Fairly Cheap Performance Mods For a c900

5472 Views 16 Replies 11 Participants Last post by mySaab900, Oct 6, 2010

mySaab900

Discussion Starter · Oct 2, 2010

Hey guys, can anyone tell me some fairly cheap to expensive performance mods I could do on my '91 N/A c900? I'm looking for things to boost horse power a little, and maybe just get it looking nice. There is a lot of pitch from pine trees on the hood, what can I do to get that old crap off of there. Do those scratch pens actually work that Billy Mays used to advertise? And any good cleaning tips, or anything just to get this '91 with 265k miles on it looking and driving a little better? Thanks for your help!!

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

jk88

· #2 · Oct 2, 2010 (Edited)

Turbo exhaust. But seriously don't waste your money. A 19yo NA automatic with 265K and rough shifts (per your other thread) is not a good candidate for power mods. Go easy on 'er!

Try to only drive downhill with a tailwind, and save your pennies to buy a c900 turbo. Or a 9000 Aero. Or a Viggen. Or anything not powered by a *mature* 2.1 NA / 3sp auto.

Paul Campagna

· #3 · Oct 2, 2010

Buy a turbo charged car. You can find one for way less than what it would take to get a NA halfway performance wise compared to the turbo. Seriously.

aireeca

· #4 · Oct 2, 2010

How about this? Love and respect your N/A for what it is: A decent runner that, if cared for properly, will happily clock along at 85-90 mph all day long. Learn to drive it skillfully, plot out your passes and strategies.

Will you be the fastest? No. But you'll become a better driver.

Also. It's always better to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.

justineffingp

· #5 · Oct 2, 2010

aireeca said:
It's always better to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.

you've mentioned this before if i recall

DeLorean

· #6 · Oct 2, 2010

the 2.1 Liter cars are not bad, but the automatic kills it... You could mill down the head a bit to get higher compression, and get some more ignition advance, but then the transmission would fail... Personally, I would either convert the car to a manual trans car, or do like others have said and get one that's already a manual trans, or better yet, an MT, Turbo.

Trouble with the auto, is running that torque converted sucks down 20 HP right off the bat, then in order to make the car still accelerate, they geared it really poorly so it limits the top speed & makes it buzzy on the highway. These cars were intended to have a manual trans, the AT was kind of an afterthought.

mySaab900

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 2, 2010

Ya I honesty hate the automatic transmissions. The shifts aren't really that rough, I think I'll check the transmission fluid again today after I've driven it for a while. What I really want, since I love these old c900's. I want to get an SPG so bad!! That's my dream get an SPG and make it mine. Or just get a c900 Turbo, but I also love the 9000 Aero's. So what are good products to at least get looking better? Like I mentioned in my first post.

ninehundredt

· #8 · Oct 2, 2010

Just pick up another c900 and keep your current one. You can always mod it later if you feel it's worth it. I've kept my first c900, and converted it to 5SPD (turbo in the works). I love it and won't ever get rid of it even if it's the weaker performance wise of my other cars.

94cde

· #9 · Oct 3, 2010

get your hands on an spg kit and lower springs... it will "look" just like an spg

and the biggest boost you can do for that car is swap a 5 speed!!

GA

· #10 · Oct 3, 2010

I think the NA cars with a 5 speed are (relatively) fun to drive. The 2.1 liter motor is a bit torquey and it does OK in everyday driving.

There is no good application of an automatic transmission in a c900, however, with the possible exception of a c900 convertible which never sees highway speed.

Paul Campagna

· #11 · Oct 3, 2010

I'd save for a turbo, but keep the 900 na auto for winter. That mike make a perfect combo. You don't want power in the snow, and heck put 4 snow tires on a classic and the are tanks.

For the tree goop, I use PB blaster. You spray it on and leave it for a little while, (BUT not long) and wipe it off and repeat =until the gunk is gone. Then wash with soap. PB blaster will stain the paint if you leave it on.
I had three NA Saab, (2 99's and a 97' 900) and loved each of those cars. Threw exhausts on to make them sound good, k&n filters and that was it. Cool cars, but as soon as I got a taste of the turbo, only place i'd have a NA is for winter...

mySaab900

Discussion Starter · #12 · Oct 3, 2010

Paul Campagna said:
I'd save for a turbo, but keep the 900 na auto for winter. That mike make a perfect combo. You don't want power in the snow, and heck put 4 snow tires on a classic and the are tanks.

For the tree goop, I use PB blaster. You spray it on and leave it for a little while, (BUT not long) and wipe it off and repeat =until the gunk is gone. Then wash with soap. PB blaster will stain the paint if you leave it on.
I had three NA Saab, (2 99's and a 97' 900) and loved each of those cars. Threw exhausts on to make them sound good, k&n filters and that was it. Cool cars, but as soon as I got a taste of the turbo, only place i'd have a NA is for winter...

Ok cool I'll try the PB blaster, I have like 2 cans sitting around somewhere. So would you say let it sit 5-10 minutes? Ya this N/A is already a winter beater, I'm 15 so it's my parents, but I get it in the spring. I'm just the Saab enthusiast in my family. I do a lot of maintainance on it, exterior and interior. I have summer driving tires on some 9000 super aero's for the summer, I'll swap them with my perelli studded snows on some 900 steel rims about November. (I'm in Maine) It does great in the snow, and once I get my license this spring, I have a couple good sources up here to get Saabs. I'm going for a turbo. But this'll do for now. I'll dry the PB blaster, and I just bought some autozone brand engine degreaser. The engine and the transmission are really dirty/greasy/grimy. Thanks for all you guys' help, this is why I love being on here.

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Paul Campagna

· #13 · Oct 3, 2010

mySaab900 said:
Ok cool I'll try the PB blaster, I have like 2 cans sitting around somewhere. So would you say let it sit 5-10 minutes?

I would say no more than 5 minutes at a time. Just make sure you wash it off with soap and water in between each application. Good luck.

mySaab900

Discussion Starter · #14 · Oct 3, 2010

ok thanks for your help Paul

Turbo00

· #15 · Oct 5, 2010

94cde said:
get your hands on an spg kit and lower springs... it will "look" just like an spg and the biggest boost you can do for that car is swap a 5 speed!!

This. The car wont be fast, but throw on a nice suspension (B&G, Intrax if you can find em, or at least SPG springs and some Bilsteins), some more aggressive brake pads and/or stainless lines, and just enjoy the way the car drives. For all the crap I've done to my cars, the most instantly gratifying modifications have always been suspension and brakes, followed by exhaust.

Just enjoy the car and the great mileage!

Chris

CycM17

· #16 · Oct 5, 2010

I went through some similar thoughts when I picked up my '83. I knew an 8v non turbo will never be fast, but I got it anyways. Shortly thereafter, I drew up a vague list of long term goals.

My basic conclusion was this: (Aside from loving it for what it is)

-It won't be fast, ever.
-Make it look good
-Make it sound good
-Make it turn and stop well
-Keep on top of maintenance
-Appreciate it's simplicity.

As everyone else has stated (echo) just scoop up another turbo car if you want to go faster. I already have my NG so after puttering around in the '83 I really appreciate the turbo in my '96!

If you want to make it look good, spend hours on a thorough exterior and interior detail. Respray your wheels, touch up the bumper trim, etc. I used bug and tar remover on sap but ONLY before a wash/wax. Like Paul said, don't just let it sit on the paint.
I use Woolite fabric spray on my carpets/seats and it gets anything out including coffee, etc, that the previous owners may have spilled. Just follow the instructions.

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mySaab900

Discussion Starter · #17 · Oct 6, 2010

CycM17 said:
I went through some similar thoughts when I picked up my '83. I knew an 8v non turbo will never be fast, but I got it anyways. Shortly thereafter, I drew up a vague list of long term goals.

My basic conclusion was this: (Aside from loving it for what it is)

-It won't be fast, ever.
-Make it look good
-Make it sound good
-Make it turn and stop well
-Keep on top of maintenance
-Appreciate it's simplicity.

As everyone else has stated (echo) just scoop up another turbo car if you want to go faster. I already have my NG so after puttering around in the '83 I really appreciate the turbo in my '96!

If you want to make it look good, spend hours on a thorough exterior and interior detail. Respray your wheels, touch up the bumper trim, etc. I used bug and tar remover on sap but ONLY before a wash/wax. Like Paul said, don't just let it sit on the paint.
I use Woolite fabric spray on my carpets/seats and it gets anything out including coffee, etc, that the previous owners may have spilled. Just follow the instructions.

ok thanks so much, that's the most help I've had yet!! I really have been wanting to get it looking good for a good while, what about stains on the back of the seats, it like vinyl or pleather or something. Just leather cleaner? There are some stains on those too. I have some scrates on the hood where it had been parked in the garage and had hit an old tractor engine I had down there, like 5 years ago. How can I fix those? Just touch up paint?

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