Out and about

Going to some event, autosport or other wise, that might be of interest to club members? Post details here.

39 Replies to “Out and about”

  1. Hi everyone, New member here! Owned a couple 900’s in the past and am now the proud owner of a 2003 9-3 SE! It’s in excellent condition and just brought me from Quebec City to Vancouver without any problems. ( 7days on the road)
    I’m in search of a wiring diagram, related to the gear shift solenoid circuit? Now and then it will not unlock and stays in “Park”
    Ive read many comments on this, but no one seems to have a good solution.
    My email is [email protected]
    Thanks,
    Joh Trollip

  2. This is probably not the right place to post this, but I couldn’t find the proper place. I’ve just joined the club and read the current issue of Gryphon magazine; it’s very interesting and informative. Thanks to all involved in the publication of Gryphon.

    1. Hi Kayne, no worries, we really need to organize our discussion areas. It’s great that you enjoyed the Gryphon. Did you get the paper copy sent to you? We also put it online, of course, but there’s something about a physical copy that many people prefer!

  3. Why have a rev limiter on a 6 speed manual transmission if it is not exercised regularly. What a unique feeling when you hold at the rev limit. rob with a new Honda Civic base manual. Is there an Si in the future?

  4. Herehttp://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-european/curbside-classic-1971-saab-99-do-you-remember-something-called-variety/#more-80176 is an interesting post about the Saab 99.

  5. Hi
    I’m new to the group. Someone dropped off a notice about the wine tour in my mailbox on the weekend and from it I found your website. Our black ’06 9-3 Aero was sitting out front at the time. It is a pretty stock HFV6, 6 speed manual car, except for the black spoke Enkei 18x8s. It is my son’s car, but I have been driving it lately. My hobby is building hot rods, but my black ’96 Impala SS was in need of some timeout for refreshing and the Saab is pretty neat. I live in Niagara wine country near Westcott Vineyards and Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery.

    I work as a Mech. Eng. at a GM engine plant that manufacturers HFV6’s in St.Catharines, Ontario. According to Wikipedia our plant built the first 2.8 versions for CTS’s around 2004-5 while the 2006 Saab versions were built in Australia. My job at that time was to refurbish the facility for the new HFV6 engine line. We had been building pushrod 3.4 V6’s in that area prior to the HFV6s.

    GM Powertrain has recently changed its name to GM Propulsion Systems. Today our plant builds 3.6 direct injection HFV6 engines which are around 300 hp. In addition we are currently preparing to build two twin turbo variants at around 410 and 460 hp for Cadillac models starting soon. We also build Gen V V8 truck engines and will soon be building the LT1 Corvette and LT4 supercharged Camaro ZL1 engines.

    We have been having annual Show ‘n Shine car shows at the plant since we started building Corvette engines in 1998. They are open to any GM powered car. They let me bring my ’56 Ford powered by a Corvette engine. This year we have a chassis dyno booked for entertainment.
    For more dyno information you can visit: http://www.thedynocologists.com/ .

    Usually there are around 400 cars. It is on Friday August 4. It is in a grassy park area at the front of the plant with shady trees if you get there early enough. Unfortunately we’re not able to hold an open house this year due to a number of construction projects going on in the plant, however, we’re going to have a selection of engines on display at the Show n’ Shine including some of our new high performance engines. We dyno engines in our plant to determine durability. Our lead dyno mechanic will be on hand to field questions about HFV6’s or LS series V8’s.

    You can preregister here. https://gm.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_daorRhNwDAcUCQl

    For complete details you can visit http://www.gmstcatharines.ca/shownshine
    Proceeds from $5 admission for this event go to United Way St. Catharines & District.

    We have pretty neat trophies made from piston/ rod assemblies. I can’t recall if we have had any Saabs attend before. I am just starting to appreciate them. It would be nice to see some come out.

    Pete

      1. Hi Ed
        GM was involved with Saab since, I think 1989, until the end. The people manning the registration tent are often volunteers from the plant that don’t really know a lot about cars let alone Saabs. If you pre register and say it is Saab, a European GM division, I don’t think there would be an issue. Most people know that when GM hit bottom that Saab was a division. Reminds me, I’m still driving an Olds and a Pontiac and my kids had Saturns, all gone now. LOL I’m guessing that the European V6 you are talking about is the 54 V6 degree engine made in England and also used in some Opel inspired Cadillac models. They were going to set our plant up to build that engine and then change over to HFV6, but at some point they decided to wait and just set up for the later engine. It would have cost a bundle to change over.
        I’m on the car show committee, not the chairman, but it isn’t a serious show like for numbers matching Corvettes. I don’t think older Saabs would be an issue. I’ll confirm at our next car show meeting.
        Pete

        1. What time does the show start? Friday is a workday, although I finish pretty early and may be able to avoid some of the later QEW traffic.

          The 4-cylinder “B” engine was originally from Triumph, but Saab modified and upgraded it over the years. It was in production until 2009, which is right through the GM era almost to the end. (Then the design got sold off to China!)

          1. Hi Ed
            The show core hours are 9am-2pm. Some guys show up just after 7:00 am to get their favorite parking spot. Awards probably from 2:00-2:30. Exodus from 2:30- 3:30. Then show cleanup until 5:00. I have to do an environmental site check after the clean up.
            Thanks for the info on the B engine. I didn’t know that. I talked with one of the lead guys in our show group and we both agreed that Saab was a division of GM when it closed so it wouldn’t be a problem. He was telling me that he had interest from a guy with a Holden Ute (another division) from New York. We built the engines for the V8 engines for the Pontiac G8, Holden’s, GTO’s and SSR trucks.
            When you mentioned 4-cylinder B engines I think of Ford. I have a ’29 Model A with a hot rodded B engine. Ford brought out V8’s in ’32, but you could still get an upgraded Model A 4 cylinder engine called a B. It featured a fuel pump and a heftier crankshaft with full oil pressure to the mains and 50 hp. Then they counterweighted the crankshaft and called it a C in ’33.
            Pete
            Pete

          2. Thanks for that info!

            It’s the Friday before the long weekend, but I think some Club members are intending to go. What the Club can do is cover the entry costs for all Saabs (club members or not) who participate.

    2. Hi Pete
      That was me, I live very close to you, I’m basically right around the corner from 13th Street Winery, just look for Saab’s!
      I’ll drop by sometime, my son has the lowered burgundy 9-3
      Paul Stephenson

      1. Hi Paul
        I saw that burgundy Saab the other day. Looks good! If the garage doors are open I’m usually working on something. Drop in to say hi. My Saab needs some more work, but I just changed the engine in my 56 Ford and trying to get it sorted out while fixing oil leaks in our ’62 Pontiac. Multitasking. LOL
        Pete

  7. Just back from a quick trip to Syracuse New York, where I found Godwing Saab Parts. This was probably the most successful parts finding trip Ive ever had in 50m years of horsing around with cars,

    There people are extraordinary, they have about 1000 Saabs ( thats no typo ) in stock all arranged by year and model. They could not have been nicer, more cooperative or fairer,

    Got exactly what I was looking for and then some. Josh, the parts manager was a pleasure to deal with, They ship everywhere, Then we went to the Dinosaur BBQ in Syracuse for the best BBQ I.ve ever had.

    This is a trip we should be thinking about as a club, Saab heaven, followed by Pig Heaven.
    They’re at 2008 U.S Rout 11 Hastings New York 315-668-5800. 20 minutes South of Syracuse on 81

  8. I needed to have the Speedo repaired on my “Project” ( reading about 20 mph to fast.
    Some of the Local talent with whom I spoke quoted in excess of $200. and gave me the impression they were doing me a favor.

    Found Rick Borth @ Overseas Speedometer in Texas, Long story short, The work was done quickly ( turnaround time incl. shipping up and back less than 2 weeks. $ 85.00 and $19 for shipping. I’m a Happy guy.

  9. Attended my first club meeting last nite ( new member ) enjoyed myself throughly, picked up a real good tip on engine cleaning, “Scrubbing Bubbles” Looking forward to the next meeting and events.

    Thanks to all,

    Jerry

    1. Wondering the same about the GTA … I am new to the ste so I may be missing something … I also wonder about the judging criteria for the SAAB convention the range between concours and people’s choice is very broad.

      1. There are regular monthly meetings of the Club, generally third Wednesday of the Month in south Etobicoke. There are other events such as drives: the Wine Tour is coming up later this summer, which brings out a lot of Saabs and travels through some very nice countryside. There has been a non-club meeting of Saab owners. They are on Facebook where I am not. 🙂

        The Saab Club of Canada is sponsoring the Saab convention, but is not directly involved in the organizing. The organizers should be able to answer your questions; hopefully they’re not being run off their feet in setting up this event!

          1. Hi Tony;

            Meetings are at eZone, which is at the corner of East Mall and North Queen. That is maybe a kilometre from the junction of Gardiner/QEW/427.

          1. Hi;

            For July, the Wednesday meeting is replaced by the Wine Tour event listed on the main page. We have been trying to get more variety in the meetings, especially in the summer when there can be tours, car shows, barbecues, etc.

    3. Nothing is planned for Ottawa right now. If you’re interested in meeting up fellow Club members and Saab owners, I may be able to help. (Keeping in mind privacy laws means giving out membership lists and e-mail addresses is tricky.)

      I am in Ottawa from time to time, but work situation this year means limited weekend trips. I don’t think I’ll make Canada Day on Parliament Hill. 🙁

  12. This morning I started my car and killed it. Now it wont start. I tryed jumping it, it tries to turn over but wont does anybody have any idea what it could be. Maybe a fuel pump?

    1. Hi;

      This is not a good place to ask technical questions, and definitely not a good place to get immediate replies.

      Go to saabcentral.com and search for the right forum for your car (which I’m not sure what it is).

      You will need a much better description of what’s wrong. From what you have written (and lack of info about the car) it could be anything. If you are thinking it’s a fuel pump, why do you think so?

  13. Anyone in the London Ontario area who wants to experience an autocross event should stop by Fanshawe College on Saturday September 21. The actual running of the event is going to be probably 10 AM to 3 PM.

    This is a charity event, and ride-alongs by spectators are encouraged. So even if you don’t want to run your car, you can get lots of rides with experienced competitors. Some of them are regional champions, so you are sure to get a brisk trip around the course.

  14. Well here we are just about at the end of our epic road trip. Sitting here in my daughters home packing for our home trip. We hope to be out of here tomorrow around 5 AM.
    Got some great pictures and Carol is going to put together a spread sheet on mileage, gas bought and consumption details that I will post now I have found somewhere to post it!
    The car has performed pretty well with no major issues that I hope will not show too for the next 5000 Ks we are contemplating as of tomorrow.
    First thing to break was the door window fell out of its track. Our local SAAB guy Bob at Swedish Autosport (http://www.swedauto.bc.ca/splash.php) soon had the problem diagnosed and fixed for the cost of $140.00 or so. whilst there I arranged to have an oil change before we left, that happened this morning$140.00. Left the garage to go pick up family downtown they advised me I had a headlight out. Back to garage and just as I arrived at the garage the SID did inform me that I did indeed have a bulb out…/ He replaced both bulbs $90.00. out for the day it went out again same bulb…!!! back to the shop just before he closed. Apparently the plastic bulb holder was burning so shorted out the bulb. At least he did the new holder and bulb for free. Boarding a ferry on Wednesday I hit a steel curb and took a chunk out of the front passenger side tire. Advice is conflicting about replacing the tire or leaving as is. Mechanic today said not to worry just a chunk out of the rubber and not through to the re-enforcing bands or whatever. I will leave the tire on but now it is on the rear just in case. Well supper is out so I will close this short update for now and look forward to another great drive alas homeward bound.

    Robin Parnell

    1. Good to hear you will be back with us soon.

      Does your car have HID or halogen headlights?

      A chunk out of your tire doesn’t sound too good. It could cause vibration, and 5000 km of shaking would sure get on my nerves.

  15. It’s spring around here (southern Ontario). One of my favourite drives is to follow the Grand River from its headwaters around Dundalk, down to Lake Erie. Takes three or four hours I guess, passing through Grand Valley, Fergus/Elora, Beslau, Cambridge, Paris, Brantford (easiest place to lose the route), Caledonia, Cayuga, and Dunnville.

    I’m not sure how you’d program such a route into a GPS. Paper maps, the detailed large-scale ones, are best for this.

  16. Autocross (Solo II) season is back!

    I’ll be taking my my 1997 900S to the Peterborough Motorsport Club this Sunday at Kawartha Downs (which is close to Peterborough Ontario, off Higway 115).

    It’s called the “Cobweb Solo” because there haven’t been any events since last fall and you kind of need to clean out the cobwebs.

    It’s free to come and spectate. I imagine to run in the event would be around $30.

    If you want to try running an autocross, as long as your car is mechanically sound (good brakes, no leaks) pretty much all you would do at the event is take out stuff that might fly around or compromise your control (such as stuff in the back seat, floormats, etc.), pump up your front tires to 45 PSI or so, and use a loaner helmet.

    The runs start at around 10AM. To register, I’d suggest getting there by 9:30AM at the latest; driver’s meeting is at 9:45.

    1. Was fun, but “Cobweb” for sure. For some people, they have to pick up the pace because they’re taking it too easy. I’m kind of the opposite.

      At least I beat two drivers (father and son team) in a new-ish (201X) 911. However, I got beaten by an Interpid, who not only did not take all his runs, but on the last run went around with three people in the car.

      Full results aren’t posted yet, so I’m not sure of all the details.

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