SAAB Sighting, 4th of July

My only SAAB friend, celebrating 4th of July together.

SAAB Related Roundup

I’ve been bad about having things to post here, but not getting around to posting them. A lot of these items don’t really need their own post. I figure I’ll post them all and save some time.

New Direct Ignition Cassette:

My cassette was not part of the recent recall, but I was getting the usual misfire codes that signal a DIC on the way out. So I bit the bullet and purchased a new cassette. No more CEL and the car now runs so much smoother that I’m embarrassed I let it go without repair for what little time I did.

Update on Harrah’s Car Museum Shirt:

I received a brown envelope that was either originally purchased along with the t-shirt or it came with the t-shirt, I’m not sure which. I’m updating that post, but wanted to share anyways.

Tornado Warning:

I’m what I suspect is one of the few people in the world who have worked on a SAAB during a tornado warning. The sirens went off as I was installing the ignition cassette. I finished up, went inside, turned on the TV. I found my wife in the basement, but she was unaware of the tornado warning because she was playing video games very loudly at the time. Naturally I also went outside and took some photos of the “scary looking clouds” overhead. We got horizontal rain, light wind damage, and a little road flooding; but the radar indicated tornado never materialized. Not that I’m complaining.

And finally,

Reverse Diverter Valve

I purchased some silicone vacuum line along with the new ignition cassette so I could replace the line on the DV. This also gave me the extra length I needed to install the DV in reverse, as recommended in THE GREAT Diverter Valve FACE OFF. This has made a huge improvement in the sound of the DV releasing. I suggest anyone looking to get that “turbo sound” from their T7 SAAB to first get an open air intake, and second get a performance diverter valve installed in reverse. I’ll be updating my DV and intake posts to add this information.

SAAB Road Trip

The wife and I were invited by the local Widows Sons Motorcycle Association to join them on a trip to a marble factory. That is “marble”, as in a small glass ball. The association members rode up and we followed them to Bonner Springs, Kansas and the Moon Marble Company. This was actually our first real road trip in the year and a half with the SAAB.

We went on a tour of the studio where they make the marbles, watched a marble being crafted, and then we gathered for a lesson in playing marbles. At the end of the tour we were each given a tube to fill with any marbles we liked.

Here are two signs of how far from home we were: A hill and another SAAB, both very rare where we live.

I highly recommend a visit to the Moon Marble Company if you ever find yourself near Bonner Springs, Kansas.

SAAB Sighting

Silver 9-5 that lives in my neighborhood.

SAAB Sighting

A white 9-3 in front of me in traffic.

Silver Star: Alternative To Amber Bulbs

I purchased a pair of Silver Star 1157A ST bulbs for my front corner lights.

Before and After

I’ve read how to remove the yellow reflectors from behind the lenses, but I’ve not sat down and done the process myself. At least I’ll be ready for when I do that project and won’t have to change out my bulbs to get clear corner lights.

SAAB-Fun With Photoshop

I made a couple of Photoshopped images for a SAABCentral thread, might as well post them here too. The back of the “coupe” reminds me of a mid-eighties Mustang for some reason. The hood is too long once the rear doors are removed, in my opinion. I wish I had shortened the hood. The “hatchback” doesn’t do anything for me either, it would be better to get a 9-3, 9000, or a Chevy Malibu MAXX instead.

What a SAAB 9-5 Coupe could look like:

What a SAAB 9-5 Hatchback could look like:

What a SAAB 9-5 Subcompact could look like (when horribly photoshopped):

The original photo of my 9-5:

SAABspotting

I parked across from a SAAB 9-5 today. There are not many SAABs in my area, let alone other 9-5s. So it makes an impression when I see one.