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Re: 99 Gearbox
Posted by Stottler (more from Stottler) on Sun, 15 Apr 2001 13:36:25
In Reply to: , Kok Chen, Sat, 17 Dec 1988 12:00:00 

First, a question for the whole team, then my experience with the gearbox.

First:  The Saab 99 gearbox numbers for 1978 and beyond begin with a letter.
According to all the literature (principally the Saab Service Manual),
gearbox numbers for normally aspirated cars began with 'S', and those for
Turbo cars with 'T'.  I have looked at 99Ts for 17 years and NEVER seen a
'T' gearbox number (the number is right on top in front of the flywheel
cover; it is 'S' or 'T' followed by 5 digit number.  I know I have the
correct ratios (primary drive).  So the question is this:  Does anyone have
a gearbox anywhere with a 'T' serial number, or is the literature wrong?  I
have probably looked at 25 cars and never seen the 'T' number.

Second: The later 4-speed gearboxes were very reliable.  Later on somebody
added a bunch of claptrap to make a 5th gear and then turned up the boost
screw until they started to scatter pinion bearings.  These are the main
reasons I prefer the 99 to the 900C, and I heartily recommend AGAINST
converting to a 5-speed.  The 4-speed was also the last Saab that had a
shift linkage that actually allowed one to find third gear in the heat of
battle!  The 5-speed linkage deserves all the nasty comments the magazines
made about it for almost 15 years!  The 2nd gear syncro tends to wear and
make it hard to get 2nd on a 2-3 downshift without matching revs, but
otherwise a box that's had clean oil in it should be good for an easy 200K.
If you have problems shifting, try replacing the rubber isolator in the
shift rod just ahead of the firewall - tends to get oil soaked (another
endearing feature of 99s) and the rubber parts fall apart.

Gary Stottler
78 99T 201,000 miles with original gearbox

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