I skipped over a lot of things, there are tons of little things I have done that I can't even remember but this a majority of it and there is a lot more to come.
That 4.45 brand new transmission is getting put inside a proper case that will fit my car and a Quiafe LSD added with a Spec 3 clutch
I just recently installed a short throw shifter, hand filing fun
Got some very nice leather goods from RedlineGoods.com
I've had a slow coolant leak since October 2016, so small that I burned off about 3/4 gallon to date, couldn't find it for the longest time. I started thinking head gasket some time around January. I got a nice surprise after work one day when white smoke poured out the back of the car in June. I went on vacation in July and when I came back I stuck a camera down inside the spark plug hole.
Cylinder #1
Cylinder #2
Cylinder #3
Cylinder #4
mmmmmmmm who likes their pistons steam cleaned. Common leak spot is between 3 and 4.
I was planning to park the car for the winter and do the head gasket and a ton of other stuff. Figured this engine could make it....Not so much LOL Blackstone labs report
Oh well, I still clean it anyways and drive it. If it spins a bearing...oh well. I am hoping that it can hold out just a little longer and I can park it for the winter. This has sparked other things to happen. If this engine manages to survive it will live another day in possibly another 9-5 (more on that too come)
In the mean time, I have WIS in the garage now too
So I tore down the extra engine I got, a 130,000 miles B235R in mint condition. I honestly couldn't have asked for a cleaner engine.
Tore down the spare motor.
Right now I'm parts gathering, but I've been picking things up left and right like crazy
Current upgrades
-ACL Bearings Main and Conrod
-Wossner 90mm pistons
-GS Tubular Manifold
-Phenolic Spacers
-T5 Cams
-60# injectors
-XSBoosts TD04-20T
-do88 Delivery pipe
Transmission
-4.45 final drive
-Quaife LSD
-Stage 3 Spec Clutch
-New gearset with updates
Should be a whole lot of fun once I finish.
Now as for other plans while this is going on
-Adjustable front and rear sway bar links
-Ceika Coilovers
-Adjustable rear lateral arms
-Brembo brake kit
-Solid subframe mounts
-Sony Android auto headunit
-Replace all the speakers with something better (great options now in the 2 ohm range with great sensitivity)
-Hopefully vinyl wrap this car like I have been planning
Here is a present mod list for the car, I'll probably update this as I go along
Visuals
-Matt D Turbo X Front lip
-Carbon Fiber wrapped center lip on Aero bumper
-3000k LED ZES chip fog lights with Yellow tint
-Carbon Fiber Hirsch styled grilles
-Natural White LED City Lights
-Sylvania Silverstar Front and Rear turn signals
-Headlight washer delete mod
-Xenon leveling delete mod
-Morimoto 55w balasts
-Philips XtremeVision 5000k HID bulbs
-35% tint
-Clear parts tinted on tail lights
-Satin Black vinyl roof Wrap
-Custom made Wood Roof Rack
-In Channel window vent visors
-Spoiler King rear window spoiler
-Natural White LED License plate lights
-Custom Aero badge on trunk
-KBS Undercoating
-WAHSAABI Euro plate in the front window
-Yellow/Blue Hella Jaguar horns
Where you sit
-Infinity Kappa 32.9cf dash speakers
-Llyods 5 floor mats with Saab logo
-Second skin audio sound deadening in dash, front and rear doors and rear deck lid (soon to be roof too)
-Custom made leather Steering wheel
-Redline Goods leather shift boot and ebrake boot
-Redline Goods leather head rests
-Ultimate pedals custom pedals
-Genuine saab short throw shifter
-Pioneer AVH-X3800BHS
-ProClip phone mount
-Backup camera
-Blue/yellow stripped door sills
-Warm White LEDs in every spot (Map, dome, reading, foot well, puddle, trunk, and vanity mirrors)
-Plaid wrapped A-pillars (roof and C-pillar are next)
Go Fast
-Open air intake
-06+ TD04 with king cobra 6cm^2
-Krona 3” downpipe
-OBX 2.5” catback
-BCB Stage 3 Tune (pushed a bit further by a friend)
-BCB Diverter Valve (Heaviest spring)
-Powder coated valve cover (visual)
-King cobra and u-arm motor mount mirror polished (Visual)
-GS Poly torque arm bushing
Hold me to the road
-Koni FSD
-Eibach springs
-Proparts front subframe bushings (Soon to be powerflex)
-PowerFlex Lower control arm bushings
-Moog uprated front sway bar endlinks
-Moog Poly rear sway bar endlinks
-SAS Sway bars front and rear
-PowerFlex trailing arm bushings
-EBC Rotors
-EBC RedStuff pads
-Goodrich Stainless steel lines
-Krona tower brace
-Enkei RPF1s 18x8 5x112
-Michelin Pilot Super Sports 235/40/18
Its a final drive gearing that was found in the Saturn L100s of the early years, it was to give the smaller N/A 4 cylinder motor a bit more thrust (torque). The case will not fit and is essentially version 1 (FM01) of this trans, so it has the weaker fork and reverse gear among other things.
I have an FM08 transmission that will be torn down, the brand new bits of the FM01 that are good/identical will be used, updated parts from the FM08 will be used to finish it off. Along with the final drive, Quaife LSD and ARP ring gear bolts will be used.
Interesting. I put a trans in from MY06 to my 9-5. I'm not sure what the FM number was (don't remember). The original trans would not go into reverse without already rolling backwards (shift fork) but that was at 250K miles. The trans I put in had supposedly low miles (60k) but was from a junkyard (where everything has 60k miles!).
I've always considered the trans to be a bit on the week side, even though I know they are factory rated for a specific NM output.
I will watch with interest on your trans build, that is not something I have ever gotten into. Even with my old trans I never did open the case. I wanted to but didn't get around to it. I'm pretty comfy around engines and have built several small blocks, fords, saabs and honda motors, but never opened a transmission!
Interesting. I put a trans in from MY06 to my 9-5. I'm not sure what the FM number was (don't remember). The original trans would not go into reverse without already rolling backwards (shift fork) but that was at 250K miles. The trans I put in had supposedly low miles (60k) but was from a junkyard (where everything has 60k miles!).
I've always considered the trans to be a bit on the week side, even though I know they are factory rated for a specific NM output.
I will watch with interest on your trans build, that is not something I have ever gotten into. Even with my old trans I never did open the case. I wanted to but didn't get around to it. I'm pretty comfy around engines and have built several small blocks, fords, saabs and honda motors, but never opened a transmission!
The shifter linkage was updated in later years to get rid of the plastic parts, the metal bushing fitting are meant to take it a step further and remove the last rubber piece in the shifter linkage. I got the bushings off a guy from Sweden who had made up a bunch. This shifter is going to feel nice and connected now.
I am not really strengthening anything else other than what I am buying/using with already exists. I can still blow out a gear like 2nd or 3rd like John did. If I do, I will probably pick up the Quaife 6 speed, I've seen them sell for $1,900. I unfortunately will not be putting the transmission together, I'll either see if someone local that does transmissions wants to do it or go down to Maryland to see Harvey.
I like it, the b12 bilstein setup is also a good pick too. I feel more of the road with the bushings. I personally like the feeling, it is firmer but I'm still comfortable.
If want to stay perfectly comfortable, then keep it rubber, put the b12 or koni setup on and some nice sticky summer tires. If you want to have a bit more of a raw ride then add the bushings.
I skipped over a lot of things, there are tons of little things I have done that I can't even remember but this a majority of it and there is a lot more to come.
That 4.45 brand new transmission is getting put inside a proper case that will fit my car and a Quiafe LSD added with a Spec 3 clutch
I just recently installed a short throw shifter, hand filing fun
Got some very nice leather goods from RedlineGoods.com
SaabCentral forum the most comprehensive Saab resource on the internet. Join our discussions on the Saab 9-3, Saab 9-5, Saab 900, Saab 9000 and all other Saab models, choose your forum.
