I would say that the standard IC design is pretty much ok for an unmodified engine in MOST driving conditions. Back in the times when my 900 was running standard boost there were only a few days in each summer when the performance would be seriously affected by the heat and lack of IC performance. That's probably because I live just west of Sweden, in Finland. I am sure that the Saab engineers never really optimized the IC for, say, Texas summers, neither did they have to care how well it would perform at 15PSI of boost or more.

The standard automotive parts are designed for standard use and with the costs of manufacture in mind. If you want to push the car further, it is time for hardware upgrades. Saab is still one of the few (or the only?) manufacturer in the market who is offering "software only", warranted performance upgrades to their cars. I appreciate this thinking, but on the other hand, what is the point in designing the car to sustain something that it is not initially designed for and which a majority of the customers would not need or care to pay for?

A good example is the "old" 9-3: around here at least 70% of them are low-pressure turbocharged variants at 150hp. The engine internals are essentially the same between the versions and I have friends who are pushing 230hp or more from the originally 150hp powerplant without touching the hardware, with only Trionic/software modifications (and a solenoid valve). In this case the Saab enginers probably figured that the cost of making the engine internals identical between the versions is a cost-saving measure. I bet they did not do it to make it easier for the tweakers...

So my advice is: bite the bullet and upgrade the IC. A front-mount 9000 IC is a great leap ahead. The same applies for most of the parts in the C900 that we so often have bad feelings about. They work just fine in the purpose they are designed for. But hey, were talking performance on this bb! :)

Jouko

posted by 62.248.17...

My 900 Turbo project (with an upgraded IC, hehe!)

• Saab's intercooling incompetence, JJ, Wed, 13 Aug 2003 13:11:58
  • Re: Saab's intercooling "incompetence", Noah, Sun, 17 Aug 2003 03:33:04
  • How many cars were intercooled in the 80's, ckpaden, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 07:23:29
    • A bunch of cars..., Richard P., Thu, 14 Aug 2003 11:56:57
      • Yea, but this car was designed in 79, ckpaden, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 18:27:34
        • It still has a huge following..., Richard P., Fri, 15 Aug 2003 04:53:37
      • Yes, but how many have 175,000+ miles and still run?, Chad B, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 12:51:18
        • 1981 for volvo, M, Tue, 19 Aug 2003 19:35:29
        • Nobody said anything about reliability...., Richard P., Fri, 15 Aug 2003 04:55:29
        • Re: Yes, but how many have 175,000+ miles and still run?, lms, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 16:41:23
    • Re: How many cars were intercooled in the 80's, steveC, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 10:00:46
  • Saab's intercooling competence, Kevin K , Thu, 14 Aug 2003 06:53:54
    • Re: Saab's intercooling competence, Eric van Spelde, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 07:59:56
      • early saab rally intercoolers..., gorper, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 14:10:18
        • oem intercooler mod ...., Kevin K , Fri, 15 Aug 2003 08:36:44
      • Re: a note about timing, steveC iNBC, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 09:59:38
      • Re: Saab's intercooling competence, GM, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 08:18:59
        • Try this..., Eric van Spelde, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 11:08:35
          • Re: Try this..., GM, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 14:42:31
  • Re: Saab's intercooling incompetence, Jouko Kuisma, Wed, 13 Aug 2003 14:43:06 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Hey Jouko, I was wondering how hot your intercooler, KB88900T, Wed, 13 Aug 2003 16:46:48
      • Re: Hey Jouko, I was wondering how hot your intercooler, Jouko Kuisma, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 13:27:36
        • Yah, that I/C heat shield would handle it., KB88900T, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 17:58:46
      • Re: Hey Jouko, I was wondering how hot your intercooler, Taylor, Wed, 13 Aug 2003 18:36:24
        • Yah, but don't you want the air to be as cold as, KB88900T, Wed, 13 Aug 2003 23:03:46
          • Re: Yah, but don't you want the air to be as cold as, Jouko Kuisma, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 13:31:57
  • Re: Saab's intercooling expertise?, Eiron, Wed, 13 Aug 2003 14:22:45

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