Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001 13:32:23 -0500 From: eichdsgnnopsam.com (eichler) Subject: Re: Engine / Tranny Replacements for 1988 8 valve 900
Sorry - forgot to add the problems I am having. The engine - - the engine has excessive valve train noise. Thought either oil pump / pressurecotrol system or valve lashes are now all bad. I found that the oil pump was not delivering enough oil pressure. I checked the bearing on the #4 cylinder's camshaft lobe & there is a lot of wear there. I have not yet done a compression test. My daughter drives this car & has been known to drive her hard & not know the finer points of SAAB noise. I am afraid of a completely worn set of main, rod & camshaft bearings. Also, last summer, the engine went through a serious overheating - to the point of melting the braze joints at the radiator's upper hose. There might be some warpage here also - she leaks oil from the front seal & also loses coolant from somewhere in the front of the car (the radiator is new, of course.). - the tranny has a lot of resistance to shifting - feels like the synchros are worn. She shifts hard & has been known to give the shifter a better nudge than needed, when pressed. The guy I bought her from was an old friend from college who was also a "sporty" driver. I am looking to get ideas on options here. This way, I can later start to get $$$numbers, lead times, etc. & then figure out my options. The rest of the car is pretty solid. This is going to be a beater that will be used to run to the store & flea markets, etc. for the next 10 - 15 years if I fix her up. I miss not having the electric windows & the sunroof & the horsepower of my 16 valve 900, so what ever I do will have a lot of paperwork behind it. Hope this helps. eichler In article <3b26366d$0$88183$1dc6e903nopsam.corecomm.net>, eichdsgnnopsam.com (eichler) wrote: > I might need to replace the engine & trans on my kid's 1988 900 8 valve > with a 5 speed. > What experiences do others have? > I have removed / rebuilt other engines before, the work looks like a pain > in the ass but does not seem to be that hard > I no nothing of the SAAB options, so here goes. > - I assume SAAB has some type of "crate" exchange system? > - Do I have other motor / trans systems available, either the 16 valve > or the turbo? (I assume there are other parts I will be replacing if I > change motors.) > - Are there aftermarket suppliers that offer complete motor / trans systems? > - Are there better shops that could rebuild the motor & trans, as > opposed to replaceing the unit as a whole? > - I assume that if I stay with the 8 valve that I will be replacing > some other parts - motor mounts, inner cv joints & boots (110 k miles), > hoses, belts, ... What else should I expect? > > - What am I forgetting? Is this job too much a pain or just not worth > the bucks ? > > Thanks > > eichler
