Yesterday saw the first real efforts on Black & Tan since last fall. The weather was far too nice to stay cooped up in the garage all day, so I didn't get as far a I had hoped. Nonetheless, a start was made.
I removed the cracked spoiler extension on the passenger side door. Getting it off was harder than expected. The front screw was rusted and required careful twisting and prying to remove without damaging the paint. The aft one came out just fine. On the center stud, I assumed there was a nut, so I disassembled the door and removed the window to get to it. WRONG! Still no access. I couldn't even see a nut. Finally I spotted what looked to be (and actually is) a plastic insert holding the stud. It goes through the metal from the top (outside) and then the stud just pops into it. Prying cafefully and twisting the spoiler piece, I finally got it off. Then there was the ugly task of removing the double sided tape and goo. That was a far as I got, aside from sanding down the new spoiler pieces, conditioning them and getting them ready for installation.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Pleasent Surprises
Last Friday I got my new windshield. JN Phillips Auto Glass Co. came out from New Bedford and did the job right in my driveway. It took about an hour and I got to see the whole process, which is a lot more involved than I would have thought. The installers were great, patiently answering my questions that must have seemed so obvious to them. I highly recommend JN Phillips, great customer service, prompt service and a nice neat clean job. Well done!
The windshield that was in the car, was poorly installed. As I recall it was done the first winter I had the car while it was still my daily driver...and it was really cold! The caulking that holds the glass in place was an incomplete bead at the top (that explains the damn leak) and it was all shriveled and dried out. The guys scrapped it out really well, down to metal. Then they put on pinch weld primer. Several coats since there was some minor rust. If the windshield ever has to come out again, I'll have it done at a body shop so the pinch weld can be properly repaired first. Then they put on a nice neat bead of adhesive which they preheat. That apparently helps the curing process. Then they set the new glass in place. They had pre-installed the molding strips and rubber perimeter gasket at their shop in advance. The adhesive bead spread out evenly, no ugly dollops this time. And the green tint in much much nicer on this car than the blue - in my humble opinion.
An hour after the glass was set, it was safe to drive the car. It was a beautiful afternoon, so headed off into the country to look at the foliage and enjoy the beautiful farms and pastures. The purpose was to get the engine nicely warmed up for the annual MA inspection. I like to get it done in the fall so that come spring, there is one less thing to deal with. On the way home I stopped off at the local garage I always use for inspections and they got the car right in the bay, so I waited around. About 5 minutes later the car backed out and I thought the worst...it must have failed emissions as it wasn't in nearly long enough. To my surprise the tech told me that MA no longer requires emissions tests on 1995 and older cars, just a safety check. Sweet! So I was good to go and pleased that it didn't fail...it never has before.
Black and Tan is now ready to have the cover put on and hunker down for the New England winter. The author is off to Ireland in a few days to get back to work...delivering a 75 foot sail vessel to the Caribbean. So the blog goes into brief hibernation. When I return it will be beyond the convertible driving season, but projects will commence. Stay tuned.
The windshield that was in the car, was poorly installed. As I recall it was done the first winter I had the car while it was still my daily driver...and it was really cold! The caulking that holds the glass in place was an incomplete bead at the top (that explains the damn leak) and it was all shriveled and dried out. The guys scrapped it out really well, down to metal. Then they put on pinch weld primer. Several coats since there was some minor rust. If the windshield ever has to come out again, I'll have it done at a body shop so the pinch weld can be properly repaired first. Then they put on a nice neat bead of adhesive which they preheat. That apparently helps the curing process. Then they set the new glass in place. They had pre-installed the molding strips and rubber perimeter gasket at their shop in advance. The adhesive bead spread out evenly, no ugly dollops this time. And the green tint in much much nicer on this car than the blue - in my humble opinion.
An hour after the glass was set, it was safe to drive the car. It was a beautiful afternoon, so headed off into the country to look at the foliage and enjoy the beautiful farms and pastures. The purpose was to get the engine nicely warmed up for the annual MA inspection. I like to get it done in the fall so that come spring, there is one less thing to deal with. On the way home I stopped off at the local garage I always use for inspections and they got the car right in the bay, so I waited around. About 5 minutes later the car backed out and I thought the worst...it must have failed emissions as it wasn't in nearly long enough. To my surprise the tech told me that MA no longer requires emissions tests on 1995 and older cars, just a safety check. Sweet! So I was good to go and pleased that it didn't fail...it never has before.
Black and Tan is now ready to have the cover put on and hunker down for the New England winter. The author is off to Ireland in a few days to get back to work...delivering a 75 foot sail vessel to the Caribbean. So the blog goes into brief hibernation. When I return it will be beyond the convertible driving season, but projects will commence. Stay tuned.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Windshield Molding
Can anyone tell me if the rubber windshield molding is original Saab or a 'Universal' aftermarket piece? The photos aren't that great, but it's raining and I'm not pulling the car out of the garage. In looking at it closely, I'm thinking it may be aftermarket. It doesn't seem to fit exactly as it should and is lifted at the bottom corners. At the rounded top corners, it almost seems to be set in too deep. Thoughts?
New Tags & Windshield Replacement
Finally got around to visiting the Mass RMV over the summer while on the Vineyard to order some new tags. I still had the original 1987 plates that were first put on my dad's 1987 900T hatchback back in the day. They were terribly faded, banged up and dirty, so it's nice to have clean ones that aren't older than the car. Makes it look a lot nicer.
The windshield has been a problem for a few years now. I had it replaced shortly after buying the car when it was chipped by a rock. I don't recall if that was the original glass or not. Currently it has a Pilkington replacement, which in my opinion has never been right. It can never really be cleaned. I've tried everything and it continually fogs up. It has a blue tint at the top, not sure if that's the original tint color or not. I want to say it should be bronze. Anyone know for sure? Anyhow, just chipped again by another rock, so time to replace. Auto Glass Co. tells me that Pilkington and Sekurit are original OEM glass for Saab. Is this true. I was given a choice of green or blue for tint. I chose green, seems like a better match. Not sure thought. Thoughts?
The windshield has been a problem for a few years now. I had it replaced shortly after buying the car when it was chipped by a rock. I don't recall if that was the original glass or not. Currently it has a Pilkington replacement, which in my opinion has never been right. It can never really be cleaned. I've tried everything and it continually fogs up. It has a blue tint at the top, not sure if that's the original tint color or not. I want to say it should be bronze. Anyone know for sure? Anyhow, just chipped again by another rock, so time to replace. Auto Glass Co. tells me that Pilkington and Sekurit are original OEM glass for Saab. Is this true. I was given a choice of green or blue for tint. I chose green, seems like a better match. Not sure thought. Thoughts?
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Changing Oil
Today was fall oil change day, and it was a day of change. Switched from regular old oil to Mobil 1 synthetic 10W30. Not sure if this is a good thing or not given that Black & Tan has 141,758 ticks on the clock...but what the hell. Synthetic seems to be the way to go, so we'll give it a try for a while.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Contemplating brakes
I never realized until I began searching and reading the C900 board at Saabnet.com that brakes are such a complicated and opinionated subject. I have been putting off replacing the brake pads and rotors on Black & Tan because they work just fine. They were replaced sometime before I bought the car I'm sure, but that was almost eight years ago. The rotors are not particularly warped and the pads are not terribly worn. My problem with them is that they are really messy. They make a ton of brake dust. I have to wipe the wheels down everyday I drive the car to keep them clean. This didn't bother me when I had the original wheels on the car, but now that I have the nice 16" aeros with dark gray center portion and polished outer lip, I get annoyed. I got a bit lazy towards the end of the past summer and didn't always clean the wheels properly after each drive. Now I'm paying the price since I can't get all the dust off the polished part of the rim. They may have to be refinished. Infuriating! So I have got to replace the whole brake kit and there are a lot of choices and opinions. I don't know what to do. So, I'll start with my priorities.
1. Eliminate (or reduce as much as physically possible) brake dust.
2. Eliminate or minimize squealing.
3. Install the best quality and long lasting brake components available.
4. Improve performance.
On eEuroparts.com I see Zimmerman cross drilled rotors, regular rotors, Brembo rotors, Genuine Saab rotors and a whole slew of pads available. How is a brake newbie to process all these choices, determine which is best given his priorities or even know which pads and rotors are compatible. I guess I'll have to continue my research and ask the folks over on the C900 board...
1. Eliminate (or reduce as much as physically possible) brake dust.
2. Eliminate or minimize squealing.
3. Install the best quality and long lasting brake components available.
4. Improve performance.
On eEuroparts.com I see Zimmerman cross drilled rotors, regular rotors, Brembo rotors, Genuine Saab rotors and a whole slew of pads available. How is a brake newbie to process all these choices, determine which is best given his priorities or even know which pads and rotors are compatible. I guess I'll have to continue my research and ask the folks over on the C900 board...
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Rainy day blues...
It was too rainy and wet to drive Black & Tan today, so I decided to get started on a few of the winter projects to get them checked off the to-do list. First I installed the fuel tank level sender. The hardest part of this job was getting the wiring connector unplugged. It was really in there tight! I actually had to get the sender out of the recessed hole first, so I could use a tiny flat bladed screw driver to pry out the connector. Getting the plastic retaining ring off the sender was a chore in itself without the special tool that Saab offers for this process. In a moment of brilliance, I turned my channel locks upside down and used the handles to grip the ring through the small access hole and was able to turn the ring loose. The whole time while not cursing the Sweedes for installing this thing this way to begin with, I was pondering 'why' they did it that way. Anyhow, new used sender and greased retaining ring are installed and the wiring is back in place.
I also replaced all the interior light bulbs that were out in the glove box, ashtray and various switchpacks. I repaired (again) the y-valve in the windshield washer hose under the hood. I started detailing the dash area with Aerospace 303 protector. I began the refinishing process on the rubber spoiler extentions. More on this to follow, but there is going to be a lot sanding, dying and 303 to get them looking good. Lastly I installed a small 2amp battery maintainer that I can plug in when in the garage all winter to keep the battery up.
I also replaced all the interior light bulbs that were out in the glove box, ashtray and various switchpacks. I repaired (again) the y-valve in the windshield washer hose under the hood. I started detailing the dash area with Aerospace 303 protector. I began the refinishing process on the rubber spoiler extentions. More on this to follow, but there is going to be a lot sanding, dying and 303 to get them looking good. Lastly I installed a small 2amp battery maintainer that I can plug in when in the garage all winter to keep the battery up.
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