SAAB 900 I/C Installed

[PeteGLH]

Here are 4 letters of worthwhile advice: Do it.

Quite simple to install and in my opinion helps a whole lot on performance.

I can personally say that my car feels much faster now than it did without the intercooler at a lower boost level (8 without, 5 with IC.) EGT's have dropped as well, however I do blame lower EGT's due to the lower boost level.

I knew there'd be a difference in power, but I never thought it would be this big. Maybe the fact that I have a good exhaust (2 3/4") helps in amplifying the effect that the intercooler has on my performance.

Now I probably have a leak somewhere in my system that I am going to check out tomorrow, cause I'm running a bit lower boost and even if I adjust the MBC I can't get it to rise... but for now I'm quite pleased with the change. It fits perfectly well and it gets the job done.

Like I said, do it.

Can't wait to get my TD04 on there and see how it affects performance. I might even be able to get into the 14's on 10 psi with this setup.... who knows?

[BAC5.2]

Hehe, your 1/4 mile time at 8psi is almost identical to my 1/4 mile time at 9psi with a 16g.... but I trapped at 90. I suck at launching

[pw422]

I would also recommend it. The car pulls stronger than before. On the downside. Heat soak is a problem. i have a lot of stop and go traffic and the past week was very hot over here. Every time I pop open the hood after each trip, The ic is always hot. although my car does not come with a chimney when I bought the car and most of the heat comes form the turbo.

[PeteGLH]

Heat Soak definiately seems to be a problem, but there isn't much we can do about it right?

I trapped a 2.14 60ft. time when I ran my 15,68.

Anyways, I'll fool around with the I/C plumbing today, reset to 9psi and I'll try to get a G-Tech run in today just for the sake of it!

I'll keep you posted.

[BAC5.2]

Oh, you ran a 15.68 on a g-tech?

I ran a 15.601 @ 90 with a 2.42 60'. I really suck at launching.

[PeteGLH]

No I ran a 15,682 at the track (2.14 60ft time cannot be measured on the G-Tech ... not on my model )

No I just want to try one or two runs on the G-Tech to measure the performance difference.

G-Tech in my experience has always been maybe 0.2 - 0.3 off. But it gives a good idea

[PeteGLH]

BTW BAC5.2 if you drop those 60ft times from 2.4 to 2.1-2.2 you'll be running .8 - 0.6 faster at the end of the 1/4" You'd be able to get into high 14's low 15's if you launched just a little harder.

In my experience, 0.1 faster on 60ft adds up to almost 0.3 faster at the end of the quarter.

Anyway, I didn't buy this car to drag race, however it still is fun to bring it to the track to see how it does

Still haven't found the leak, starting to suspect bad I/C core I'll keep you guys posted.

[Bane]

Pete, do you have a link to the instructions for this? or did you just get the gist of it from reading the MANY posts on the subject?

I'm planning on trying to do this in the coming month, and would like to have a plan of attack and a list of parts needed.

The less time it takes, the less the wife knows i'm already modding the car.

[PeteGLH]

Well, I didn't pick up much information on the subject around here. I had already plumbed a few I/C in my previous cars so I knew where I was going, and what I was getting myself into.

All in all, you will need a few things.

Assuming you are going with a SAAB 900 I/C You will need the following:

- SAAB 900 I/C (duh..)

- 1 2.25" I.D Hose about 1/4" thick and 1" wide (This will hook up onto the intercooler outlet and act as an adapter to mate to your Throttle Body, as the TB I believe comes out 2.75 or maybe even 3" Diameter)

- 1 2.75" or maybe even 3" I.D (off the bat I believe I used 3" I.D) rubber hose to mate TB to I/C

- 1 Steel pipe 2.25 O.D about 6" long with a nipple welded on for your BOV (nipple O.D of 1/2")

- 1 Adapter 2.25" I.D to go from the I/C Inlet to the Steel Pipe.

- 1 set of hoses to adapt from 1.75" I.D (Turbo Outlet) to 2.25" I.D Steel Pipe. This is the tricky one, I had a few pipes and hoses laying around so I worked something out ok, but the easiest way would be to find an adapter about 3" long MAX that goes from 1.75" to 2.25" and hook up some rubber hoses to match.

- A bunch of Band Clamps

In order to make this work, you might have to relocate your Coolant fill tank, I left mine in place as the nipples are reinforced and everything seemed fine and solid on that point. My advice would be to move it out of the way because almost as sure as the sun will rise, you will break off the stock nipples like we all have... and you'll be stuck with a coolant leak... and then your wife will walk into the garage and ..... well.... you'll be stuck with a non-intercooled car

Install took about 1h30, and that counts numerous breaks for beer and stories.

The I/C fits nice and snug, and it does make a good difference in performance.

Hope this helps, maybe someone else can drop in some more info on the subject ... this is how I did mine, works fine.

Take Care

[Bane]

wow!

thanks pete!

that's exactly what i was looking for.

[Bane]

unfortunately, i may have to put the project off till next month.

had to put down one of the dogs today, and damned if it didn't end up costing $220cdn!!!

[PeteGLH]

Just as a reference, my I/C setup cost me 50$ (and that includes a 12 pack of beer )

35$ I/C
15$ Beer

If you don't have any hoses on hand, just sacrifice the beer and buy hoses and clamps for the same price.... then just put the beer on the normal weekly grocery expenses

Ebay is great for the SAAB I/C's. You can even wait a bit more and try to grab a 10-fin (vs. 15 fin) SAAB 900 SPG unit. Apparently, they flow better... and are as cheap as the 15 fin "normal" model.

Intercooling this car is quite cheap. Just go used and have fun. Unless you plan to run this car into the 12 second range, I find there is no use in going wild with the I/C setup.

Just go ahead ghetto style with class.

Hehe, I like that one ...

Take Care

[KC0514]

I did the Saab intercooler install on my car, and I swear the car is now SLOWER. Doesn't have the kick it use to have. I'm going to pull the intercooler out and put a straight pipe in to test it, but I can't figure it out.

Mark

91 SS 5spd TMIC
93 SS Auto bone-stock

[shemoves]

moved...delete please