119 replies to this topic

[mitchyboy01]

WTF. First Mo now you. This Saab is STUNNING!! Seems people spend the cash, get the car how they want it, then get bored and want to begin another project straight away. Please keep it.

[irf]

simon, obviously i dont know the reasons but seriously, wtf?

[bonelorry]

Simply put although ive had alot of involvment with the project to get the car to the stage its at now, Ive also relied and had a hell of alot of help from a friend who ive known for 12 years and which im very grateful for.

Before i bought the car i explained my feelings about having a Saab project and that i didnt want to go ahead with buying a Saab as he would have to be heavily involved due to my lack of skill, Saab knowledge and mechanical ability and that he would have to be heaviliy involved due to his wealth of Saab knowledge both in mechanical skill and mapping but he said he would happily be involved so i went ahead with the project. As time has gone on I do feel that ive taken the piss a bit and knowing how busy my friend is with his own things to do and i really dont want to take up anymore of his time. Im going to need alot of his help to get the car to the next stage with regards to the fabrication for the bigger turbo and use of his workshop but its getting to the stage where i am beginning to think of myself as a pain in the arse as he now wont answer to my calls/texts etc.

Its not like the car needs anymore power, As far as the project goes you could say its completed as its awesome to drive and is more than quick enough in the real world but i just see it as a bit of a waste to have built an engine/gearbox to withstand 400-500bhp and never use it. Since i cant go any further with it i have a few options.

Run the car as it is and get some use out of the work thats been put into and just enjoy it for what it is, Sell it OR break it as an absolute last resort...The latter i dont even have the facilities for and wouldnt want to do.

Edited by bonelorry, 20 April 2012 - 17:46 .

[irf]

bonelorry, on 20 April 2012 - 17:45 , said:

Run the car as it is

why do you people find this so hard to do?

[Muhammad]

As I said, you'll never understand

[GazT4R]

Run the car as it is and give your friend some time away from the project/help him out if you can in anyway. Projects don't have to be completed within x amount of months.
My R has been a project for more than three years now and continues to be, mainly due to funding, however I enjoy the car as it is and when I do get the next stage done I enjoy it all the more for the wait.

[Exocet]

Just sell it and buy the next car. You know that's all you're going to do anyway.

[bonelorry]

Dont worry boys its not going anywhere soon as im going to see the resident Saab mapper at some point over the next few weeks once ive fitted my Forge actuator for a Stage 3+ map, Ive also just ordered a GenuineSaab/Taliaferro 22mm uprated rear anti roll bar on Friday night from the states so im looking forward to getting that lot done

I will say that this is as far as im going with the project, Ive spent alot of time and money on the car since last September and in my opinion the car is a damn good package at the moment and will be even better soon with the above work/parts fitted. I dont see the engine build as a waste as i wanted a 2.3 anyway, It would have cost me a hell of alot more to buy a Viggen in this condition (They dont exist IMO) and with low mileage and i would have still probably ripped the B235R out and built a hybrid.

We shall see how things go, Ive already got a buyer for the car as a complete package should i decide to let it go.

Cheers

[JezF]

Interesting - hadn't seen your thread before.

I regularly drove a friends modified 9-3 (John Winter - Elkparts), he did have the rear ARB fitted and it definately made a difference to the turn in and feel of the car.

I had a 9000 Aero at the time and although his was running 270 bhp, it never felt as strong as the bigger engine.

They are really nice cars, the only thing I'd say is that the chassis felt like the weak point of the car, even when you do what you can with the suspension.

[bonelorry]

JezF, on 27 April 2012 - 15:10 , said:

Interesting - hadn't seen your thread before.

I regularly drove a friends modified 9-3 (John Winter - Elkparts), he did have the rear ARB fitted and it definately made a difference to the turn in and feel of the car.

I had a 9000 Aero at the time and although his was running 270 bhp, it never felt as strong as the bigger engine.

They are really nice cars, the only thing I'd say is that the chassis felt like the weak point of the car, even when you do what you can with the suspension.

Chassis is definatley the weak point, Even with good tyres, Bilsteins, Polybushes and the Quaife its still a handful and can catch you out when overtaking! Both hands on the wheel is a must  

22mm Rear ARB is supposed to dial out alot of the understeer and will hopefully finish the package off, Ive got one on its way from Budapest which should be here early next week fingers crossed.

You are right about the engines, The old 270bhp 2.0 was quite revvy and although responsive the new 2.3 motor ive fitted is a proper fast road engine and is alot more flexible. Im having some custom mapping done next week with one of the main U.K mappers 300BHP/450NM which should hopfully rekindle a bit of love into the car and ill keep it a bit longer.

Cheers

[JezF]

Good stuff - it's a fabulous engine. Rather miss my Saab to be honest and yours looks/sounds great.

[RobbieH]

Finally got to see this in the flesh and its a good one .

Visually this thread doesn't do it justice and the weather didn't either. 'nuf said ....

[A6-TEZ]

Have to agree with robbie (for once) It's a cracking motor you got Simon.

[bonelorry]

Cheers Robbie and Tez.

Time for a bit of an update on the old girl....

Firstly its time for some SaabNoob mapping treatment tonight so i will report on that when im back home later tonight.
The Forge actuator is fitted and working, I tried the stock Green spring first but it was actually weaker than the stock actuator and really struggled to hold boost up top. Just so i wasnt going daft and to prove that the car would indeed make the requested Airmass i kept the Green spring and experimented with an additional helper spring...







The addition of the helper spring was a little too stiff and the turbo actually overshot but did meet and hold the required Airmass request and prooved that a stiffer actuator spring was needed, So i fitted the Yellow spring to the actuator with minimal pre-tension and no helper spring and its working nicley. Base boost is around 0.65bar or 1650Pinl on the SID with the APC bypassed and with the Yellow spring fitted and 1mm of pre-tension.

On the handling side of things i finally got my hands on a 22mm uprated rear ARB, I have had a bit of a nightmare getting one and nearly gave up in the end! Bottom line is.....Parts For Saabs has a 1 month wait on the SAS item, Abbott Racing dont have any in stock and would have to get a batch made up but couldnt give an ETA, GenuinSaab/Taliaferro in the U.S has them in stock so i placed an order with them via their website and entered my Visa details which they then rejected 3 days later and said i had to contact them to pay via other means. I then offered to pay by Paypal which they agreed and then after me sending them 4 E-mails and waiting 4 additional days they still hadnt sent me a request to pay for the item :roll: So i sent them an E-mail asking to cancel and they did within 5 minutes? I ultimatley dont think they wanted to post it to the U.K.

In the end i went on ebay and typed in Saab sway bar and there was a chap in Budapest/Hungary selling 2 GenuineSaab/Taliferro 22mm Rear anti roll bars and they worked out cheaper than getting them direct from the U.S so i bought it from him on ebay last Wednesday and it arrived this morning...



Another less interesting upgrade is my new tax disc holder...



Yes i am anal!

Cheers Simon

[bonelorry]

Its getting pretty rapid now

Did some live road mapping last night with the Saab software master himself in Nottingham, According to the software dyno plot the cars now at 305bhp/470NM and although it needs a little tweaking as its missing a bit of boost up to its 95% of the way there.

IAT's where just 32 degrees after some 4th gear WOT pulls from 40mph to 130mph so the intercoolers working, The logging showed no knocks or anything bad. Base boost is set to 0.65bar with the Yellow spring on the forge actuator with no spiking, Very nice and smooth and quite naughty on the motorway now.....4th/5th gear roll on shocked me!

Quite happy

[leet5r]

any more vids , you got any more plans or are you just goin to enjoy it

[bonelorry]

leet5r, on 03 May 2012 - 20:42 , said:

any more vids , you got any more plans or are you just goin to enjoy it

No more vids as yet Lee, Just going to enjoy it for now i reckon as its quite a nice package and totally usable/drivable everyday with the current set up.

[martybelfastt5]

sounding good barry and looking stunning!

Edited by martybelfastt5, 04 May 2012 - 22:55 .

[bonelorry]

End of project now, Ive gone as far as i feel i want to go with the car. Ill be running it through the Summer getting it MOT'd at the end of July and selling up.

[julek780]

Hi Bonelorry,  had my  Saab 9 3 Aero remapped for the second time  by Karl to stage 3 and the difference in how the car moves when you change from E-N-S  on the SID unit is truely fantastic, its like a demon, just gets faster and faster.
I just wish my V70R could be as fast, i have had it mapped and it has a full 3 inch sports exhaust but just can't compete with the Saab,
Great to follow your project, i also wanted a Viggen but always got outbid on Ebay, so have made my Aero into a Viggen with the 5spoke wheels.
Are you going to the Swedish day?
Julian