Saab Turbo engine convert
 

Now my 2005 192 engine has gave up the ghost, i'am just going to replace it with one of my saab turbo engines b204..
So will post some pics and info asap...

Cool, but personally I think you should go with an Isuzu V-6, it's a much more popular swap.

Has the supporting graphs too

What is with the trend of swapping into the 8 whatever crappy old engine one has lying around? I don't understand people. Its not an old broken lawn mower.

And doesn't belong in the DIY forum

Anyway OP...all I can say is OH NO!

^^ THIS!

moving from win to uber fail might be a fun thing to watch.

I have one question, WHY?

You're just making a totaly unique car into a conventional coupe.

:/.

If the Admin staff wish to place this thread into another forum section, please do so..
and my saab engines are good for 500bhp plus, but unfortunately my 470bhp set up, manifold, holset etc won't fit in the engine bay ;-( so will be sticking to 275bhp. and they will run forever unlike the rotory.. i have a 2003 231 rx8 also at 96000miles lasted longer than a 2005 192..?? and far expensive to rebuild, We don't have the same warranty in the UK as you do elsewhere...
So i want to keep the car as an everyday reliable car and hope it will still be as good as the 231 drives and handle..

I've got some good Saab engines already mate so make sense to use what i have.

Well can anyone supply a rotory engine that will last, not get all the normal problems,.. exactly..
so i'am doing what i hope is best for me and to have a nice looking car and will start, stop everytime i want it to.
did think about mx5 engine/turbo

Mazda already provided it. Proper maintenance keeps them happy.

And before you say you properly maintained it, I believe your dead engine disagrees.

rofl, failed.

I really don't want to sound like i'm flaming you, honestly I don't, you obviously have WAY more experience and mechanical knowhow than me. I wouldn't have a CLUE how to do some of the things you are capable under the bonnet by the sound of it.

However, the question still remains, if you don't want a rotary engine, WHY buy an RX8? Surely you're going to totaly screw with the perfect 50/50 weight distribution by dumping another engine in so the driving experience will be compromised as well.

I can totaly understand you obviously love the shape, layout, etc. but the engine is the heart of these cars and one of the main things that makes them so special. If you want a car that "will start, stop everytime i want it to", get a good rebuild and look after it properly.

Since when are Saabs reliable? I always thought they were not. Paging Shadycrew31 (he used to drive one) IIRC.

SAABs do have a habit of blowing head gaskets, even more likely on a tuned turbo unit.

My brother had a saab that we called " The Swedish POS " it was a turbo car and wasn't any faster than my 8. It did exactly what most saab's do and blew a head gasket..... he now drives a benz..... and he's still a loser :yelrotflm

Yea I owned a 96 900se V6 for about 3 weeks before the ECU took a shit and the car had to be towed. Then the vert top stopped working and something else blew up.

That was about 10 years ago and was 7 year old car at the time with 35,000 miles.

I still like Saab's though, dunno why...

I use to drive Saabs. Had two 97 900 Turbos, and a 2001 9-5 V6 turbo. Saab engines are just like the renesis...they have their quirks. However, I'm curious how you will wire the trionic ECU system in with the RX-8. The wiring alone sounds like it will get complicated. However, if you are able to integrate it, the B204 block is very strong and will last a long time. I would also consider a toyota engine if the Saab engine doesn't work out. My daily driver is a Lexus with over 230,000 miles on it (1mz-fe). Now THAT engine is reliable!

-Lawrence

George Carlin is awesome, it's so true.

Why is this happening... Have you considered buying another saab?

They are more comfortable and wont require an engine swap.

That's not true. There are members here who took meticulous care of their 8s, and still had engines blow. Yeah, you can trash one by ignoring maintenance, but well-maintained Renesi can randomly fail.

Ken

eat healthy, non-smoking, rest on time/well, etc does NOT mean you will never get cancer.

shit happens, dont 'ask me how I know :angel: (No no no I never had cancer, was talking about my 8's engine, LOL)

but it IS true that a LOT of idiots never keep up with regular maintenance ...

No, I loved my Saabs but I can't beat the combination I have with the 8 and Lexus. The drive to and from work is comfortable and reliable with the Lexus and on the weekends I get to have fun with the 8.

Do you still plan on having fun when the weight distribution is all screwed up from the heavy saab engine?

I'm not sure I understand, I'm not swapping the renesis out of my car, the OP is the one considering it. Also, The B204 is a four cylinder engine, its dry weight is somewhere between 250-300 pounds. I don't think the renesis weighs much less.

Oh I didnt notice you werent the OP.

This guy is not the op. He was just saying his lexus is reliable and he used to drive saab cars. T4 is the 1 swapping his rotary for a saab.
^^**edit** beat me to it.


Tiger, I think my 97 accord rivals your lexus. 250k still going strong! not 1 break down either during my ownership. drove the **** out of it in college.

in general this thread demonstrates how few people understand what it takes to swap in another engine from a different brand/model and integrate the current electronic systems

why spend a fortune and make the effort to end up with a crossbred bastard child that nobody in their right mind would ever want to have anything to do with?

just search on "starion" on this forum to get an idea why this idea is destined to be a total clusterf-ck

Precisely could not agree more with Team, all you end up with apart from an empty wallet is a Frankenstein POS.....one might as well burn your cash or sanity.

BTW: This applies to any brand of car.....gone are the days of 'easy' swap outs-ins.

I guess 50% of the people on here would disagree with that, as there are over 50% on here with engine problems, you telling me nobody looks after they're engines then, why have they made changes to try stop them dying after 50k miles.
I purchased this 2005 one cheap as it already had starting/running issues but had full service history by mazda including all new mazda plug, leads, coils, new oil pipes, recalls etc..
:D:

Yeah i plan to, well its for the mrs. I see lots of chaps seem to be putting v8's in rx7's 8s over there so can't be all that bad ..
;)

Fix it then, and make it run right.

And i think theres only about 2 rotory engine building experts in the UK and they're 8 to 9 hours drive from me.. engine swap is simple, cost is way cheaper than a rotory rebuild.
I can only try it and see what it drives like..
easy to put it back as original or keep for spares for my other one..

rofl, where did the 50% came from? your ass?

you do know that no one gonna yell out "OMG MY CAR IS TROUBLE FREE!" , right ?

LMMAAAAAAAAOOOOO ! way cheaper than a rebuild? LOOOOLOLOL !!!!!

I sense a HUGE fail coming REAL soon ...

It'll be nose heavy and probably eat front tyres for breakfast. Don't forget to factor in the cost of uprated front suspension as well.

Yeah I know it will be a bit heavier up front and have coilovers if required,
battery etc will be moved to rear.

I've had the HUGE fail.. the rotory..
never had a B204 fail..
If i could rebuild this and garantee it would last more than 50k miles i would.. but i know it won't,

FOR SALE.......1990 SAAB 900..........nearly 600.000 mls (947.000 kms)............ :dubs:

http://i.marktplaats.com/00/s/NzY4WD...P7g~~60_85.JPG
http://i.marktplaats.com/00/s/NzY4WD...(Ow~~60_85.JPG

Marktplaats.nl - Opknapper, Saab 900 classic 2.0 I 16 HB U9 1990 Blauw, Forty - Saab

Lol, so many people here have way more than 50k trouble free miles, yea i wonder what/who is the problem :lol:

Peter Gilbert's car

A 1989 Saab 900 SPG with ..........................1,001,385 miles.


http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/4813/saab120506.jpg

This Saab story is one in a million

sad that he has to stuck with some piece of shit for a million miles ?

:boink:

Saab is known for a piece of shit for a reason :)

:boink::boink:

what are you doing again ?

:wiggle::wiggle::wiggle:

The actual number is substantially lower, and that was among the early model years. Still a lot more than one would like.

If you pull the swap off, please take pictures and post them here. You're getting a rude reception because this site gets a fair number of posts from people who don't have a clue and announce they're going to swap something in to get better gas mileage. Every now and then someone who does have a clue comes back with pictures of their final result.

No getting around that it won't make economic sense. But not every project has to.

Ken