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fha772 · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:19 pm Post subject: SAAB 9000 2.3 Turbo engine swap.

Hi, I'm fairly new to the forum, but have been tuning cars for a looong time. Just got a pair of 924's(a 1981 924 and 1988 924S).
I've got the '81 924 running now and i'm planning on turning it into a track-day car. This is the car i'm planning the engine swap for.
I've been looking at the engine that's in it as standard and it seems hard to get any serious power from it. I like to do things a bit different, I was thinking of an Audi 20v 5 cylinder turbo, but it's been done and their not the cheapest option to buy and tune.
After doing a bit of research i've decided on using a 2.3 turbo SAAB engine, these can give 350BHP without too much trouble and i can buy a complete car for around £500. If i sell on the parts i can easily make my money back, meaning a free engine!!!!
I was wondering if anyone else had thought of this swap or if anyone had tried it? Does anyone know if the standard gearbox/torque tube will take the power?

Any help/advice will be great. Cheers Frank.

Paul · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 10:05 pm Post subject:

The clutch, transaxle and torque tube will be an issue, Porsche upgraded these in the 924 Turbos to handle 170 -375 horsepower. The same Audi unit is used in the 944, 944 Turbo, and 924S cars. The gear ratios in the 944 turbo's transaxle will probably match your setup the best.

The pinion seems to be the failure point.
_________________
White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

fha772 · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:28 am Post subject:

Thanks for that, How much power do you think the standard items will handle? When first fitted it will produce around 180-200BHP.

Paul · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:55 am Post subject:

Porsche must have thought it could not handle 170 hp.

Why not convert the S instead since it already has the better setup?
_________________
White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

Rich H · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 1:05 am Post subject:

Someone has been reading Practical Performance Car...

Rich
_________________
1994 Lotus Esprit S4 - Work in progress...
1980 Porsche 924 S2 DITC Turbo - Original spec
1978 Homo-Sapiens - Tired spec
1953 Landrover S1 - Pensioner Spec

tuurbo · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 2:10 am Post subject:

The Saab 2.3 turbo setup is fast but the turbos glow red hot and they need a lot of space. Plus you're choosing a more rare engine which kind of defeats the purpose of a good swap, like, say, compared to a Chevy or Rover V8. (I'm thinking the Rovers are more plentiful in Eur but I don't know)
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1980 924 turbo, MSD, Meth. Inj, otherwise stock.

Martijnus · Joined: 29 Dec 2006 Posts: 2019 Location: Netherlands

well...I guess a saab engine is easier to get over here than a rover v8...

but haven't searched to be honest

_________________
"Rule: Turbo's make torque, and torque makes fun." (C. Bell)

924 "50-jahre", 1981.
MSII/extra, LPG, ITB's, 5lug.
To be turbo'ed in a while.
Killed her at the Nurburgring, Porscheless at the moment

fha772 · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:36 am Post subject:

Hi, i'm trying to do something interesting and a bit different.

I've dropped Rover V8's in so many cars i've lost count, from Mini's to MGB's to Landrover's to VW Beetles. I've got 4 sat under my work bench in my garage(2 3.5's, a 3.9 and a 5.0 race engine).

I've also had Chevys, my first car was a Jeep/AMC J20 Pickup fitted with a 7.5 big block Chevy. I've got a Jeep CJ6 with a LS1 in at home.

My plan for this car was to build it with an engine in keeping the original car's concept. So in my opinion, a high revving, powerful 4 cylinder was the way to go. Here in the U.K, as i said before, i can buy a Saab 9000 Turbo for £500($1000) and sell the parts for about £700($1400). While still keeping the engine and other parts i need. This would give me the extra cash for the conversion.

As for the turbo running hot, i can deal with this with a good quality competion heat shield and exhaust wrap. Once the air has gone through the planned intercooler it should be cool and dense enough to give an increase in power. If not i can look into a water injection system.

fha772 · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:09 pm Post subject:

Hi Rich, Yes i do read the bible(PPC)

and i'm on the forum every day too. It's nice to know that i'm not the only 1 who escaped the asylum!!!!

Also forgot to add, if i do find the turbo runs too hot(which i doubt), i'll install a supercharger instead. Which is no major job, i fitted 1 on my Mercedes 280E in 3 days. It's still going strong now 6 months later.

I was thinking of doing the 924S, but it's in really good condition(like new) with full service history, last owner since 1990. So in my opinion it's too good to strip and cage. Whereas the 924 2.0 is in good mechanical condition, but the interior is poor, due to being stood for a long time. Which makes it a prime candidate. I don't like stripping a car when it's in good original condition, but sometimes it's a cheaper and better option to mod rather than restore.

Rich H · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:18 pm Post subject:

PPC are an inspiration to us all

No bodykit
No speakers
No bullsh!t!
_________________
1994 Lotus Esprit S4 - Work in progress...
1980 Porsche 924 S2 DITC Turbo - Original spec
1978 Homo-Sapiens - Tired spec
1953 Landrover S1 - Pensioner Spec

fha772 · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 12:36 am Post subject:

Ah yes the PPC mantra. I live my life by it, also got kicked out of a meditation class for chanting it!!!!

Don't forget the new PPC mantra of "Turbos are cooler than ICE!!"

May not live up to it fully with this project though, as i'm planning on using the rear arches off a gts body kit to put more rubber on the ground.

Rich H · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:08 am Post subject:

That is allowable as you still need an MOT

_________________
1994 Lotus Esprit S4 - Work in progress...
1980 Porsche 924 S2 DITC Turbo - Original spec
1978 Homo-Sapiens - Tired spec
1953 Landrover S1 - Pensioner Spec

Peter_in_AU · Joined: 29 Jul 2001 Posts: 2743 Location: Sydney, Australia

Is the saab 2.3 engine mounted at 45 degrees like the 2.0? That would be something in it's favour.
_________________
1979 924 (Gone to a better place)
1974 Lotus 7 S4 "Big Valve" Twin-cam (waiting)
1982 924 (As featured on Wikipedia)

Learn to love your multimeter and may the search be with you

fha772 · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:02 am Post subject:

Hi Peter, no it's sat vertical, bu from doing a few quick measurements on a Saab 9000 that was in for work at my mate's garage, it should go in quite nicely.

Khal · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:21 pm Post subject:

This one piqued my interest 'cause my parents owned a SAAB 9000 (Carlsson, '91 or '92, can't quite remember exactly) for many years. Nice motor. Had all the electrickery. Good power and rev'd smoothly. They are low-revving, though. And they have a (relatively) small, low-pressure turbo as I understand it? I remember it having plenty of shove low in the rev range but the power would trail off pretty quickly towards higher rev's -pretty much the exact opposite of a 924 Turbo, as far as that goes.

They're front-wheel-drive cars and the engine is mounted tranversely. Dunno how they managed the clutch/gearbox/diff (never worked on it, never paid much attention to it other than to drive it occasionally, which was fun... torque-steer writ large!). I can't imagine it's going to be easy to adapt to the 924?

I always though it was a nice engine, though...
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'80 924 Turbo