1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
![]() | [Main 9000 Bulletin Board | BBFAQ |
Prev by Date | Next by Date | Post Followup ]
Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
Re: Retrofit a turbo to '87 9000S? Posted by Ari [Email] ![]() ![]() In Reply to: Retrofit a turbo to '87 9000S?, 1987Saab9000SSedan4D, Thu, 26 Apr 2001 17:03:19 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
It depends- if you're looking to build a hot-rod hand grenade that will last for a few months, you can bolt on a turbo. Driveability will suck, but it'll go like a scaled cat, for a while.
If you want a car with the durability and driveablity like a turbo Saab, then you need to do a lot more. As Yaofeng says, the compression ratio is lower on a turbo engine. Stick a turbo on a normally-asperated engine, and the knock will blow holes in the pistons in minutes. Other differences:
Air plumbing for the intercooler and exhaust, water and oil plumbing for the turbo.
Different fuel system, including injectors, fuel pressure regulator, and control computer (you don't get more power without more fuel)
APC system - without the APC (solenoid and controller) and wastegate plumbing, you'll chew up the engine in no time. Yes, you might be able to modulate it with your foot instead, but that adversely affects drivablilty.
I've seen plenty of bad bolt-on turbo installations, where the engine had one sweet spot and the rest of the time was a dog.
If you have a really clean car and want a turbo, then find a turbo donor car and swap the engine, plumbing, fuel system, and wiring harness. Anything less will be unsatisfactory. Seeing as a used turbo car runs only about a grand or two more than a non-turbo, and most of that is because turbos have more standard equipment, I recommend the one screwdriver method:
Unbolt license plate from non-turbo car.
Bolt onto turbo car.
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.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |