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Dirtbiker
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
1054 Posts

Posted - 13 Mar 2014 :  20:17:36 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Hi Woody,

5 1/2" wide 5 bolt steel wheels offset towards the outside edge. I think they may (someone correct me here...) have been fitted to some Sonetts?

I don't actually know why they are referred to as RAC wheels - Melle?

I used a local company for the Zinc plating -

http://www.smbplating.co.uk/

I would imagine there is something similar near you. They offered the choice of yellow or clear and convinced me to go with yellow as they do a lot like this for a local Triumph restorer. I think though that clear would have been more original to SAAB, still really pleased though. Initially I turned up with a Tupperware pot but they sent me away to find every nut and bolt I could as they had a minimum order (£40 plus VAT).

Cheers
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Woody
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
2757 Posts

Posted - 14 Mar 2014 :  00:42:41 Show Profile Reply with Quote
There is a plater in Kirkby in Ashfield, which is near to me so will enquire there. I agree the clear finish is near to original which I tried to achieve with paint but is not hard wearing.
.
I always thought the off-set round holes wheels were 4.5", but haven't had the opportunity to study any. There are photos on Google of early two stroke Sonetts with these wheels,and others with 4" and 4.5" longitudinal hole wheels. The latter made for Saab by Rubery Owen & Co of West Midlands. The 4.5" wheels were aftermarket options for V4 owners to allow fitment of 165x15 tyres. The Works Rally Cars used them up to 1971/2. I have them on the Troll and used them back in 1972+ on my first Rally Car.
I have evidence of the off-sets being used by Simo Lampinen on the 1968 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland. Cannot trace any photos of the Works Cars using them in the UK or Sweden.

Edited by - Woody on 14 Mar 2014 00:44:45
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Dirtbiker
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
1054 Posts

Posted - 14 Mar 2014 :  18:07:39 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Hi Derek,
Thanks for the info on Kunifer brake lines - do you find them harder or easier to work with?
Also, during the house move I found the sticker you sent me for the side of the heater destined for the green car once I tidy up the engine bay. Can't remember if I ever said thanks, so thanks!
Cheers
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Derek
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
2186 Posts

Posted - 14 Mar 2014 :  20:41:31 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Thanks for the thanks. Don't have the personal experience to compare the two but copper can kink and it does work harden. Kunifer can be bent by hand using a cheap bending tool but spending a few extra pounds on a decent one, still not much money, will get you one that can cope with tight bends on the car. I'm sure there will be recommendations from others here, maybe with pics to guide you.
You could also go mad and get a flaring kit............
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melle
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
3830 Posts

Posted - 14 Mar 2014 :  20:59:40 Show Profile Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Dirtbiker
I don't actually know why they are referred to as RAC wheels - Melle?
Not sure either...

Recently this 5,5" said OEM set was for sale in Sweden:



I was led to believe these are what works rally cars and early vans were fitted with.

Sorry for the off topic.

1970 96V4 "The Devil's Own V4"
1977 95V4 van conversion project
1988 900i 8V
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Woody
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
2757 Posts

Posted - 14 Mar 2014 :  23:10:07 Show Profile Reply with Quote
These appear to have been modified from early 4" wheels, note extra hole in bolt hole area. Don't think these ever used by factory as they are easily identifiable but I would be interested to see some proof.
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melle
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
3830 Posts

Posted - 15 Mar 2014 :  09:34:31 Show Profile Reply with Quote
It was the Swedish seller claiming they're original, not me.

1970 96V4 "The Devil's Own V4"
1977 95V4 van conversion project
1988 900i 8V
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Derek
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
2186 Posts

Posted - 15 Mar 2014 :  13:12:36 Show Profile Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Woody
These appear to have been modified from early 4" wheels, note extra hole in bolt hole area. Don't think these ever used by factory as they are easily identifiable but I would be interested to see some proof.



The 5 1/2 x 15 stamping is original though........
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melle
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
3830 Posts

Posted - 15 Mar 2014 :  15:16:05 Show Profile Reply with Quote
There's another stamp indicating production month and year:


And now back to Dirtbiker's RAC rims.

1970 96V4 "The Devil's Own V4"
1977 95V4 van conversion project
1988 900i 8V
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mettersl
V4 Fan

United Kingdom
126 Posts

Posted - 17 Mar 2014 :  21:42:56 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Slightly off topic but I think the extra hole is to allow brake shoe inspection without removing the wheels...?
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Dirtbiker
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
1054 Posts

Posted - 18 Mar 2014 :  19:53:18 Show Profile Reply with Quote
I like those wheels! The RAC wheels have the extra hole too which, I agree seems to be for brake shoe inspection.

Back on with fixing the car though!

Now working temporarily outside which is actually quite nice with the sudden feeling of summer!

First up, new rear brakes with all new consumables but haven't done the hoses yet.



One end of the drive is strangely very narrow so a solution was needed to shuffle the car around easily.



All that's really needed to get the car up and running now is to plumb in the brakes and fit an exhaust. But... being outside has highlighted a leaky screen so decided to pop it out and have a look.





Not too bad but going to need some work. As we will be welding the dash was going to have to come out too. I was a little daunted by this initially as I had never done it before but it was quite simple and a good opportunity to tidy up the wiring.





Chopped out the grot from one side. I left it a bit tidier than in this photo and blew out the vent chamber (correct name?) with an airline then treated some light surface rust. The next session should see some new metal welded in here then over to the other corner. Hopefully with a light skim of filler we should get a nice smooth finish and a good screen seal.

Cheers

Edited by - Dirtbiker on 18 Mar 2014 19:57:02
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Woody
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
2757 Posts

Posted - 18 Mar 2014 :  20:16:25 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Thanks for the extra picture Melle.
That now confirms a timeline. I wonder if these too were made by Rubery Owen Co. I bought my wheels in 1972 and by then the 4.5J examples were the only ones listed in the accessories list at Saab dealerships. I odered 5 through my dealer then discovered a V4 owner nearby my home who was selling his car and had 5 more 4.5J wheels with good tyres so I snapped them up.
I agree with the rear brake lining inspection. as it aligns with said hole. Interesting that it was dropped on all later wheels.

I had heard stories of Saab experimenting with wide wheels but that they had discovered that wide wheels and the wider treads were having an adverse effect on driveshafts. Whether this prompted them to strenghten the drive shaft and CV joints at the production end, one of the benefits of feedback to productiom through motorsport experiences, as 7 years later the team are using wider racers on the soccerballs on the RAC Rally.

It would be good to find out more info. Not wanting to hijack the topic I shall start a new thread on this to see if more info can be found.
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melle
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
3830 Posts

Posted - 23 Mar 2014 :  00:04:29 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Good to see you're attacking this, looks worse than the window channel on my 95. Keep posting pics of your achievements!

1970 96V4 "The Devil's Own V4"
1977 95V4 van conversion project
1988 900i 8V
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Dirtbiker
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
1054 Posts

Posted - 26 Mar 2014 :  20:39:40 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Hi Guys,

Melle - the window channel isn't too bad really. It would be better to do some serious cutting out like you have but I never wanted this to be a restoration, more of a tidy up... I reckon it will be alright though - pretty clean inside the chamber and the rust is local and now chopped out. I've done one corner but no photos yet.

This evening I have been pushing the boundries of what you can get away with in the dining room...

All the bits turned up for making brake pipes - thanks for the advice. Went for Kunifer with brass fittings and cheap flaring and bending tools.

In the vice on the dining table...



Nice bowl of fruit!



Some practice flares (dog not interested)



And the finished article - the dog looks impressed!



Hopefully tomorrow we'll see if they fit.

Cheers

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Dirtbiker
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
1054 Posts

Posted - 28 Mar 2014 :  18:55:20 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Hi Guys,

Woody - just a thought on the RAC wheels. Although I measured them at 5.5 inches wide I think that means they are 4.5J... Correct...?

Cheers

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