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T O P I C    R E V I E W
TGO001Posted - 01 Oct 2017 : 13:42:15
Hi guys. Your thoughts please. Since buying my 72 V4 I have been disappointed with it's performance. So far I have fitted electronic ignition, weber 34ICH carb and Jetex exhaust. I have removed both heads and checked and lapped in the valves and checked the bores for wear (which were fine). Result? Nada, as they say here in Spain. It starts perfectly, runs smoothly but has no real power. I live in a hilly area and it really struggles uphill. It seems to run out of steam at higher revs. Any ideas would be gratefully received.
PS. Someone suggested that the timing wheels could be misaligned but would it run so smoothly if that was the case?
Thanks in anticipation .
Terry
11   L A T E S T    R E P L I E S    (Newest First)
TGO001Posted - 01 Nov 2017 : 11:13:09
Hi there,
We live in a small coastal town called Moraira, about an hour south of Valencia. Nice to know there's another 96 around .
72sonett3Posted - 12 Oct 2017 : 16:20:23
quote:
Originally posted by TGO001
... Just been up to the garage and done a vacuum advance test.

No need to go to a garage to do that test... Take the dist cover off, and the vac hose off the carb and suck on it, then you should see the breaker plate rotate.

A compression test should show 10-11 bar.

quote:
Cheers from sunny Spain

Where in Spain are you? I am in the north east, near Girona.

--
'72 97
'77 96L conv.
'79 96GL (LPG)
'83 900i (LPG)
'95 900SE conv.
'99 9-3T
mellePosted - 04 Oct 2017 : 13:36:29
That's great to hear! I think John-Saab sells new ones.

www.saabv4.com
TGO001Posted - 04 Oct 2017 : 13:20:57
RESULT! Checked the PCV valve hose and found a small split. Made temporary repair by taping up and fitted new clips. It now drives like a different car. Many thanks guys, for all your suggestions and especially to Melle for hitting the bulls eye straight away. I can't beleive the difference such a small thing has made to the car. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
mellePosted - 02 Oct 2017 : 19:36:35
This can be caused by many things... I would also suggest checking compression first, I think it's very unlikely that the timing is a tooth off. I assume it's a standard 1.5 engine? Do you know anything about its history/ mileage?

Was the engine dirty/ sludgy inside? How did you check the bores for wear? Visually or did you measure them as well? Did you also check the rings? Did you replace the distributor cap, rotor, plugs, coil and leads when installing electronic ignition? If not, did you make sure the coil is compatible with the ignition unit you installed? What plugs are you using and what is the gap? Have you checked the brakes? I'm sure I can think of a few other things if this doesn't help! (Like a worn cam, worn fuel pump membrane etc.)

When driving up a hill the throttle is pretty much fully open so there won't be any vacuum, so vac advance can be ruled out anyway. A burst vac pipe can cause an air leak though. Also the hose between the left hand side rocker cover and the pcv valve is notorious for leaks.

www.saabv4.com
TGO001Posted - 02 Oct 2017 : 14:07:22
Hi. Very grateful for your suggestions. Just been up to the garage and done a vacuum advance test. All ok there.
I don't have a compression tester but coming downhill with freewheel off, the engine seems to hold the car back really well. I'll have to buy one to do a definitive test though.I'll get back to you on that one.
Cheers from sunny Spain
UK_SubPosted - 02 Oct 2017 : 09:20:30
Perhaps the vacuum advance isn't working?
Mos6502Posted - 02 Oct 2017 : 03:37:41
Did you do a compression test?
TGO001Posted - 01 Oct 2017 : 20:51:55
Sorry. That should have read "with NO improvement"
TGO001Posted - 01 Oct 2017 : 20:49:55
Shanks for your suggestion. Should have said that I have been up and down the timing marks but with improvement. Glad that it solved your problem, however
Betsy67Posted - 01 Oct 2017 : 16:10:19
I had a similar problem, which was caused by a retarded ignition timing. Try advancing the timing a few degrees on the dizzy and see what happens.
The engine would start, tickover fine and would pull reasonably well. However if you wanted acceleration or climbing hills it would struggle.

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