Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 08:08:37 -0400 From: "Eric Law" <elawnopsamexxx.com> Subject: Re: A bunch of questions...
OK, here goes... 1 - bad idle: You should get a factory service manual for the fuel injection system. Should cost maybe $25.00, and will be very useful. That car's got a hellacious array of relays/switches/sensors that can cause all sorts of strange drivability problems if they fail. An oxygen sensor may be another thing to look at - do you have any idea when yours was last replaced? If it's a non-heated sensor (1-wire as opposed to 3- or 4-wire), you're *supposed* to replace them every 35K? miles. If it's got more than 60-70K on it, I'd feed the car a new one. 2 - 16V turbo conversion: This is not an easy job at all, but the results are great if you do it carefully. If you're mechanically and electrically inclined, and have the time and space, go for it. *DO NOT* pay a shop to do it, it's not worth the considerable expense (you could just buy a turbo car for less). Best thing is that the car is still on the books as a non-turbo, so you'll keep your low insurance rate. I stuck a T16 motor in an '80 900 and kept the CIS, and it worked great. A few items that come to mind: (this is not a complete list, I did this quite a while ago) Books: don't even start without a CIS book and complete wiring diagrams. The 16-V motor book is also a good thing to have. I'm talking *Saab* books here, not Haynes, Bentley, or Children's. Warm-up regulator: attached to thermostat housing w/1 bolt. Fuel injectors: the holes in the manifold are same diameter, but creative gasketing and brackets are required to hold them in. Ignition system: you need to lose the EZK system. The turbo ignition system is super-simple: distributor, amplifier module, coil, wiring. Just feed it power and it works. Hopefully the motor has distributor on it (your 8V won't fit). Get amplifier and wiring (get the whole pertinent chunk of the wiring harness) from junkyard. Use wiring diagram to figure out how to connect it. APC system: highly recommended to procure and use this. It's not that hard to hook up: only connections to the car are power, ground, and a connection to the brake-light circuit that is optional (reduces boost when your foot is on the brake). Exhaust system: you'll need all the components from a turbo. The system is larger diameter, and lower-restriction than the non-turbo. 3 - Transmission: I've been told by a good source (friend that works at Eriksson) that the '89- transmissions are better, but not *much* better. My advice is simple: never install a 5-speed in your car that has not been rebuilt first. I don't care if the junkyard says it's only got 5000 miles on it, rebuild it anyway! Save yourself a lot of hassle later. Hope this all helps! Eric Law Wstphalia <wstphalianopsamcom> wrote in message news:19990418003632.05109.00001987nopsam.aol.com... > Okay, sorry to ask so much at once, but, I've figured I'd try asking here > before asking anyone else. > > 1. I've got an 88 900, 8 valve. Like every 8 valve I've had, it idles for > about 2 minutes after a cold start. After that it'll either stumble and surge > at idle, or just die. I've done the cold start valve routine, replace it every > three months, maybe I got a bad one, but it's just not doing the trick anymore. > Maybe someone can offer a little insight on that one. > > 2. I also have a pretty low mileage 90 16v turbo engine sitting around doing > no good. I'd love to swap in the engine, and I've seen it done succesfully > before. My question regards the whole fuel/ignition sys. The one I saw used > the 8 valve CIS fuel injection, with what mods I don't know. I 'd rather not > have to go to the trouble of putting the APC/EZ-K and all that stuff in. I'm > not really lookin for maximum power, I've gotten used to my car's tortured > pace, so I'm just lookin for a little boost (pardon the pun). Again, anybody > with any ideas, greatly appreciated. > > 3. Lastly, like most Saabs, my tranny's shot. Pinion bearings, synchros, the > whole works. I've bought used boxes before, always pre '89, and they always do > the same damn thing, without fail. I know the 89+ boxes are better, but I > don't know how they stand up as used boxes. Anybody know when they usually > wear out, I usually get about 150k out of the old boxes, if that's any measure. > It's a five speed, just don't want to cause confusion. > > Thanks in advance for any info. > > "I am a bear of very little brain..."
