I have wanted to build a challenge car for a long time, I like weird things and I wanted something small and light. I came across this 1967 Saab 96 and after a few FBM messages from my wife to the seller a deal was struck and I hooked the trailer to the truck and hit the road today. I am still working on the full plan but the preliminary plan is a snowmobile engine powering the front wheels. The original is a 2 stroke and I would like to keep it 2 stroke. Next step is to get it in the shop and start cutting out the rusty floors and adding some actual metal back in.
first pic is where it was sitting when we picked it up.
It already has the required GRM sticker.
And finally the obligatory gas station on the way home photo.
Cool.
Was that an AMEC ice racer?
In reply to Woody (Forum Supportum) :
I am working on the history still but what I understand is this car was bought in 67 to be a rally racer. More recently it did do some ice racing. I have a close Saab friend who knows more of the local history. I am planning on catching up with him this week to try to lock down more info.
In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :
That's what I was thinking. I need to put some thought into how I connect to the driveshafts. The kicked around plan was a jack shaft with the secondary clutch on it. I need to do some math on gear ratios before I start ti do anything other than stabilization.
First order of business is making a new floor, then I am moving to the front cradle, the. The trunk. After that I will start to get more serious about engine searching.
Started to get farther into investigating the floor and how to attack rebuilding the rust infected areas.
Other than the floor, the truck pan, the front suspension mounts, the rear suspension mounts, the doors and the quarter panels it's really not that bad...
oof, I'll just eat the whale one step at a time, I'll start with floor.
This leads me to my first budget question. They just built a wall at work, it's made from steel studs, there are end cuts that the super said I can have they are otherwise going into the dumpster. How do I budget for this?
In reply to NY Nick :
Weight. Prep each piece you are adding to the car then weigh it before welding in. Use current price of steel/pound to calculate budget hit.
In making a rust repair plan I realize that I need a rotisserie or a lift to get to the rust well. I don't have either so I am making something to turn the car on its side. This is the inspiration
https://autovip.uk/basic-car-roller/
here is the design
and this is as far as I can go until I get M12 - 1.25 bolts on Tuesday.
Making some progress. Had to move out of my regular garage and into the garage I usually store stuff in because of the amount of welding I need to do.
I mounted the tip over stands and welded a support to the roll cage so it can lay on its side. Hopefully tilling on its side to happen issue free later today or tomorrow.
And it's on its side and the fun begins...
it was a fun little rigging job. All I used were (2) 1/2 T manual hoists, a pulley a rope and a couple straps. It is sitting stable and not touching the body.
In reply to NY Nick :
Well done. That'll make floor repairs SO much easier!
That is really clever. Saving that for later, should I ever need it.
In reply to ShawneeCreek :
Just make sure you know the rafter can take it. Before I did it I added screws to the rafters and made sure there were no cracks. I also use those manual hoists enough to have a "feel" for how hard they are pulling. I am pretty sure I was never pulling at full load so the rafters were probably not seeing anything crazy. Once the car was a few feet in the air I could have pushed it over by hand.
Progress has been slow, slow enough that I re-read the article "How to make progress on a stalled project car" by Carl.
No one thing, just life and trouble getting a good path. I cut out the passenger rocker bottom which was rusty AF. I bent material to make new rockers but I am struggling to find enough good metal to weld it to that I can reach easily. I may just have to start welding and cut access holes to weld more if I can't get enough weld area. Mostly posting to remind myself to keep going and employ the advice from Carl to share the project with others so you feel enough shame to do keep working. I think he called it an accountability partner which sounds less hurtful 
I have a link to that article? I think I need to read it.
So I got after it tonight for a little bit. The best part is my kid is excited about it. I told him I was working on it tonight. He took a spare toolbox and loaded it up with tools and brought it to the car (it's in my rental shop not my regular shop). He worked with me the whole time and we made some progress. Contour some more floor and that gives access to weld the rocker half. My plan is to weld the half that's on the outside of the car first and then plug weld the inside half then weld them together on the bottom.
once I have pickers I should have something to weld the floor too!
We even took a few minutes to clean the garage and pick up the tools. I'm trying to teach him that, even though I am not good at it!
I have never tried to fix a car with this much rust, if this was going to be a street car I would have thrown in the towel but race car so let's keep going. Cut out more rocker rust today. Hopefully I can stop cutting and start welding soon. 🙂
