I know we've got a few SAAB enthusiasts on here. A couple of C900s recently caught my eye. I haven't had a SAAB for at least a decade or more, but I'm fancying another one. I noticed that at least on this side of the pond there is a distinct lack of performance parts for them, but I wasn't able to get a good feel for how good or bad the situation for normal parts is.
Anybody got some insight on that?
In reply to BoxheadTim :
What era? It’s been ~14 years, but I know some early Turbo parts were NLA then.
I don't recall anything being too hard to source when i had my 88 turbo. Some stuff will have to be used but it seems there are a number of people with parts hoards that will sell them.
I've never had any difficulty finding what I need, but I have also parted out a car or two...
For new parts, there's good news and bad news. Good news: genuine SAAB parts are available for many consumable items. Bad news: lots of those parts are made by ScanTech now, which means they're the kind of garbage that looks and smells like a good part, but only lasts a year or two when you install it.
My final answer: the NEWEST classic 900 is now 25 years old. The oldest is turning 40. As with most any car this old, if you want to keep some things going, you need to be willing to improvise a little. I highly recommend snagging a parts car and building a small stash of parts.
Pete Gossett said:In reply to BoxheadTim :
What era? It’s been ~14 years, but I know some early Turbo parts were NLA then.
The ones I have my eyes on are facelift T16s - one 87 and one 88 SPG.
EvanB said:I don't recall anything being too hard to source when i had my 88 turbo. Some stuff will have to be used but it seems there are a number of people with parts hoards that will sell them.
I don't mind used parts where they make sense - after all, my E34 just got a bunch of them, too. I'm mostly concerned about potentially not being able to find parts that are needed to keep one on the road - you know, silly things like the gasket on the back (or rather, front) of the gearbox, coolant hoses, thermostats, the sort of stuff that's not necessarily shared with other makes and models.
Mezzanine said:I've never had any difficulty finding what I need, but I have also parted out a car or two...
For new parts, there's good news and bad news. Good news: genuine SAAB parts are available for many consumable items. Bad news: lots of those parts are made by ScanTech now, which means they're the kind of garbage that looks and smells like a good part, but only lasts a year or two when you install it.
My final answer: the NEWEST classic 900 is now 25 years old. The oldest is turning 40. As with most any car this old, if you want to keep some things going, you need to be willing to improvise a little. I highly recommend snagging a parts car and building a small stash of parts.
Well, that sounds mostly like not-too-bad news then. My experience (mainly with 99s, but I've owned a C900 turbo in the past, too), was when SAAB was still in business and in places where there was more of a specialist network anyway (Germany and the UK), so I am a little wary. Not that I expected parts availability rivaling something like a first gen Mustang or an MGB, but before I buy something weird and Swedish I wanted to make sure that there are enough parts available so it wouldn't turn into a lawn ornament for lack of parts. That said, my experience with the pre-GM SAABs has always been that they didn't need much in the way of parts.
SPG123 HalfDork
11/30/18 8:24 p.m.
2 drivers in the house. Mazda 5 and XC90 daily drivers. 86 f250 x fire truck. 82 f100 sons soon to be driver. 86 f250 460 parts truck. 86 f150 parts truck. 92 saab 900 turbo convertible 88 900 SPG parts car 88 SPG dont know what to do with it. Just sold 85 Mustang GT and am offing the two parts trucks in the morning. Definitely heading to have less cars that are further along.
Mezzanine said:
For new parts, there's good news and bad news. Good news: genuine SAAB parts are available for many consumable items. Bad news: lots of those parts are made by ScanTech now, which means they're the kind of garbage that looks and smells like a good part, but only lasts a year or two when you install it.
Yes, unfortunately, a bunch of the Genuine Saab parts are lousy ScanTech (just got <20K out of some susp. bushings that were apparently made of 20% rubber and 80% E36 M3, for example). Nonetheless, I'm able to keep my two c900s going without trouble -- I still daily drive an '89, while my '86 project runs/drives great (but languishes as a restoration).
Parts cars are definitely fewer and farther between at the pick and pull, but two c900s are currently at a nearby lot, so they haven't completely dried up (I use row52.com to get emails when cars show up). I get new parts from eEuroparts or my local indy, the latter of which is good at warning me about a Genuine Saab part being a ScanTech or other aftermarket POS. There's also what I and my friends affectionately call Saab Weirdos, people (including myself) who are, you know, a little extra fanatical about the marque and who also may have hoarding tendencies. They are out there, selling stuff - check out Saabnet's classifieds.
As for performance stuff, it's pretty easy to make them scoot along well enough to destroy their fragile transmissions -- check out my old posts.
In reply to procainestart :
Thanks, that's exactly the kind of information I had been hoping for. And yes, I'm aware of the "glass transmission" (yeah, I know they're not that bad, but they are a bit of a weak point, especially when turning up the wick).
I'm mostly after parts to tighten up the chassis and optimize intake (intercooler) and exhaust. Abbott Racing in the UK has most of the bit I'd be looking for, but I had hoped to find a similar supplier over here. I guess worst case I'll just put in a big order with them if I get a C900.
someday I will get around to getting my 87 turbo on the road again.
Oh well, I just found do88.se. Looks like those guys have the cooling side of things covered.
Might be worth looking into Taliaferro and East of Sweden for parts.
"92 saab 900 turbo convertible 88 900 SPG parts car 88 SPG dont know what to do with it. " From SPG123 here on the forum.....hello???
I am thinning and have an 86 turbo runs and drives. Over in classified section. Lots of spares going with it.
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