SAAB V4 Forum
SAAB V4 Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Members | Search | FAQ
Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Technical
 Projects
 My newest acquisition
 New Topic  Reply to Topic 
 Printer Friendly 
Previous Page | Next Page
AuthorPrevious Topic Topic Next Topic
Page  of 5

1970V4
V4 Fanatic

USA
313 Posts

Posted - 23 Jan 2011 :  15:58:38 Show Profile Reply with Quote
I've made some progress on my '72 96, now driving it daily.

The plan now is to have the heads redone for unleaded fuel and shaved to bump up the compression. I have a two-barrel manifold with a Weber DGAV carb. This, along with an F4 cam and Jetex exhaust should give me the power I'm looking for. I have been considering big valve heads but that may bring things out of my price range.

The suspension will get all new bushings, MSS springs, and some stiffer shocks. I have a pair each of both Konis and Bilsteins for the front so it all depends on what I can find for the rear. Skandix sells the Bilsteins for $165 a pop but I hear 900 fronts will work on the rear of a 96.

Right now I'm running the stock 4 inch steel rims with skinny 165R15 tires. For the time being I'll probably just put on some Sonett soccerballs with 185/65/15 tires. Eventually I'll like to get some steel rims widened so I can safely run 195s, I saw a lot of 95/96s in Sweden with these and they look great.

Here are a few new pics:









Go to Top of Page

Wheelspin
V4 Beginner

Denmark
99 Posts

Posted - 23 Jan 2011 :  17:58:38 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Great to see your project up and running, and in the environment it was made for. You mentioned that you have both Koni's and Bilstein shocks for the front. I'm guessing that the Koni's are adjustable and the Bilstein's aren’t?? For that reason I would definitely go for the Koni's. Bilsteins are usually designed for the heavier SAAB 99, and this will make your 96 very stiff in the front.
As for the rear shocks: Although the 900's front shocks might fit, I wouldn’t use these for the same reason as described above. Unless it's for dirt track racing or rallying you would get almost no function out of them. I'm not even sure that adjustable koni's can be slackened enough to give a reasonable level of comfort.
There are other alternatives for the rear though. When I bought new ones for mine I found out that they are the same as for the front on Suzuki-Samurai (A small 4x4 offroader, try googling it) and Opel GT, a small German built Corvette Stingray C3 clone, which was also sold in the US around the time our V4's were new. It might be a long shot, since none of these cars are particularly common, but it should make it possible to widen your search parameters a bit.
Regards, Mads
Go to Top of Page

1970V4
V4 Fanatic

USA
313 Posts

Posted - 23 Jan 2011 :  21:37:32 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Mads, I think you're right about the shocks. I had Bilstein HDs on my '85 900 two-door. It handled great but they were so stiff they'd almost rattle the fillings out of my teeth. I'm going to probably put the Bilsteins on eBay and see how the front Konis are on their softest setting, after I do the springs. Right now it's got its original nearly 40 year old springs with some newish KYB Gas-A-Just shocks in front and some black (Boge maybe?) shocks in the rear. They did sell Samurais and Opel GTs here so thanks for the tip on that, I'll see what I can come up with.

This afternoon I changed the engine oil, flushed the gearbox out with some cheap ATF, and then refilled with Redline MTL synthetic gear oil. It shifts better now and is quieter.

I love this car!
Go to Top of Page

1970V4
V4 Fanatic

USA
313 Posts

Posted - 05 Feb 2011 :  17:00:36 Show Profile Reply with Quote
My Simons exhaust just arrived this morning, it looks great. I probably won't get a chance to install it for a while.



This weekend's project is installing a stereo system, working on this while my infant daughter is napping.
Go to Top of Page

UK_Sub
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
2555 Posts

Posted - 05 Feb 2011 :  20:10:40 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Car looks great and that exhaust is excellent - it's fitted to my 95 and made a big difference to the performance.
Go to Top of Page

James Ranaldi
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
1475 Posts

Posted - 09 Feb 2011 :  20:26:45 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Hi 1970V4,

I fitted one of these to my car......lovely noise.

one tip:- assemble it all loosely from front to back before you tighten anything up. I only had one problem. I had to drill a new hole for the rear hanger, otherwise perfect fit.

Also compulsory to assemble it on the floor in your living room

Looks great off the car...I felt like a kid with a new toy.

Have fun.
Go to Top of Page

john-saab
Administrator

United Kingdom
2679 Posts

Posted - 09 Feb 2011 :  21:58:24 Show Profile Reply with Quote
^^^WHAT HE SAID^^^ but fitting it to a 95 creates a few "tight spots"..same results at the end = ear to ear grin!
Go to Top of Page

1970V4
V4 Fanatic

USA
313 Posts

Posted - 06 May 2011 :  13:07:59 Show Profile Reply with Quote
I'm still happily driving this car daily and fixing little things as I go along. I'm getting ready for a 600+ mile trip in a couple of weeks.

I spent some time this week refinishing a set of soccerballs, they required a lot of cleaning and scrubbing before apply two coats of primer, three coats of silver wheel paint, and three coats of clear. I'm very happy how they came out. I'm going to let them dry for a week before I get a set of 175/65/15 Yokohamas fitted. This is actually the same size tyre as on the base MINI. I can't wait to see how this car feels on modern rubber.

Go to Top of Page

1970V4
V4 Fanatic

USA
313 Posts

Posted - 14 May 2011 :  23:28:09 Show Profile Reply with Quote
I got around to putting on my refinished soccerballs with new Yokohama tyres today. Wow, what a difference in handling with the modern rubber!




Tomorrow I'm finally going to install my Jetex exhaust.

Edited by - 1970V4 on 14 May 2011 23:28:56
Go to Top of Page

UK_Sub
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
2555 Posts

Posted - 15 May 2011 :  08:38:35 Show Profile Reply with Quote
The wheels look great - can't wait to hear how you get on with the exhaust, it'll make a great noise and makes a big difference to the performance!



Simon
Go to Top of Page

1970V4
V4 Fanatic

USA
313 Posts

Posted - 16 May 2011 :  15:24:25 Show Profile Reply with Quote
I had a day of serious wrenching yesterday including dropping the engine/gearbox in my '89 900, replacing two 96 heater control valves and installing the Jetex exhaust on my 96. What a difference! It sounds great, feels more powerful, and runs much smoother! I'm just about ready for my 600 mile trip this week.
Go to Top of Page

James Ranaldi
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
1475 Posts

Posted - 16 May 2011 :  20:46:08 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Well done that man.....enjoy your trip
Go to Top of Page

Dirtbiker
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
1060 Posts

Posted - 18 May 2011 :  20:10:00 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Love this car, one of my favourites on here. Really like the look of the vinyl interior. Is that standard over in the States? Mine is shot so will be getting retrimmed and that looks really nice.
Also loving the tacho mounted on the steering column, could we see a close up of how it's mounted.
Good luck with the car - looks great!
Go to Top of Page

1970V4
V4 Fanatic

USA
313 Posts

Posted - 24 May 2011 :  14:56:31 Show Profile Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Dirtbiker
Love this car, one of my favourites on here. Really like the look of the vinyl interior. Is that standard over in the States? Mine is shot so will be getting retrimmed and that looks really nice.
Also loving the tacho mounted on the steering column, could we see a close up of how it's mounted.
Good luck with the car - looks great!



Thanks for the kind words! Perforated vinyl was standard on U.S.-spec 95/96s from 1971-73, possibly 1970 too. I know that '69s had the cloth inserts. It's in poor condition on my front seats, I've found that MB Tex (that wonderful Mercedes-Benz vinyl) is an almost perfect match so I'm going to have them retrimmed with that material eventually.

The tach is actually held in place by a large hose clamp that loops around the steering column, it's a simple and cheap solution that doesn't look bad at all. This is the tach I used, it looks like it's available for around $100 USD but I actually got mine in a trade for helping a guy fix his 99: http://vwparts.aircooled.net/VDO-4-8000-RPM-Tachometer-Black-Face-Black-Case-p/v333901.htm

The car did great on a 1200 mile round trip to and from the Carlisle Imports Show this past weekend. This was in spite of the tired engine which does burn a bit of oil, I had to add a quart. This winter I plan on pulling it and rebuilding it as well as overhauling the suspension which still has all of its original bushings.

Here I am at this past weekend's event doing my best Erik Carlsson victory pose.

Go to Top of Page

Derek
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
2187 Posts

Posted - 24 May 2011 :  18:04:42 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Top man JD!
Go to Top of Page
Page  of 5Previous Topic Topic Next Topic 
Previous Page | Next Page
 New Topic  Reply to Topic 
 Printer Friendly 
Jump To: 
Snitz Forums 2000
SAAB V4 Forum© 2000-04 Snitz CommunicationsGo To Top Of Page