i just posted (Sept 15, 2015) this on LA Saab Club facebook group to see what people have to say…
ok friends, i need some solid, honest advice. here’s the synopsis. back in 1986 i bought a new 9000T (one of the first in OC), in ’90 it was totaled when a lady ran a red light, but bud at J&B rebuilt it for me. we fitted some unique rims, and i drove it several more years then sold it to a saab enthusiast who sold it on to another saab enthusiast. earlier this year i saw it, and bought it back from him (250k mi) with the hope of restoring it. i’ve just finished all the suspension work (koni’s with all aero springs/sways) including all new bushings etc. as well as fixed a few oil leaks and upgraded to a newer air cleaner assembly. …then it started getting ugly. the fan blower motor fuse melted down and when bud & ron (J&B) opened up the “fishbowl” realized that all of insulation on the wires in the wiring harness was starting to significantly disintegrate or was just crumbling. now i’m in a conundrum. do i try to replace the wiring (at least everything engine side of firewall maybe more) or the entire harness….or do i find another 9000 (if i can!) and swap all the suspension over to it. or is there another option.
now the soft-part. i have a bit of an emotional attachment. it was the first car my wife and i bought together and drove during the early part of our family’s life. both of our boys were brought home from the hospital in this car–their first car ride. and it saved our lives in what could have been a bad accident.
i welcome any and all wisdom and thank you for your time helping me decide what to do next…
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lots of encouragement to fix it/keep it on the road HERE
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my update November 15, 2015 – 2 months later:
thanks for all of your SAAB-wisdom. wanted to let you know that on thursday of last week, i decided to go up and pay a spontaneous visit to my 9000 that had been at J&B for quite a while and talk candidly with bud about the future. i walked in the door and bud asked me if i was hear to pick up my 9000!? because it was done! i was shocked and sure he was kidding…but he was not. ron and nick had finished the rewiring job the day before and it was ready leave the shop. instead of another harness, ron decided the best solution was to purchase new wiring, so he did. i think the bottom line was ron was just tired of it taking up space in the shop! so on friday, i got a ride from a friend and picked her up! so now we’re back on track with the restoration. amazing work by some extremely talented and knowledgable gentlemen. so thankful. below is all that can be seen of many hours of masterful wire splicing.
