Curious How High do 8V owners rev their motors?

[jskrebs]

I have an 87 900 base which I got for my son's first car. Had to install a lower mileage transmission and changed all the other leaky stuff and wear items, had the starter and alternator rebuilt etc... while the motor was out.

We have been going on further and further test rides with "Threepwood" and I have been limiting myself and Ryan to 4500 rpm. Sounds like it will do more, but the motor has over 200K and so not want to pop any thing.

This car is so slow compared to the turbos, but I am learning energy conservation techniques. and it is perfect for a fledgling driver.

Ryan likes the car but is concerned about earning Hipster status for driving a car that is so very far from mainstream.

Jeff

[euromobile900]

Those 8v engines are very robust. The timing chains hardly ever break, and the tappets are solid, not hydraulic. I'd not worry too much about over-revving. Wind it up! Just go easy on the gearbox: no wheelspin. The 8v engine makes it almost certain you will never break your gearbox if you don't abuse it.

Most hipsters I know hate my car. You just have to emphasize the greasy aspects and play down the indie ones.

[peva]

You can't over-rev them. The rev-limiter cuts fuel at 6 or 6.5K rpm. Can't remember which. Don't go there these days. But in your NA there's little point in going beyond 5 or 5.5K. As Sam says, they are very tough engines and will rev to 7K with no trouble if the rev-limiter is disabled. If you do hit the limiter it's telling you to change gear.

[nordwulf]

Ryan likes the car but is concerned about earning Hipster status for driving a car that is so very far from mainstream.

I think that's why I like Saabs so much. They are so far from the mainstream, they become cool again.

"Hipster" seems to have many negative and positive meanings. But I like this one:

The modern hipster is a composite of individuals with a certain bohemian life situation and lifestyle. He or she rejects "mainstream" culture and embraces and contributes to independent culture, and prides him/herself on this.

Urban Dictionary: hipster

It seems you can't get any hipper than with a Saab 900.

[peva]

I think that's why I like Saabs so much. They are so far from the mainstream, they become cool again.

"Hipster" seems to have many negative and positive meanings. But I like this one:


Urban Dictionary: hipster

It seems you can't get any hipper than with a Saab 900.

Couldn't have said it better Wulf. I do like that little thumbs-up.

[jskrebs]

Took a short ride and moved the self imposed rev limit to 5K. Car seems a bit faster than my Land Rover now.

Go a week or so and give 5.5K a try.

Showed Ryan this thread and he is a bit more comfortable with the SAAB cool factor. His sister drives a 9K CSE

[Saabhat93]

Just go easy on the gearbox: no wheelspin.

Wheelspin? Is that possible in an 8 valve n/a?

[drwatson32]

YES. That's how I finished off a gearbox in my '85 8v NA. Off the line, it has more torque than a 16v. There were a few times in my teen years where I dropped the clutch in 1st and lit up the tires long enough to get smoke rolling everywhere. The final time was when I was angry with a redneck in a big truck for peeling out and throwing stones all over my once excellent paintwork.

At any rate, yes, I would wind the hell out of that engine to keep up with normal traffic. Engine was just fine when I sold it to my indie a couple of months ago @ 218k miles.

[peva]

I'm glad you qualified that with your 'teen years' Ian. Yeah, we've all been there. You can get wheel-spin in virtually any car. 6K on the tach, drop the clutch and hey-presto, lots of smoke and rubber smell. I value my transmissions a lot more these days. Oh, and yes, I've grown up a bit.

[jskrebs]

My wife and I just took a 100 mile jaunt through the mountains of central Pennsylvania.
Finding 5 and 5.5K rev limit makes the ride more fun.
Still feel the lack of HP on the hills though.

Gotta get my 85 900T going