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Hi All,
Okay, first time posting so please bear with me if this info has been covered before.
My problem: '87 4-door 900, body in great condition but automatic transmission bit the dust. No reverse. Forward results in a fantastic noise very much like a siren. Certified Saab tech got it running when it began slipping so badly getting out the the driveway was becoming quite an operation. His take on it was "I've adjusted it as much as possible, it won't last forever and when it does go it'll be gone"
Front brakes currently seized. I've replaced those calipers and rotors more times than I can to remember. Cost is prohibitive and they just don't seem to last very long before seizing. I understand that they are quite touchy and the slides must be kept lubed. The most common failure I've seen involves the parking brake mechanism. That seems to cause no end of grief. I've actually bought rebuilt calipers found the parking brake mechanism be inoperative. Looks like a design problem.
To make a long story short: The engine runs, albeit not as smoothly as I'd like. I really hate to junk the car as I've put quite a bit of money in it and, aside from the transmission and brakes, it should be on the road, providing safe transportation from my familiy and I and not in my garage.
My thoughts: Replace the prone-to-failure automatic with a manual gearbox and somehow adapt some '88 or later front calipers/rotors to avoid the prone-to-failure '87 design.
I'm quite handy with a wrench and have a well-worn copy of the Bentley Bible in the shop.
Does this sound reasonable? Anyone know if I can fit a manual gearbox to this engine? How about the brakes? If the '87 caliper design is as bad as I suspect it would seem somebody has tried to use '88 or later parts.
CSplat*
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