Best way to check for bent valves on a saab

[Euroboost]

As the resident Swede ... what do you think about the early 80's Silly HiPo With Huge Box Flares 99's? Or were they 900's? The SPG ones ... ? Are they so fragile as well?

That's the Australia only 900 Enduro. And they were worse. SAAB Oz wound the boost up and added water injection to the old 8 valve. My wife used to want a 9000 Aero. A good one is a nice car. Try and find a good one. I nearly bought a 900 EMS last year. Scary that it sold for the same price I paid for my Charade, both '91 models. The SAAB cost nearly $40,000 new! I paid $1,300 for the Charade and at the time it was the cheapest I saw any where.

[Turbo4WD]

Saab should fold up the car operation, and stick to making airplanes or whatever else it is they do...

They did fold up the car making operation - they it flogged to GM as it was not very profitable. They still make planes, trucks and busses which they do quite well out of.

Saabs real problem as a car maker was mainly that they were ahead of their time and approached the task of making a car to that of making a truck or a plane.

A lot of the design of todays cars were on Saabs years ago like for instance high levels of passive safety, transverse engines with front drive, large boots with high line hatch back lids and low loading. They also had low emmisions, good fuel economy, large interiors and fully galavnised body shells (on moidels like the 9000) so they didnt rust. Then there were idea's like turbocharging for extra torque and economy rather than just performance.

The main issue is most parts were purchased from outside contractors who tended to supply Saab with variable qualty parts or untested new designs. Saab was one of the first manufacturers to make use of direct ignition - except this would screw up after a few years and cost a fortune to replace. Now most cars use this and thanks to Saab their ones don't screw up as they have evolved the design.

[Euroboost]

Ah yes, the infamous DI unit. I remember myself and the other SAAB mechanic had a couple of "good" spares sitting around for emergency use.

[XAC15T]

- driven exclusively by real estate agents, rich alcoholic housewives and homosexuals

I only know two people that drive saab's. One is a mates mum who is rich and an alcoholic, the other is a real estate agent... :D

[PBjore]

A lot of the design of todays cars were on Saabs years ago like for instance high levels of passive safety, transverse engines with front drive, large boots with high line hatch back lids and low loading. They also had low emmisions, good fuel economy, large interiors and fully galavnised body shells (on moidels like the 9000) so they didnt rust. Then there were idea's like turbocharging for extra torque and economy rather than just performance.

Totally untrue, Saabs from the 80's and early 90's especially the 9000 rust like there is no tomorrow, mostly in non structural parts though but they rust like hell (But this is the case with most of the cars back home due to our salted roads so can't blame them too much on that front, Japanese cars are much worse generally).

As the resident Swede ... what do you think about the early 80's Silly HiPo With Huge Box Flares 99's? Or were they 900's? The SPG ones ... ? Are they so fragile as well?

Don't really know what models you are referring to but the case with the older saab turbos is that the engines hold up quite well and can produce decent amounts of power. But the gearbox doesn't it is just a too fragile construction
there is a 4 speed gearbox that holds up a bit better than the 5 speeds but it is far from good.


Regarding to the trucks etc so are they are split up since long, Scania trucks has been independent from Saab Automobiles for a long time, Saab Aerospace is not related at all to the car production either anymore.