Thread: Dave's Saab Story 2.0 - TRANNY SURPRISE!

The other thread was all over the place as far as plans go. Time to reboot.

I haven't really been documenting what I have done so far, I've only owned the car just over a year so lets just count this all as the first years work.

Current Mods:
Exterior:
-Cupra R Lip (Removed)
-Subaru Legacy GT Lip
-Black painted front lower valence
-Smoked grilles from chrome
-Silverstar Rainbow turn signal bulbs
-Euro Clear turn signal housings
-3000k Fog lights
-5000k Osram CBI Bulbs
-Natural White LED city lights (5000k)
-Gloss black vinyl roof overlay
-OEM Roof Racks
-Stickers
-35% window tint

Interior:
-Lloyd's 5 mats
-Pioneer F700bt headunit with Backup camera
-Infinity Kappa 32.9cf speakers in dash and rear doors
-Saab 900 Special edition shift knob
-XM Lifetime radio
-Natural White LED in foot wells, overhead, glovebox, and trunk.
-Cool White LED puddle lights
-Cool White LED vanity mirror lights

Performance:
-Open air intake
-BCB Stage 1 Tune
-OBX 2.5" catback

Suspension:
-Koni FSDs
-Eibach Springs
-All new rubber bushings in rear subframe
-Poly bushings in rear trailing arms
-18x7.5 ASA AR1 Silver wheels
-Pirelli Nero GT Tires (bought new for 2014)

Maintenance things:
-Serpentine belt and idler pullies
-Spark Plugs
-Fuel Pump
-Fuel Filter
-Crank Position Sensor
-Cleaned Throttle body
-Windshield replaced (also just fixed the rain sensing wiper sensor)
-Pads and rotors
-Rollers for passenger window replace
-Back half of down pipe replaced
-Flushed coolant and power steering
-Fixed trunk wires
-NEW OEM ballast/headlight controllers (bought putting in soon)

I think that really wraps up the first year of ownership, I guess I did a lot more than I thought.

Plans for 2014:
-06+ interior swap (door panels, b-pillar, sills), I will most likely dye the dash and other small plastic pieces to black. Debating the carpet since the door leather inserts is the same color as the carpet
-Full interior tear down and sound deadening and insulation everywhere/overkill
-Tang Band 6x9 speakers powered by some 2 channel amp (this will complete my stereo) I must say for a 15 year old system (went into cars first in 1997) it is not bad and this last bit sound give me a bit more bass without distortion.
-Hirsch knockoff pedals
-BSR Dual exhaust
-Front Subframe poly bushings
-New LCA's with Rubber bushings and balljoints (OEM, Poly's are okay hear but make noise on our cars)
-New OEM tie rods
-SAS Sway bars
-Lightened OEM Flywheel (5-7lbs)
-New Clutch
-Manual transmission update kit and adding a Limited Slip Differential
-Replace broken A/C line
-Seal and paint subframes

Other plans in the pipe work:
-I have a knuckle from a 9-5 and a 08+ CTS AWD Caliper (I think JE5, the one that uses the 315mm rotors), well it bolts up to the knuckle and looks to be in the right spot, but I need to test with a 9-3 Aero Rotor because it is 314mm. If this all works out, I can flush my brake fluid finally and get some Stainless steel lines.
-Genuine Saab makes a Custom Steering wheel...that I really just have to have.
-LED Tail lights, I've played with this idea, still back burner until other things are done.
-Enkei RPF1's 18x8 35mm should be a possibility next winter.

And now pictures in Order from when I bought it up until now.

In case some of you didn't know...I am opening a small side business this spring. This will help to fund house, car or whatever projects. I just got my 2nd polisher and been growing my supplies tenfold lately.

you need a van man. lol best of luck with the car detailing business

Originally Posted by Damnir

Right on. Best of luck! Those bronze-ish wheels look pretty cool!

Those are actually my winter wheels, have some nice general altimax snows on them.

In case nobody noticed in the last picture, my Dad's Cadillac Deville is gone. He picked up that 2007 Toyota Avalon 10 months ago, only had 10,000 miles on it.

Also notice he finally repaved the driveway that had that big ass speed bump at the end of it...after all those years with Panda being so low, he finally repaved it and got rid of the bump.

i was wondering more about that big tank than a car lol but that just me

Looks great man, I love saabs. Those wheels are a nice choice for this car.


The panda looks like its only an inch lower then the Saab .

That's a sweet ride. I would love to trade my GP for one.

You still havent sold the panda yet?? I want the hood!! Hahah

I absolutely love the Saab. Good luck with the side business as well!

And do I spy a limited model avalon? I was looking at them before I bought this car. They have all the same options + the same engine and drivetrain. The Lexus ended up being a better deal at the time.

Looking good. Best of luck on the detailing business. It's addictive one you start. What products are you going to be using?

Originally Posted by Neil98gt

I absolutely love the Saab. Good luck with the side business as well!

And do I spy a limited model avalon? I was looking at them before I bought this car. They have all the same options + the same engine and drivetrain. The Lexus ended up being a better deal at the time.

Yup a Limited Avalon, be glad you did the Lexus though. You can tell where Toyota didn't want the Avalon to cross too much into the Lexus territory. Things like panel gapping and fit'n'finish alignment is what you pay for with the Lexus. I like it, it is not a bad car and is a good fit for my dad (even though he is like me and wants to have a vehicle that stands out a bit) he bought this because he is about to retire and doesn't need the bills on repairs

Originally Posted by The Guz

Looking good. Best of luck on the detailing business. It's addictive one you start. What products are you going to be using?

Thanks man!

I have a wide range of products that I am going to use, I have a full line of Meguair's, Poor Boy's, Chemical Guys, 3M, Pinnacle, and Zaino. I've just been trying out different stuff over the years and have built up what I like and then some, but I do tend to favor Chemical Guys. I have 2 buffers now, a Porter cable XP 7424 with both 6" and 4" pad attachments and a Flex XC3401 with only 6" pad attachments, I have pads in all colors, microfiber and wool pads. I also have a Bissell Little Green Machine proheat and McColluch Hot Water Steamer for cleaning interiors and other spots to start. I may upgrade to a nicer Hot Water extractor over time but for now I need to start small. I have simple shop vac but will be picking up the Metro 8Hp vacuum with the 30 different attachments as it seems to do the best for this kind of stuff. I already have a few appointments booked. I can only do weekends and misc. holidays during the week.

I still have a lot to learn but I'm going to keep at it. I will probably post up a thread of work I do in time, plus my arsenal as it grows.

Originally Posted by Alix0r

You still havent sold the panda yet?? I want the hood!! Hahah

It is "Sold", I still have it in my possession but I can't part it out.

Those pictures are old anyways...this is December in New York...Panda doesn't come out in December with the Salt.

So it is Spring 2014...lets rack up the mods

Exterior:
-Subaru Legacy GT Lip, cut to fit
-SK Rear roof spoiler
-Smoked Grilles
-Yellow vinyl removed from fogs
-3000k HID fogs
-5000k Osram CBI Bulbs
-Sylvannia NeoChrome turn signal bulbs
-Euro Clear corners
-Black Vinyl roof
-Roof Racks
-Moose hanging from the rear
-35% window tint
-Black painted lower center valence
-Neo Chrome lugs

Interior
-Infinity Kappa 32.9cf speakers in the dash and rear door
-Pioneer F700bt headunit
-Saab 900 Shift knob
-Lifetime XM Subscription
-Plaid wrapped armrest
-Saab custom embroidered Floor mats and trunk mat

Performance
-BCB Stage 1 tune
-Open air intake
-OBX Catback
-BCB Diverter valve

Suspension
-ASA Ar1 18" wheels
-Michelin Pilot Super Sports 235/40/18
-Koni FSD
-Eibach Springs
-Fresh bushings in the rear subframe
-Poly rear trailing arm mounts


What is coming this year?
-New OEM Clutch/Pressure Plate/Throwout bearing
-06+ TD04 turbo (10hp boost)
-King Cobra Inlet pipe (I'm going to sand and polish it)
-Oil trap kit replaced
-Poly mounts front subframe
-Alternator
-SAS Sway Bars
-SON Strut Bar
-CTS Bigger brake kit (315mm rotor setup)
-Stainless steel brake lines
-Slotted rotors/Akebono pads
-Dual catback exhaust
-Hirsch Knockoff pedals
-Stage 2 tune

What is coming in the very distant future?
-Car has some questionable spots on the body (aka rust, I hide it well) so the car is going to get some new pieces and repainted
-GS short throw shifter
-dye the door panels and lower dash pieces in black
-Get the 06+ black plastic various pieces
-Custom LED tail lights
-GS Steering wheel


Now some pics

looks like you have alot planned good luck sir

Despite what Ford is feeding everyone, Turbos don't add fuel mpgs

Those v6 Turbos are thrusty buggers, but they are also monsters with a small tune.

But those ecoboost v6's are also put in super heavy vehicles with crappy 6 speed auto's. And most are AWD.

Big changes are a comin'