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Stage Rallying 99

18K views 30 replies 15 participants last post by  drioux15 
#1 ·
I would appreciate any information regarding the stage rallying 99 EMS and Turbos from the 1970's
I am hoping to build one to compete in Scotland in the historic classes.
I do know that rally parts used to be available, such as gearsets etc, but I have been unable to trace any sources, either new or secondhand.
In addition the EMS had a homologated 16valve head and the engine output was over 200BHP.

Was this a variation of the Triumph Dolomite sprint head?

Thanks for your help
Malc
Stonehaven
Scotland
 
#2 ·
The 16v head was independently designed by Gunnar Axelsson and originally developed for a Volvo. Axelsson completed the first 16v Volvo engine in 1971, but Volvo showed no interest in the 16v head and dropped the idea. 1974 Saab's competition department contacted Axelsson for modifying the 16v head to fit a 2L Saab B motor. The first 16v Saab engine was ready in May 1975. Saab needed to make 100 16v heads before January 1st 1976, to get it homologated. While they did cast 100 heads, only 20 or so heads were actually machined and finished. The new engine had 220 hp and 30% more torque than the 8v EMS engine.

Trying to find one of those 16v heads, never mind a spare head, is obviously near impossible. Build a 99 rally turbo in stead. It has 250 hp and 100% more torque than the 8v EMS engine. It got homologated in 1978 and parts are readily available.

Mikael H.
 
#4 ·
Before building a 99 turbo for use in Historic events I would check the rules. As of the last time I checked you couldn't enter either 4 wheel drive cars, or those fitted with turbos in 'historic' stage events. The exception, rather ironically, was that you could enter as a novice driver and drive anything but, once beyond novice status, the rules would prevent you from entering a 99T.

Regarding parts. Most mechanical bits are still available, many from the 900 parts bins. Water pumps/ jack shafts are becoming a bit on the rare side - I got mine from the States, via Ebay .Safety Devices make a cage, but you have to make sure you get the right one as there is some confusion over part numbers. My cage is technically for a 900 but it fits the 99 fine. If you want works type arches, you can get them from Anders at http://home.swipnet.se/rpglasfiber/ , they cost about £200 a set including p+p, well they did a year ago.

For the suspension you can fit the rear end of a 900 or you can buy a rear anti roll bar from SAS - http://www.sasab.com/main.cfm that will fit the 99 axle. You don't need a front one and the front end of a 99 is failry well sorted if fitted with the right springs and uprated shocks.

Ebay is a good source of bits and pieces generally but you have to watch the prices and I got quite a few things from the Saab owners Club classified site but it doesn't seem to be working at the moment.

I had every intention of building a works 2 door replica and having it finished by now but a major building project has got in the way somewhat At least the shell is in the garage so it's not going to get any worse until I get time to get round to working on it again.

David
 
#5 ·
Thanks for the info David,
I was actually going to compete in the Scottish Rally Championship which has a Historic class for cars built before 1981, rather than a "true" historic rally championship
I do wish the MSA would sort all this out as some cars are allowed some aren't.....
Good luck with the building project....
Cheers
Malc
 
#7 ·
Get in touch with the SOC Motorsport Secretary (PM dbarrow on this forum
) for Andrew Street's contact details, I believe his car is for sale and is ready prepped to suit current Historic regs... Andrew is well known in Saab rallying circles and will have had that car very well sorted. If you don't want a ready-prepped car then at least he will be able to give you some pointers.

Oh, and join the Club if you're not already a member, you should do it anyway but to help your decision you can get sponsorship to help with entry fees etc which far outweighs the Club subscription charge
 
#11 ·
The 16V B type engine heads are nigh on impossible to get.

There was a rough cast (unfinished) one that went on ebay about 2 years ago, but rumour was that the were pourous.

Only about 200 were cast, many were never finished/machined as Saab stopped rallying.

I have here a photocopy of a 'road' test of a rally 99T.

Andrew
 
#12 ·
Originally posted by black&whitesaab:
[qb]If you want works type arches, you can get them from Anders at   http://home.swipnet.se/rpglasfiber/   , they cost about £200 a set including p+p, well they did a year ago.[/qb][/b]
I wish that website had an English-language version that most of us could read. :cool: Does the site (or anyone else) have pictures to show what the products look like after being installed?

[qb]For the suspension you can fit the rear end of a 900 or you can buy a rear anti roll bar from SAS  -   http://www.sasab.com/main.cfm   that will fit the 99 axle. You don't need a front one and the front end of a 99 is failry well sorted if fitted with the right springs and uprated shocks.[/qb][/b]
I keep getting told that, at least with my C900's, a front anti-roll bar is better than a rear one, but I'm open to advice on this issue.

Craig.
 
#13 ·
Thank you all for your input!

Trollbooster: I would love the papers if you find them and yes I can copy them for anybody else who maybe interested!

FlipTop: Thanks for the pointer to Andrew Street, I will try and get in touch with him

I must admit I am still undecided regarding either EMS or 99T, but it really all depends on what I can find. In the mean time I will contact the Scottish Rally Championship to see which class it might end up in....
Speaking of which it is sponsored by County Saab!

Cheers
Malc
 
#14 ·
This information may be too old to help (and it couldn't be further away from you...), but:

Long ago, when I was on holiday in Cornwall in my 99 EMS, I blew the clutch and managed to get it fixed in Perranporth by a garage that after a little googling about, has, I think moved down the road to Penzance and became:

T R P Saab Specialists
Telephone: 01736 740720
Address: Units A & B Rospeath Ind Est/Rospeath Lane, Crowlas, Penzance, TR20 8DU

The owner tarmac rallied his own 99 EMS, and gave every impression of being very knowledgeable, and he was certainly helpful, giving me and my wife (then girlfriend) a lift back to Truro in his 'fast road' 99 (very suited to the lanes thereabouts).

I know it's a bit vague, but you did ask for ANY help...

Oh, and apro-pro of nothing much really, I came accross this just now while I was trying to remember him:

mid-engined 99

(look at the second for sale ad)


Carl
 
#15 ·
Originally posted by Craig's C900 Workshop:
[qb] QUOTE
Originally posted by black&whitesaab:
[qb]If you want works type arches, you can get them from Anders at    http://home.swipnet.se/rpglasfiber/    , they cost about £200 a set including p+p, well they did a year ago.[/qb][/b]
I wish that website had an English-language version that most of us could read. :cool: Does the site (or anyone else) have pictures to show what the products look like after being installed?

[qb]For the suspension you can fit the rear end of a 900 or you can buy a rear anti roll bar from SAS  -    http://www.sasab.com/main.cfm    that will fit the 99 axle. You don't need a front one and the front end of a 99 is failry well sorted if fitted with the right springs and uprated shocks.[/qb][/b]
I keep getting told that, at least with my C900's, a front anti-roll bar is better than a rear one, but I'm open to advice on this issue.

Craig. [/qb][/b][/quote]I must admit that I got a bit confused looking at the website, so I just phoned Anders and asked him for a set of works type arches for a 99 Turbo, and that was exactly what I got. His English is a damn site better than my Swedish, in fact his English is better than mine.

Regarding the suspension for a 99T - I based my assumptions on all the research I did prior to starting on my car. All the information I could find, and all the folks I spoke to said rear anti roll bar only, competition springs ( if I can get them) or re-temper standard ones if I can't. There are plenty of aftermarket springs available but they all lower the car. I did find a company in the UK that will make springs for me http://www.springcoil.co.uk/index.htm but I need to know exactly what I need in term of rating etc..

Given current commitments to building projects - I reckon that I should have the car done by this time next year , ish
 
#16 ·
Given current commitments to building projects - I reckon that I should have the car done by this time next year , ish[/b]
Ah ha so Speyside stages rally for you in 2006!!!

If you have trouble finding springs the company I work for gets them made all the time. If you let me know the rate your looking for, plus the coil inner/outer diameter......
Cunning plan
In fact I could probably get them made in a whole bunch of rates... how much? Don't know but if your interested let me know and I can find out
cheers
Malc
 
#18 ·
Originally posted by malcv:
[qb]I would appreciate any information regarding the stage rallying 99 EMS and Turbos from the 1970's
I am hoping to build one to compete in Scotland in the historic classes.
I do know that  rally parts used to be available, such as gearsets etc, but I have been unable to trace any sources, either new or secondhand.
In addition the EMS had a homologated 16valve head and the engine output was over 200BHP.

Was this a variation of the Triumph Dolomite sprint head?

Thanks for your help
Malc
Stonehaven
Scotland [/qb][/b]
We have one 99 EMS -77 rallycar, car is ex-works finnish Saab Scania rally team car. Motor is 8 valve K-jetronic and it shows about 155 hp, motor is not original. Original motor was 16v but we dont know where it is. We are making it driveable for historic events in finland. Race gearbox is broken but we are trying to fix it. Pictures and other stuff: Saab 99 rallye
 
#20 ·
We have one 99 EMS -77 rallycar, car is ex-works finnish Saab Scania rally team car. Motor is 8 valve K-jetronic and it shows about 155 hp, motor is not original. Original motor was 16v but we dont know where it is. We are making it driveable for historic events in finland. Race gearbox is broken but we are trying to fix it. Pictures and other stuff: Saab 99 rallye [/QB][/QUOTE]

Hello, i am very interested in the spec of your engine, what has been done to the cylinder head, ported/larger inlet valves. What profile camshaft are you using and what kind of valve springs?
 
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