Garage Storage Organization and Garage Cabinets

**glhman** · **Saab 900 IC vs. Saab 9000 IC**

I have both of the intercoolers, and need help choosing which one to use. The Saab 9000 is the full radiator sized IC that is about 1 1/4" deep with plastic end tanks. The 900 is the one that is a bar and plate style that is approximatly the size of a dsm IC. Is pretty thick, about 3" id I remember correctly (not around it currently). The 900 has aluminum end tanks.

The car is a 86 GLH soon to be T2 running 15 PSI. Obviously the 900 would fit better next to the radiator vs having to shove the 9000 infront of the radiator. But, which one cools more effectivly?

beefalobilly · 01-25-2005, 12:41 AM

i'm pretty sure the radiator is not very good, but the smaller one work well when you have a few welded together (and no longer have to go around that bend)

ERACE · 01-25-2005, 01:30 AM

What model and year did you take this two intercoolers from?

Leafy · 01-25-2005, 01:44 AM

I have the Saab 9000 intercooler mounted in front of My Rad in My turbo Z, running about 15 psi it holds well, but doesn't cool as well as I'd like it to... As far as my knowledge goes, I think the 900 cools better, but doesn't flow as well... someone correct me if I'm wrong!

LynX853 · 01-25-2005, 01:47 AM

I have the 900, it cools great, but I agree with the flow... its not as great. I would stick with the 900, seeing as it has alum end tanks

**glhman** · 01-25-2005, 11:50 PM

The 900 is from a 85. Not sure which year is the 9000 is from. Sounds like the 900 is the way then.

**glhman** · 01-26-2005, 05:30 PM

Talked to a bunch of some Saab guys, many of them upgrade their 900 (smaller) IC to the 9000 IC. They say that the end tanks blowing off is a rare occurence. In fact a bunch of them are running 17 PSI no problem. Makes me think twice...

**glhman** · 01-31-2005, 11:39 AM

Bump, any other opinions?

LynX853 · 01-31-2005, 11:41 AM

my buddy with a 900 upgraded to a viggen IC, not the 9000

Leafy · 01-31-2005, 01:34 PM

Like I said, I have no problem running 15 lbs of boost on my 9000 IC, although I am running a mitsu turbo... not too sure what it would be like with a Garrett or a larger turbo.

**glhman** · 02-01-2005, 11:25 AM

I'm kinda leaning towards the 900 just because the size of it would allow for a much easier install. Then, if it doesn't cool enough, ad a little alky?

D-Cal · 02-01-2005, 01:20 PM

900 will flow terrible. Note the flow path through the IC - it enters one side, flows through half the core, does a 180 in the end tank and then flows through the other half.

Some 900s will have plastic tanks, older ones aluminum.

I believe some also had an integral pressure relief valve, so you may have to plug that to hold more than whatever the stock boost is on the 900.

I used 3 900s to make a custom IC, fab work done by RP. They're a nice short core and three of them side by side fits into the nose of a G-body nicely.

Derek

**glhman** · 02-02-2005, 11:02 AM

How much did the project end up costing you?

D-Cal · 02-04-2005, 03:20 PM

In the neighbourhood of $500US or so. I could have got it down some if I was willing to wait for bargain EBay prices on the cores, left off the 2 2.5" cast aluminum elbows being welded on (elbows are expensive), and gotten the fab work done locally. I ended up with a beautifully-made IC that perfectly replaces a T2 IC though.

The cores are Blackstone BTW.

**glhman** · 02-07-2005, 11:14 AM

Looking to go cheap, so that option is out.