Building a 1969 Saab 96 I
bought for TSD rallying
and Autocrossing and making it a low emissions car is a bitch!
To see how I got my hands on
my current Saab, read my story
"How Not To Buy A Rally Car".
My
first Saab 96 was a 1972 with the 1.7 L engine and was the OD Green
color that you could never keep a shine on. I'd wax that car
and three days later it was as dull as in this picture. My
first wife fought me for that car in our divorce (she didn't really
want it, she just didn't want me to have it) and once I finally
gave up, she turned around and sold it.
I wanted to run my current
Saab in the Winter Alcan Rally this year (February, 2008) but couldn't get my
doctor's permission because of the complications I experienced after
my knee replacement surgery this past September. The car has been sitting in my
driveway for the past four years waiting to be restored.
Finally, time and money came together and I was able to start.
Being a gearhead and a
responsible citizen in today's world is difficult. With the
climate changes taking place and the effect cars have on these
changes, it's hard to rationalize in my own head the damage my sport
contributes versus the fun I have with my sport. Soooo...
after doing a lot of research, ie. electric, hydrogen fuel cells,
compressed natural gas and propane powered cars, I came to the
conclusion that this car was going to be propane powered. The
advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.
Advantages:
1. Propane gives off
half the carbon dioxide of a gas powered car and about one tenth of
the other emissions that are dangerous to the atmosphere. It
actually burns clean enough that propane powered forklifts can be
operated inside a warehouse.
2. The octane rating of
propane is 105 - 110.
3. Because it burns so
much cleaner than gas, you can go longer between oil changes.
4. Propane is easier on
the valves than gas.
5. Propane costs about
10 - 15% less than gas.
Disadvantages:
1. Pound for pound,
propane has 7% less power than gas.
2. The tank has to be
built stronger and heavier than a normal gas tank adding weight to
the car. It also has to be DOT approved.
3. Slight disadvantage.
Propane boils at -44 degrees. On the winter Alcan Rally, it is not
uncommon to have night-time temperatures in that range so I'll have
to install a heater to keep the tank warm when necessary. A
magnetic oil-pan heater will work just fine.
This is my goal. The
same basic configuration except Budweiser Red as the main color.
Diary
September 2003 - Purchased
Saab
August 2007 - Started tear
down on Saab. New transmission started at Scanwest Autosports in
Seattle. The only used, non-competitive part to be used is the
case.
September 2007 - Knee
replacement surgery. No work done.
Sept 2007 - December 2008 - No work done
December 2008 - Transmission
is finally finished and the tear-down begins.
This is exactly how the car
has looked for the past five years. But that changes.
I'm dividing the car into
four separate areas, or projects. The first is the front end;
engine, tranny, engine compartment and front suspension. The
second is the rear suspension and trunk. The third is the
exterior; body work and modifications and paint. And finally,
the fourth is the interior.
Tool cart is ready, digital
camera, notebooks in hand; I'm ready to dig in. The
engine gets pulled and on the stand. These V-4s sure aren't
very big!. I almost didn't need an engine hoist to get it out
of the car. Just saved my back is all.
The engine tear-down begins.
I'm sure it will need a total rebuild.
First, don't let my wife know
I was wearing that shirt while on working on the car. She'd
shoot me. But as suspected, with over 300,000 documented miles
on it, the engine had been rebuild once before and was in desperate
need of another. The existing pistons were .5 over and shot,
the bearings almost none existent, the cam worn down to nothing and
the lifters, well, I could go on but you get the idea. The
timing gears are fairly new. Every little bit helps.
With a 1.7 liter crank already sitting in the shop, it looks like
I'm going to be parts hunting for awhile and then it goes to the
machine shop.
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