Uncle Jimmy Posted August 3, 2017 Author Share Posted August 3, 2017 It's a tidy 96 that; far better than mine, I'd say that was a good buy. I'll be in touch with Graham soon; hopefully he'll be doing my engine rebuild and possibly working on the gearbox strengthening too.Look forward to seeing the progress! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 A bit more progress this week; the front valance and section which supports the engine were worse than expected (surprise) so had to be chopped out. danthecapriman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 Steel is approx 1.4mm thick, Saab used heavier gauge stuff than most. I have no English wheel or stretching kit so have to make do with pleating stuff to get some curves and using whatever comes to hand in terms of blocks of wood, steel and hammering to get the right profiles. I do have a sheet metal brake which struggles to do the thicker stuff. wrenchvolt 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 Weldage completed. Nyphur, danthecapriman, Vantman and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 The trolley jack and a block of wood came in handy for pushing the base of the valance into place, I plug welded the individual bits underneath, then seamed the cuts together, a lot of toil but very satisfying. Joloke 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted July 29, 2018 Author Share Posted July 29, 2018 Finally got around to working on the Saab again, made a couple more patches to the base of the inner wings and around front ends of the sills. Joloke, wrenchvolt, Kringle and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted July 29, 2018 Author Share Posted July 29, 2018 Then got to work on the box which surrounds the nearside front suspension. The offside is very good but the nearside is heavily pitted and areas rotted out from around the two cutouts. One welded up today, will cut out and replace metal around the second later next week. wrenchvolt, Jim Bell, Nyphur and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted July 29, 2018 Author Share Posted July 29, 2018 Getting very close to finishing the weldathon around the engine bay/front valance inner front wings.Next step will be to finish painting and any underseal in that area, then on to prepping the engine and gearbox ready to return to the car. Then I'll be able to punt the car on and off ramps and do the repairs to the footwells and floorpan. Jim Bell, Joloke and Kringle 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted July 30, 2018 Author Share Posted July 30, 2018 Also bought a Jetex exhaust system this weekend, a most unshitely £275...Since I've reluctantly sold the Volvo I reckon it's allowable and actually not much more than welding up one myself, which would have to be mild steel too. It'll be much smoother inside too. Vantman, wrenchvolt, Jim Bell and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted August 6, 2018 Author Share Posted August 6, 2018 The last* bit of welding done to the engine bay/inner front wings area completed. No work today or tomorrow so time to do a bit on the ugly Swede and fixed the nearside indicator on the W124 which mysteriously ejected itself out of its home orifice on Sunday. A soldering iron and some bits of thermoplastic from a power tool carry case and the tabs were back in place The Moog, Skizzer, chodweaver and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted August 6, 2018 Author Share Posted August 6, 2018 The extra strengthening strap which the suspension bolt passes through is a pretty accurate copy of the other side; shows how 'handmade' these old Saabs were. I recently found detailed photos of some of the homologation rally cars from the early 70s. I may copy some of the braces they added to them on my car, it's very simple stuff to make and tack on, in fact there was very little required to the Saabs to make them strong enough for rallying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted August 7, 2018 Author Share Posted August 7, 2018 OK, done a couple of hours more today, wire brushed the hell out of the new bits and any rusty areas and then gave the lot a good dousing with some rust remedy, followed by a bloody good clean with some thinners soaked rags. Finally a couple of coats of high build cellulose primer. forddeliveryboy, Skizzer, johngarty and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted August 7, 2018 Author Share Posted August 7, 2018 Thankfully there was only surface rust and some pitting at the bottom of the firewall, that's the one really nasty spot where these Saabs rot. There's a lot of pitting on the floorpan in places which if I can be arsed I'll fill with some bondo tomorrow. Then a couple of coats of seaweed green and it's engine refurb time Kringle and danthecapriman 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted August 7, 2018 Author Share Posted August 7, 2018 The big question with the engine is whether I stick to my original plan of a scrub up, Jetex exhaust, twin choke intake manifold and a bit of exhaust manifold work....or whether I loose the plot and get the engine and gearbox rebuilt with strengthened internals, big valves and bored out another 200cc. This involves a new crankshaft, forged Pinto pistons as well as the head work so it ain't cheap! Jim Bell and wrenchvolt 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthecapriman Posted August 7, 2018 Share Posted August 7, 2018 The big question with the engine is whether I stick to my original plan of a scrub up, Jetex exhaust, twin choke intake manifold and a bit of exhaust manifold work....or whether I loose the plot and get the engine and gearbox rebuilt with strengthened internals, big valves and bored out another 200cc. This involves a new crankshaft, forged Pinto pistons as well as the head work so it ain't cheap!Depends on what you intend to use the car for at the end of all this work?Personally I prefer the standard engines in cars, but I totally get that they can be hard work nowadays like that. Maybe try it the original plan way and see how it drives. If it still needs more of a kick take it further then? Great job so far though, it’s looking good! Uncle Jimmy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted August 13, 2018 Author Share Posted August 13, 2018 Tried out a HVLP gun with a bit of cellulose on the floorpan; I bought the gun, an Earlex,to do some emulsion work a couple of years ago- it was hopelessly slow for that but I had a suspicion it would do for a bit of car spraying and I'm already pleased with the results.I should have turned up the paint volume a bit as it's dry looking but it's good enough for my needs Joloke, danthecapriman and Skizzer 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted August 13, 2018 Author Share Posted August 13, 2018 I think now that I'll remove a couple more bits, like the wiper motor and fuse box and give the whole 'bay a going over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted August 21, 2018 Author Share Posted August 21, 2018 Moooo.Got a bit more done; the last couple of days I've been off work...back tomorrow.I gave the bulkhead a scrub up with Jizer and rinsed, then ground out every bit of rust I could find, rust remedy, then primed. Hard work and something many don't like but I find it kinda therapeutic, says much about me I guess... The Moog, Kringle, Jim Bell and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted August 26, 2018 Author Share Posted August 26, 2018 Another few hours completed today; was supposed to be going away but that didn't happen so I cracked on, can't sit about for more than about 2 hours before I get bored! Rubbed down all the primer, filled a few areas with a bit of P38 and went to town with my professional* spray kit. Multo pleased with the result, looks a bit Khaki in this pic, much more sea green in reality. I'll stick another coat on tomorrow if there's time. scdan4, Exiled_Tat_Gatherer, Jim Bell and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kringle Posted August 27, 2018 Share Posted August 27, 2018 This is a sight for sore eyes. I'm loving your work and I agree that rust proofing is very therapeutic. I digest war and peace in my head when doing work like this. Trying to undo and subsequently shearing off nuts however does not give the same meditative benefits... Uncle Jimmy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moog Posted August 27, 2018 Share Posted August 27, 2018 That's looking quite tidy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted September 29, 2018 Author Share Posted September 29, 2018 A chunk more work done, to the heater matrix, box and fan.The steel box was very corroded in places so I welded a couple of patches and stuck the two halves in a water tank for some electrolysis. A few coats of rustoleum sprayed on and a reasonable result, I used the contents of a c1960 can of 'Dum Dum' to seal the two halves. Joloke, Asimo, Jim Bell and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieInExile Posted September 29, 2018 Share Posted September 29, 2018 I love these little Saabs. Can't wait till this is finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted October 28, 2018 Author Share Posted October 28, 2018 Bit more done yesterday, cleaned up the brake master and replaced and put the heater matrix back in place. Underneath the dash I discovered that the cable going to the blender flap had come off, the reason why there wasn't much hot air reaching the cabin previously. jonathan_dyane and Vantman 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted May 3, 2019 Author Share Posted May 3, 2019 After a hiatus due to overwork I am back at it; done a fair chunk the last couple of days. The gearbox is back in with clutch slave re-bushed. The driveshafts are back in and front suspension and anti roll bar on. I believe I have my car mojo at least partially re-ignited. I'll post some more pics tomorrow. scdan4, The Moog, Nyphur and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted May 8, 2019 Author Share Posted May 8, 2019 'Box back in, driveshafts connected, top wishbones and steering arms on. Also got one spring back in situ today; not easy, they're very long, 391mm to be precise and needed to be compressed just about as far as is possible to get them in. Will get the drivers side spring back in and get front wheels back on. Then it's onto the engine block which I'm now looking forward to immensely. Saabnut, danthecapriman, rainagain and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted May 8, 2019 Author Share Posted May 8, 2019 These gaiters weren't ideal, should stay on with the jubilee clips though. danthecapriman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthecapriman Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 Good to see progress on this, it’s looking great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N Dentressangle Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 Certainly is. When are we doing the o/s spring? ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Jimmy Posted May 9, 2019 Author Share Posted May 9, 2019 1 hour ago, N Dentressangle said: Certainly is. When are we doing the o/s spring? ? Soon hopefully...will be good to get the Saab back on its wheels. Thanks again for the assistance both physical and motivational yesterday! Full set of gaskets arrived today so I can make a start on the engine over the weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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