EpochNZ

Do I have to book a time, or will you just turn up unannounced?

I've finally had enough of struggling with the bonnet release mechanism on the Saab and I'm thinking of removing it and replacing it with bonnet pins. Now I dont want to get into a philosophical debate about how ugly they are or awkward etc but I'm interested to know what the rules are around them? For example, if I have the pins do I still need a secondary catch on the bonnet as well (which the Saab still has)? Or can they just be used as the only mechanical system for holding the front of the hood down? (Theoretically it isn't as much of a deal on the Saab anyway as the bonnet lifts forward so cant obscure vision if it lets go at speed). All help appreciated.

The crazys in the workshop have been at it again....

Show me your Swedish bits..... Admittedly via Britain but its the thought that counts. Bill at SaaBits is an all round GC and will be getting much more of my money. Was asked when it was going in. I replied "When the outside temperature gets over 20...."

As I'm an old cunt Im waiting for it to get lighter and warmer....

Episode 104: Loading up on dem carbs.... So after a weekend of migraines and feeling shitty I decided that some progress is better than none (no shit, Sherlock) so decided to get all down and funky on the carb. After a pre-emptive raid on @h4nd's toolkit I dodged the rain showers to wrestle off my prize.....Strombergs finest (175CD for those following along at home). This afternoons trick was to get it in bits ready for a bit of a clean (come in @Mr Vapour, I've got a job for you!)....and much to my surprise it looks like, despite having sat in a paddock for the last 10 years, the scrotes who were the last owners had the decency to at least get the carb overhauled before parking her. As such, the float bowl, butterfly and diaphragm all look in seriously good nick. Sure, the outside is a tad, crusty, be we know how to fix that, dont we? Right, now my eyes are out on stalks again (with attendant headache) so its drugs and back to bed....still, its progress init?

Bay...Bee.....Saab do-do-di-do-di-do.... Not much of an update, but thanks to the dynamic duo (aka @Carsnz123 and @JustHarry) Agnetha is now back safely tucked up at home. She is now up on stands at the front end and, with Haynes in hand, I have started disassembling the front suspension. Or at least I was until I ran out of tools and talent (will be on the scrounge for a breaker bar this week...and possibly some spanners). Oh, and the bonnet and front grill are now elsewhere to facilitate access to the donkey. If any one is interested, I have for sale some of the bits I no longer have a need for: Theres a suspicious amount of road gravel in this car....

I am such a happy little Saab Barry.... (Thanks to @Carsnz123 for grabbing the book for me plus turbo sharns....yes, one day we will...)

Yep, even finding the inner and outer sills are available is another weight off my mind.

Firstly, apologies for previous histrionics.....I promise they wont happen again....much.... I was pretty crushed Wednesday night though and on top of a few other things happening (mostly financial) it wasnt a good night. However, I thought it best to get my head around what was actually going on and see what the actual story was......come in, the internet. I had a dig through my parts manuals to see where the truth lay.... So the worst area is where the inner guard (4) meets the floor (2).....and apparently its quite a well known spot for the 99's to rust out as I found this online: Cleverly, they have built the unit as one piece over the 90 degree bend which should be helluva strong once its in, all for the princely sum of $70 plus a gazillion for freight. The same place also provided parts for the sills and bottom of the doors so that is (theoretically) most of my headaches gone. Much happiness ensued as even the middy was sad that we might have to part with her. So thats where we are......even the owner of the hoist admitted on Saturday that he understands why I've decided to suck it up and spend the money. Maybe he was seduced by her rumbling goodness when they got her started? She will be coming home soon to be dismantled and the hard yards can begin. I may even spend the readies and do a welding course (I live just down the road from the Tech). Meanwhile, a little Saab waits.... (Keeping company with @DoBro Jesus BattleWagon by all accounts). (Honestly, who can refuse that ass?)

Was going for Baja Spec...install a roll cage and go off road...

NZTA shows 10 currently registered, who knows how many are hiding in garages or under hedges....

Well, things took a major turn for the worse tonight...... But first, Look! A Flying Saab!! With help from @Carsnz123, Agnetha was dragged out to what he refers to as his "Wednesday Night Barry Evening".....and boy, there was much swooning as she was lowered off the trailer and onto the hoist. "Look, thats a Triumph engine in there, but they put it in backwards!" they all exclaimed, chuffed with their cleverness. Everyone was taken with her shapely lines and stunning good looks.... And then things started to fall apart....literally. A bit of gentle prodding around the undergubbins caused large holes to appear where there should be none. Most unnerving was the area I always suspected was going to be questionable, the bit around the right side transmission tunnel. The Barry's all shock their heads, declared her "stuffed" and gently drfited away.... So thats where we are. Things were much worse than originally intended and although theoretically things could be repaired, it would take a shed load of time and money to correct and at the moment I have little of both. I see my options as: - Pass her onto another OS member who will love and cherish her for a 5-10 year overhaul - Put her on TM as a parts car - Get the motor going and thrash her around the paddock before giving her a viking funeral - Put her in dry storage and hope the prices appreciate enough in the next 20 years that she might actually be worth doing. I have to admit that just lately Ive been wondering if I should part with her anyway and get something that would really get my juices going.......this looks like the impetus to do just that. For the full disturbing and shocking images taken in true Police Crime Scene Grimy colour, I invite @Carsnz123 to post the pics he took....just dont show the children.

Link to Facebook page? Clean forgot about it to be honest, but would have been keen for a sharnfest.....maybe a reminder on here a week before?

I'm trying to fight the urge to go in and survey all the Skodas to see if a single example could be frankensteined from all the hulks. @Triumphant worth a look? Or are they all too far gone now? I was last in there a year ago pulling out the Saaaaab.

The skodas still need to be sorted through....

I've got some info somewhere on how to tickle up a 998, first 2 fixes were the air intake and the Exhaust (Stage 1) kit.

Rust is listed as a spare part in the Haynes manual. Reading through this makes me miss my mini.....

Whats the entry cost? It will have to come out of the housekeeping.....

I have seen the words "Lada" and "Burnout" in the same sentence before, but probably not how you intend.

So three into two, then sell one for funds??

Success breeds success as they say.......so this afternoon with the MIL inside looking after the kids, I grabbed my collection of tools and again headed outside to do battle with the beast. So in 3 hours I removed and worked on the throttle pulley (sticks like a stick insect stuck on a sticky bun), removed the rear seat to gain access to the boot, unlocked the boot from within (and got showered with rust and crap as it swung open for the first time in decades), started removing the wires and pipes from the fuel tank so it can be removed, drained said fuel tank, removed and flushed radiator expansion tank, and generally just nancied around.... Seeing the boot floor in the cold light of day was a bit of a shock though. Shouldnt be too hard I suppose.....surely? I'm "Working from Home" this week so I can see my coffee breaks being taken outside with tools in hand.

Actually, I’m so fizzing I’m sitting in church making todo lists on my phone.... /they do go on a bit

Yes, there was much rejoicing. Up until now it was a real unknown, so the fact that it does run means we have confidence in tackling the bigger parts of the project.

Named after another Swedish BombShell