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I started this on the "others" BBS on Saabnet, but as I spewed forth I figured I'd post here too.)
Hi folks,... I've been around the Saabnet since 95, first as part of the ISP that hosts the Saabnet and then as a driver of Saabs for the last 5-6 years.. I attended the 2k SOC and will be going to the 2k2 event this summer. I drive a 97 9000 Aero and drove a Viggen and a n/a 97 900s before that.
I'm on this BBS as my Son (DAn)has bought the 1975 Combi. We went to PA from Maine to pick it up a few weeks back, using a full size car hauler from Uhaul and the big ass dodge 4x4. Nice trip, uneventful.
It's Dan's project, but I'll be there too, helping, guiding and trying not to get into trouble.. :) I've done a fair amount of wrenching, so I will be able to apply common sense.. :) We picked up a manual(s) on Ebay and from the previous owner. I also picked up org mirrors and a sales brochure for it on ebay in the past few weeks.
The more we poke around the car the more impressed I am at how non-rusty it is. We have some spots that need attention - around the front bottom corners of the rear wheel wells, the bottom edge of each door and few spots here and there, but.. and it is a huge but.. it is remarkably rust free throughout - the floor pans and trunk pans are solid as are the front fenders and underbody. This is so cool to have such a solid body. As I said to Dan, " because the body is so solid, it makes doing anything else to the car worthwhile" .. .Am I wrong in any way here? Also looking for opinions on what level to go to in bringing the car back. It runs ok now, with an oil leak fer sure.. hopefully retorking the head bolts will be the cure... the power streering resv. is empty, yet is steers fine and doesn't seem to mind not having fluid in the resv?? Perhaps there is still enough in the system??
We have a set of Uniroyal Tiger Paws ready to be mounted. Self sealing all season radials, with a nice tread pattern. $280+tax for the set, including mounted and balanced at the local garage.
We are looking at the shocks.. they are as bad as I have ever seen on a car.. OEMS are OK, but we are considering using Koni's. They are roughly 40% more money, but the diff is $120 for OEM(grade) shocks and $180 for Koni's(using the part numbers from the Turbo! page)Blistiens sound to hard. Comments?
Any comments on how deep to restore? I've talked with Dan about the difference between fixing it, fixing it right and restoring it. My guess is that the diff between the fixing it right and restoring it isn't that much.?? The car was originally a basic slush box, but has been oomped to a 79 EMS 4spd... Does this offend the Saab purest in you? If the car is really brought back, short of complete restore, does this detract form its appeal as an antique, collector? Recent conversation is pointing to the dirth of 99 preservation efforts. The car is in great shape for a 27 year old, and it needs to be a rolling restoration. So, while a strip it all off restoration would be nice, its not likely to happen anytime soon with this car.. .although it'd be nice to see.
Oh, and we picked up a grill from someone, so we'll have the front end looking right soon too! We rummedged the boxes today and found the "WagonBack" badges for the rear Qtrs... sum cool to have those.
The rear pop out window gaskets seems to have shrunk and popped out of the channel... and when you try to push it in one corner it pulls out of another. Look like its a source of water intrusion, dunno.. need to fix them and then do the hose test... :) Any comments on those gasket sets? Are those kind of parts available new? or does one find an extrusion that matches and cuts yer own to fit..?
thanks for any repsonses..
posted by 206.26.227...
, Sun, 19 May 2002 08:43:56
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