KARL's SAAB

WHAT IS IT?
This one's a 5-door m78 99 GLs Automatic.

WHEN I BOUGHT IT.
Bought it in may-98. The car was mechanically sound, and complete. Only 107 000 Km covered by two previous owners. Full service history. No rust, apart from the doors of course. The downside was the paintwork. Once metallic silver, now more like matte grey. And the RED (yiiikes) interior was a bit ... faded. Drove it for six months, then had to renew the waterpump. (Which I modified)

WHY I BOUGHT IT.
For starters, all I wanted was a cheap reliable "runabout". But I cant help myself modifying everything I put my hands on... I am on a budget though, (Aren't we all?) and I've said to myself that the finished car shall not cost more than 30 000,- NOK. One trick is to plunder scrapyards for cheap but good parts, and "polish" them to look new. Another one is to have good friends, with a body-shop and a paint-shop.
The reason why I did NOT buy a 99 Turbo is that they came only in 2, or 3-door body's. I want five doors! And an autobox! And power steering! And a turbo! And... oh well, a lot of gadgets.
And (this is really silly) the reason why I did not buy a 1978 99 GLE (which is the only 5-door 99 with powersteering) is that ...er... I did not know it was so. I am so ashamed.
Actually I've never seen one, don't even know if they were sold here in Norway in -78.

OWN(ED) ANY OTHER SAABS?
This is my third Saab (of 16 cars), the first was a 2-door m72, the second one a 4-door m78. Those were both bog standard. Nearly...

OWN ANY OTHER CARS?
Not at the moment. I once had five cars outside the house, but I try to restrain myself.

STANDARD OR MODIFIED
The whole idea behind the car is to create a well mannered "sleeper" -it should look like a daft old Saab 99 but it should be quick, drive well, and have all the modern comfort details we take for granted today.
To me, function is more important than appearance. Therefore I have chosen to do the chassis, drivetrain and interior before I finish off with the paintwork. I'd like to do all things at the same time but cant afford it.
As a concequense of this, my car does not look very nice and shiny. At the moment...

WHAT'S BEEN DONE TO IT
The recepie is:
(##) = has been done.
(--) = not done yet)

Interior
(##) Headlining & c-pillar:
Refurbished with black fabric.
(##) Grab-handles in ceiling:
Black ones from eightysomething VW Passat. (VW use the same parts-supplier as Saab)
(##) Carpet:
Black one from m80 99. As new. Sound insulation added beneith.
(##) Passenger & rear seat:
Dark brown (code C20) from an m83 900. (Tricky, they're not supposed to fit. Made new brackets)
(##) Driver seat:
Recaro Ortoped. (Recaro discontinued the bracket for pre-81 Saabs, so I had to make it myself)
(##) Gear lever console:
From m86 90. (More drilling and cutting, to make handbrake lever fit)
(##) Center console:
From m86 90. (Foha-type, will take three DIN units)
(##) Instruments:
From m86 90. With rev-counter.
(##) Steering wheel:
m86 90, four-spoke.
(##) Grab-handle on passenger side of dashboard:
Completely removed, flush plastic moulded in, the whole lower end vinyl-clad.
(--) Door trim:
I'm currently looking for the dark brown ones, to match the seats.
(--) Interior lights:
Will need more of them, it's dark as a charcoal basement in here.
(##) Wiper switch:
From m83 99 GL 5SP with intermittent position (+relay)
Oh, and there are no CUPHOLDERS in my car.

Stereo
(##) Headunit:
Blaupunkt Philadelfia SCD 09. (cd/fm-radio/pre-amp only. Turn-knobs for volume/bass/treble/etc) My car is a pushbutton-volume-radio free zone!
(#-) Front amp:
Macrom 42.14. 2x35 PROPER Watts (300 bullshitwatts)
(--) Front speakers:
Can't install them until new door trim is found. But I want Infinity band-tweeters, and Dr. Backe's additional doorpanel trim for 6,5" mid-basses. <http://www.backesljudbygg.se/>
(##) Rear amp:
Macrom 42.07. 2x75 PROPER Watts (400 bullshitwatts)
(#-)/(--) Rear speakers:
Two MTX 3way boxes with 10"woofers, 4"mid-ranges, and horn tweeters. Not easy to position them correctly, so I'll make a new box for the woofers. behind the rear seat, facing rearwards. Will put the mid-ranges and tweeters in a cabinet on top of parcel shelf.

Body
(##) Found rust in the rear shock-absorber top mounting. and in the trailing end of rear wheelarches:
Now carefully mended, a friend of mine runs a "body-shop"
(##) Bonnet:
From m86 90. (With the recessed griffin badge)
(--) Bonnet:
I plan to make a hole in it, on the sides. To let hot air escape.
(#-) All four doors:
from m93 900 with central-locks, el-windows, and el-mirrors. (I expect to find them in a Swedish scrapyard next year)
(##) Front doors: From an m89 900. (Found them at this years Swedish scrapyard trip)
(--) Tailgate:
from m93 900 with the extra taillights. And the spoiler (see above)
(##) Bumpers:
From m86 90. The rear was a bolt-on, (with brackets from a m85 900) The front one had different mounting pins, and would NOT fit. (Until I made a new bracket)
(--) Bumpers:
The above is only a temporary solution, next year (Annual Swedish scrapyard-tour) I'll collect a set from a m93 900 (!)
(--) Windows:
I'll go for the bronze tinted set.
(--) Paint:
Full respray, metallic silver (code 200). A friend has a "paint-shop"
(##) Road wheels:
Saab-Ronal eight-spoke "Minilite-look" + 185/65x15 Continental's
(#-) Grille:
USA quad-light bracket with Hella Bifocus dip beam and Hella foglights. Bosch Big Knick 9 inch driving lamps. Modified grille from m86 90,
(##) Front indicator/park light lenses
White US-spec.
(--) Battery:
Optima-battery (Spira-gel) in the boot.

Drivetrain
(##) Front axle assembly:
From m86 90. With full-floating driveshafts. (Stateside known as 900 hubs/driveshafts)
(##) Rear axle:
From a 900. It has a wider track, and different geometry.
(##) Anti roll bars:
Front: SAS. Rear: Saab 900 T16v.
(--) Gearbox:
Swap, from BorgWarner 35, to beefed up BW 37
(--) Engine:
m86 "H"type 8-valve turbo engine. In standard 155 Hp trim. (For the first year, or so..)
(--) Power steering:
From a....900 (This one is going to be REALLY tricky)