1986 900 Notchback
Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 10:59 pm
Maybe if I post a build thread I'll actually get around to completing this car...
I bought it intending to autocross it, and wanted to mess with boost. At the time, only Street Modified allowed this, but I quickly learned I was hopelessly outgunned there, and got a co-drive opportunity in an STS Miata. Then I got into TSD, and tired of autocrossing. (Incidentally, you can now modify boost in Street Prepared.)
Anyway, so, yeah, it's an '86 notchback, with ~175k. I've done a bunch of stuff to it, and have learned some lessons on the way. It's got a B201 block, bored out for B212 internals. First lesson: #1 slaps until warm, so don't do this again (though it has worked for a couple NAs I know of, which is why I tried it). It's got a B204 head, B212 intake, little TE05, runs 11 psi with no APC and no issues (I have an APC in the car, though, and just need to finish some wiring). Not sure if I want to put a B202 in when the time comes -- I'm hoarding B212s with good blocks so may go that route.
Power goes to a 4-speed chillcast 'box with Quaife, built by Scanwest. If I were still autocrossing, the 4-speed would be fine, but I'm not now and wish I had a 5-speed. I put taller primaries on but 1st is too tall, 4th still too short.
The car has 88+ axles, which I wouldn't do again, but I have an '89, too, so extra 4x108 wheels (the Super Aeros are off now). It has 9000 calipers/rotors I got from the junkyard nearly new for only ~$30. I wouldn't do the brake swap again.
In past posts here you may have read about the adjustable suspension I've got in it, based on stock-car weight jacker components. It's also got a custom panhard bar with rod ends (basically like what Luke sells).
So this weekend my buddy and I removed the DIY lower control arm poly bushings I made from old bushing shells and cut-off swaybar ends (they were in remarkably good shape when they came out) and replaced with some OEM, welded up a cracked control arm, fixed the sunroof rattle (sorta), replaced the turn signal stalk and trunk seal, fixed a bunch of lighting issues, etc.
In other words, I did a little work on it as I try to fall back in love with the car so I can finish the damn thing. It needs paint, badly, and a whole host of other things, but meanwhile starts/runs/drives well enough, and when I get some new tires for it, will once again corner better than any Saab I've driven.
I bought it intending to autocross it, and wanted to mess with boost. At the time, only Street Modified allowed this, but I quickly learned I was hopelessly outgunned there, and got a co-drive opportunity in an STS Miata. Then I got into TSD, and tired of autocrossing. (Incidentally, you can now modify boost in Street Prepared.)
Anyway, so, yeah, it's an '86 notchback, with ~175k. I've done a bunch of stuff to it, and have learned some lessons on the way. It's got a B201 block, bored out for B212 internals. First lesson: #1 slaps until warm, so don't do this again (though it has worked for a couple NAs I know of, which is why I tried it). It's got a B204 head, B212 intake, little TE05, runs 11 psi with no APC and no issues (I have an APC in the car, though, and just need to finish some wiring). Not sure if I want to put a B202 in when the time comes -- I'm hoarding B212s with good blocks so may go that route.
Power goes to a 4-speed chillcast 'box with Quaife, built by Scanwest. If I were still autocrossing, the 4-speed would be fine, but I'm not now and wish I had a 5-speed. I put taller primaries on but 1st is too tall, 4th still too short.
The car has 88+ axles, which I wouldn't do again, but I have an '89, too, so extra 4x108 wheels (the Super Aeros are off now). It has 9000 calipers/rotors I got from the junkyard nearly new for only ~$30. I wouldn't do the brake swap again.
In past posts here you may have read about the adjustable suspension I've got in it, based on stock-car weight jacker components. It's also got a custom panhard bar with rod ends (basically like what Luke sells).
So this weekend my buddy and I removed the DIY lower control arm poly bushings I made from old bushing shells and cut-off swaybar ends (they were in remarkably good shape when they came out) and replaced with some OEM, welded up a cracked control arm, fixed the sunroof rattle (sorta), replaced the turn signal stalk and trunk seal, fixed a bunch of lighting issues, etc.
In other words, I did a little work on it as I try to fall back in love with the car so I can finish the damn thing. It needs paint, badly, and a whole host of other things, but meanwhile starts/runs/drives well enough, and when I get some new tires for it, will once again corner better than any Saab I've driven.
