B2x2 Gasket Crush: 0.052-inch

Took out the caliper and measured an old headgasket. The gasket crush on this gasket is 0.052-inch. This is an average of 12 measurements (4 on each hole); thickest measurement was 0.053-inch; thinnest was 0.0515-inch.

I also measured a new gasket. Not that it's important, but I got 0.054 to 0.056-inch...

So now you know.

4-Speeds are so cool...aren't they?

There's lots of talk on the intarweb about how cool it'd be to have a 4-speed transmission from a 99 or early 900. Well I got one and there's some things to know about them before dashing out to Walmart to pick one up.

• There aren't many around, so you'll have to go hunting for one.
• Most of the gear clusters, I'm told, are split at the gear roots. So just because you find a 'box doesn't mean the cluster is usable for power. Good luck.
• The only ones to have are the later, chain-driven versions (77+?? 78+??). The gear-driven 'boxes aren't worth crap on a 900.
• The best ones are said to be "chill cast," whatever the hell that means. To me, it doesn't mean much because this info is on the intarweb only, so until someone produces some Saab documentation, it's just a rumor. That said, mine happens to be the same p/n as the purported "chill cast" boxes. I feel special. Really. Actually, not really.
• You're going to lose your oil filler: the 4-speed has a narrow dipstick tube because the oil was added through the valve cover back then. You'll either have to suffer through adding oil through this tube, welding on a newer, 5-speed dipstick tube fitting, or fit a filler cap to your valve cover. I used a customized filler made of plastic from a Subaru. You can also get a generic filler cap from Summit Racing, etc. and weld it on. Or cut one off of some other car's valve cover.
• Your turbo bracket won't fit -- you'll need to notch it a little to clear a rib on the 'box. Nothing major, though.
• Your 900 downpipe bracket won't fit, either. You'll either need to fab a new one or get one from a 4-speed Turbo.
• Your gearing is going to suck on the highway: these 'boxes are geared short, and you'll be turning around 3 grand at 60 mph. If you live where the speed limit is 70, then you'll be closing in on 4k RPM when keeping up with fast (75+) highway traffic. For a daily driver with a highway commute, a 4-speed is, frankly, silly.
• The pinion bearing problem is still a problem. It's just the gears that are stronger.
• The 4-speed cases are heavier than 5-speed cases, in part, due to a different alloy. There is less magnesium in them. (I am told that the newer, 5-speed cases are more brittle, in part, because of a higher magnesium content in the alloy).
  

Bumper Weights: Old vs. New

Saabcentral's History of the 900 page states that the '87+ bumpers are 33% lighter than the -'86 bumpers. The source of this information is uncited, so I weighed rear '86 and '89 bumpers today and found them to weigh approximately 22 and 15 pounds, respectively, which does work out to about 1/3 lighter.

So for owners of -'86 cars looking to shave their car's weight, updating the bumpers will net you a 14 pound drop (assuming the front bumpers also weigh 22 and 15).

At the Pull-a-part, I noticed the early 80s cars had a different sound proofing material. Next time I get the chance, I'll weigh the old black version and the newer grey style...