Just saved! - 1988 Saab 900 SPG

[zmhcreative]

Me and my dad picked this up today as a project car!


It's a 1998 Saab 900 SPG with....well you'll see the mileage....lol.....
She's in dire need of some TLC, but this will be a project car for the next few months - probably 1 or more year to be honest.....


The paint/exterior is in bad shape overall - with the sides in decent shape....But mechanically she seems great. Runs through all the gears no problem, idles smooth, and only seems to have a 'few' electrical issues - I'll be asking about those in the coming weeks....


Interior (which I will take pictures of then) is in decent shape. The dash is cracked about 4 different ways (I had a 900 before that was exactly the same, and my 9000 has a nice one down the middle!) and its a weird blue carpet/black leather and dash combo (which I've been told was common).


So onto the pictures! You'll see a lot of her in the next few months I have a feeling!

[DeLorean]

Nice, I have the same car! 88 SPG's are great.

[zmhcreative]

The 9k is down for the count (again) and I don't currently have the time to diagnose it so I've been daily driving the SPG. All I can say is wow. I only really drove it once or twice after we picked it up. And driving it back and forth to work (while it kinda hurts my soul) is a real joy. The handling, the grip, is just unbelievable - this coming from my 9000 with a sport suspension - Saab knew what they were doing with this one.


I've got plans to do general upkeep and maintenance before any real modifications start to occur. I don't plan on thrashing it - and with the current trans having (from the records I have) almost 75k miles on it - I'm going to be conservative for the time being.


That being said, here are my plans before Carlisle.


Oil change - this weekend - is currently 600 miles overdue.


Coolant flush/change - this weekend - just because.


Check/and or replace the ignition parts - rotor, cap, plugs - checking this weekend


Install a proper boost gauge - have one ordered - should be in by next week


Replace center console - currently ripped out and on passenger floor - since PO repaired the heater bypass valve


Either switch windows out to manual crank or replace motors - drivers side window gave up the other day (in the down position - FUN!) - checked all switches and relays - nothing wrong with them

[zmhcreative]

Just installed these today!

[nordwulf]

I always enjoy reading these threads where an old Saab is given a second life (or perhaps 3rd or 4th life in this case ) and is in the hands of a dedicated owner.

Good luck, looking forward to regular updates and pictures.

[stevelewissaab]

900's always handled better than the later cars - no matter what model ... once you've replaced some ball joints and bushes ... and I suggest rear springs ... it will be more refined .. this assumes it's currently running older components. Never quite as refined as a 9000 though. Personally standard components make for a nicer overall feel but each to their own.

Best wishes Steve Lewis

[zmhcreative]

Realized I haven't really updated this at all, other than when I added the fogs. So just a little update.

Just passed 275k. She is still running great to this day (searching idle at start, but not bad) , haven't done anything cosmetically yet - haven't had the extra cash or time.

Just replaced the heater core valve last night. I believe it was what was leaking onto the driver's side floor. Checked the area around the actual heater core and couldn't see any leaks, and I know the core itself is built really well, so assumed it wasn't that.

Also going to search for the culprit of my searching idle at start, test/replace the usual suspects (just picked up a Bentley guide) and while I have the bottom of the dash apart, replace those vacuum hoses.

Luckily have my workplace's shop to work in at night. Which will be extremely useful if anything breaks, I can actually fix it, and not have to deal with the 30 degree weather of PA during the winter.