Miata Drivetrain in a SAAB 96
#1
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I know, I need to finish one project before starting another, but when the option presents itself you must move on it.
Picked up a 94 Miata R last week. Got it home on Friday night. Looked like this.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/33497-miata-drivetrain-saab-96-2012-02-02_13-38-21_13.jpg?dateline=1328503300)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/33498-miata-drivetrain-saab-96-2012-02-02_13-34-56_837.jpg?dateline=1328503300)
As of 10:00 Sunday night it looks like this.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/33499-miata-drivetrain-saab-96-img-20120205-00036.jpg?dateline=1328503300)
The intent is to swap the entire drivetrain including engine, trans, rear end, both subframes, suspension, brakes, wiring harness - the whole thing into
a SAAB 96. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and I was unable to view said SAAB at the owner's farm. Hopefully next weekend.
If it just will not go, I'll build a Locost but I really want to do the SAAB. It will be tough. The SAAB was a FWD car with a 1300cc V4 in it.
I'm thinking SR20T25 budget turbo build. With the drivetrain in the SAAB it will perform and handle pretty well. The vehicles are similar size and weight. Making camaro, vette and mustangs cry on the road course with a 60's vintage SAAB will be epic.
Parts chillin in the shop.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/33500-miata-drivetrain-saab-96-img-20120205-00026.jpg?dateline=1328503300)
Picked up a 94 Miata R last week. Got it home on Friday night. Looked like this.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/33497-miata-drivetrain-saab-96-2012-02-02_13-38-21_13.jpg?dateline=1328503300)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/33498-miata-drivetrain-saab-96-2012-02-02_13-34-56_837.jpg?dateline=1328503300)
As of 10:00 Sunday night it looks like this.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/33499-miata-drivetrain-saab-96-img-20120205-00036.jpg?dateline=1328503300)
The intent is to swap the entire drivetrain including engine, trans, rear end, both subframes, suspension, brakes, wiring harness - the whole thing into
a SAAB 96. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and I was unable to view said SAAB at the owner's farm. Hopefully next weekend.
If it just will not go, I'll build a Locost but I really want to do the SAAB. It will be tough. The SAAB was a FWD car with a 1300cc V4 in it.
I'm thinking SR20T25 budget turbo build. With the drivetrain in the SAAB it will perform and handle pretty well. The vehicles are similar size and weight. Making camaro, vette and mustangs cry on the road course with a 60's vintage SAAB will be epic.
Parts chillin in the shop.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/33500-miata-drivetrain-saab-96-img-20120205-00026.jpg?dateline=1328503300)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/33501-miata-drivetrain-saab-96-img-20120205-00028.jpg?dateline=1328503300)
#7
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EDIT: Tried to find anything - couldn't. He didn't strike me as the kind who would post. The guy i got it from bought it at impound auction. The prior owner got caught on a drug stop on I80 going from CA to IA and the car was impounded and then sold by the tow company to cover towing and storage.
Last edited by Stein; 02-06-2012 at 09:24 AM.
#8
Boost Czar
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http://www.miataforumz.com/showthread.php?t=630
Oh wait, so maybe it's not you...crazy that two saabs are going on miata subframes.
I got the craziest call today.... guy wants the trans and both subframes with suspension to graft it under his.....
wait for it......
SAAB 99 body! He has a bridge ported 12a rotary to put in it. He only wants to spend $500 and wont need the body ect. I am going to keep the trunk lid, front and rear bumpers, doors with power windows, console, radio bezel, hood, headlights, and other various bits. He just needs a running driving platform until he swaps the engines. If he shows up at the house as promised with the deposit, I start stripping the car.
wait for it......
SAAB 99 body! He has a bridge ported 12a rotary to put in it. He only wants to spend $500 and wont need the body ect. I am going to keep the trunk lid, front and rear bumpers, doors with power windows, console, radio bezel, hood, headlights, and other various bits. He just needs a running driving platform until he swaps the engines. If he shows up at the house as promised with the deposit, I start stripping the car.
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It is actually my fault. This is the first time that I have dismantled a non-wrecked running car. It was just perfect for what I wanted. I actually had waffled on just making a cheap track **** out of it. It already had the suspension and hard top. Just gut, roll bar and drive, but I have the V8 car for that. I wanted something different.
#12
Tour de Franzia
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It is actually my fault. This is the first time that I have dismantled a non-wrecked running car. It was just perfect for what I wanted. I actually had waffled on just making a cheap track **** out of it. It already had the suspension and hard top. Just gut, roll bar and drive, but I have the V8 car for that. I wanted something different.
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I'll also have to move the firewall back about 10" because there won't be room for a footwell once there is a transmission tunnel there and the fender protrudes into the cabin. As a result it will be losing the back seat. No matter, it will be getting a set of aluminum 15" or 16" Kirkey seats and a cage and that's about it.
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Omg you ruined a perfect miata! These cars are such gems, and you destroyed one. Your saab won't have the weight distribution to ever keep up with the perfect design of the miata!
/m.net rant.
J/k man, subscribed to see how this turns out.
/m.net rant.
J/k man, subscribed to see how this turns out.
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At first, I was like "a Saab?"
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/33539-miata-drivetrain-saab-96-saab_900_3door.jpg?dateline=1328552996)
But then I saw you write, "Making camaro, vette and mustangs cry on the road course with a 60's vintage SAAB will be epic" and decided to google Saab 96 and discovered this:
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/33540-miata-drivetrain-saab-96-9614.jpg?dateline=1328552996)
and this:
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/33541-miata-drivetrain-saab-96-9683.jpg?dateline=1328552996)
and decided his might be pretty spectacular after all.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/33539-miata-drivetrain-saab-96-saab_900_3door.jpg?dateline=1328552996)
But then I saw you write, "Making camaro, vette and mustangs cry on the road course with a 60's vintage SAAB will be epic" and decided to google Saab 96 and discovered this:
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/33540-miata-drivetrain-saab-96-9614.jpg?dateline=1328552996)
and this:
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/build-threads-57/33541-miata-drivetrain-saab-96-9683.jpg?dateline=1328552996)
and decided his might be pretty spectacular after all.
#20
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I haven't yet seen the actual SAAB but it has been stored indoors for 12-15 years. It does come with multiple doors and more importantly multiple fenders for figuring out the "slight" fender roll.