9000 bottom windscreen rust

[saab9000aero2.3]

Hi

We have just uncovered something of a disaster with our 1995 Aero. Looking for the source of a leak that was making the front carpets wet, we have found that the steel is completely corroded away along the entire length of the bottom of the windscreen - it's one long hole about half an inch wide.

I'm coming on here to look for advice and opinion. Is this repairable? We don't have the skill or the equipment to do it ourselves so it would have to be done by a bodyshop, but there's no point in chasing a dream if general opinion is that the job cannot reasonably be done. In general the car is sound and has received a lot of attention and effort, and it would break out hearts to have to scrap it.

What do people think?

Bob Clark, Lanarkshire

[Audax]

It is repairable, I've seen it done before just it's not a cheap job. The corrosion on this part is not uncommon unfortunately and it has resulted in the scrapping of a few 9000's that I have known about. I think the price quoted for doing this job a few years ago using new parts from a body shop was in the region of £800.

[saab9000aero2.3]

Are you aware of how the repair should be done?  Is it reasonable to expect a body shop to form new steel to piece in, or are we looking for a piece cut out of a scrap body to weld in place?

[phoenix]

It could be either; to be honest though the chances of finding a 9000 with the entire screen trim sound that is being scrapped are fairly low. I'd have thought that the simplest option would be for a bodyshop to weld a new piece in- it's not a terribly complicated section. It's not structural along there.

Bottom line is that if you like the car and it's otherwise good it's a repair worth doing. A good bodyshop would be able to offer you advice  on how to proceed.

[Audax]

I recall that price was replacing it with a new part from Saab, it wasn't a massive amount of money compared to the entire job, somewhere in the region of £130. I'd really ask the advice of a bodyshop, they may not want to do it and therefore may quote you £2000 but you may find someone else who needs the money and will do an excellent job for less.

[saab9000aero2.3]

Thank you for these helpful responses.

Now all I need to do, I think, is to find a bodyshop or metalworker in the west of Scotland with the skill and inclination to tackle the job! 

[Paul @ Kippen]

saab9000aero2.3

I'm scrapping a '95 LPT and was thinking of taking out the windscreen to keep as a spare so the bottom scuttle section will be available for examination if you want it,

Paul @ Kippen.

[saab9000aero2.3]

Paul, that would be incredibly helpful and very kind of you.  Can you contact me direct?  07770420999 or r.clark at culturalprojects.co.uk.