I have 2 Saab 900's, a 1981 900 GLs, 4 speed manual transmission, 4 door with a boot, I think the yanks call it a notchback, this car has 38000 miles on it, virtually rust free but the twin Zenith-Stromberg carb setup is challenging but I am learning and researching! I also have a 1990 900 T16S Aero coupe, 5 speed manual transmission with 190000 on the clock, runs and drives lovely, not too much rust and needs work. I also own a 1996 9000 Aero, manual transmission in silver with 200000 miles, has some rusty panels, needs work but is a solid car. As you can see I love old Saabs, other cars don't interest me much apart from old Japanese 4 x 4's! The Saab 900 commander is really cool!
I have recently finished removing all of the bitumen coating from the floorpan of my 87 Aero - it was so much work to chip it off! I had to use a sacrificial wood chisel to slowly peel it up using a rubber hammer to encourage it along. I have spent probably 20-30hrs doing this work.. In the parts car I have this same material seems to lift in huge chunks without any trouble at all, which is quite perplexing! I am uncertain how this is the case but possibly because it has been soaked in various oils, which might be a useful test for you if you find you have the same problem removing it. Following with enthusiasm! My project likewise has a long way to go!
Wow, that dash is a treasure! I still have the original leather wheel in mine, it is definitely worth looking for one. Really adds to the driving experience.
I used to own a 1970 SAAB 99 that the previous owner had shoehorned a '73 EMS B engine into. Your CX video reminded me that the head on the B engine was warped also and it was quite inexpensive to have the machine shop mill it flat, (About 0.008 inches out and it raised the compression ratio a small amount. That car was a beater I picked up for $200, but it also was one of the most rust free older SAAB's I've ever owned. SAAB dipped their cars from that era in a several part metal treatment and paint application and you could see how the process really sealed the steel of the lower body. At any rate it cost more to buy a new set of bucket shims for the cam to bucket lash than it did to mill the head. It also ran great, very very punchy, but some issues with adjusting the alternator belt because the 2 liter B engine was a little longer than the 1850 Triumph engine it originally came with.
In 2002 I had this same vintage 1986 turbo 2dr notchback, essentially a very close relative of your car. It was dark grey and with manual sliding factory moonroof, but of course sans the Commander trim. I very much loved the style of the car and the beige interior (was it called 'contour' IIRC). Wheels were Sunbursts. But it was already then at 300kkm and gathering concealed rust so I let it go pretty soon. It was not many years after that when I saw it already as a donor car. All these 2 dr notchbacks were built at Uusikaupunki plant along with the 99-nosed 90. In my childhood I had a privilege to have a road trip on brand new this same green shade 90, Finnish plates SHE-113. It was the pricier 5-speed version with air dam and radio console. Good times.
first reveal from the lift of the passenger floormat - this is a nice car with minimal rust; worthy of full refurbishment/ respray; I WOULDN'T TEAR UP THE SURFACE OF THE FLOORS if I were you. just the rust spots, and rust treatment from below, if it were mine. then a respray with paint.
Its a lovely car but it needs a lot of Love. I owned a 900 XS inherited from my Father, many years ago and I sold it because I could not give it the care and love it deserved it was falling apart and money was not something I had much of back then.
Have just subscribed, she looks a beauty. All the best with getting her back on the road. I'm the proud owner of a spotless and rust free 1997 9000 AERO 5-speed, don't see many of these around anymore.
So good to see the Commander is "back on deck"! Rust is always excruciating to work with. The water pump doesn't sound good. The commander is a very rare special version so your work is well spent! Looking forward to the next video!
Seppo I hope you remember where each and every interior screw and nuts goes, and yeah agree it will be a real head turner if you decide to re spray it eventually, always love a good classic SAAB 👍🏻.
Hi fellow 2 door owner, nice video. Your parcel shelf is sagging because it is missing a steel tube that runs from side to side between the seat lock brackets, You may still have the spring clips attached to the front of the shelf? Unfortunately they are not very robust so I ended up making my own from thin plywood. Good luck with the project. These cars are definitely worth it.
If you fancied something a bit rarer than the Commander, on ebay for £1300 or offer is a Saab 90, believed to be about 11 of them left alive, basically Saab used up its built up stock of 99 front panels and nailed them to 900 bodies and added some "incentive" extras for folks. Made in Finland but some escaped to Germany and the Netherlands and someone with deep pockets had the UK one I spotted converted to RHD utilising a mix of 99 and 900 parts so prob very unique Saab'ery O.o
I know you want the original look, but a sport steering wheel looks amazing on that interior, something like a Nardi or a Momo Prototipo would suit that interior very well and is probably way cheaper and easier to find used.
It must have been the driver's side rear window that was replaced. The passenger window has a Dinitrol sticker on it. This explains the cavity wax you found...
Vinyl roof kit save the day? You have a full length gutter so the vinyl roof itself won't need to come down past the guttering making for a very easy install or and I know they exist, a full Webasto as I had one on my 99 Turbo and very pleasant in the summer months but dry enough for the winters. You could mix a vinyl roof in with a Webasto to give it a flush look on the roof and the only thing needed would be to rust proof the roof panel before application :)
Was thinking, Webasto are still based in Germany, Stockdorf maybe you could reach out to them for a bit of a sponsorship thing where they at cost or helping you out fit one of their roof packages and you get to publicise it for 'em... I do believe the Webasto's as found on Triumph 2000's/Rover SD1's are about the right size and those were fitted to Maxi's and Landcrabs, poss the Princess/Ambassador and Jags all roughly the same footprint. I have long wanted to fit a Webasto to my Reliant Robin which already has a stock fitted sunroof but just fancied a bit more light on the drive and a Mini one is a perfect choice for my little 3 pin plug hehe
It wouldn’t surprise me with the micro blistering on the roof that the car has been resprayed before? I had exactly that body shape two door Saab (1985 model) and it still suffered from saggy headlining…!
Rover made the engines. I had a 77 99 EMS . Awesome car . Many broke floor shift from trying to get ignition key out when not in reverse. PS find an old 1960s v4 or a two stroke CV belt drive model .
Haha okay. De er også billige. Ikke dyre. Og slet ikke i den stand 😅😮 Jeg har selv 3 saab'er. Og lidt andre biler. Men Saab var min første bil. Og det bliver også den sidste. Bedste bil mærke😊
Nice notchback. Wrong Wheels they're super arrows are super ugly. Find yourself some Incas, that's where it's at. Hold on to that baby that's the best car you'll ever own. Be sure to check the front subframe behind the passenger wheel for rot.
Sjovt jeg gør det samme hver gang jeg køber en ny bil.. Så fare jeg ud og køber stumper for flere 1000 og smider i bilen bare så de klar når den skal laves om 100 år😂😂😊
I have 2 Saab 900's, a 1981 900 GLs, 4 speed manual transmission, 4 door with a boot, I think the yanks call it a notchback, this car has 38000 miles on it, virtually rust free but the twin Zenith-Stromberg carb setup is challenging but I am learning and researching! I also have a 1990 900 T16S Aero coupe, 5 speed manual transmission with 190000 on the clock, runs and drives lovely, not too much rust and needs work. I also own a 1996 9000 Aero, manual transmission in silver with 200000 miles, has some rusty panels, needs work but is a solid car. As you can see I love old Saabs, other cars don't interest me much apart from old Japanese 4 x 4's! The Saab 900 commander is really cool!
She's a beauty! This car needs to be revived for sure. Really looking forward to watching this.
I have recently finished removing all of the bitumen coating from the floorpan of my 87 Aero - it was so much work to chip it off! I had to use a sacrificial wood chisel to slowly peel it up using a rubber hammer to encourage it along. I have spent probably 20-30hrs doing this work..
In the parts car I have this same material seems to lift in huge chunks without any trouble at all, which is quite perplexing! I am uncertain how this is the case but possibly because it has been soaked in various oils, which might be a useful test for you if you find you have the same problem removing it.
Following with enthusiasm! My project likewise has a long way to go!
Following this with interest. Many fond memories of 99 Turbos, 900 Turbos, 9000s etc from my youth!
Wow, that dash is a treasure!
I still have the original leather wheel in mine, it is definitely worth looking for one. Really adds to the driving experience.
I used to own a 1970 SAAB 99 that the previous owner had shoehorned a '73 EMS B engine into. Your CX video reminded me that the head on the B engine was warped also and it was quite inexpensive to have the machine shop mill it flat, (About 0.008 inches out and it raised the compression ratio a small amount. That car was a beater I picked up for $200, but it also was one of the most rust free older SAAB's I've ever owned. SAAB dipped their cars from that era in a several part metal treatment and paint application and you could see how the process really sealed the steel of the lower body. At any rate it cost more to buy a new set of bucket shims for the cam to bucket lash than it did to mill the head. It also ran great, very very punchy, but some issues with adjusting the alternator belt because the 2 liter B engine was a little longer than the 1850 Triumph engine it originally came with.
That's a cool car and it's in the right hands. I just finished the Volvo 242 playlist, awesome job.
It is a Dinitrol label on the window. Rust protection underbody treatment. So that may have helped a bit. 😊
I think you found a really nice Saab. Definitely worth the investment in making it whole again. Good Luck
12:28 Why not just reinforce the old parcel shelf with bolster wood, or something along those lines, something thin but strong. Worth a try!
In 2002 I had this same vintage 1986 turbo 2dr notchback, essentially a very close relative of your car. It was dark grey and with manual sliding factory moonroof, but of course sans the Commander trim. I very much loved the style of the car and the beige interior (was it called 'contour' IIRC). Wheels were Sunbursts. But it was already then at 300kkm and gathering concealed rust so I let it go pretty soon. It was not many years after that when I saw it already as a donor car.
All these 2 dr notchbacks were built at Uusikaupunki plant along with the 99-nosed 90. In my childhood I had a privilege to have a road trip on brand new this same green shade 90, Finnish plates SHE-113. It was the pricier 5-speed version with air dam and radio console. Good times.
first reveal from the lift of the passenger floormat - this is a nice car with minimal rust; worthy of full refurbishment/ respray; I WOULDN'T TEAR UP THE SURFACE OF THE FLOORS if I were you. just the rust spots, and rust treatment from below, if it were mine. then a respray with paint.
Its a lovely car but it needs a lot of Love. I owned a 900 XS inherited from my Father, many years ago and I sold it because I could not give it the care and love it deserved it was falling apart and money was not something I had much of back then.
I'm in love with this project already!
So looking forward to this
I owned one of these MANY moons ago... Fabulous car... savage mid-range power when right...
My 9000 Aero 2.3T in 3rd gear does 70 to 100mph in just 3.5 seconds. Its brutal...
Have just subscribed, she looks a beauty. All the best with getting her back on the road. I'm the proud owner of a spotless and rust free 1997 9000 AERO 5-speed, don't see many of these around anymore.
Finally a video. Time to see It. Chips and beer. Nice
Looking good. These are excellent cars so we'll worth the effort.
Its cool to see another one of these being saved. My son and I found an 86 900 Turbo Hatch for $500 that we are rehabbing for his first car.
nice first car!!
Nice car, love the colour...well, what's left of it😂
I look forward to seeing this project develop.
Cheers from the UK.
I can’t wait to watch this progress and for you to do your magic!
So good to see the Commander is "back on deck"! Rust is always excruciating to work with. The water pump doesn't sound good. The commander is a very rare special version so your work is well spent! Looking forward to the next video!
I think its belts... but yea.. now sound very nice!
Really nice car, looking forward to it's ressurection! How will you preserve the commander badges?
Decades ago I read a book which had a central role for a Saab 900 Turbo.
Your vid makes me think about this book.
I've not driven a Saab before. 🤔
The John Gardner written James Bond books had him driving a silver 900 turbo.
Seppo I hope you remember where each and every interior screw and nuts goes, and yeah agree it will be a real head turner if you decide to re spray it eventually, always love a good classic SAAB 👍🏻.
The joys of lining metal panels with sound-deadening, finding out the lining is now a structural component, cos the metall has fizzled away... :S
amazing car. looks worth saving, turbo too. nice
Hi fellow 2 door owner, nice video. Your parcel shelf is sagging because it is missing a steel tube that runs from side to side between the seat lock brackets, You may still have the spring clips attached to the front of the shelf? Unfortunately they are not very robust so I ended up making my own from thin plywood.
Good luck with the project. These cars are definitely worth it.
Det er helt sikkert en perle. Det var den første bil jeg kørte (før jeg fik kørekort) 😅😅😅 glæder mig til at se mere til den. 😊
Keep up the good videos!
Regarding the rear parcel shelf, there was a steel tube that clipped in transversely behind the top of the seatback to support it..
If you fancied something a bit rarer than the Commander, on ebay for £1300 or offer is a Saab 90, believed to be about 11 of them left alive, basically Saab used up its built up stock of 99 front panels and nailed them to 900 bodies and added some "incentive" extras for folks. Made in Finland but some escaped to Germany and the Netherlands and someone with deep pockets had the UK one I spotted converted to RHD utilising a mix of 99 and 900 parts so prob very unique Saab'ery O.o
Lucky guy , fabulous car
The Saaaab is inside.
Think you have saved this one just in time Seppo.
I know you want the original look, but a sport steering wheel looks amazing on that interior, something like a Nardi or a Momo Prototipo would suit that interior very well and is probably way cheaper and easier to find used.
It must have been the driver's side rear window that was replaced. The passenger window has a Dinitrol sticker on it. This explains the cavity wax you found...
the sticker could be after the smash tbh.. :)
Great video. I'm a little paranoid about rust on mine now. Is it a 8v.? I don't think we had commanders in Uk
Cool Car/Fed bil
Vinyl roof kit save the day? You have a full length gutter so the vinyl roof itself won't need to come down past the guttering making for a very easy install or and I know they exist, a full Webasto as I had one on my 99 Turbo and very pleasant in the summer months but dry enough for the winters. You could mix a vinyl roof in with a Webasto to give it a flush look on the roof and the only thing needed would be to rust proof the roof panel before application :)
Was thinking, Webasto are still based in Germany, Stockdorf maybe you could reach out to them for a bit of a sponsorship thing where they at cost or helping you out fit one of their roof packages and you get to publicise it for 'em... I do believe the Webasto's as found on Triumph 2000's/Rover SD1's are about the right size and those were fitted to Maxi's and Landcrabs, poss the Princess/Ambassador and Jags all roughly the same footprint. I have long wanted to fit a Webasto to my Reliant Robin which already has a stock fitted sunroof but just fancied a bit more light on the drive and a Mini one is a perfect choice for my little 3 pin plug hehe
+1 for the vinyl roof. It is the perfect shape to have one and black would match the colour well. Bit warm in summer though.
Wuhuu Saab❤
Cool to know that the Danish use the same word for parcelshelf as the Dutch "Hoedenplank" "Hat Shelf" 😂
Hoedenplank! haha!
brumfitz!
@@SeasideGarage Bromfiets! :-) Love your channel.
Det er mig der har pillet rattet ud engang. Og det kunne være vi stadig har det liggende. 😅
Det ville Seppo blive glad for. 😊👍
:D det er sgu sjovt!
Bit of fan belt slippage there mate.
And are you near the seaside hence the name?
No Seppo is in the Centre of the Sahara dessert 😁 therefore he dreams of the Seaside, hence the name 😂 joking Ofc .
Yes Seppo is near the Seaside
Yes... the garage is less then 100 meters from the sea
I know that exact squeal, your crank pulley has delaminated!
It wouldn’t surprise me with the micro blistering on the roof that the car has been resprayed before? I had exactly that body shape two door Saab (1985 model) and it still suffered from saggy headlining…!
It was covered outside in a garden for years, which led to the paint failure. Better to leave cars uncovered to avoid trapped moisture.
16:09…..haha yup throw that away in the rubbish
It might be a two door, but is it a Tablot Samba?.. No, it is'nt...
Edit; My neighbor had one of those and, ye, fuck yeah they are kool
Rover made the engines.
I had a 77 99 EMS .
Awesome car .
Many broke floor shift from trying to get ignition key out when not in reverse.
PS find an old 1960s v4 or a two stroke CV belt drive model .
I am sure that would be fun towing a caravan LOL
Hvad skal du have for den. Jeg er intra i at købe. 😊
ikke til salg. ;)
Haha okay.
De er også billige. Ikke dyre. Og slet ikke i den stand 😅😮
Jeg har selv 3 saab'er. Og lidt andre biler. Men Saab var min første bil. Og det bliver også den sidste. Bedste bil mærke😊
Nice notchback. Wrong Wheels they're super arrows are super ugly. Find yourself some Incas, that's where it's at. Hold on to that baby that's the best car you'll ever own. Be sure to check the front subframe behind the passenger wheel for rot.
powder coat the body, I've seen excellent results before.
Sounds very expensive!
@@SeasideGarage maybe $1500 or so in the US
Wrap it!
I want a hat like that! Where can it be had? $ no object 😀
selling it is currently my retirement plan
😀😀😀@@SeasideGarage
Den ser da rimelig ud ved første øjekast
Sjovt jeg gør det samme hver gang jeg køber en ny bil.. Så fare jeg ud og køber stumper for flere 1000 og smider i bilen bare så de klar når den skal laves om 100 år😂😂😊
Maybe you don´t have a compression problem and only need to ajust the valves?
Yea It needs to run some more and then get the valves adjusted....
@@SeasideGarage The Shims are available new from Metelli for Rover vehicles from 70s-80s, I paid 1-2 euro a piece
this is a T8 with M-box apc ? should have 195 hp
Nope, it is the regular 155 hp one.
I think the Mbox thing is a rumour
Nit to bad
Laughing at the Dinitrol sticker in the window, not their best showing this
Endlessly repetitive start.