Time to mod the Saab 9-3

[thegreatfnr]

Current Mod List 6/1/08

Engine Mods: GS Intake, GS 3" DP, Forge DV/BOV, deleted resonater w/ magnaflow, stage 3 software very soon
Chassis Mods: Koni Sport Kit, 25mm Rear ARB, Steering Rack Clamp/Brace
Other Mods: Boost Guage, Painted Grill, Painted Calipers, Clear Corners, ITR Lip, 15% Tint, XM Radio, Upgraded Component Speakers, 12" Sub, Memphis Amp, Custom Griffin Emblems, Escort Laser Shifter ZR3 "laser jammer"



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Well its time to start modding the Saab 9-3 that I got to replace my VW. From what I have seen I will have one of the only "modded" NG900, OG9-3 in the ATL. My goal is to have a nice daily driver with some pep.

First I got it tinted 15% all around and got clears up front


Also got new tires - toyo proxies
ThenI hooked up my old sub/amp and rear 6x9s out of the jetta.Now it sounds great =)
I might upgrade the amp to the component speakers as the stock amp kinda blows


Next up is the suspension...
I picked up a 25.5mm Anti-Roll bar and got that installed because the body roll was GARBAGE.
The car also has incredibly annoying Tq steer so I picked up a Steering Rack Clamp brace from a Saab tuner that replaces the stock rubber clamp for a fully machined metal bracket with an added brace attached to the wheel well.

Now that it drives pretty nice I want it to corner much better, so I ordered a set of Koni adjustables and vogtland springs to lower it and stiffin her up.
The car’s suspension is extremly soft stock.
This should be on tomorrow night so ‘Ill get some more pics up.


Also got a new front lip on the way. Whats funny is that the lip that I ordered is the an Integra ITR Front Lip. JDM Tyte Yo who woulda thought that it would match up to my car just right.

I plan on getting this to a nice stage 3(stock turbo full-bolton with tune). Im shooting for about 225-235whp. I’ve already got plans to take it to the Dyno on monday for some baseline numbers. I also plan on getting a custom 3" turboback in the next couple months.

I’ll keep this post updated with some pics as I get some more done

Lee

[aero1116]

Looking good, but I think a Viggen or catalog body kit is what you need. The people at saablink can probably answer any questions you have.


By the way, I think I saw you a while back ago on Peachtree Industrial. Not sure if you remember, I was in a black 9-5 Aero and you turned left onto Pleasant Hill.

[green_pedro7]

Lee its looking good so far...but so far to still go

[thegreatfnr]

Got some new pics after the suspension and new ITR front lip

[thepolecat]

very nice work- way to be different

[thegreatfnr]

very nice work- way to be different

Thanks man.

Looking good, but I think a Viggen or catalog body kit is what you need. The people at saablink can probably answer any questions you have.


By the way, I think I saw you a while back ago on Peachtree Industrial. Not sure if you remember, I was in a black 9-5 Aero and you turned left onto Pleasant Hill.

Yea I think I remember seeing you. I work right around the corner and live right there too so I drive that lil stretch of road very regularly.

BTW I am over on TSL, whats your username over there?

My friend has a 1996 900 turbo that he's slowly trying to mod. I really thought of getting a Saab 9000 but I don't need something more expensive to fix lol.

Nice. I have only seen one other modded Saab thats got the same body style as me(a silver one like mine with some 18s on it ) that guy would make 2. Do you know what he has done to it so far?

Lee

[Revmaynard]

My friend has a 1996 900 turbo that he's slowly trying to mod. I really thought of getting a Saab 9000 but I don't need something more expensive to fix lol.

[santacruz77]

cool man props! and reps to you for being diffrent it needs wide wide wheels and i tink it would be bad ass! gut the hell out of it as well haha

[thegreatfnr]

cool man props! and reps to you for being diffrent it needs wide wide wheels and i tink it would be bad ass! gut the hell out of it as well haha

Thanks for the reps yo.

I was thinking about Viggen Double Trispoke wheels or maybe the Volvo Pegusus wheels or some BBS wheels. It will be a while before the new wheels though. I just got new tires on these, plus I wanna get to some power mods next. It will soon have a turbo back and a tune

And dude, no way this thing is gonna be gutted this is gonna be my hwy cruiser possibly a track day once in a blue moon plus i like my creature comforts.

Now if/when I build a purpose built track car I will definatly gut that car just not my daily

Lee

[Revmaynard]

Uhh, nothing major, I think just some suspension maybe, like, when I said slow, I meant he could have a baby before progress was made. LOL.

[thegreatfnr]

Well I got my cat-back done today.

Instead of going with a off the shelf system I went to a local shop and had them remove the resonator and install a Magnaflow muffler.

Sounds much better now.

I will take some pics and sound clips later.

Next things to do is get me a 3inch DP a new DV and a Tune and im just about all set.

Lee

[green91]

Neat car man ive always wondered how well they responded to mods

[blackshine007]

^^ They respond very well to mods, but the transmission is made of glass. Definately a car to keep an eye out on.

[thegreatfnr]

Took a sound clip of the new exhaust today

This is with the resonator removed and a Magnaflow muffler w/tip replacing the stock muffler



Lee

[thegreatfnr]

Well I got my 3" DP installed yesterday as well as an Intake.

All ready for stage 3 software now, just gotta gather up the funds and plan a trip to visit the Saab Tuner

Lee

[thegreatfnr]

Painted my grill black today. Looks pretty good if you ask me

Before



After



Lee

[Revmaynard]

Lookin' good, keep it up.

[sprix!]

Not bad. I like it. More subtle now. Any more plans?

[thegreatfnr]

Not bad. I like it. More subtle now. Any more plans?

Tune, bigger front mount, and a bigger turbo

Lee

[thegreatfnr]

Well I installed a DV/BOV hybrid valve

My car has a MAF so I should not be able to run a BOV since it measures all of hte air in the intake. Well Forge designed this to basically fool the ECU to not throw a code. Yes it is RICE but it was about the same price as purchasing a regular DV plus you can set it to be Recirculating only or BOV only so I figure if I throw a code I will switch to Full recirculating.

[thegreatfnr]

Got my boost guage installed yesterday



I relocated the headlight switch behind the dash and just left it in the on position since I have day time running lights and its a hole is a perfect fit for the guage.

Im spiking at 15 psi and it settles down to 12 psi till redline with my stock ECU w00t

now I need to get that tune so I can be boosting at 22 psi

I also got my XM Radio hooked up the other day.

[iScott]

More pics of the girl, less of the Saab!

[On_Her_Face]

Get us some dyno numbers!

[thegreatfnr]

Get us some dyno numbers!

They will come once I get a tune. I did go in for basline numbers at allspeed a couple months back but they couldnt get a good tach signal

[thegreatfnr]

Just did some testing today on some new emblems. I wanted to replace the blue emblems with ones that match the black and silver theme of the car.



note: these were tests I will have pics up of the finished product tomorrow

If you dont recognize what it is. Its a Prancing Moose. They are actually used on some old volvo badges and there are a few custom saab badges useing them.

Really all it is, is a spoof of the the ferrari emblems for swedish cars.

[Sport1.3]

clean 9-3

[thegreatfnr]

pic of the saab and the girl's audi from durtyfest today

[thegreatfnr]

Well I ended up going a different direction with my emblems and went with the Griffin logo, I also added a lil color to the engine bay over the weekend.

[thegreatfnr]

Finally got some nice pictures of the saab the other day.

[thegreatfnr]

Well its been a while since ive added any updates

So about 2 weeks ago I installed the Escort LaserShifter zr3 "laser jammer" on the 9-3 after i realized i have gone a really long time without a speeding ticket and im prolly due for one. So why not take a lil preventative measure against it.




I also last week bought this new turbo


The new turbo should be here by the end of the week and in the mean time Ive been working on a custom tune for it that should make about 250 whp once its all said and done



Ill post up pics sometime in the next week or two with some pics of the turbo swap

[mocha latte cupcake]

LOOKS AWESOME! i love it man! always thought saabs were really cool! thanks for helpin me see it! w00t w00t! only thing she is missin is some wheels

[Sport1.3]

what size turbo?

[thegreatfnr]

what size turbo?

its a TD04 off of a viggen

its a direct swap for the really small one that is on my car stock

[4dmin]

nice 250whp is good for dd what is the car stock?

[thegreatfnr]

nice 250whp is good for dd what is the car stock?

There are three diff 9-3 models
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My car is a base model so its an LPT (low pressure turbo = small turbo, low psi) that puts it at 185 hp 185 tq stock out of the box

The SE model has the HOT setup (high output turbo, has same turbo as Viggen) has 205 hp stock

Then the Viggen makes 230ish stock but it is stroked to a 2.3L where as the SE and base are 2.0L

Yea hopefully 250 will be plenty for this car and i wont get bit by the power bug because its possible to make some big numbers out of these motors when you start getting into some of the bigger turbos.