Project 95 V4 - Day 21
Pear-shapeness has begun to creep in to Project 95 V4.
I took a trip down to Highgate SAAB to collect some stuff I bought privately from Melvyn on e-bay. These were my 70's SAAB Ronal Minilites, the S&R rockers, an electric fan and a front spoiler. I also managed to spend lots more money while I was there and bought a set of Mexico brackets, and electric fuel pump (coming soon to the RHS page) a pair of new discs and a NOS rear wing.
I was happy until I get home and discovered instead of my lovely Ronals, I had a set of Highgate repros. Very nice, but not the same really. On questioning Mel, he told me that he had e-mailed me on this matter some months ago, telling me that the car with my wheels on it had been stolen! I never got this e-mail, but he has another set of Ronals on the way which he will swap for the repros. In the meantime, I will just have to use the repros which are sitting behind me in my office at the moment as one of the cats keeps trying to eat the box.
I called the guy who was supposed to be prepping and spraying the car last week, to see if he could do it within the schedule. 'No problem' says he. Three days later, I rang him to arrange for collecion of the car. He had suddenly got very busy and could not posibly do the job. This leaves me trying to find someone to do the job for me quickly and at short notice. A local bodyshop guy is supposed to come and take a look at it for me this morning. He is good, but I don't kow how expensive!
The car is now as stripped as it is going to get until it goes to the bodyshop. I've taken out the dash and most of the stuff under the bonnet, but I've had to leave the interior and glass in as A) I haven't got the space to store the interior until the car goes and I can move the 96 out of the garage. and B) If I leave it in the car with no glass, it WILL rain and damage things.
Not sure how the engine is progressing at the moment. Iain Hodcroft collected some things from Rolf Jensen the Swedish SAAB Club parts man at the recent International gathering in Sweden. These include a nice new set of steel timing gears. I'm just not sure where this stuff is at the moment! Iain gave it to someone else who was driving back to the UK, but I don't know who or where! I'm sure I'll find them eventually. They are needed for balancing of the engine, so I need to get them soon.
I eventually managed to get a competition clutch from Motor Sport Sweden. It is just a standard plate with the stiffer red springs fitted. Good for 130BHP apparently. Jack Lawrence at MSS in the USA also has these. He is actually cheaper, but import duty will put up the price for those buying in Europe.
'Miaow! Pear-shapery abounds!'
Says Zena Warrior Kitten.