Project I boughted a Saab

[Skizzer]

I just have a mental image of the look on the face of a SaaB engineer, who's only ever built aircraft before, when someone suggests he runs the fuel lines on the outside of the car. Shakes head, mutters "Crazy pongo car people."

[Uncle Jimmy]

Fuel tank back in, new hoses and a disposable filter attached. The fuel pump works fine and once the carb bowl was filled she rumbled into life. Next up will be to get the rad recored, new hoses, thermostat and a brake rebuild. I've secured a better drivers side headlamp, still need undamaged rear indicator lenses, one front indicator lens and one reversing light lens.

Then follows the weldage.

[320touring]

Good progress!looks like its inbthe right hands:)

[Uncle Jimmy]

Had time to investigate further, the gearbox oil was like molasses; not been changed in a very long time.

As the Saab 96 underneath is boarded out access to the gearbox filler is cramped. After trying sockets, adjustable spanners and even the correct 11mm square socket the remains of the plug looked like one of Mrs Thatcher's nipples.

I attempted to weld a nut on three times but each time the weld was crap due to low welding gas. Next day, with some more gas a decent weld and a half inch ratchet and the plug finally loosened.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Got around to getting the 96 on a ramp today, I was happy to see very little rust.

The oddball construction of these Saabs really tickles me.

[Uncle Jimmy]

I had presumed they used rear trailing arms and stub axles, not a solid rear axle. The suspension is all very easy to access and simple to work on.

The running gear less so, accessing inner cv gaiters will be a bastard. The starter motor too.

Because of the full length floor pan there's nowhere for engine heat to leave the bay apart from the small louvered vents.

The two sides of the exhaust are linked by a hefty cross pipe, I guess all 'V' and flat engines have this? Although I think Subarus don't, the reason for their offbeat sound.

[Uncle Jimmy]

The rear drums were binding, amazingly they weren't seized and backing them off allowed free movement. Like the earlier 2 strokes the front disks move side to side on a pivot and have tapered pads. Use of the fine adjustment hammer and WD40 got the pistons moving and the pads free.

Pads and break hoses look nearly new, the Swede has purportedly been off the road since 1995; must have been kept inside all that time.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Rear of offside sill, despite appearances solid enough to save. The jacking point is crusty but actually very solid.

[Uncle Jimmy]

I'll probably modify this droopy member with a bit of welding; eventually I'm going to make a big bore exhaust myself.

[hairnet]

punch more loovers in the tray??

[Uncle Jimmy]

Some localised bits of welding to do; the only real bit to do is the base of the nearside front sill. I like the way the steering arms and brake pipes emerge from their own holes in the inner body.

[Uncle Jimmy]

punch more loovers in the tray??

2 strokes had saucer sized holes in the inner wings, the V4 pressings still have the shape (above the battery). I guess they would have let a LOT of mud in!

[Uncle Jimmy]

A bit more of the orange stuff around the front valance and where the valance meets the wings.

All minor stuff within my welding/bodywork skills. I'm really looking forward to unbolting the wings, beating some of the dents out and finally doing some real welding.

[Laseraligningfoofooflanges]

Thats a cool wee car mate, Love saabs there was an MOT'ed 99 real cheap on scumtree a bit back i regret not going to look at it.

 

Must say this doesnt look bad at all for the age.

[danthecapriman]

Great stuff so far, it does look pretty good for it's age, just a bit of grot around the edges.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Done a fair bit of dismantling on the beastie this last few days, the front panel lifts off with just two bolts to undo 😊

Once that's off the radiator comes out easily; the cooling system is a bit of a plumber's nightmare, presumably because the V4 was never designed for the 96.

[Uncle Jimmy]

This is the only real grot, the offside corner of the front valance and a bit of the offside wing. The valance curves up to meet the front panel, which slots into it in three places. The front valance is in fact part of the floor pan, a neat design.

[Uncle Jimmy]

The water pump is a funny looking thing to my eyes, used to seeing them mounted on the ends of crankshafts.

A lot of the coolant hoses are cobbled to lengths of steel tube so plenty of joints to leak.

[Uncle Jimmy]

The alternator and it's brackets sit over the top of the water pump, all massively over engineered.

Primitive webbing straps hold the radiator at the top, I guess they allow for expansion of the radiator as it heats/cools. I'll be fitting a better rad and electric fan at some point.

Rusty battery tray is going for the chop I think, it doesn't help access. It would be good to relocate the battery in the boot...maybe.

[Asimo]

Water pump may be made of cheese alert.

 

Almost certainly different to the pump on English made V4s but likely made of the same corrosion prone alloy. On V4 Transits etc pump rot can be so bad that when they start leaking a large hole develops quickly and all coolant is gone in no time.

[worldofceri]

Great thread.  Thanks for sharing etc..  Love these oddball little Saabs.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Wings off now. No, not wings, fenders then,

They unbolted easily, relatively little grot underneath, just the two old repairs to the front lower edges of the inner wings to replace.

I've decided to relocate the battery to the boot, access to the steering rack, gear shift linkages and nearside drive shaft is far better without the pesky battery tray. Just a bit concerned about voltage drop.

[danthecapriman]

Inner wings look good. I'd be very happy with that for it's age.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Yes! Quite remarkable really, I was comparing them to the inner wings on Mr. Cade's MGF only a moment ago.

[SiC]

With voltage drop, just use decent thick cables of high quality and it'll be fine. I mean a lot of modern stuff now has the battery in the boot and have a whole manor of electrical goods that will bezerk out if there is any significant voltage drop.

[mercrocker]

Excellent!   I did think it might be rotten-er than that.   Proper 96 colour too.

[Guest Hooli]

If Jags & BMWs etc can work with batteries in the boot then that'll have no issues if you use big enough cables.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Some more progress on the 96 over the past week or so. Offside front corner sound again, tricky but very satisfying, I've dabbled with welding and fabrication but this is the first time I've been let loose on a car.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Hummm, cookie monster has been at the nearside more than I thought.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Slice out the old repair and continue. Engine out next using rope hoist.