The SAAB Gets a Transmission

It's your engine, transmission, driveline
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Fast_Ed
Posts: 550
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 9:45 pm

The SAAB Gets a Transmission

Post by Fast_Ed »

I loaded up the Astra and the SAAB for a family summer trip this year. We each got a dog and a kid. It's perfect. The ~ 100 mile trip leads through Hartford then we have to hammer over Avon mountain. I gave the SAAB a final squirt of boost to crest Avon Mountain and it popped out of 4th gear. I gently tried to jam it into third, no dice. Second was equally grind-ey, but luckily I was able to crest the mountain with momentum.

I called Amanda on the two-way. 'the Viggen is failed.'

We coasted into a parking lot at the bottom of Avon mountain. I discover I can move in first and reverse. 2nd is out, but I can stay in 3rd under acceleration. 4th out, but 5th is normal. "B" roads the rest of the way to Winsted (50mph wooded roads). I opt to lug the car the rest of the way in 5th to avoid dog/kid/family catastrophe. It's an abusive drive for the drivetrain, but screw it. I'm not ruining vacation. The Saab takes a flatbed home at the end of the weekend.

After a mere 195,702 miles, the Viggen's transmission has finally failed. At 54k, this car got shifted into first gear at 70 mph by a friend. Many people thought the transmission would have been toast. Or the clutch. Or the notoriously weak B235R pistons. But the only real damage was to the valves. And the transmission made it another 140k with no ill effect.

But before any of that fun can happen, I have to get the wheels off. And it appears that firestone welded these things on.
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Little wrenches (3/8" and 1/2") for scale. Yep, those are broken 3/4 to 1/2 adapters. We also broke a third Cornwell adapter just to prove we were serious.
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This ratchet isn't screwing around. It's 40" long, which explains the adapter carnage.
Fast_Ed
Posts: 550
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 9:45 pm

Re: The SAAB Gets a Transmission

Post by Fast_Ed »

There's a big problem with the SnapOn socket I bought though...
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Fortunately, my local machine shop (R&R in Warwick) was willing and able to take this 42 mm socket down to around 30 mm so it would fit into the wheel. Well worth the thirty bucks (half an hour labor).

Pictured below: A $70 custom SAAB wheel socket
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But it fits!
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That feeling when you finally conquer that stupid bolt:
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Thanks to Steve for lots of help and awesome advice on getting my first step done here. He even came by for an evening with his own tools and helped me break a bunch of those adapters.

Lots more lugs to break tomorrow. Will update as I get a chance.
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: The SAAB Gets a Transmission

Post by kevm14 »

The SAAB Gets a Transmission
An unintentional children's book by Ed
Fast_Ed
Posts: 550
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 9:45 pm

Re: The SAAB Gets a Transmission

Post by Fast_Ed »

IMG_20200118_140119954~2.jpg
IMG_20200118_173239200~2.jpg
IMG_20200118_173210814~2.jpg
4.5 hours.. lots of help from Adam. More words later
Fast_Ed
Posts: 550
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 9:45 pm

Re: The SAAB Gets a Transmission

Post by Fast_Ed »

Adam finds the bolt
Turn the bolt Adam, turn it!
Transmission comes out.

Yeah, it could work.
kevm14 wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2020 8:51 am The SAAB Gets a Transmission
Al unintentional children's book by Ed
Fast_Ed
Posts: 550
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 9:45 pm

Re: The SAAB Gets a Transmission

Post by Fast_Ed »

Nice tight 200k main bearing #4
Nice tight 200k main bearing #4
Clean oil pan with pickup tube
Clean oil pan with pickup tube
Baffling!
Baffling!
Subframe... Before
Subframe... Before
Subframe.. after
Subframe.. after
Pressing ain't easy
Pressing ain't easy
Attachments
IMG_20200127_212106038~2.jpg
But it's necessary
But it's necessary
Fast_Ed
Posts: 550
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 9:45 pm

Re: The SAAB Gets a Transmission

Post by Fast_Ed »

So the Saab has started to demonstrate symptoms of ‘reverse blocking’. I never knew this was an issue for these cars, but I guess I got to. Anyways, it means I can’t get the car into reverse. Awfully inconvenient since the car has to be in reverse to get the key out.

I found a used one local on the forum for $600. The original steering rack is leaking like a sieve. Nearby junkyards show them for $75. Should be easy with the tranny and subframe out of the way. I have a full set of coolant hoses in the parts funnel.. no time like the present I guess!

Shouldn’t take too long since apparently I do this all the time
Fast_Ed
Posts: 550
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 9:45 pm

Re: The SAAB Gets a Transmission

Post by Fast_Ed »

I put the used tranny in at 197k. With a new clutch and pressure plate. It now has 220k. I’m seriously considering just reusing this clutch. Also considering reusing the slave cylinder which was new at the same time. Thoughts?
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: The SAAB Gets a Transmission

Post by kevm14 »

Re-reading this thread reminded me that once upon a time you claimed these transmissions were weak and that warning never seemed to amount to anything. Until it did.

How does the slave fluid look? Is it black? I say "slave fluid" because I don't necessarily expect garbage to mix homogenously up to the reservoir. At least in my T56 experience, the fluid at the slave has the hardest life (heat + something something slave seal).
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