[cmurra27]

I am new to the site and have a quick have a question. Will a 1983 900 interior work in a 1988 900? Are the seat mounting points different? I am looking into getting a 1983 parts car and hoping I can change out my blue interior and changing over my cracked dash.

 

[jetman]

If you're talking 3 door to 3 door or 4 door to 4 door, they should match, although they'll be different. The 3 door won't have the door cards for instance, which may be a problem if you have power windows and it doesn't. Well not really a problem, you'll just have a small hole to deal with. The seat bases might be slightly different, but easily adaptable. The chances of the 83 having a good dash are probably weak, but hey if it does that's awesome!

 

[cmurra27]

Thanks. Mine is a 88 900 3 door 8v. The only thing wrong with it is the cracked dash and interior color. I was originally going to buy the 83 for the 8v turbo stuff but if I can get away with swapping the interior it would be a plus.

 

[mmoe]

Dash board is different, so you'll have to change out the pillars with the dash to make it work, but after doing so it will fit. The dash sits on ledges provided by the pillars and the ledge is different for an '88 than for an '83. You'll also notice the '88 is a thicker dash.

Seats on the 88 are still the same IIRC, so they should bolt right in. In '89 they changed the way the seats mounted, so anything before that should interchange well.

 

[milos]

The chances of the 83 having a good dash are probably weak, but hey if it does that's awesome!

I have seen (and been offered) a dash of the car MY'81 or '82 which was as close to perfect as I need, imagine that it was in the garage for 5-10 years I guess.

Dash board is different, so you'll have to change out the pillars with the dash to make it work, but after doing so it will fit. The dash sits on ledges provided by the pillars and the ledge is different for an '88 than for an '83. You'll also notice the '88 is a thicker dash.

Is it the same case in '81 to '86 relation? If so, how hard is it to fit/change?

 

[jetman]

Is that the 83 Turbo on Craigslist in Detroit? I wonder what the "engine problem" is that is mentioned. If your's is not a turbo, you might consider going the other direction with it and making a go of the 83. If there's no real rust, its a great difference in fun to an 88 non turbo 8 valve.

 

[jetman]

Is that the 83 Turbo on Craigslist in Detroit? I wonder what the "engine problem" is that is mentioned. If your's is not a turbo, you might consider going the other direction with it and making a go of the 83. If there's no real rust, its a great difference in fun to an 88 non turbo 8 valve.

 

[white65]

The earlier dashes even though thinner actually had thicker vinyl and lasted better than the thicker dashes. DON'T use Armor-all on them as it will seal the vinyl and lead to cracks. Been there done that! I like to use Lemon Pledge for detailing the interiors.

I have heard that the pillar covers need to be changed to make fit but I did not find that to be an issue when I fitted an early dash to my '93. The only fitment issue I had was where the upper console met the dash. I think the later dashes had an indentation where as the earlier dashes did not. The newer console was too long and needed to be trimmed. It took a 1/2" trim at the top of the console where it met the dash indentation. I took 1/2" masking tape and taped it around the top edge of the console, then slightly heated with a heat gun and then scored along the tape a couple of times to start the cut. Bent it a couple of times so it would break off easily. Then sanded the edge for appearance. It then fit right in. Did not have to do anything to the pillar covers.

Hope this helps.

 

[mmoe]

I have seen (and been offered) a dash of the car MY'81 or '82 which was as close to perfect as I need, imagine that it was in the garage for 5-10 years I guess.

Is it the same case in '81 to '86 relation? If so, how hard is it to fit/change?

'86 still has the older dash style, so an '81 should fit right on.

 

[mmoe]

The earlier dashes even though thinner actually had thicker vinyl and lasted better than the thicker dashes. DON'T use Armor-all on them as it will seal the vinyl and lead to cracks. Been there done that! I like to use Lemon Pledge for detailing the interiors.

I have heard that the pillar covers need to be changed to make fit but I did not find that to be an issue when I fitted an early dash to my '93. The only fitment issue I had was where the upper console met the dash. I think the later dashes had an indentation where as the earlier dashes did not. The newer console was too long and needed to be trimmed. It took a 1/2" trim at the top of the console where it met the dash indentation. I took 1/2" masking tape and taped it around the top edge of the console, then slightly heated with a heat gun and then scored along the tape a couple of times to start the cut. Bent it a couple of times so it would break off easily. Then sanded the edge for appearance. It then fit right in. Did not have to do anything to the pillar covers.

Hope this helps.

You were able to install the older dash on the newer pillar because there is extra space at the sides of the older dash to accommodate the pillar. The pillar covers have a lower resting point on the newer models, so your older dash sat too low. This is probably why you had to trim your console. A shim at the pillars could also be used, but it's just easier to replace the pillar.

If you go the other way around, the newer dash will not fit over the older pillars because they are too high. Again, using correct pillars will allow the change from older to newer.

I've done them both old for new and new for old. The key to keeping it all working right it to just use the like model pillars.

 

[cmurra27]

Yes it is the one in Detroit. Have not looked at it yet just getting some advice first. The body on my 88 is perfect just not fast enough for me as I am used to having turbos prior to owning this n/a 8v. I am looking for just a parts car and turbo swap for those wonderful hard to find/not produced parts.

 

[zingZACH]

Not sure if anyone mentioned it, but the seats WON'T work in an 88 if it has passive belts (the motorized ones).

 

[mmoe]

Not sure if anyone mentioned it, but the seats WON'T work in an 88 if it has passive belts (the motorized ones).

He's got an '88 8 valve, so it's probably the base of base models. I can speak from experience that they didn't have the passive restraint. I had one of those '88 8 valves with an auto and it was the most well sorted Saab I've ever owned. It didn't have a single option outside of the auto; no sunroof, no power mirrors, hubcaps instead of alloys, not even any headrests on the back seat, but came with a Saab factory fire extinguisher mounted under the front passenger seat!

 

[zingZACH]

Ah, didn't notice it was an 8v... carry on!

And yeah, I too owned an 88 8v and it was completely bare bones. :lol:

 

[cmurra27]

Ya this thing is bare bones no options. It does have alloy wheels though. This is the first one that I have ever seen with crank windows. The others I have previously owned were fully loaded turbos and 1 convertible, but less things to break on the new one the better. This CIS injection has to be the simplest fuel injection setup ever made. So easy to work on and diagnose problems. Hopefully I can find a decent color interior for it though the light blue cloth just isn't the box I would have checked on the order sheet.

 

[milos]

'86 still has the older dash style, so an '81 should fit right on.

Thanks, that is good to know.

....

Ya this thing is bare bones no options

Mine is even without power steering.... though it have el. windows, sunroof, alloys, el. mirrors, tinted windows... it was of course a matter of original buyer's choice and some possible latter modifications including PS rack removal conducted by my self.