New 9000 gearbox

[KevinC]

I have the need for a fully working gearbox for my 1993 Aero, current box has very low miles but appears to have a problem with the selector fork in 4th gear. Also I have a Quiffe LSD waiting to go into the box, so a full dis-assmbley is going to happen.

Been offerred a brand new, still in the wrapper OEM gearbox from a 1989-90 9000 2.0 turbo at a very good price.

I've been looking at Quasimoto's transmission data comparing the differences between a Saab gearbox for the 9000 turbo 2.0 B202, and a 1993 B234 Aero logblock gearbox.

Looks like the spider gear type is different, and the driveshaft cups for sure. Neither of these are hard to change my rebuilder informs me, nor I don't believe is changing the final drive ratio.

Am I missing anything here? Anyone that has rebuilt 9k boxes in the past care to share any words of wisdom?

The price of the brand new box is so low that if I take the included slave, brand new synchros, and some of the bearings I'll be at break even on costs in no time.

Thanks for any help.

[Diamond Dave]

Originally Posted by KevinC

Am I missing anything here? Anyone that has rebuilt 9k boxes in the past care to share any words of wisdom?

From what I understand 86-92 gearboxes don't work with 93 engines and vice versa and 93's aren't compatible with 94+

But, if your rebuilder can do it, I wouldn't bother asking this board, just have him do it

[DanF.]

I thought I've heard that '93s have their own transmission. Not compatible with any other year.

[WSW]

91-93 are the same... Diff gear ratios with the 93 aero trans though

[Jim Mesthene]

I don't know about interchangeability, that why the Good Lord provided us with Parts Departments. But you can't change final drive ratios without changing the mainshaft.
If it's that cheap, buy it anyway and sell it to someone who needs it.

[KevinC]

Thanks for the feedback, not certain if it is worth the trouble.

[Superaero]

Actually, the strength of the 2.0 gearbox is also suspect. The later box is no great shakes either so I would not try to use an early box on a 2.3 turbo even if it could be made to fit.

If you're putting a Quaife in (nice BTW) then why not simply rebuild your existing box. The labour will be the same and any worn synchros, bearings or gears can be swapped out.

Rebuilt gearboxes take quite a while to run in but are durable if cared for. They just have to handle a lot of torque for their size. Correct choice of lubricant is critical. Use ONLY SAAB approved lubricant.

[KevinC]

I was really just considering the value of the brand new bits, take what fits such as all new synchros, and fit into my box, need to sit down with EBC and see what has the same parts numbers.

I know oil is like talking politics, but I feel a specialist transaxle oil of the correct spec, such as the Amsoil fwd transoil, works good. My current box has survived 35 laps full on the North Loop at Nurburgring, and numerous UK track visits at Croft, Snetterton, Cadwell Park mostly giving it full beans before having a selector fork problem; this consumed 3 clutches, that sort of abuse, so the oil ain't the weak link.

For my track 9000 project, doing loads of upgrades to the box using select 9-3 bits for example, and intstalling a Tilton therm controlled pumped front oil cooler with a gauge to monitor. Think the key to long life is case integrety, bearing preload, no mashing downshifts, and cool good oil.