UKSaabs

Ok, well it's been quite a while since I've talked much on the forum about my car, but I've been collecting parts and the car has been growing and developing and getting close to where I want it and I figured it was time to write an update, and a project thread seemed just the thing.

Model year 1996
Model series Aero
Body style 5-door CS
Airbags Driver and passenger
Engine B234R (2.3l high-power turbo - 225hp)
Transmission 5-speed manual
Built at Line A, Trollhattan, Sweden

Scarabe green w/ Sand Beige leather interior

Freshly rebuilt B234R engine w/ custom map by faero
Turbo Technics hybrid TD04
Ported/polished intake manifold (+heat plate delete)
Abbott Racing delivery pipe
Abbott Racing intercooler
Modified airbox feeding custom 4" alloy intake system
Aerodyte 3" stainless turbo-back exhaust w/ race cat
Samco vacuum, water, and turbo hoses
Maptun one-piece turbo to intercooler hose
APS dump valve
Forge stainless piston type W/G actuator
K&N air and oil filters
Rebuilt Aero gearbox w/ Quaife ATB diff
Jamsaab short shifter
Powerflex dogbone and gearbox bushes
Powerflex exhaust mounts
T7 APC conversion
3 bar MAP sensor
Bosch Green Giant injectors
Polished valve cover
Custom PCV system (Alloy camcover nipple, Norgren high performance check valve, oil trap)
HEL stainless braided turbo feed pipes
Speedparts front strut brace
Bilstein B4 dampers + Eibach Pro-kit springs + SAS poly rear spring spacers
SAS front and rear anti-roll bars
Abbott Racing (Powerflex) poly wishbone bushes
New Brembo discs and Remanufactured calipers w/ EBC Yellow Stuff pads
HEL Stainless braided brake lines
Optima Yellow Top Battery
Custom 4x108 to 5x100 hubcentric PCD adapters to fit:
16x7 SSR Type-C lightweight forged competition wheels
Custom bonnet, boot, steering wheel, and wheel centre cap badges
Re-trimmed/re-sculpted steering wheel
Speedparts boost gauge w/ knock LED
SAAB (VDO) oil pressure, oil temperature, and volts gauges


That's all the non-standard stuff that springs to mind. In addition, loads of standard parts have been replaced, including: flywheel, clutch, lower engine mounts, front to rear metal brake lines, front wishbone brackets, strut top mounts, heater matrix, fuel pump, water pump, CPS, fuel filter, etc etc etc)

[EDIT: updated the list above and removed all the photos that were here -- they were all quite out of date]

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MY 96 SAAB 9000 Aero

About time you did a project thread. Car looks good with the new wheels on - glad all the planning was worth it.

Look forward to seeing it in the flesh mate.

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Speak softly and carry a big hammer.

Come on then, details about the hub adapters...

Hey looking good!!!
You've done loads to it mate, nice one!!!
How do you find the car with the SAS arb kit? Is it much better and worth the £££? That's on my shopping list along with the LSD! Cant afford either right now though! But I need them sooner than later.

A few guys have advised me to get the T7 mod done....hopefully in Jan it'll be on there!

You'll be happy with Barry's kit! Really good quality Get a GT30 on there!!! You know you want to!

Well done mate!....now I've really got to get cracking with mine

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1st rule of fat club is you don't talk about fat club...

Thats a lovely looking car you got there!

Feed that drivers seat though!!!!

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2012 Toyota Auris 1.33 VVTi TR
2008 Adria Altea 502 DK
2007 9-5 TiD Sport Combi
2005 9-5 2.0t sedan

Thanks for the comments, guys.

mrd2525: Hub adapters are just like the H&R ones that Demon Tweeks do, but custom made by some belgian bloke because H&R didn't do the one I needed to fit those wheels. But basically a hubcentric/wheelcentric alloy disc 20mm thick with 4x108 countersunk holes which bolt the adapter to the hub, and then 5x100 tapped holes to bolt the wheel onto the adapter. Works a treat.

Grif: Really looking forward to getting the exhaust from Barry. Been following his build blog on his website and the full exhaust system looks amazing. And the fact that it's designed to be quiet(ish) when just cruising around or idling, but loud on WOT, is very cool. I love a nice loud exhaust, but there are plenty of situations where it's not ideal. Don't ALWAYS want to be drawing attention to yourself!

Haha, yes yes, I know. But I couldn't be bothered because I have plans to clean the whole interior properly, then clean, feed, and re-paint the leather.

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MY 96 SAAB 9000 Aero

Nice

Love the wheels.

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When you think you know it all, it's a sure sign you don't.

Well turned out and well thought out project. Looking forward to seeing this in the flesh in the coming year, possibly out on track!!!!!

-=F=-

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Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table, coz Chuck Norris only recognizes the element of surprise.

You mentioned last time that you wouldn't give any details out about cost and supplier until you were sure of the quality.....so....are you happy with the workmanship?

The adapters were made by Joachim Devos at http://www.concept-wheels.be/

The website is a bit iffy but if you contact him he's really helpful. His english isn't FANTASTIC and it sometimes takes a couple days to get a reply on e-mail. But once you've talked to him and he knows exactly what you want, it only takes about a week for you to receive the adapters. The workmanship is fantastic and he really seems to know his stuff.

However, I would say that if H&R make the size/fitment you need, just buy ready made ones from them. They are the industry leaders, as it were, and are fully tested and TUV approved. Made in Germany. Demontweeks do them, and so do a few others. But as H&R didn't do the ones I needed, I had to find somebody that would custom make them, and after my experience with Joachim I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him...just not if you're in a REALLY BIG HURRY.

Also, for all your miscellaneous wheel-related needs, you must check out THIS SITE. As it says on the page: Everything but the wheel. hah (they're in the states, but haven't found anything as good in the UK yet)

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MY 96 SAAB 9000 Aero

So, the big news is this:


Very excited about it and hoping to get it fitted next week...weather permitting.

I also bought a bunch of direct replacement super bright LED bulbs of various fitments to replace all the interior lights (ie, door puddle lights, dome light, rear view mirror light, rear reading lights, overhead spot, 'fasten seatbelts', boot, etc). This was mostly because half of them were burnt out and I didn't feel like ever having to worry about changing them again. Plus the bright white/blue LED light is nice.

All good!

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MY 96 SAAB 9000 Aero

Cor that downpipe & exhaust looks tasty
Let us all know how the led fitting progresses, that is on my wish /to do list.

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96 9000 2.3 Auto & Fast
97 9000 2.0 Saabotage Mean & Filthy
98 gm900 SE 'vert Just Filthy

very nice


wherefrom did you acquire the above exhaust?

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Rich
CC Carlsson - shhh! The colour's a secret
CSi - midnight blue

Bet you've had a PM from a friend by now, explaining all exciting news

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96 9000 2.3 Auto & Fast
97 9000 2.0 Saabotage Mean & Filthy
98 gm900 SE 'vert Just Filthy

Do you read minds for a passtime Logan?

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Silver 9000 Aero
85T260SWB Hi-Roof *FOR SALE*
1997 9-5 2.0LPT SE with added TD04

maybe ...

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96 9000 2.3 Auto & Fast
97 9000 2.0 Saabotage Mean & Filthy
98 gm900 SE 'vert Just Filthy

Yeah this is the full system from Aerodyte, including race cat, custom spintech silencer, and magnaflow backbox. Barry at Aerodyte made 10 of these, 9 of which went to customers in the states. I got a good deal and good exchange rate so ordered one.
Paul (9000 Parts) and Barry are now looking to work together to get these exhausts made in the UK. So I'd imagine that for the most part it'll be the same as the one I have, but maybe using locally sourced silencers and things like that?

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MY 96 SAAB 9000 Aero

Just hope I never see this about, otherwise I might have to become a car thief. Absolute beauty-the dream of where I'd like mine to end up at one day, not that I'll ever have the funds for that to become reality!

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Ex-aeropilot Hirsched 9-5 Aero

Thanks Chris! Put a lot of thought into the car and did my research before spending money, so it's all come together pretty well. But it's a long way from perfect. I've got enough skill with a camera and photoshop to make it look a little better than it does in the flesh, heh. The front spoiler and rear bumper need some work, as does the NSF wing. Also need to clean the interior and feed/repaint the leather. Then we'll be getting there! Wish I knew of a good and cheap body shop nearby.

There's good news, though, I've got the car all booked in and heading down to Saabflight tomorrow morning to fit the exhaust and get the ecu remapped again. Very exciting! And *just* in time to make it to Mark411's tunnel run, and also the SOS convoy!

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MY 96 SAAB 9000 Aero

So, after heading down to Saabflight a couple weeks ago, I stayed on down there and watched/helped while they fitted my LOVELY new exhaust (sounds soooooo good), a few other little tiny jobs, and then remapped the ECU. All ready to go and fired her up and the plastic bit where the top radiator hose connects to on the rad just snapped off and steam and water spraying everywhere. Fantastic. So, brand new radiator now as well!

Anyways, all done in time for the SOS convoy so some of you may have seen/heard me there.

At any rate, car is so nice now. Pretty much just where I want it. Be interesting to take it on the rollers at some point and see where the power/torque figures are at. Should be somewhere in the neighborhood of 300bhp though. Plenty.

Now, on to the bad news:

Last friday, on the motorway, right-hand lane, heavy traffic and rain, traffic slowed then stopped. The guy in front of me stopped, I stopped (hazards on), guy behind me stopped, but the idiot behind him wasn't paying attention and just swerved right at the last second, clipped the rear bumper of the guy behind me, scraped along the concrete divider, scraped and dented/rippled/crunched my rear wheel arch, destroyed my wing mirror, and scuffed the wheel arch trim on the front before hitting the concrete divider again and then hitting the front wheel/bumper of the car infront of me, tearing his bumper right off and spinning him halfway around, while the offending car skidded to a halt...

I got *really* lucky. Noticed the lights in my mirror and thought it was a bike coming up the side trying to sneak past the traffic so I started moving to the left a bit. If I hadn't done that he would've hit me really hard. Instead, only cosmetic damage. Still sucks, but at least I'm ok, the car is mechanically totally fine. Just some dents and scratches. Paul 9000 parts has already sorted me out with a replacement wing mirror which I fitted yesterday. Body shop are speaking with the insurance company to try and sort out repairing the damage. All in all...a crazy experience. Good reminder that, it doesn't matter how good your car, your brakes, your driving skills are...you can never predict what the crazies on the road will do!

Hey people! Stop hurting Saabs!

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MY 96 SAAB 9000 Aero