humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertible

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humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertible

Post by humbucker »

Meet Björn. This super Swede is the latest addition to the Furr fleet, and he will be ferrying me around Europe in three weeks time when I set off on a road trip that will lead me to Calais, Paris, Lyon, Nice, Monaco, Milan, San Bernardino Pass, Fluela Pass, Stelvio Pass, Innsbruck and the Nurburgring.

More to follow!

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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by ashs_cav »

Looks lovely, What do you think the reliability will be like? You must have a fair bit of trust in it for that lengthy journey, would love to do something like that!
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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by Lowrider Dave »

That SAAB should see you right, what flavour is it? Love those passes, good brakes always handy though!
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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by Envoy CDX »

Looking good! Some miles you'll be racking up there then.
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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by humbucker »

It's a classic (pre-GM) Saab 900 Aero S turbo convertible that has been tuned by Abbott Racing. This weekend will be spent fitting new wheels, tyres, suspension, polybushes (everywhere!), a big brake kit, silicone hoses, fluids, filters, plugs, new lights and ICE in advance of the trip. Updates will be featured in Retro Cars magazine. Much work to do, but little time in which to do it! Wish me luck!
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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by Robsey »

Ah - pre-GM. Sweeeet!
That means it should be a good solid and reliable little jalopey.

SAAB quality was never the same after GM got their mitts on them.
Bit like Ford and Volvo... :roll:

Interesting to see how many pictures are going to be posted up on the forum when you get back.
Lots to cover...
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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by humbucker »

I'll be sure to post a lot of photos (if we're able to make it onto the ferry and start/finish our journey!) :P

I'll also be pulling together two 'road trip' features for Retro Cars magazine :)
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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by Greig Sri »

Looks a good road trip and in a good csr too. Takes in some of the places I went to on last year's banger rally. This year's banger rally will be to most of the other places you going.
I just have a big detour to prauge.
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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by Envoy CDX »

Looking forward to seeing how this turns out.
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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by Cavalier342 »

I remember mum's old 900 2.0 automatic, burgundy red, bumpers large enough to use as benches to sit on, totally my cup of tea. Not to mention they are, or were shall I say built like tanks. And the interior had more cloth in it than a hotel, so comfortable! I'd have had one if they weren't so rare nowadays, and try finding a non-sport model in good condition....
Previous:
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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by humbucker »

My latest Saab 900 project update has been printed in Retro Cars magazine. Pop along to WHSmith or click here to download. :)


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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by humbucker »

Along with trying to keep on top of my Irmscher MV6, Cavalier Turbo 4x4 and Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II projects, I’m now charged with the modification and maintenance of the latest addition to the Furr fleet – a classic (pre-GM) Saab 900 S 16-valve turbo convertible.

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My fiancée, Sharon, had expressed a desire to coin a retro ride of her own, and the sale of my first Cavalier Turbo 4x4 freed up enough space in order to accommodate her wish. An initial shortlist of desirable motors saw an MGB GT, a Triumph GT6 and a classic Mini all fighting for the dearly departed Vauxhall’s place on our driveway, but the need for a car that could double up as a reliable daily driver (if our 95 Aero HOT estate is ever out of action) yet still have the fun factor expected of a ‘weekender’ saw our attention diverted towards more modern machinery.

Although produced during the General Motors era of Saab’s colourful automotive history, our 95 Aero workhorse is a brilliant motor that goes like stink and never complains about the number of miles thrown at it (Sharon has a four hour round trip to work each day!). The Swedes are known for building solid cars, and pre-GM output from the Saab stable has even more of a reputation for innovative design, bulletproof mechanical magic and a whole lotta wow factor when compared to the models produced during the manufacturer’s American master’s reign. It was these attributes that led us to the classic 900.

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Shopping for cars is one of the most enjoyable pastimes for a petrolhead, and I grabbed the bull by its horns when it came to finding a suitable Saab for my better half. As you’d expect, most of the 900s that I came across had been to the moon and back (“A quarter of a million miles? Barely run in!” I hear you cry), but an ad for a black ’93-plate 16-valve convertible with just 80k on the clock soon caught my eye.

Thankfully, the car was fairly local, and a chat with its owner confirmed the classified’s claim that I was enquiring about a cherished chariot that had spent most of its life tucked up in the dry. Available with a full twelve months MOT and with proof of a recent service carried out by a well known Saab specialist, I quickly came to the conclusion that this was the car that I’d been looking for, particularly as it was sporting the sought-after ‘black paint and grey body kit’ twin tone finish with matching alloys, a full leather interior and a rare manual transmission.

An advisory on the MOT certificate indicated the presence of a slight cam cover leak. This didn’t concern me, but the not-mechanically-minded seller saw the note as reason enough to fire over photographs of the car’s B202-populated engine bay before I arranged that all-important test drive. To my amazement, the received pictures clearly showed an Abbott Racing chargecooler sitting beneath the super Swede’s bonnet! Replacing the 900’s factory intercooler, the Abbott kit produces a notable spike in mid-range torque and top-end pulling power while reducing turbo lag thanks to a high rate of airflow.

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The chargecooler kit is sold at a cost of £999, and Abbott Racing claims that it delivers an additional 35bhp. Obviously, I was thrilled to discover that the Saab in my sights was packing such trick tuning apparatus, and I wasted no time in throwing a chunk of cash in the direction of the car’s owner in order to secure Sharon’s name on its logbook. Understandably, she was excited by the prospect of finally being able to get her hands on a classic to call her own, and we were both pleased to discover that in addition to the Abbott gear, the Swedish stunner was packing a Bosch 3.3bar fuel pressure regulator (boosting power levels above the 4000rpm mark), an enlarged exhaust system and uprated suspension components.

Despite being in possession of the car for a number of years, the seller was oblivious to the presence of these performance-enhancing aftermarket parts. Needless to say, they didn’t escape our attention, nor did the two Van Morrison cassettes that we inherited with our purchase. I’m not sure how much horsepower ol’ Van can bestow upon a turbocharged Saab, but removing his wonderful warblings from the drop-top’s cabin must have reduced its overall weight by a few grams, thus improving performance. Yeah?! Ahem...

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The second and only other advisory on the car’s MOT certificate registered an apparently perished anti-roll bar bush. The rough roads surrounding our home in the Cambridgeshire countryside certainly made the impaired rubber’s presence known, with a knocking noise emitting from the Swede’s nose whenever Sharon found herself hitting a bump in the road. We’d already made the decision to invest in Powerflex polyurethane parts with which to replace any compromised factory bushes, and it made sense to upgrade other areas of the car’s tired suspension while the work was being carried out.

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The Basildon-based damper demons at GAZ came to the rescue with a full set of adjustable ‘GT’ telescopic shock absorbers. Suitable for both modern and classic cars, these nifty, zinc-plated parts offer adjustable damping for bump and rebound rates so that the ride of the host vehicle can be altered to suit varying driving styles and road conditions. Turning the multi-position knob found on the side of each damper alters rates and handling characteristics, and GAZ can build these shocks in various open and closed lengths, enabling owners of lowered, raised and standard ride height vehicles to fine-tune the chassis of their pride and joy.

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I drove the car down to SOS Automotive (one of Cambridgeshire’s leading independent vehicle repair and service centres) with a boot full of GAZ goodness. SOS head honcho, Seweryn Sidor, soon set to work equipping the car with its new shock absorbers. My arsenal of Powerflex bushes came in handy, with the new dampers treated to purple polyurethane top and bottom mounts before installation. Similarly, the car’s rear link rod chassis and axle bushes were ditched in favour of Powerflex parts, as were the offending front anti-roll bar mounts and end bushes.

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The use of Powerflex items should improve the car’s road holding and handling abilities by controlling the amount of flex in its suspension. Tyre wear should also be reduced, especially now that each corner is kitted out with a GAZ ‘GT’ damper. A trip back to Seweryn’s place is on the cards with a view to replacing every remaining rubber bush with its superior Powerflex equivalent, and I’ve also managed to source a big brake kit that should come in handy when I attempt to navigate my way around Stelvio Pass, San Bernardino Pass, Flüela Pass, Lake Como, Innsbruck and the Nürburgring following Sharon’s offer to loan me her super Saab for the duration of the Retro Cars Euro Rally. I can’t wait!

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THANKS

GAZ Shocks
Rayridge House
Swinbourne Road
Burnt Mills Industrial Estate
Basildon
SS13 1EH
T: 01268 724536
http://www.gazshocks.com

Powerflex
Unit 7 Union Buildings
Wallingford Road
Uxbridge
UB8 2FR
T: 01895 460033
http://www.powerflex.co.uk

SOS Automotive
12 Phoenix Court
Huntingdon
PE29 6EB
T: 01480 700655
http://www.sos-automotive.com
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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by humbucker »

Huzzah! Another of my Saab 900 project updates has been printed in Retro Cars magazine. Pop along to WHSmith or click here to download. :)

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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by Lowrider Dave »

Nice write up Dan and clear photos!
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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by humbucker »

lowrider dave wrote:Nice write up Dan and clear photos!
Thanks for the positive feedback, Dave. Fancy more of the same?! Here you go...
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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by humbucker »

Despite the fact that our classic 900 came shod in what is a popular factory twin-tone directional alloy design (wheels featuring the same grey centres and polished lips that can be seen on the limited edition ‘Ruby’ incarnation of the model), new rims sat high on my Saab-shaped shopping list, not least of all because I wanted to fit bigger brakes to the car in advance of the Retro Cars Euro Rally.

Reasoning that Saab 9000 Turbo anchors would provide more than adequate stopping power when navigating my around the hairpins of the Swiss mountain passes, it made sense to start looking for a set of the same model’s celebrated ‘Super Aero’ dished three-spokes. That’s a task that is easier said than done, primarily because classic 900 owners tend to snap up any available Super Aeros as soon as they are advertised for sale. Indeed, so many examples of ‘the last proper Saab’ are wearing these wheels that you’d be forgiven for thinking that they were a 900 factory fit!

It’s easy to see why the chunky four-studs have proved to be so popular: instantly recognisable as a vintage Saab design (irrespective of whichever car happens to be wearing them!), the sixteen-inchers suit the classic 900 down to the ground. Literally.

After making enquiries at every Saab breaker, dealer and parts retailer that I could think of, a set of Super Aeros presented itself as available for purchase on the bay of E. Taken from a poorly 9000 Turbo that was being dismantled by its owner, the wheels were in good condition, although I was advised that they would require fresh rubber in order to make them ready for the road. I figured that I’d need to fit new tyres with a different profile to those worn by the 9000 anyway, and the wheels were winging their way to my workshop a few days later.

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While it’s true to say that any pre-loved rim would benefit from a refurb, I was pleased with the condition of the 6.5Js that landed on my doorstep. Besides, I didn’t see the value in sending the wheels away to be restored, only for me risk ruining their immaculate finish when putting them through their paces on the challenging terrain of some of Europe’s best-loved (but oft-rough) roads. Deciding to delay the work until a later date, I turned my attention towards the task of sourcing top-notch tyres capable of sticking the car to the asphalt no matter what driving environment that each stage of the Euro Rally would deliver.

In truth, there was only one tyre that I considered wrapping my new wheels in – the mighty Toyo Proxes T1-R. Designed for sports cars, powerful saloons and coupés alike, the T1-R meets the need for high-speed stability and excellent handling in both dry and wet weather conditions. Furthermore, its reduced-wear design keeps noise levels low and comfort levels high. I’d already equipped one of my Cavalier Turbo 4x4s in the very same rubber, and the confidence that I had when driving the poky Vauxhall on the road or when hammering it around a racing circuit meant that I had no qualms in treating the Saab to a tower of Toyo’s finest.

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New wheels can transform the appearance of a car, but the same can be said of an aggressive tread pattern design. T1-Rs are one of the best looking tyres that I’ve come across, and the fact that their silica-reinforced tread compound offers improved steering response, traction and braking performance makes them excellent value for money.

In a bizarre case of coincidence, the Toyos were delivered to my house within an hour of me noticing that one of the car’s original black circles was as flat as a pancake! A trip to my local tyre fitter followed, and the Super Aeros were back home, balanced and shrouded in their tidy 195/50/16s a short while later.

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The wheels were bolted into place with a set of manufacturer-approved Trilock locking wheel nuts, leaving me to begin the search for a set of brand new 9000 Turbo calipers. Not forgetting my recently acquired GAZ GT adjustable dampers and Powerflex bushes, this classic 900 is shaping up to be a seriously sorted Saab!

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THANKS

Toyo Tires (UK) Ltd
Shipton Way
Rushden
Northants
NN10 6GL
T: 01933 411144
http://www.toyo.co.uk
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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by humbucker »

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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by humbucker »

Wahey! It's that time again! Yup, another of my Saab 900 project updates has been printed in Retro Cars magazine. Pop along to WHSmith or click here to download. :)

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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by humbucker »

I honestly couldn't recommend GAZ 'GT' dampers highly enough. There seemed to me to be a limited number of classic 900 shock absorber options advertised by most of the well-known Saab parts retailers, but I was sure that there must be further choice available. With that in mind, I called GAZ directly, and I spoke with the firm's technical lead, Mark Gazzard, about GAZ suspension solutions my 'vert. He already had the 900s specifics on file, meaning that GAZ was able to construct a set of GT dampers for my car without delay. I should point out, the company's customer service was second to none, and the dampers came supplied with detailed printouts that demonstrate the kit's effectiveness under varying loads during extensive factory testing.

Each zinc-coated damper comes with its own adjuster knob, and there are 24 different points of adjustment to choose from. There was a brief period of trial and error involved in getting the right setting for my car (I started by putting the adjusters at position 12 before settling on position 7), but I have to say, the car's handling characteristics have been improved well beyond my expectations. Body roll has been eliminated, and I really did put the dampers through their paces around some of the most challenging roads that Europe has to offer. That said, I live on a lane that is peppered with giant pot holes. Even this rough terrain has proved to be no problem for the car, and that's with the bigger wheels and lower profile tyres. And yes, I kept the original springs in place.

The Powerflex bushes have also played their part, but my recommendation to any Cavalier owners looking to buy new shocks would be to put a call into GAZ, invest in a set of GT dampers and buy a set of Powerflex damper bushes. I'm so pleased with this setup that I'm now speaking with the company about developing something similar for my VXR.

Tell Mark that I sent you: 01268 724536

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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by humbucker »

Our other Saab (a 95 Aero HOT estate) was put to good use when it came to carting the 900s new wheels and rubber to my local tyre fitter!

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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by humbucker »

A trip to Huntingdon-based independent service and repair centre, SOS Automotive, with an armful of K&N high-flow filters revealed that a mouse had tried its best to nest in the heat-protective insulation of the Saab’s engine bay at some point in the distant past. There was no evidence to suggest that the rodent in question was still living in the toasty confines of the classic 900’s under-bonnet area, but the removal of the car’s OEM-spec air filter produced a distinctively mouse-shaped corpse that had been lying at the bottom of the sealed airbox for what we think must have been a considerable period of time!

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How the critter managed to find its way into a plastic container sealed with sturdy clamps remains something of a mystery. Nevertheless, he was laid to rest alongside the air filter that I was discarding in favour of the tidy pink part that I’d bought prior to my arrival at SOS.

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Designed to increase horsepower and acceleration, my new K&N air filter should provide excellent filtration for the remainder of the life of the car’s turbocharged B202 engine. Confident in the ability of its parts to outlive their host vehicles, K&N offers a well-regarded million-mile warranty with each filter sold. With a smidge over 80k miles covered in the past twenty-five years, this particular classic 900 has a long way to go before hitting that milestone, but the money saved on boggo air filters when observing the car’s regular servicing schedule will more than pay for K&N’s creation in the short term.

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SOS top dog, Seweryn Sidor, carried out a full service on the super Swede – a treatment that incorporated the installation of NGK Iridium spark plugs and an oil change that saw more K&N joy appear in the form of one of the manufacturer’s high-flow ‘Performance Gold’ oil filters. Featuring a heavy duty ‘wrench-off’ construction, these cool canisters are known for their durability, strength and an ability to block 99% of unwanted dust and debris. Perfect for the car’s round-Europe romp in the company of other retro tin...

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--

THANKS TO

SOS Automotive
12 Phoenix Court
Huntingdon
PE29 6EB
T: 01480 700655
http://www.sos-automotive.com

K&N Filters (Europe) Ltd
Unit 9 Ashville Way
Sutton Weaver
United Kingdom
WA7 3EZ
T: 01925 636950
http://www.knfilters.co.uk
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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by Greig Sri »

It's amazing how mice can get in to tiny gaps. But last place you expect to find one is in side the air filter.

Greig
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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by humbucker »

Aye, you're not wrong. Like most airboxes, this one is a completely sealed unit with metal clamps holding its lid in place. The filter that I removed was in good order due to the car being on the receiving end of a thorough service just before I bought it, leading me to believe that the mechanic who carried out the work must have seen the mouse and left it in place when installing the new filter!
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Re: humbucker's 1993 classic Saab 900 S 16v turbo convertibl

Post by humbucker »

In other news, the Christmas holidays arrived, and I decided to take the opportunity to load the back end of my 95 Aero HOT estate with the stack of timber that had accumulated around my pile as a direct result of ongoing renovation work. A friendly robin decided to offer some assistance in advance of my visit to the local tip, although his decision to fly around the car's cabin while dropping his 'special Christmas presents' wasn't quite as helpful as he probably thought it to be, haha!

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I hope you all had a cool yule!

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