1990 Saab 900 Turbo vert project/restoration

[lk250f]

Well just picked up a new car... My civic has been my reserved DD for a while so it has come time to pick up a second car. First I picked up a 95 Volvo 850 VERY cheap, fixed it and sold it for some profit. Which i used to buy this:





I am going to get some better pics this weekend on my Nikon, was just dark already outside..
The car is a 1990 Saab 900 Turbo vert. Has around 195k, ODO stopped so unsure of exact mileage. Engine has great compression though. No funny noises. All of the electronics work. Convertible top is new along with alternator, clutch, etc. Pretty quick when it gets into boost but it isnt a race car.
My plans as of now are:
Finish replacing vacuum lines
Inspect looseness in steering mechanism
Replace broken or missing interior pieces, mostly on dash
Replace speakers throughout the car
Refinish the leather seats
Overall freshening of interior and exterior
Fix odometer
Performance-ish:
Swedish dynamics APC and fuel chip
Custom catback or turbo back if i can get the car exempt for emissions.
Springs and struts from 900 SPG
Transmission rebuild with cryo treated components if possible (weak point on these cars)

Im hoping to get most of the little stuff done before school starts back up next year. The bigger stuff will just be held off due to cash and the build should evolve slowly. I don't really want to mod much as i love the car as it is. Just needs some freshening up. I know there is a few Saab guys on here, but not sure if there are any classic Snaabs on here. Thank you for reading and hopefully will be back soon with updates!

[jjm4life]

Wow I don't remember the last time i saw one of these that wasn't black. Could be a fun little car. Good luck with the restoration

[lk250f]

I took the instrument panel off (which is peeling) in order to get to the gauge cluster. I tried lubing the gears in the odometer assembly but it didn't work. I am just going to replace the whole thing since the lighting is strange also. I need to buy a new overlay for the instrument panel which is around $100, plus the cluster, two speakers, Autometer or VDO boost gauge and some sort of wideband gauge since there is a unused o2 bung on the downpipe. The next would be getting some carpet work done and restitching on the seats which I cannot do. The the interior will be done, then off to the engine and transmission and (minor) steering adjustment. Then honestly my plans are to get some spots touched up and the whole car buffed since the paint is actually great. After that just a few odds and ends and it will be done. It will most likely take a while with the holidays coming though.

Gauges:



Most likely getting narrowband unless i can afford wideband. It will look more nostalgic and it is a little cheaper..

[Roto]

Great to see a Saab project. I miss my old red saab. Good luck! I went all out on my last car and it was quite fun... (though some people who were stuck behind me swore I swapped in a diesel)

[lk250f]

Originally Posted by Roto

Great to see a Saab project. I miss my old red saab. Good luck! I went all out on my last car and it was quite fun... (though some people who were stuck behind me swore I swapped in a diesel)

I wish i had the money to go all out on this car but it should be good enough. The engine is in great shape (knock on wood) besides a leaky rear main that isnt too bad. I want to either rebuild the current trans or swap in a reman. trans. This trans doesnt have many issues to be honest, besides age. Sometimes first is hard to engage from a stop, but no grinds or anything. Then would come an FMIC and just upping the boost a little even though it feels faster than stock already. I will find out when i get my boost gauge on... I ordered all gauges and am currently bidding on a VDO boost gauge. Then i need to order speakers, the cluster and the panel overlay on the dash. Then the seats need some touch up. After that im just going to drive and enjoy it and save money for the engine and trans

[lk250f]

Just got done a bunch of headaches and wiring. Wired up and mounted my three gauge cluster. I spent a bit less on gauges. Only put in for one VDO gauge. boost and narrowband were cheapies. Nice to have a calibrated boost gauge. The car boosts to about 13-14 psi and runs very well. Next is a better FPR since i think the fuel is having a hard time keeping up. Plus I am going to get an exhaust made up too. Most likely a 3" pipe from the turbo elbow and delete the cat, and use a 2.5" catback to keep down on noise and cost. Just waiting for my new/used gauge cluster to come in and the interior can be back together. Then to work on the exterior and cleaning the engine so i can find the oil leak...
Pics:

[jpalamar]

Why did you waste your time and money on a narrowband?

[lk250f]

Originally Posted by jpalamar

Why did you waste your time and money on a narrowband?

It was 12 dollars, required only one wire from the signal plus power and ground which were already there and it filled the last hole in the pod. it gives a basic idea of whats going on, I am not doing any kind of tuning myself that would require a wideband.

[Scapegoat]

Originally Posted by jpalamar

Why did you waste your time and money on a narrowband?

better than a vacuum gauge on a v6 camaro

[lk250f]

In attempt to stray away from these couple useless questions/posts above, ill give a little update. Bought some overlays to bring the old faded saab emblems back to life. The gauge cluster is shipped so once i put that in then it will be off to the shop i work at where it will stay for a while. The oil leak isnt too bad actually. maybe 3 drops every couple days. But my clutch is slipping under boost in 3rd and 4th especially so i am going to attempt to take the clutch out and see whats going on. I am thinking the rear main is splattering oil on the assembly causing it to slip. The clutch is 1.5 years old and the slave cyl was replaced also. I drove the car around for a bit and then opened up the bleeder and nothing spurted out, so there is no issues with it being stuck and fluid not returning properly. Luckily the clutch and rear main is fairly easy to service on these cars. Since the engine is in backwards, the clutch and rear main is towards the front end of the car and can be accessed easily with removal of the intercooler piping. I also found a little oil in the IC piping and on the throttle body. Nothing much, the car doesnt smoke either. But I probably will rebuild the turbo while im in there. Hoping to get this all done by spring so i can enjoy the drop top when it gets nicer out.

[jpalamar]

Originally Posted by lk250f

In attempt to stray away from these couple useless questions/posts above, ill give a little update. Bought some overlays to bring the old faded saab emblems back to life. The gauge cluster is shipped so once i put that in then it will be off to the shop i work at where it will stay for a while. The oil leak isnt too bad actually. maybe 3 drops every couple days. But my clutch is slipping under boost in 3rd and 4th especially so i am going to attempt to take the clutch out and see whats going on. I am thinking the rear main is splattering oil on the assembly causing it to slip. The clutch is 1.5 years old and the slave cyl was replaced also. I drove the car around for a bit and then opened up the bleeder and nothing spurted out, so there is no issues with it being stuck and fluid not returning properly. Luckily the clutch and rear main is fairly easy to service on these cars. Since the engine is in backwards, the clutch and rear main is towards the front end of the car and can be accessed easily with removal of the intercooler piping. I also found a little oil in the IC piping and on the throttle body. Nothing much, the car doesnt smoke either. But I probably will rebuild the turbo while im in there. Hoping to get this all done by spring so i can enjoy the drop top when it gets nicer out.

How was my question useless?

[lk250f]

Originally Posted by jpalamar

How was my question useless?

Well this is only an opinion but you weren't trying to gather any information besides you thinking i wastedy time or make a comment towards the build that was constructive so it didnt really add anything benificial IMO.

[jpalamar]

Originally Posted by lk250f

Well this is only an opinion but you weren't trying to gather any information besides you thinking i wastedy time or make a comment towards the build that was constructive so it didnt really add anything benificial IMO.

I questioned the narrow band becuase frankly it makes ZERO sense in general and also contradicts your previous posts.

Post # 3 says something about a WBO2. Post #5 says about increasting boost(which anyone that knows anything about cars knows you need a WB to tune) and all guages ordered. Then post #6 shows a narrow band guage.

I do think you were stupid for not getting a WB but I also asked why rather then posting 'your just a moron', like I should have, to give you a chance to explain something that maybe I missed or don't understand.

[lk250f]

Originally Posted by jpalamar

I questioned the narrow band becuase frankly it makes ZERO sense in general and also contradicts your previous posts.

Post # 3 says something about a WBO2. Post #5 says about increasting boost(which anyone that knows anything about cars knows you need a WB to tune) and all guages ordered. Then post #6 shows a narrow band guage.

I do think you were stupid for not getting a WB but I also asked why rather then posting 'your just a moron', like I should have, to give you a chance to explain something that maybe I missed or don't understand.

The picture shows a narrowband and says that I will most likely get one because idk if I could afford a WB. On these cars a boost increase can be done by modding or purchasing the APC And a fuel chip if Needed. No wideband needed since you're not tuning. It would be safer but the Apc takes into account the engine parameters and adjusts boost accordingly. Narrowband gives an idea of if I'm running Rich or lean but frankly I got it to fill the pod hole. I don't really need it since I'm not tuning. I don't remember saying anything about tuning. I guess I would've expected you to maybe say, "why choose the narrowband?" Rather than saying "why waste your time and money" because that to me sounds a bit hostile still. Anyway I really don't care it's not a big deal. I'd rather just get Te thread back to being about the car. I'm not a heckler so I don't expect to be heckled.