mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
6/9/11 11:50 a.m.

With the eminent purchase of an 87 Turbo on the horizon.. I am left with a question I didn't think I would have: What parts do I need to keep from my 91 to upgrade the 87 to 88+ brakes and hubs?

I am assuming in the front I need to keep hub, spindle, and all the brake parts.. but what about the rear? Should I just remove the entire beam axle and store it to see what transfers over, or are there specific parts I can use to save myself the heart and headache?

I would ask on one of the saab forums.. but I got all but forum raped when I asked how hard it was to replace a saab's transmission.

snipes
snipes Reader
6/9/11 1:11 p.m.

Yes do it just like you are thinking. Pull the whole front hub and the whole rear beam. Also I think you need the parking brake cable. And buy Brads spring set-up when you do it. Its the best mod I have ever done to a car. Is Brad still around?

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
6/9/11 2:01 p.m.

cool.. glad to see I am on the right path... for once at least.

procainestart
procainestart Dork
6/9/11 2:56 p.m.

The upper links in the rear have different bushings between early and later axles. It's been some time since I did the swap but IIRC, you'll need the earlier bushings at the car body and the later ones at the axle. I would replace those bushings with new; they die pretty regularly (the lowers, anyway).

Inspect the panhard bar bushings; might be a good time to replace those.

Rear swaybar bushings go, too, but are $$$.

While on the topic, replace the front inner sways with poly (from sasab.com) and poly outer (from anywhere, but get black ones, not red, which tear more easily); cuts down on the lean nicely. Lube with anti-seize.

The e-brake systems are totally different between early and later -- I never finished mine, but it seems like people weld in the later style lever. If you have the time/inclination, you might be able to devise a pulley system to re-direct the original lever's pull back to the rear. It's a bit tough to explain but makes sense when you view both systems.

You'll need to drill a couple holes for the cables, but it's obvious when you look at your donor car how it all has to happen.

May as well bleed your clutch when you do this swap unless you know it to have been done recently.

Remove the small (14mm??) caps over the rear e-brake adjusters and spray some lubricant in there.

Oh, just remembered: you're going to need the brake lines from an 88-89 rear axle, as those years were non-ABS. Pretty sure your ABS donor lines won't work (single channel).

I assume you're going to put in some more front neg. camber. You can do this mo' easily by harvesting the shims from your donor. Stock spec is pos. or none. Get rid of some of the toe in, too.

@Snipes -- Brad does not post on forums any more but I think he's still building race cars. An acquaintance of mine in Seattle makes a variation of his spring set-up that's quieter on the road, better suited for street cars, not the racers Brad designed it for. He also builds a nice crank sensor bracket for Trionic conversions.

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
6/9/11 5:20 p.m.

thanks.. I am printing this up

snipes
snipes Reader
6/10/11 9:41 a.m.
procainestart wrote: @Snipes -- Brad does not post on forums any more but I think he's still building race cars. An acquaintance of mine in Seattle makes a variation of his spring set-up that's quieter on the road, better suited for street cars, not the racers Brad designed it for. He also builds a nice crank sensor bracket for Trionic conversions.

That is good to hear. Any links to your guys stuff. I would love to see it. Maybe you can hot link some pictures.

procainestart
procainestart Dork
6/10/11 11:41 a.m.

Here's his crank sensor mount:

And here's his adjustable suspension: http://www.saabcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125209 (SaabCentral was recently purchased and they don't allow hotlinking).

Dennis is an engineer so is unable to design crap. Meanwhile, if you're looking to do an adjustable system on your SPG, you can do it really cheaply yourself with the same roundy-round racer parts noted in the thread above. I made a system for my notchback that is dead silent. What I did was used the OE bumpstop cones, cut all the way down so just the seat portion remained, as the seat for top of the adjuster, so the fit is the same as factory. Looks like Dennis used UHMW plastic. In the rear I used threaded collars. If I ever get around to revising it, I'm going to copy the adjustable system that Maximum Motorsports sells for SN95 Mustangs, as it can be adjusted without removing the springs.

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
6/10/11 8:57 p.m.

as I was intending on adapting the t5 from my now dead NG900.. that wheel is good to know about. Everything I have read says it is relativly easy, nets more power, better miliage, and is cleaner for the environment... what is not to like?

Luke
Luke SuperDork
6/11/11 6:27 a.m.

That's great info, procainestart.

My "POS" Aero handles decently enough on old, thrashed stock-suspension...so I get the feeling there's a lot of potential there.

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
6/11/11 10:37 a.m.

my dead 91 was one of the best handling FWDs I have ever owned.. and certainly one of the most communicative. I am looking forwards to see what one can do with a worked on and tweaked suspension

ls1fiero
ls1fiero New Reader
6/12/11 8:02 p.m.

I just bought a 91 900S 16v Convert as a DD. It is a pretty great car but needs some bits... Are you going to part your old 91? Funny, I smurfed around for a Saab forum and read your post and the repsonses. Made me not want to be there...

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
6/12/11 8:10 p.m.

yea... they were most unkind there towards my asking how hard it was to replace a transmission.

Not sure how much is salvagable really. I will be pulling the trans to fix the new one.. along with the suspension bits and everything I put into the car.

Other than that.. it is a beat 91 with 240,000 miles on it.. rot on both front fenders, a spot of rot on the spare tyre well, and a beaten up interior.. not to mention the dead engine. Let me know what you need, and I will check

ls1fiero
ls1fiero New Reader
6/12/11 8:15 p.m.

Seeking Turbo wheels, a glove box door and a nice rear bumper. Of course the dash is cracked too...

ls1fiero
ls1fiero New Reader
6/12/11 8:16 p.m.

Oh yeah, a door handle too.

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
6/13/11 9:48 a.m.

let me get the other saab.. and I should be able to help you. Mine has a good glove box and rear bumper.. but I am running 16" super aeros.. so it depends on what the other car has.

I should know in a couple of weeks. I am letting it stew on saabnet so that the seller will be a little more desperate to get rid of it.

ls1fiero
ls1fiero New Reader
6/13/11 7:53 p.m.

Thank you Brother.

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
6/13/11 7:58 p.m.

and all saab dashes crack...

procainestart
procainestart Dork
6/13/11 9:50 p.m.
ls1fiero wrote: Funny, I smurfed around for a Saab forum and read your post and the repsonses. Made me not want to be there...

Saabnet is the best place for info, IMHO, but you have to get past the archaic interface and the weird rules (don't ever post a link to another Saab forum); it's also a bit less of a community than other forums, but, like I said, it's got the best info. There are currently two Saab techs posting there, and plenty more that have come/gone over the years.

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
6/14/11 12:27 a.m.

He is referring to Saab Central... One guy there was a real ass towards me asking how hard it was to replace the transmission. Not like I was asking how to do it. I have a nice thick Bently manual for that..

snipes
snipes Reader
6/14/11 4:22 a.m.

In reply to mad_machine: Your post and the one about saab nets rules... Man they take me back to the past. I was a big Saabnet fan at one time, but that place just turned me away. I hate to hear that you were treated badly on any car site, but really the Saab community needs all the fans they can get.

Saabnet what a waste

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
6/14/11 6:58 a.m.

I wish saabnet would update their forum software. I know the older guys on it like it the way it is.. but they are turning off a whole lot of new folks from even dipping a toe in. I gave up on forums like that 20 years ago.. and will not spend any time on one like that

Rusted_Busted_Spit
Rusted_Busted_Spit GRM+ Memberand Dork
6/14/11 8:52 a.m.

The saab net software does suck but I still go there first whenever I have an issue with my car, I very rarely go to the other one because of some of the comments I have seen.

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
6/14/11 10:59 a.m.

I just wish they (and Mirafiori) would update to something more user friendly

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