02' Saab 9-3 Coupe Turbo

[KrisRS182]

While the track Clio is tucked away hibernating for winter I've been playing with my Saab Turbo. Bit of a marmite car but to me i see a cool 90's car, plus it used to belong to a friend of mine that sadly passed away ealier this year.

It had been sat for over 6 months before i pick it up and on the first drive the turbo failed causing thick clouds of smoke from exhaust.

I currently have the turbo off and awaiting a replacement TD04 which is an upgrade in preperation for running higher boost.

While the turbo is off ive also removed the sump as the oil strainers have a habit of blocking up on these engines

And mine was no exception lol

Stripped and clean now

So just waiting for turbo and oil feed pipe kit, should be here early January then i can move onto tuning and bodywork detailing.

 

[Goodj]

awesome.
you just made the good-guys list.
Always wanted a 3dr Viggen.

Apparently the sludge issue is due to fully-synth oil.......or maybe not using fully synth......one of those. Can't remember, but I've looked into this quite a bit over the last decade. Really want one of these before they all become either sheds or prissy, overpriced show-cars.

I see you've also pulled the stereo, are you changing that for something else? in which case, let us know if it's a bugger about, because I swear I saw something about external amps etc.

 

[RMDavis]

It will be awesome when it's finished bud! :smile:

 

[welshname]

Always had a soft spot for these. Just something about them when stock looking and pushing decent power.

 

[KrisRS182]

I'd image a combination of wrong oil and lack of oil changes, but this is now going to change.

I see you've also pulled the stereo, are you changing that for something else?

I'm toying with the idea of fitting a double din and from what i can see it all looks like standard ISO connectors. I'll look into this further when its up and running.

 

[Goodj]

I'd image a combination of wrong oil and lack of oil changes, but this is now going to change.

I'm toying with the idea of fitting a double din and from what i can see it all looks like standard ISO connectors. I'll look into this further when its up and running.

Yeah, I think you might need to do a bit more than just clip in a new unit.
As said, I could be wrong here, but I suspect the speaker-out lines actually run to discrete amplifiers. so you'd need to splice the RCA outputs on your headunit into the ISO.
Depends on what the stock kit was, there were 3 or 4 different stereo set-ups, some more elaborate than others.

Just tried to auotrader up a 3dr Aero..... much sadness

 

[KrisRS182]

We looked on Autotrader the other day at work and found nothing.
I'll do dome googling on the stereo, thanks for the heads up @Goodj

 

[KrisRS182]

Turbo just got delivered. Happy with the condition, has zero free play in the shaft.

 

[Bluebeard]

I love love love these!! Such a good looking car in an ugly way. Very easy to get power from as well.

 

[KrisRS182]

Stage 1 remap estimate 220bhp and 360 nm of torque

 

[Goodj]

Ugly is a subjective thing.....

...Alright, it's a Calibra Turbo in a bodykit with a missing propshaft, but 9000% better.

 

[KrisRS182]

I must admit, i like the old cavalier and calibra turbos, but i was 80's born and grew up on 90's car

 

[Scrooge]

I love these

 

[Stefan.]

Cool car and an awesome project

 

[Ian_182]

I always used to love the 3 door saab's years ago.
I think the press car was a blue one iirc, great project.

 

[KrisRS182]

Patiently waiting to be worked on

 

[imprezaworks]

Looks nice but never saw the appeal

 

[Goodj]

I must admit, i like the old cavalier and calibra turbos, but i was 80's born and grew up on 90's car

I would, probably, happily take on a Calibra Turbo with the full DTM livery.

But I'd still want a Viggen 3dr

Have you looked at the front bulkhead yet, and @Scrooge is this really a big a thing as the internet makes out?
Basically, that old cavalier chassis doesn't take well to 200hp, let alone more, and tears itself in half.
HOWEVER!
a proper-hand-drive version of THIS would fix it.

 

[KrisRS182]

Bulkhead is looking crack free
There are some choice mods to improve the chassis on the Saab which i'll be doing in the coming months

 

[Ph1 Tom]

Love it! That td04hl-15t should be good for around 300bhp

 

[KrisRS182]

Apparently a far more reliable turbo than the Garrett GT17 which is now only useful as a paper weight.

 

[Stopherson]

These are cool cars. Used to have a customer with one I loved driving it. Had loads of issues with coil packs on it and they aren't cheap

 

[Cub.]

I also am a fan of these. Top work!

 

[KrisRS182]

I'm genuinely surprised by the positive response to the Saab and also how the cliosport community welcome alternative cars and topics which is often absent from other forums.

 

[Jason_E]

Love these. My Dad had an old 900 Turbo as a kid, I really do need to try one out for myself!

Whats the power like from standard with just a remap? I remember not long ago looking at 9-5 HOT Aeros and they had similar issues due to the wrong oil being used.

 

[Donny_Dog]

OOOO... nice. Love it.
You could have got the 18T could you not? Although they are newer and not as attainable, so I think you've done the right thing.

 

[_Tom]

Some inspiration..http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SAAB-9-3-...396959?hash=item25b03a3e1f:g:9mEAAOSwsB9V~-K~

 

[KrisRS182]

OOOO... nice. Love it.
You could have got the 18T could you not? Although they are newer and not as attainable, so I think you've done the right thing.

Possible but like you say, the availability of the alternative is far greater.

 

[KrisRS182]

Thats a good find TomSx. What a sleeper! Hefty price tag though!

 

[Goodj]

'Sleeper' Viggen?

 

[KrisRS182]

Subtle

 

[Goodj]

Subtle

You know you want that front wing.

If for no other reason than to give you the traction to apply 300hp through the front wheels of an 80's Vauxhall chassis

 

[RMDavis]

That's awesome!

 

[KrisRS182]

Id need 300bhp to lug around them spoilers

 

[Goodj]

Id need 300bhp to lug around them spoilers

Just leave the nuff-cd rear wing in the box. Unless you want to go down the Civic/Clio route and apply extra downfarce to your dragging wheels.

Roof scoop though?

 

[Djw John]

You know you want that front wing.

If for no other reason than to give you the traction to apply 300hp through the front wheels of an 80's Vauxhall chassis :smiley:

That'll bend the f**king thing never mind push it down!

 

[KrisRS182]

So the TD04 charger has now been installed and delivers the power nicely. No more oil pressure warning light either.

Next up will be a good detailing session so time to start product shopping

 

[Goodj]

If the time comes that you get bored, I want first refusal

 

[KrisRS182]

Gotcha

 

[KrisRS182]

These early Saab's have notoriously poor steering response due to a flimsy steering rack mount. This evening i fitted a modified clamp and brace bar supplied by Parts For Saabs.

The old flimsy bit of tin and soft rubber mount, verses the new mount kit

Doesn't look like much but it has really made a difference. Improved steering feel and reduced torque steer has made it much nicer to drive. Still got further improvements to make to the chassis and suspension.