We are now working on buliding the subframe for the bucket seats

We have now completed the frames to mount the seats

The bulk head panel has been tacked into place before being welded and tidied up

The front panel has now been welded into place, all it requires now is a good clean up.

The panel had to be quite solid as it partially stabilises the bulk head panel where the pedals are mounted.

We also had to pay particular attention to seal around the suspension turret tubes as it is the only firewall between the engine bay and driver.

Today we will be mounting the Saab 96 dash fascia. 

We will be replacing the original 96 clocks with the 9-3 Sport MIU

Mock fitting the fascia...

The dash has now been fitted securely into place with no rattles etc,

We are planning something a little different in regards to the final look of the fascia

Watch this space...

After fitting the dash yesterday Nick inspected it and felt we could of removed more weight behind the dash.

So once again we have set off removing the dash and trimming behind it.

Here is a picture of our efforts... (It is now a full half a kilo lighter)

By the end of the day we should have the seats in place with the harnesses secured. 

As you can see in the photos below we have securely mounted the 2 seats and and Sparco harnesses

We spent yesterday afternoon toying with different designs for the side skirts, and how we can tidy up the original seals from the 9-3 Sport.

We have used a composite board to mock up the general size and shape to see how they will look on the car

This is a photo of the belts and seats in place

Just in! A one off production from Maptun for our Saab 96. Keeping with yellow to represent the company logo.

After much consideration we have decided that we aren't to keen on the original side skirt that we mocked up,

So back to the drawing board...  

As you can see below, today we have been experimenting with a side skirt from a Saab 9-3 Sport Aero 2008 year.

We spent yesterday getting the shape of the side skirt with the rear end made in fibre glass to mould into the rear wing,

Here is the skirt fitted to the car, 

EUREKA! We think we have finally found the look that we were after. We now have a sleeker more in touch shape with the rest of the car, it took a bit of time and a few attempts but this is the one!!

We are now going to send the four wings and side skirts to a fibre glass specialist. This will hopefully help us in our quest to stay under the tonne mark!

Today we have started thinking about the clock cluster being incorporated into the 96 dash.

We have trimmed back the casing of the 9-3 Sport clocks, and temporarily mounted them to the hole we cut in the dash to get an overview of how it would look.

Here are our efforts so far...

Today's efforts have been concentrated on getting the dash sorted and looking right. We have incorporated the MIU from the original 9-3 Sport but modified it into the dash panel from the 96. We shall be adding our own Neo Brothers flare to it at a later date.

Shaping up the perspex clock fascia to fit into the dash fascia

Fitting the main instrument unit into the dash fascia. We had to space it so as the dials wouldnt touch the perspex sheet.

Have now fitted the main instrument unit to the main body of the dashboard,

the screws being cut down will be ground flat so as to allow us to wrap the dash in non reflective material (felt) as per other race cars.

Here is the dash fitted to the car,

We are planning to get the 96 into a body shop within the next couple of weeks to get the 1st stage of the paint work done (Interior and engine bay). So we are now mock fitting all the fuse boxes, battery trays and auxiliary's to the car so that everything is pre drilled ready for us to build up when it comes back. This should hopefully save us a lot of time.

As you can see in the pictures above we have fitted the fuse box and welded the mounts for the expansion tank etc to the fab'ed bulk head.

Finishing off the day by mounting the body control unit to the near side front of the car. 

Today was quite an exciting day for us, we had a special delivery of our first custom lightweight panel:

We are now concentrating on having the 96 prepped and ready for the body shop.

We are starting by removing the engine. While the car is away we shall be overhauling the engine with new bearings, seals etc and fitting the performance parts.

Whilst down the body shop they will be spraying the interior, roll cage, engine bay and external body. 

The engine has now been removed...

Hi All,

Today we got the chance to put the wings on and it seems as though they fit rather well

Tomorrows plans is to run the car down to the body shop.

The 96 made its way to the body shop earlier today...

While the 96 is away at the body shop we have continued work on the dash. Today we are mock fitting the push start button and Xeitronix wideframe AFRM display.

Here are the controls fitted

We are now wrapping the dash in black felt

The dash has now been wrapped with the push start button and Xeitronix wideframe AFRM display

And now the finished product:

We have received some photos of the progress that the body-shop have made on the 96, the doors, bonnet and boot lid are now in primer.

We are receiving photos tomorrow of the progress made on the body, 

The body-shop were kind enough to send us a photo this evening of the bulk head of the car tidied up and in primer

The interior is now painted 

The base colour has now been added

We have received the last photos from the body shop where they sprayed all the shuts, interior and engine bay.

They have prepared it for the vinyl wrap and we should be collecting the 96 early next week.

As you can see the front panel, engine bay, shuts etc have been sprayed the pearlescent yellow to match the vinyl wrap. The interior and rollcage have been covered in a satin black...the wheel arches have been sprayed in underseal

Today we are going to be concentrating on the reconditioning of the complete rear axle including upgrading the rear brakes.

The first job of the day will be to strip down the axle, remove any surface rust and paint.

We'll then paint the axle black and fit new poly bushes (the ones developed on Nicks race car).

The next phase will be to upgrade the rear calipers to vented EBC discs and EBC Yellowstuff pads - The calipers will also be sprayed yellow to match the one off yellow 6 pots at the front.

The axle has been dismantled, components have been cleaned of rust and corrosion and have been sprayed black. Just another coat before the poly bushes can be fitted.

The last coat has been added and as you can see, the poly bushes have been fitted.

By the end of Saturday we had the rear axle re built in its entirety ready for fitment onto the car today.

This afternoon we prepared the underside of the car cleaning, preparing and spraying the area that we will be working on ready for the fuel tank to be re-fitted with a Maptun high performance fuel pump followed by the re-built axle.

This morning the axle was re-fitted back onto the car:

As you can see, the Maptun Rear Springs and Dampers have been fitted along with the EBC discs and Yellowstuff pads. The calipers will be painted to match the fronts...

Meanwhile, we removed the front subframe and control arms in order to be prepared for refurbishment and rebushing with Powerflex goodies.

With the subframe down and the engine bay fresh, it was an excellent opportunity to start dressing it with all the ancillaries - starting with the ABS system:

This morning the refurbished and Powerflex Poly-Bushed Subframe and Control Arms were bolted back into place:

Along with the 2nd Generation Maptun Coilover Kit: