I have a 91 9000CD with 165000miles. I just had my head gasket fail for the second time. So I bought an older BMW740iL that I have been driving. I dont want to sound like I am bashing my beloved Saab but the BMW handling and performance is incredible...and it is a ton bigger than my old Saab. I actually recorded gas milage at 27mpg with an average speed of 94mph across Nebraska. I made it from DesMoines to Grand Rapids, MI on one tank of gas! Try that in my old 9000???!!

I was going to sell the 9000 but I am realizing that it isn't worth a thing on the free market...damn shame because the car still looks great and the interior looks like new. I have $975 worth of tires on the summer and winter rims and likely can't even get that out of the car.

My old Saab still sits in the garage. Now I am thinking what a great winter car. The only reason I didn't repair the car was that I have owned it for 8 years and wanted a change.

The big decision is do I replace the head gasket and call it good as a winter driver or do I get a remanufactured block/ head from autosports and drop it in. To me the one of the biggest determining factors is ease of work.

I have never replaced a head gasket in a car with overhead cams (my saab mechanic did it twice for me already). I don't think it would be horrible, but it seems much easier to pull the whole engine rather than dismantle the old one. The other concern is while the top of my engine has been redone twice, the bearings and seals have never been replaced. It seems like a dumb bet to think that nothing is going to fail down there with over 160K.

I would like to hear from anyone who has replaced head gaskets on a DIY basis or pulled and replaced the entire powerplant. Thanks in advance for your advice.

posted by 198.77.50...

• 2.3L turbo head gasket job or replace engine, David, Fri, 25 Jul 2003 06:35:33 <-- Viewing This Message
  • If you are doing a straight gasket job - not too, 94 9000 CSE, Sat, 26 Jul 2003 12:01:23
  • Re: 2.3L turbo head gasket job or replace engine, Paul E, Sat, 26 Jul 2003 07:32:45
  • Re: 2.3L turbo head gasket job or replace engine, Yaofeng, Fri, 25 Jul 2003 07:07:15
    • You can't compare a 7-series BMW to a SAAB, Street, Fri, 25 Jul 2003 09:55:42
      • Re: You can't compare a 7-series BMW to a SAAB, Yaofeng, Fri, 25 Jul 2003 10:26:21
      • Re: You can't compare a 7-series BMW to a SAAB, LesH, Fri, 25 Jul 2003 09:56:55

No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.

• Prev by Date: On the lighter side..., Joe98, Fri, 25 Jul 2003 06:09:43
• Next by Date: A lot of Ohms?, Chad, Fri, 25 Jul 2003 06:44:10
• Main 9000 Bulletin Board

StateOfNine.com

SaabClub.com

Jak Stoll Performance

M Car Covers

Ad Available

The content on this site may not be republished without permission. Copyright © 1988-2024 - The Saab Network - saabnet.com.
For usage guidelines, see the Mission & Privacy Notice.
[Contact | Site Map | Saabnet.com on Facebook | Saabnet.com on Twitter | Shop Amazon via TSN | Site Donations]

Random Saabnet.com Member Gallery Photos (Click Image)