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, Wed, 28 Aug 2002 19:29:40
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Open deck means that the top end of the cylinder "tubes" in the block are floating, i.e. not attached to the outer part of the block. In the closed deck block, the top of the cylinder "tubes" have "bridges" built to the outer part of the block, with openings to allow water flow between the water jacket in the block and the cylinder heads. The main difference is in the block, but the cylinder heads for the two are different, too. The early open deck uses a different cylinder head gasket, as the mating surface is somewhat different. The early red and silver engines use a 1/2" reach spark plug (Bosch W225T35), while the Blue engines and later use a 3/4" reach spark plug (Bosch W200T30). The combustion chambers in the heads are slightly different and the angle that the plugs go in is different. The "reach" refers to the length of the threads on the spark plug.
Some people claim that the open deck blocks blow head gaskets, I drove 100,000 hard miles in my '67 96 V-4 and never suffered this fate. I'm not sure if the open deck head gaskets are available any more, so that's a definite disadvantage. Oversize pistons for any 1500cc engine are a problem. The later 1700cc engines use the same piston and share many other parts with some of the V-6 Capri's, so internal parts are more readily available. If I had a car that I wanted to restore, I'd put in whichever block was original, but for a daily driver, I'd put in whatever I could get and maintain.
The transmission has ball bearings instead of roller bearings used in many newer transmissions. Ball bearings are much more susceptible to dirt and chips, so it is imperative that the transmission fluid be changed regularly. SAAB says every 6 months, and that's what all the old timer mechanics were telling me 30+ years ago. Keep the fluid changed/clean and the transmission will last a long time if it's currently in good shape. The problem with any used car is, you don't know how it's been maintained by the previous owner(s).
posted by 209.102.12...
, Wed, 28 Aug 2002 12:08:13, Wed, 28 Aug 2002 19:29:40
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