Date: 01 Oct 2001 19:17:52 GMT From: davehinznopsamcop.net Subject: Bullnose 96 project
Well, I went and did it. Sometimes you have to search these things out, and sometimes they find you. Well, this time, it found me. To make a long story short, I now have a 1963 Saab 96, which will be a total restoration job. It came (indirectly) from a fellow who had started taking it apart with the plan of transferring a 93 body onto the solid 96 floor & substructure. He never got around to chopping it, so I have a solid 96 shell, complete with boxes-o-parts, to work on. It's red; it's pretty solid, and it's nowhere near complete. Happily, I've got a number of parts cars, including another '63 96 which is "too good to chop up, but not good enough to fix", which will act as a sample & donor car. Notable features: It has the "Tropical" louvered vents on the hood - this is the only car I've seen outside of Trollhatten with these. They're rust-pitted, but some quality time with a bead-blasting cabinet and sandable primer should make them look just fine. Little rust damage - right under driver's feet. I bought repair panels from Saab about 10 years ago, and have been holding on to them until I found the "right car" to use them on. I've found that car ;) Toreador red paint...which, if it hadn't been this color, I was going to paint it this color. No engine (but I have an NOS bullnose GT-850 engine waiting for it). 3-speed tranny (but I have a bullnose 4-speed tranny & column from the other '63, along with brand-new NOS "donuts" for the inner u-joints). The headliner is gone - but I have the roof from a '62 96 with the factory sunroof from that car in it; I may transplant the sunroof to the '63, which solves two problems (how to get a headliner, *and* what to do with the sunroof). All in all, it's a solid shell. Even the emergency brake works, which is more than I can say for my daily-driver '88 900T. There are a few things I don't have (the right oil-injection tank, for one), but all in all, I think I'll be able to do this fairly cheap, with the only real expenses coming in chemicals & finishes. Most or all of the parts I already have. A question, though...I'm planning to rebild everything before it goes back onto the car. However, for things like balljoints, tie rod ends, and so on, can one reasonably just feel for "slop" and proceed accordingly? Or, if this was your project car, would you completely rebuild everything before it goes back on? My intent is to use the car for actual driving, not just for looks. If I can make sure the undercoating is solid, there should be no reason that I can't use it in the winter time. I drove the '62 96 for several winters, and it is an abolute blast. Can't wait to get the '63 up and running. Dave Hinz
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