| Author |  Topic  |
Tristared
V4 Fan
United Kingdom
186 Posts |  Posted - 26 Oct 2011 : 16:56:36  
| I've been given word that the zinc spraying and powder coating of my wheels is now complete, and so I can (partially) reveal the efforts of the past 6 months...
Just a little back story... She's a 1970 model with a 1700 - to which I'm still not sure where it came from, I think a Sonnet, with a longer legged box as cruising is more relaxed at higher speed than my previous v4, but that was along time ago, so I can't be sure.
When I first bought her, over a year ago, she was apparently a very dark green (I'm completely colour blind) but under the bonnet she was black, so a few coats of 2 pack and she's now all the same.
The near constant overheating was down to a failure of the head gasket, so a tear down was required. The bores where in remarkably good health so HC pistons will be a job for the (hopefully distant) future. I had new valve guides inserted with new stem seals and the valves reground along with a skim, and the temp gauge needle has been obedient ever since.
Back from the head shop...
Back from the body shop
Wheels & Bumper off to be refinished.
Still a lot to do, I'll update when I get the wheels back.... |
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James Ranaldi
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
1475 Posts | Posted - 26 Oct 2011 : 21:14:55
| Looking good.
Nice garage space. |  |
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Woody
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2764 Posts | Posted - 26 Oct 2011 : 21:35:50
| | Wait with baited breath for pics and more developments. Engine bay pics please + interior... | |
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Tristared
V4 Fan
United Kingdom
186 Posts | Posted - 27 Oct 2011 : 11:31:53
| ...the interior is like new. Backs up the 45k mileage.
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UK_Sub
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2558 Posts | Posted - 28 Oct 2011 : 19:40:48
| Car looks great in black!
I like the radio placement too - what does the mounting look like and what's that to the left of it with the Saab logo?
Looks like someone has updated the seatbelts too?
Looking forward to more pics....
Simon | |
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GeoffC
V4 Mad
United Kingdom
507 Posts | Posted - 28 Oct 2011 : 20:09:05
| They look good in black - my first 96 was a 1969 deluxe in black with red interior - loved it - will have to find some photos. It ended up doing nearly 200,000 miles before I stuffed it on a single venue stage event when it was standing in for my rally 96 which was recovering from a roll! A great shame.
It'll be great to see yours when it's all finished. | |
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john wyatt
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
1031 Posts | Posted - 29 Oct 2011 : 09:25:25
| | Very nice indeed, however I do not think your interior condition is a good indicator of the mileage as the seats appear to be non original but retrimmed very nicely, the fabric is not of the type used on V4's, look forward to next update. | |
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Tristared
V4 Fan
United Kingdom
186 Posts | Posted - 19 Feb 2012 : 23:02:24
| Rare that a genuinely pleasant surprise comes about in field of classic car ownership. A recent ebay win bought about just that.
On receiving the car, I was shown that it indeed turn over, needing only the engine and a few other bits - it seemed like it would be a good buy.
I finished removing the lump this morning and found what looks like a 'new' Vege engine!
I've yet to confirm this but under the air filter was a boxfresh single choke Weber carb, new looking core and spark plugs, still blue coolant, and my biggest surprise when I drained the sump - golden yellow oil!
The heater pipes have surface corrosion but other than that the rocker covers, heads, and block are (a) factory black.
I know this isn't exactly conclusive, but I'm feeling hopeful. | |
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Derek
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2191 Posts | Posted - 20 Feb 2012 : 11:13:31
| I believe that VEGE have their own stamped number system, so look out for that. Someone here should be able to confirm that and even tell you where to look. | |
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Tristared
V4 Fan
United Kingdom
186 Posts | Posted - 06 Mar 2012 : 19:07:26
| Quick project page update - though these were taken a few months ago...
With renewed wheels - I'm so impressed with the finish of zinc spraying and powder coating, I have sent the rocker box covers and all the pipe work on the engine that is currently being rebuilt to have the same treatment.
Some interesting shots of the interior - The car was in the ownership of SAAB dealer in Scotland for a large part of it's life, which is where I would imagine it received it's unusual extras.
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Tristared
V4 Fan
United Kingdom
186 Posts | Posted - 06 Mar 2012 : 19:13:52
| Oh and that engine (that I think is an almost new VEGE unit) I found on ebay in a wreck in Croydon...
My word - it's incredible... It's like being propelled by a giant sewing machine.
I had to seriously consider whether the 1700 motor was worthy of an overhaul.
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pchristy
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
1790 Posts | Posted - 06 Mar 2012 : 19:25:38
| Someone has done a really nice job on the dash, too! Nice to see a tach properly installed, instead of the usual pod tacked on wherever space can be found!
Lovely car!
--
Pete
"Duct tape is like the Force: It has a light side and a dark side, and it binds the Universe together!" | |
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UK_Sub
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2558 Posts | Posted - 07 Mar 2012 : 09:10:14
| | Your 96 looks great - especially in black and the wheels set it off perfectly! | |
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Tristared
V4 Fan
United Kingdom
186 Posts | Posted - 26 Mar 2012 : 10:48:16
| Work continues on the procurement and renewal of engine parts for my 1815cc 'Big Valve' engine...
2.9 - 42mmm inlet & 34mm exhaust valves...
Zinc sprayed engine parts...
Bead blasted alu parts...
Rocker covers after zinc spraying in Hi Temp primer...
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Tristared
V4 Fan
United Kingdom
186 Posts | Posted - 02 Jul 2012 : 12:13:54
| Progress has been slow in recent months, cash flow and delivery times have taken their toll and it’s only been this weekend that the project has once again moved forward.
The block is back from the engineering firm, it now sports 93mmm bores and properly bedded in new balance and cam shaft bearings. A day soaking in thinners and neat industrial cleaner is all it took to get it ready for painting.
Which was remarkably enjoyable due to the quality of paint I found – it’s a bit like painting on liquid lead. The original engine colour had been a green silver, though that could have been dirt – Anyway, the new colour will be just silver. Funny how it’s the products that openly state they will kill you in an instant that are really good at what they do.
The engine will be running stiffer valve springs so I thought it would be prudent to upgrade to metal gears. I want to like them, but then I know how much they cost. They better whine like hell, that way I get something out of them!
The only slight deviation from my engine project has been the procurement of a SAAB 900 Nardi Steering wheel that I managed to get of the ‘bay for a respectable price (considerably cheaper that the 96 items). Just waiting on the kit from the U.S to fit it. I know it won’t work straight out of the box, nothing ever does…
Just waiting on the timing cover hole where the fan used to be to be welded up, and the big valve heads to be finished and it’s time to put everything back together. Which brings be on the next point – I had been looking into getting some copper head gaskets made so that they would fit a 93mm bore, turns out some old Victor Reinz items that I had firmly believed where standard bore size, fit exactly. Very happy about that.
Now - I just need a tube of Graphogen, some Hylomar, an assortment of stainless steel jubilee clips, some new metric bolts, some…. etc, etc.
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James Ranaldi
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
1475 Posts | Posted - 02 Jul 2012 : 12:32:36
| | Lovely car. . . great work. | |
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'Susan'
