Abbott T9 Mods

[T9 dreamer]

Okay I confess I’m new, but Hey, what a great forum - Soooo many Saab-nuts in one place!

Anyway, here’s the story...

At the start of the summer I replaced my 5th Saab with a beautiful Abbott-modified T9 - I absolutely love it, but the only trouble I’m having is finding out exactly what the T9 upgrade comprises. The folk I spoke to at Abbott seemed a bit too busy to be truly helpful so I wondered if anyone out there in forum-land can help - here’s what I know so far;

1. The car was apparently one of a short run of 500 ‘Specials’, 100 of which were convertibles. It’s possible these became the unofficial forerunner of the Viggen.
(This is salesman speak and therefore may not be true!)

2. My particular car is badgeless except for a ‘SAAB City/T9’ badge on the rear.

3. Mods that are on the car include:
- gas-flowed head
- intercooler - I presume it’s the same/similar to what’s on the viggen
- stiffened suspension - abbott’s own I presume
- lowered suspension - don’t know which shocks/springs
- front spolier

It’s possible that there are other mods too and I’d also like to know about these - particularly whether it’s been ‘Trionic’d or not, and whether the brakes are uprated (they don't look it).

Things that defintiely haven’t been done (and I’d possibly would like to do) are 3” air intake, forge dump valve and manual boost control (Dawes or Abbott’s own?)

Any and all clues, help or expertise would be very welcome, particulalry also if anyone can advise how to eliminate the suspensioning bottoming-out going over the potholes and lousy repairs of Edinburgh’s cobbled streets (besides the obvious not driving into them in the first place!)

Cheers and thanks for the help that I know will surely come!

[Rob Sandey]

Hello T9 dreamer and welcome to Saab Central. Thats a beautiful car you have there, congratulations.
I think the T9 had a ECU upgrade as well, don't know alot about them though, doesn't stop me wanting one. :wink: I would guess that it would have Abbotts own springs which are good and probably Koni shocks which are also rather nice.

You'r up early
Cheers Rob

[T9 dreamer]

Thanks for that Rob - it took awhile to find the car but then I fell in love. Pity my V6 broke down on the way to see it!

I definitely want to check the shocks and the forums suggests there are a couple of different options for the ECU too - think I'll be out with a torch and toolbox over the weekend! (Just need to get to sleep first!)

Cheers Stuart

[Abbott 900]

Hi and welcome to the forums...

Looks like you've got something very similar to me...

Mine is the 1997, and has the Gas Flowed Head, Abbott ECU, full Abbott exhaust system, Abbott springs and Koni shocks... This seems to be Abbott's setup of choice...

With those mods, Abbott rated it at 250bhp... Which is nice...

Also you should get some of the clear side repeaters from Parts For Saabs, as these are good for another 10bhp :wink:

Like you, potholes and bumps are the bain of my life, as it crashes over anything bigger than a raisin in the road...

I've also fitted the Forge BOV (2 minute job)...

[SaabScott]

Originally Posted by T9 dreamer

Okay I confess I’m new, but Hey, what a great forum - Soooo many Saab-nuts in one place!

Hey ... who are you calling Saab-nuts ... oh, wait, I'm already a Saab Lunatic, so I guess you are not that far off!

Very nice looking car you have there T9 dreamer! Very nice indeed! :wink:
Welcome to Saab Central!

You do realize of course that you have made a few of us across the pond a little green with envy!
We don't have access to Abbott cars like you do ... and to land a vert like that! WOW! 8)

Good luck with the car, keep us posted on your progress, and we'll be seeing you around!

[Simon]

I'm pretty sure I have an Abbott T9 brochure at home. I'll have a look when I get back at the weekend.

[T9 dreamer]

Thanks for the welcome guys.

Seems like Abbott 900 is a sister-under-the-skin then. Think I saw a similar car (sensonic though) at a dealer in Manchester at Easter (450 mile round trip just to go car shopping!) Yours looks fab though, and I take your point on the 10bhp repeaters too - they were also on my PartsforSaabs/PartsfromSanta shopping list.

I'm thinking that when I have a few more of the jobs done I may take the car down to Abbott to let them give it the once-over. Have you had much help from them and/or found them useful/amenable? It's a long trip to waste if they're not!

Cheers!

[Rob Sandey]

Make sure your wallet is nice and fat before you go to Abbotts. They are very good but they do charge a bit

[T9 dreamer]

A fat wallet's not my speciality, I'd rather get my hands dirty!

And thanks Simon, the original brochure details would be superb.

[Munki]

Originally Posted by Abbott 900

Like you, potholes and bumps are the bain of my life, as it crashes over anything bigger than a raisin in the road...

You might want to try backing off the dampers a bit. I have just fitted Konis to mine they are on the lowest setting and the ride is very nice. 8)

[ragtopcav]

Originally Posted by T9 dreamer

A fat wallet's not my speciality, I'd rather get my hands dirty!

And thanks Simon, the original brochure details would be superb.

Unfortunately Abbott do have a reputation for high fees, but the standard of work is exceptionally high, I suppose you get what you pay for.

[Abbott 900]

Originally Posted by T9 dreamer

I'm thinking that when I have a few more of the jobs done I may take the car down to Abbott to let them give it the once-over. Have you had much help from them and/or found them useful/amenable? It's a long trip to waste if they're not!

I did exactly that when I bought my car... I booked it into to Abbott's for a service and once over... 550 quid later I left feeling rather sick and most of the blood had drained from my face...

That cost was a service and new centre section of exhaust... That's it...

They certainly know their stuff, but watching them, their service was not much different to taking it to a Saab specialist... I would only recommend going to Abbott's if you are having some serious work done, steer clear if it's just a service you are after...

[T9 dreamer]

Thanks for that. I was only really thinking of putting it into Abbotts for a 'once-over' to check everything is working ok. Having just had the cylinder head gasket replaced at my local dealer I'm not sure I'm getting the 250 bhp you mention previously. (Seems like my old 900 classic Aero was more torquey for overtaking on the A roads - maybe thats just me reminiscing about the good old days(!) or probably just the shorter gearbox).
Anyway, the clear repeaters and MBC are ordered so that's something to look forward to! javascript:emoticon('')

[Simon]

It's not what I thought, it's an Abbott ARM T16 brochure for a 1994 NG900 Turbo. It lists...

235Bhp Engine Management System
Sports Exhaust
7.5 x 17" Alloy Wheels
215 x 40 x 17 Tyres
Sports Suspension
Front and Rear Motorsport Spoilers
Bodywork Colour-Coding