[Classic 99] Is this an acceptable conversion

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Timo @ work - 29 Jun 2004 12:08 GMT

One more for those knowledgeable in all matters of classic SAAB. I'll
be looking at an '80 99 Turbo (2-door, black - just what the doctor
ordered) in a couple of days. Supposedly the car is in good condition
and the pictures seem to confirm this, even discounting that all cars
and bikes look better in pictures than they do in reality.

Car has a rebuilt 4-speed 'box, but it also comes with 5-speeder from
a 99GL. Appearantly the current owner of the car was planning to have
this 'box fitted eventually. I can see this making a bit of sense from
both a fuel consumption and possibly performance point of view
(quieter and higher cruise speed) but this raises two questions:

- Am I going to be slaughtered at the next SAAB meeting for committing
sacrilege?

- Does this make sense at all or is this just a good way to blow the
gearbox into kingdom come?

TIA,

Timo

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Grunff - 29 Jun 2004 12:39 GMT

> - Am I going to be slaughtered at the next SAAB meeting for committing
> sacrilege?

Who cares? It's your car, do whatever you want with it. Really. life's
too short.

> - Does this make sense at all or is this just a good way to blow the
> gearbox into kingdom come?

The 5sp isn't as tough, so keep the 4sp as a spare and swap it back in
when you kill the 5sp.

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Grunff

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Chris - 30 Jun 2004 18:56 GMT

> > - Am I going to be slaughtered at the next SAAB meeting for committing
> > sacrilege?
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> The 5sp isn't as tough, so keep the 4sp as a spare and swap it back in
> when you kill the 5sp.

The 4 speed shifts sooooo much nicer too, well mine did anyway..

Having said that the very late 900 5 speeds were pretty OK.

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SuoTimo - 29 Jun 2004 16:35 GMT

You need to find the "5 speed" badge and shifter knob then you are not hurt! ;-) I think in
some markets they also introduced the 5 speed 99.

About the box,,, as I know there are plenty problems with the 5th speed gear and pinion
that fail often. Don't really know, but construction of the 4 speed box might be better?

You also need to replace the shifter...

SuoTimo
_____________________

> - Am I going to be slaughtered at the next SAAB meeting for committing
> sacrilege?
>
> TIA,
>
> Timo

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Timo Geusch - 29 Jun 2004 20:07 GMT

SuoTimo was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

> You need to find the "5 speed" badge and shifter knob then you are not hurt! ;-) I think in
> some markets they also introduced the 5 speed 99.

Well, they were available here in the UK but not in the turbo...

> About the box,,, as I know there are plenty problems with the 5th speed gear and pinion
> that fail often. Don't really know, but construction of the 4 speed box might be better?
>
> You also need to replace the shifter...

Right, that knocks that idea on the head straight away.

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Timo Geusch
Morini Corsaro 125 | Bimota YB7 | Honda Pan European ABS/CBS/TCS
BOTAFOF #33 TWA#10
The UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/ukrmfaq1.html

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Trond-Arve Hjelle - 04 Jul 2004 13:41 GMT

29 Jun 2004 04:08:17 -0700, skreiv mrtg@cheerful.com (Timo @ work) :

>One more for those knowledgeable in all matters of classic SAAB. I'll
>be looking at an '80 99 Turbo (2-door, black - just what the doctor
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>- Am I going to be slaughtered at the next SAAB meeting for committing
>sacrilege?

M80 99 Turbo was generaly sold with the 4sp gearbox i Sweeden, 5sp was
for export to other markets. So if you want to change to the 5sp, is
that OK, but change the other details, like the shifter knob and you
have to find at "5speed" badge also. But if it was my car, I had
keeped the 4sp 'box.

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Trond-Arve Hjelle
M91 SAAB 900 Turbo 16
http://home.no.net/tahjelle
SAAB-ANDAN - en del har den

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