Locost - Budget Saab B204 build

[shandylegs]

Had a productive couple of days on this.

Back of the car has now been put back together. I’m actually waiting on new bushes for the rear coilovers as on removal the old ones just disintegrated - not come across this before. It’s now looking much better.







With that completed I’ve started to look at fitting the engine.














It doesn’t come as a surprise that the height of the engine is a problem. I have 9” of clearance under the bonnet and already knew it wouldn’t fit under and leave sufficient clearance for the sump. The plan is to graft in a scoop to give the extra 3” I think will be needed.

Engine and gearbox mounts are next!

[Badger]

Sept 17, 2022 19:13:39 GMT shandylegs said:

It doesn’t come as a surprise that the height of the engine is a problem. I have 9” of clearance under the bonnet and already knew it wouldn’t fit under and leave sufficient clearance for the sump. The plan is to graft in a scoop to give the extra 3” I think will be needed.

Engine and gearbox mounts are next!

Just a heads up - if you're planning on getting this through an IVA it's probably worth checking the eyeline requirements vs seating position regards to your bonnet bulge.

[shandylegs]

Just a heads up - if you're planning on getting this through an IVA it's probably worth checking the eyeline requirements vs seating position regards to your bonnet bulge.

Don’t think it’ll be a problem, but will have to make it work regardless!

[dunk]

Can’t believe it was September last year when I last posted about this. For some reason I can’t login with my username or reset my password - hence the different username!

Had to do loads of work on the daily’s and a general feeling of CBA meant it’s just sat in the corner of the unit gathering dust. Although I have most parts to fully complete, at my rate if work it’s still a couple of years from completion ready for an IVA test. Man maths applied and the obvious solution was to buy something for a bit of summer fun.

Prices for classics and kit cars just seem crazy at the moment - are people really paying these rates or is it just chancers trying their look? Anyway, with a limited budget and strict rules that it must be MoT’d (or very close to being usable from the outset), it’s taken some time and negotiation to get things over the line.

I’ve ended going back to my roots and buying a Robin Hood kit car. Same model as the first kit car I bought 20 odd years ago so I know my way around them quite well.

Let’s start with the bad. Other than MoT’s each year circumstances have meant its been stood outside uncovered for the last 8 years. The body is a stainless monocoque structure so they don’t rust (just crack on the welds 😂), just everything else that’s attached does!

Pics and further details to follow.

[dunk]

Like I said this car is currently MoT’d!

[dunk]

So why did I just do a 650 mile round trip in a day to collect a pinto powered pile of rusty junk?

Believe it or not, amongst the wibblepoo and rust there are some redeeming features. It was built right to start with, well engineered with things like the wiring being very good.

Decent set of gauges, interior ok just needs some flooring



Why fit a bias brake set-up, most Robin Hood use the Sierra pedal box?



Oh, what do we have here?

[dunk]

The main reason for purchase, a rather nice ST170 set-up developed over a number of years.

















Raceline sump, Omex ecu, along with a piggyback ecu to control the vvc. Worked head along with a set of Jenvy throttlebodies.

Around 200hp give or take with a good spread of power. 

Next thing is I need to work out how I can drive the thing given it was set-up for someone slim and 5’6” - I’m a little larger in all directions!

[jimi]

Aug 7, 2023 8:28:33 GMT dunk said:

For some reason I can’t login with my username or reset my password - hence the different username!

PM one of the Admin and they'll sort you out

[dunk]

So the first thing to look at is how I can fit in!

Even with all the framework and mountings removed from the seat and it placed as far back as possible, things were still too tight. From conversations with the builder I knew the pedal box had been extended - Cue a few hours of pain reaching into the footwell to get things removed.







While I’ve actually got a brand new bias set-up with the other kit, I decided just to modify what was there. With the extension cut off I was able to weld a new plate to mount the master cylinders.







Having tried this in the car everything feels in a much more natural position. I’ve just got to think of a way of reconnecting the master cylinders when the pedal box is reinstalled - something I’m really not looking forward to!

[dunk]

Made quite a bit of progress on this. Helps with it being in the garage at home meaning I can grab a few minutes here and there.

Pedal box is all back in and seat mounts modified, I now fit in!

The cycle wings had previously taken a few hits and had cracked in a few places. Instead of replacing them I’ve glassed them back together and they are currently sat in primer pending me deciding what colour to paint things.






Probably not worth the time and effort, other than my time being free!

First test drive didn’t quite go to plan. It was running so well I got a little carried away and ended up stranded 15 miles from home in t-shirt, shorts, no roof (wife kindly brought it over for me) and rain. When running it does go rather well.

Although I said no polishing until properly on the road. As it needed a new air filter I couldn’t resist getting the Solvil out and having 10 minutes 🤣








Just on with sorting the passenger footwell tonight. Similar to the drivers side but I’m not changing the seat mounting,  just cleaning and derusting.














Big changes ahead though. Daughter is off to Uni in the next couple of weeks which means us having to fund her excess drinking for the next few years. So much so I’ve decided to give up the space I rent. I’m trying to work out what I’m going to have to clear out beforehand, but the b204 powered kit car will definitely be on it’s way. I need to get it cleaned down and advertised in the coming weeks. Shame as it will be by far the better car when completed - but needs must!

[shandylegs]

With the car being at home in the garage rather than stuck in a unit I’ve found it much easier to grab the odd hour in the evening. The rear roll bar needs painting so i had to pull/remove much more of the trim than I really wanted to. Just the prep work to do before the satin black gets a work out.



After that I’ve just been concentrating on getting under the bonnet cleaned up. It’s now starting to get there (rubbish pictures but you get the idea!







As well as the roll bar, I just need to de-rust and paint the front wishbones, paint the firbreglass and trim the dashboard and we’ll be about there. With a bit of luck there will be some good winter drives ahead.

[shandylegs]

As I mentioned before I decided to give up my space in a mates unit - I’ve only rented from him for the last 10 years 😂

He’s just in the process of moving premises so it’s sort of the right time. He’s kindly agreed to store the incomplete kit and a few other bits I don’t have space for at home. I really didn’t want to sell so this is great news.

In anticipation of this I thought I’d best get it rolling and steering. Getting rid of 6 months of bodyshop dust



I may regret it but to space I’m ditching the build wheels. Now looking a bit better!



I had a quick look at the previous work on the pedal box and it should not be too difficult to finalise the steering column mounting. I’ve taken a couple of days off work so hopefully it will get completed in time.

[shandylegs]

Seem to say this rather a lot, but where does the time go!

Been chipping away at the Robin Hood over the last few months sorting the little jobs like retrimming the dashboard, making a new exhaust mount etc…all the while knowing I really should be getting it prepped for paint.

Anyway, a few days leave from work gave me a bit of time to get this sorted.

[shandylegs]

Along with a bit of arm twisting from someone who actually had a clue to get me to here.

[shandylegs]

Really happy with the choice of colour. Car is now back together and close to being finished, just needs a good clean and couple of small finishing touches.












Had a little run out and it does go rather well. Not well enough to stop me getting wasted by a young lad in his tuned Seat though 🤣. Given the Seat is reportedly well over 300hp, I was hitting the limiter in 3rd gear before he could get past me - so not too shabby!

Although childish, it got me thinking that there is no way that would have happened if I had finished and was driving the one with a Saab Turbo lump. There may possibly be a for sale advert being written shortly 🤔

[ducklooker]

That turned out very smart indeed!
Any video's of it.
Bet it sounds good.

[shandylegs]

Thanks, it’s getting there. It’s never going to be a show pony but isn’t a badly put together dog either. Last few bits of trim to sort then it can be considered done.

I’ll have to see on the video front!

[shandylegs]

Didn’t get chance to do a video before I did the usual and sold the car. Bit of a regret as it’s just coming into summer, but I now only have *space for one project car and the longer I kept it meant there would be no progress on the main Saab Turbo project.

I’ve started bringing boxes of parts home from where they are currently stored. Space is going to be a real issue.


The good side to selling a car is that I have a few pounds back in my pocket. So much so that I’ve decided to make my life a little easier and to farm some work out. Hopefully this way the project should get moved on a little quicker (provided I don’t get sidetracked again 🤣)

[maf260]

If you don't mind me asking - how much did the ST-engined car go for?

[shandylegs]

Apr 17, 2024 20:19:08 GMT maf260 said:

If you don't mind me asking - how much did the ST-engined car go for?

Although I needed to put quite a bit of work into it, it was my time rather than loads of extra expense. The car came to me at the right money so I was not greedy when selling.

Sorry, but the selling price is between myself and the buyer l but it was basically what a decent Pinto powered car sells for, so I think he got a good deal.