Topless Swede *spoiler alert*

[MAF260]

Time for a couple of pictures?

I’m sure my choice will polarise views. I’ve had this image in my head for so long, so I was a little nervous fitting the new wheels today, hoping the outcome would be favourable.

I’m over the moon! I absolutely love them!

Before:

 

 

Now:

Diamond cut 18” Vauxhall VXR wheels. Tyres have gone from 225/45/17 to 225/40/18, so no difference in rolling radius.

Hopefully the slimmer sidewall won’t make too much difference to the ride, but I’m not really bothered as I love the look!

[MAF260]

[Split_Pin]

Those look marvellous. Did you keep the spacers?

[MAF260]

8 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Those look marvellous. Did you keep the spacers?

I’m glad you approve!

Yes, spacers still fitted. The new wheels must be a similar width and offset as they still fill the arches nicely.

[CGSB]

Looks a belter!

[MAF260]

I’ve ceramic coated them and bought new SAAB wheel centres. The wheel bolts are a little tatty, so I have something coming tomorrow to sort that. Next job will be the big brake conversion, I need to refinish the new calipers and check all the hardware before I do this job in a couple of weeks.

[brownnova]

Yeah, that looks spot on in fairness! 

[MAF260]

With new boots on the outside I further lavished the car with some new tailored floor mats.

Old

New:

[MAF260]

The car then repaid my generosity and kindness with a sweet message:

Ungrateful bastard!

Aside from moving the seats to fit the new mats I can’t see any reason why this has suddenly occurred. I’ve probably disturbed some wiring under a seat - I’ll investigate in due course.

[brownnova]

26 minutes ago, MAF260 said:

The car then repaid my generosity and kindness with a sweet message:

Ungrateful bastard!

Aside from moving the seats to fit the new mats I can’t see any reason why this has suddenly occurred. I’ve probably disturbed some wiring under a seat - I’ll investigate in due course.

Theres a wire which goes by the seat runner next to the transmission tunnel. I knocked that on my old one and got that warning. It was easy to reattach. Hopefully that’s the same on yours. 

[Split_Pin]

1 hour ago, MAF260 said:

The car then repaid my generosity and kindness with a sweet message:

Ungrateful bastard!

Aside from moving the seats to fit the new mats I can’t see any reason why this has suddenly occurred. I’ve probably disturbed some wiring under a seat - I’ll investigate in due course.

Thats a shame its come back. I had that issue when I bought the car, the proximity sensor right down the left hand side had been ripped out by a careless upholstery repairer. I went to a scrapyard and picked out the whole loom from a seat and re-wired the seat and the light went off. However, about twice in my ownership it briefly came back on but went off after a short drive and never came back. I'd give it a few drives before doing anything more.

One thing I've learned about old Saabs is that their electrics can go a bit senile!

[MAF260]

52 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Thats a shame its come back. I had that issue when I bought the car, the proximity sensor right down the left hand side had been ripped out by a careless upholstery repairer. I went to a scrapyard and picked out the whole loom from a seat and re-wired the seat and the light went off. However, about twice in my ownership it briefly came back on but went off after a short drive and never came back. I'd give it a few drives before doing anything more.

One thing I've learned about old Saabs is that their electrics can go a bit senile!

Thanks, I’ll take a look at some point. I was enjoying being ‘bong free’, but it sadly hasn’t lasted!

Whoever ‘repaired’ that upholstery needs shooting and a career change. The driver’s seat is a joke - thick, mismatched paint slathered on, a lot of it has worn away. I don’t know if the seat can be rescued with a Furniture Clinic kit or not. I don’t want to spend the time and money in vain.  I’ve been on the look out for a replacement seat or pair of seats, so far to no avail.

[Split_Pin]

They also sheared the front right seat bolt and repaired it with.....2 self tappers. Gingernutzz replaced it with a proper bolt so I didn't die in a crash 😆

[MAF260]

11 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

They also sheared the front right seat bolt and repaired it with.....2 self tappers. Gingernutzz replaced it with a proper bolt so I didn't die in a crash 😆

I hope they step on Lego with bare feet!

I’m now also grateful to Mr Nutzz for the lowered likelihood of dying in a crash.

[MAF260]

Also looks good with the top off

 

and I’ve sorted the tatty wheel bolt issue with a cheap fix.

Before:

After:

[Wibble]

That really does look fantastic. Those wheels really suit it and look brilliant.

[MAF260]

A big parcel was delivered today which contains something that might sort a couple of issues...

Any guesses what it could be...?

 

 

 

[Split_Pin]

New driver's seat?

[MAF260]

There are no prizes as it's too easy!

 

A spare driver's seat, of course.

I've been irritated with the state of the driver's seat since I've owned the car. After an initial deep clean I discovered it had been fiddled with by somebody - thick 'paint' of the wrong colour all over the seat front which has led to really bad, deep cracking and has also come off in some places.

I've since found out (one of the benefits of this car being a forum bike!) that it was allegedly professionally 'restored'. Whoever had the temerity to accept money for their shoddy, sub-par efforts must have skin thicker than the heavy, badly-applied coats of thick paint on this seat. Not only was this work a pile of dung, but they wrecked the seat loom and refitted the seat using self tappers (according to Mr Split-Pin of this parish).

I've done some research into a DIY restoration using Furniture Clinic products, but this seat is beyond any decent outcome. The only option I'm left with is to find an unmolested seat in decent condition to either just run with the patina as it is, or use as a good base to try my hand at improving. Finding a suitable seat from an almost 20 year old car in decent condition and at a sensible price has been a challenge. This particular seat was on my watchlist for some months at a price I wasn't willing to pay. Then, 2 days ago, the BiN price halved and I snapped it up. I'm waiting for some Gliptone intensive leather cleaner to arrive before I attack this seat and see how well I can make it come up. I suspect I'll ultimately splurge on the FC kit and have a go at improving both front seats. The new seat came with the seatbelt mechanism - nla and anyting from £100-£200 used, an excellent condition head rest and an undamaged loom - I'm hoping that will resolve my most recent issue with the airbag malfunction warning. More to follow when I've got some time to look at this all.

[MAF260]

Next up to sort is the boot lid. At some point the car has had a rear spoiler fitted - presumably from the witness marks this was a proper Saab Aero rear spoiler. No idea why it was removed, but the work carried out to remedy the old fitment holes and make good must have been done by a paralytic Ray Charles. At night. handcuffed. With the most inappropriate tools available.

 

A replacement boot lid in Laser Red is a tall ask (I've been looking for months). I could likely do a better job of stripping it back, preparing and painting the boot lid, but that's a lot of time and probably expense for an unknown outcome that I likely wouldn't be happy with as I'm very critical of my own work.

Time to think a little laterally - if a spoiler has been fitted before then another could surely be fitted.....?

The factory Aero spoiler is colour coded on all cars; I'm undecided if I like that or not. What's almost certain is that I'm not going to find one in Laser Red. In the spirit of trying to sort this as easily and inexpensively as possible something fell into my lap - a black spoiler with the fitting studs missing. Not only are the spoilers held on with studs, they are also stuck to the boot lid with 3m tape - in my experience this is easily enough to secure a spoiler on its own.

So, a trial fit...

 

I really like it! I like the contrast of the black against the red and best of all it hides the iffy paintwork underneath.

It also pays homage in a way to my late father's favourite of all the Saabs he owned over the years

 

I need to find some strong tape and make this more permanent.

 

 

[Surface Rust]

Stick it on with Sikaflex and it'll never come off again (or it will lift off the Ray Charles handiwork)!

[mk2_craig]

I think that black spoiler is as good an outcome as you could have hoped for under the circumstances. Loving this thread and all the attention the Saaaab is receiving.