Project Loki - 1988 classic SAAB turbo

My 86 would have all sorts of running issues when one of the inter cooler pipe connection came loose. Did you check the recir valve ? Have you checked for oil in the inter cooler ? check for splits in the end tanks. Look at the wring harness where it passes through the door opening and see if the insulation has disintegrated causing the short.

In reply to tuna55:

Yeah, basically it, although the seat and roll bar aren't fitted, I need some extra tubing and a session with the magic metal melting machine.

Yes, next step is to dive into what I've already done. See below.

stan_d wrote: My 86 would have all sorts of running issues when one of the inter cooler pipe connection came loose. Did you check the recir valve ? Have you checked for oil in the inter cooler ? check for splits in the end tanks. Look at the wring harness where it passes through the door opening and see if the insulation has disintegrated causing the short.

I've checked the intercooler pipes, flex pipes and connections, all good. I had them out when I changed out the front mount and I've removed, checked and refitted them since in the trouble shooting. But now I'm going to pull them again and see if there's anything else under there I may have disturbed. Good point on the intercooler oil/splits though. That will be the next step.

Also the harness into the doors, good point I'll look at that, but how would that affect the running? I can see issues with lights, windows, speakers etc, but surly they are totally separate from the running of the car.

I'm even considering the DefCon 1 and junking the whole LH2.2 and heading to a pick and pull to look for a complete T5 set up. This is only 50.1% joking

I know this is a selfless (not) promotion here...but I have a set of (supposedly) Saab 900 BBS Bugatti wheels (15 x 7), that I would let go cheap if you are interested. I originally bought them for my Fiesta, but the ended up being too wide (the guy on ebay told me they were 15 x 5.5 - and it was too big a hastle to return them). They are not particularly light, but the are period correct. I would put them on my Focus, but it already had 16" aluminum wheels that are decent...Now these are sitting taking up garage space.

Like these, but 4 lug ang the black center caps...

Where are the main engine and ECU grounds on the Saab?

As stated (by stan_d), if there are some body wires that run front to back (e.g. fuel pump power) and they got rubbed open while you were removing the interior I could easily see it acting strange.

Not sure if there's an easy way of figuring that out without pulling out the interior again.

Do you have numbers on the fuel pressure you have at the rail, or do you just know that there "is pressure?"

tedium850 wrote: I know this is a selfless (not) promotion here...but I have a set of (supposedly) Saab 900 BBS Bugatti wheels (15 x 7), that I would let go cheap if you are interested. I originally bought them for my Fiesta, but the ended up being too wide (the guy on ebay told me they were 15 x 5.5 - and it was too big a hastle to return them). They are not particularly light, but the are period correct. I would put them on my Focus, but it already had 16" aluminum wheels that are decent...Now these are sitting taking up garage space. Like these, but 4 lug ang the black center caps...

I can't see the pic, but if they are the roundish 7 spoke ones I'm thinking of they are cool wheels, but not for me. I think they are 15x5.5 or6. I'm planning on 16x8 for street/autocross/track tires and I ahve some ford wheels with snow tires for rallycross.

Try Saab Central or Saablink

ssswitch wrote: Where are the main engine and ECU grounds on the Saab? As stated (by stan_d), if there are some body wires that run front to back (e.g. fuel pump power) and they got rubbed open while you were removing the interior I could easily see it acting strange. Not sure if there's an easy way of figuring that out without pulling out the interior again. Do you have numbers on the fuel pressure you have at the rail, or do you just know that there "is pressure?"

The interior isn't in, checking the grounds will happen as soon as I head back out to the garage. I haven't checked the fuel pressure, but it's enough to run rich at times and I have a new fuel filter and replaced the FPR.

In reply to Adrian_Thompson:

Yep, you guessed correctly rounded 7-spoke...you win 5 internet ponts!!! They are actually 15 x 7 (what they measure bead seat to bead seat). If they had been 5.5 or 6, I would have been able to run them on my (now former) 1979 Fiesta, but the 7" wide really got me without cutting the fenders up. They are not really my style either, but at the time, I was just looking for an affordable way to go to 15" on the Fiesta.

Thanks for the tip on Saab Central and Saablink. I may try that, I just hate for them to go for scrap.

Hell hath frozen over........Loki appears to be running right. After pulling a load or stuff off, checking it was OK, dangling the intercooler upside down for 3 days to make sure it was dry (it was perfect, maybe a 1/4 teaspoon of oil came out in all that time) Check, re-checking and double checking again on all hoses. Replacing the coil, nothing, still ran like crap. So then in a moment of desperation I changed the ECU again. I'm not sure if I've got the original back in or the replacement I bought but....Tadadadaddadadaaaaaaaa...........Success.

At last. So now what? Well, I need to get various gaskets, nuts bolts and hangers to re-fit the exhaust (you may not be able to tell, but that drive was with nothing after the turbo, no exhaust at all) Then the gear change has more slack than an elephants Bob Costas after a live birth. After that there's the total lack of interior, worn out suspension, wheels, tires etc. Bu hey, it's running at long, looonnggg last.

Glad to hear it, man. That's great.

Wooohooo!!

Very cool!