The Saab Is Here

"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro) 09/23/2017 at 18:00 • Filed to: saab 900, project, wrenching, collection, junkyard

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Let the wrenching commence.

With the help of fellow Opponaut Bacon and his sweet trailer, we transported my brother’s new project (1991 Saab 900 S sedan) home from !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

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New VMS boards on the freeway read “TESTING IN PROGRESS”

LEFT: This GT3RS and Caddywagon were battling for the lead. RIGHT: This ’67 Caddy wasn’t in as much of a hurry.

Before reaching our destination, we stopped at a car wash to quickly pressure-rinse off the worst of the grime.

After unloading the car from Bacon’s trailer, it was just too hot to start wrenching, so we just opened all the doors to let it air out in the sun for the rest of the day.

Still plenty of grime on the doors. It’ll need a good scrubbing.

The interior needs a good detailing, too. Some very light surface mold to take care of. But apart from a cracked dash and a hole worn through the driver’s side carpet, it’s in fairly good shape. Even the leather seats are intact!

Oh, did I mention that it’s a manual?

How long has this thing been off the road? Here’s a clue:

611 miles on the odometer since its last oil change nearly 13 years ago.

Haven’t tried opening this yet. *fingers crossed*

I just knew there’d be some junk under here.

In the trunk, the jack, spare tyre, and most of the tool kit items were still there. Sweet!

So much room for activities! Actually that’s just where the battery is supposed to go. Still plenty of space left over, though... Seems like a good spot for a turbo, I say.

Underneath, the exhaust had fallen off (I just threw it in the back of my truck before we left Ron’s; we’ll deal with it later). And the rusty rear brakes were unbolted (presumably on account of a seized parking brake).

At least the brake lines look ok.

Tyres will have to be replaced, and this wheel ain’t looking too good either:

Also, this door handle:

Still have to put together a full repair list. For now, the important things are that it needs a battery, something’s broken in the ignition switch assembly, it’s not getting fuel into the engine, the brakes need an overhaul, tyres have to be replaced, and the exhaust has to be re-attached. But I guess that’s pretty typical for a $600 project car that’s been off the road for over a decade.

Steve in Manhattan > Urambo Tauro 09/23/2017 at 18:08

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Damn, I love those cars ... please let me drive it around the block when it’s done. And you said “tyres” - Canada?

Urambo Tauro > Steve in Manhattan 09/23/2017 at 18:12

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Nope, just saw it written that way on one of the stickers and got into the Saab spirit haha.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Urambo Tauro 09/23/2017 at 18:12

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Saving the old saabs is the lords work. A 4 door 900s would be a fantastic daily.

Steve in Manhattan > Urambo Tauro 09/23/2017 at 18:16

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So now you have to start saying boot, bonnet, and all sorts of other Britishisms ... and, may I say, that’s a good thing and will amuse me no end.

Urambo Tauro > Steve in Manhattan 09/23/2017 at 18:20

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But those parts aren’t the ones that are all HURDI BURDI BORK BORKED

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Steve in Manhattan 09/23/2017 at 18:22

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For the record, I am in Canadialand and I say ‘tires’ :P

Nothing > Urambo Tauro 09/23/2017 at 18:32

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That original tray CD player is sweet. Is the tray still in there? Looks like a fun car to wrench on. I miss my old 900T.

Steve in Manhattan > Urambo Tauro 09/23/2017 at 18:38

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Oh, there will be a lot of borking found before it’s all done ...

Urambo Tauro > Nothing 09/23/2017 at 18:43

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It’s still there!

MM54 > Urambo Tauro 09/23/2017 at 19:13

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Good luck! I’ve not worked on a Saab but I have heard exactly zero good things about doing so.

shop-teacher > Urambo Tauro 09/23/2017 at 22:14

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One more saved!

Bacon > Urambo Tauro 09/24/2017 at 00:19

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Glad we could get your brothers new car and help Ron out with one more vehicle. Good luck getting her running well!

Deano > Urambo Tauro 09/24/2017 at 17:25

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I’m an auto mechanic in St Louis. I just finished working on a 94 convertible 900 turbo. They’re need cars hey when you go to replace the front carpet take a look at the brake line that runs underneath that carpet near the driver’s kick panel make sure it’s not resting at the bend.

Deano > Deano 09/24/2017 at 17:25

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Rusting at the bend. Typo.

Urambo Tauro > Deano 09/24/2017 at 21:27

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I don’t think we’ll be replacing the carpet (got a floor mat over the worn spot right now). The plan is to get this up to daily drivability status and see how much budget is left over after that to make it even nicer. But we will definitely trace those brake lines. I wasn’t expecting for there to be any under the carpet. Thanks for the tip!

Dave the car guy , still here > Urambo Tauro 09/25/2017 at 08:44

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Congrats. Hope all goes well. I once owned a 73' 99EMS and loved the car. Wish I could find a decent one.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Urambo Tauro 09/27/2017 at 14:28

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Oh man, I didn’t you’d bought a sedan! That is epic! And looks like most of the sedan-only parts are intact (save that parcel shelf, they’re unobtanium). It is going to be a fun project.

Urambo Tauro > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 09/27/2017 at 14:36

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For sure. Already picked up the Bentley book; got any recommendations for parts suppliers?

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Urambo Tauro 09/27/2017 at 14:46

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Being a 91 you’re going to have a lot easier time than those of us that are from before 86 haha. Right now my big three are eBay, Amazon, and eEuroParts. Also been spending a fair amount on RockAuto. (Best price on a new exhaust, FYI)

Generic:
eBay.com - I get like... 80% of my parts off eBay these days. Fast shipping, good prices, and good selection. Everything old is new again, I guess.
rockauto.com - good selection and excellent prices. Shipping is a little pricey. They do have a lot of actual direct fit stuff, which is nice.
amazon.com - They have some stuff, but not a lot. Mostly service items. Prices vary wildly.

Specialist:
eeuroparts.com - good selection and OK prices
esaabparts.com - they come up in searches a lot, no experience

Urambo Tauro > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 09/27/2017 at 14:50

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Thanks! Yeah, I was just looking at brake parts on RockAuto the other day. Got a busted ignition switch gear that I’ll have to pick up elsewhere, though.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Urambo Tauro 09/27/2017 at 15:03

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I bought both my rear calipers (Centric) from Rock and had a good experience. Make sure you use their return label for the cores. It is WAY cheaper than doing it yourself.

Further unsolicited advice: If your doing brakes, it makes sense to replace the flex hoses too . The two rear ones on my Saab were collapsed (no external indications) and were preventing my rear calipers from working. I think I got them for like... $12? Well worth it.