1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup
Well, thanks to everyone who helped with suggestions for sorting out my blown Aero engine - the one that noisily turned itself inside-out on the M25 last Saturday evening, then threw in a small fire for good measure!
First, the post-mortem:
I've been shown the con-rod that failed. I'm pretty sure the bearing cap went through the sump, hitting the cat on its way. Also something - probably the rest of the con-rod, went through the front of the block. I'm told there was a third hole, but forgot to ask where it was. Likely the back of the block, I would think.
While the con-rod was pretty chewed up, it is apparent that it lost its big-end bearing cap. Both bolts were broken more or less flush with where they exit the con-rod, but this whole part of the rod is too badly damaged to tell anything else.
After it happened, I could see through the hole in the block that the con-rod was no longer connected to the crankshaft. What I couldn't see at the time, and what has really surprised me, is that the con-rod has also snapped about 2/3 of the way up. Again, the broken end is too chewed up to tell anything more about the failure.
I don't know which happened first, although I can't see how a broken con-rod could subsequently lose its big-end bearing cap, so I suspect the cap must have gone first, and the flailing rod got into a situation it couldn't handle without breaking. If anyone has any better explanation, I'd be very interested to hear it.
The fix:
I got a quote from my local Saab dealer for recon. engine, recon. cylinder head and new cat, bearing in mind that the old head and block were probably useless as an exchange. Including labour, I was looking at £4,270 ($6,200). The dealer advised me that it might be better to get a second-hand engine, and recommended Two-Stroke-To-Turbo in Hatfield.
I got a quote from Two-Stroke and from Neo Brothers in Waltham Cross.
Two-Stroke could do a '96 Aero engine, 78K miles for £1000, a cat for £150 and fit them for £500. Including VAT (tax) it came to £1,938.75 ($2,811).
Neo Brothers had a '97 Aero engine, 65K miles for £1000, a cat for £80 and wanted £250 for fitting. A total of £1,562.75 inc. VAT ($2,266).
I went with Neo Brothers because they were cheaper, had a newer, lower mileage engine and seemed just a little bit more helpful on the phone. I accepted their invitation to inspect the donor car on Tuesday, and returned home with their recovery driver, who took the car back with him (25 miles each way).
I had 3 phone calls from Neo Brothers. The first was to say they had taken delivery of the car, and to warn me that because the damage to the engine may have resulted in a serious loss of oil pressure, my 6-month-old turbo might be found to have failed when they started the new engine.
A second call was to inform me that my clutch was worn, and to ask if they should fit a new one. Since they were transferring the clutch over anyway, it would just be the cost of the parts - £115+VAT ($195). I told them to go ahead.
The third call was to tell me the car was ready for collection this morning (Friday). I got a lift from a colleague, who has a 900 (his wife has a 9000) and was keen to visit Neo Brothers for a look around (he left with a set of used wheel trims for £15). One of the brothers, Andy, accompanied me on a long test drive to make sure I was happy with the car. I was - I'm sure it's smoother and more responsive than it used to be. The new clutch feels quite a bit better, too. Then I parted with my cash.
I left feeling I had got a lot of value for (a substantial amount of) money. Neo brothers really inspired confidence and I'm sure I will use them again. The only thing they got wrong was that they screwed up the windscreen washers when they put the car back together. I had to re-route the hose and need to buy a hose coupler tomorrow to replace a broken one. However, I'm sure that if I had noticed this on the test drive, they would have fixed it immediately.
I bought a fire extinguisher this evening...
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.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
