberg as did BMW who used a really weird variant, the 175CDET on early 520's from the time this Saab was built.
The usual option was to give the Stromberg a distance test and fit an SU. A 1.75 inch SU HIF should be ok with the needle from a 2 litre BL engine as a starting point.
A new old stock original Stromberg would of course be ideal.
I love these old Saabs. They built the 99 for yonks - 15 years or so. They had a certain breed of owner as well, jolly good sorts who favoured continental cars and who wouldn't be seen dead in a Cortina.
Except my dad sold his 1600E for a Green 99L, just like this....... so I think there may have been a bit of crossover now and again..... The usual option was to give the Stromberg a distance test and fit an SU. A 1.75 inch SU HIF should be ok with the needle from a 2 litre BL engine as a starting point.
A new old stock original Stromberg would of course be ideal.
I love these old Saabs. They built the 99 for yonks - 15 years or so. They had a certain breed of owner as well, jolly good sorts who favoured continental cars and who wouldn't be seen dead in a Cortina.
ingenieur said:
Jhonno said:
Surely there has to be a different carb that will fit, and probably be better.. The Weber 32/24 for example?
Comparatively few Saabs use carburettors. The vast majority of them are fuel injected so I guess there is going to be massive scope for improvement if Saab didn't really put much into the carburettor cars. I think these days you can even get bolt-on single point fuel injection systems which fit into the place where the carburettor used to be.
There's pretty much unlimited supply of good used ones. They were also used extensively on Volvos.Parts are still available from Burlen (successor of the original manufacturers).
Not sure why a problematic carb on one of these should be a huge deal.
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