The SAAB Gets a Transmission
Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2020 10:54 pm
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.
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.
This ratchet isn't screwing around. It's 40" long, which explains the adapter carnage.
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.
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.
This ratchet isn't screwing around. It's 40" long, which explains the adapter carnage.