The engine used by SAAB in the early 99 models was made for them by
Triumph. The engine used in the TR-7 was very similar to the engine
supplied to SAAB, as well as the SAAB-built engine used in later 99
and early 900 models. Will a SAAB 99 (or early 900) Turbo engine work
in a TR-7?
Later 900 Turbo engines will not fit because SAAB removed the
jackshaft driving the water pump and distributor and replaced it with
a belt-driven water pump and a distributor driven off the flywheel
end of the camshaft. You must remember that the engine in the 99 and
900 models is installed "backwards"--the belts are towards the
firewall, and the clutch is located just behind the radiator with a
chain connecting the clutch output shaft to the transmission which is
located UNDER the engine. Supposedly this lets the clutch run
cooler, but it also allows you to replace the clutch without pulling
the engine or gear box out of the car. Anyway, in the SAAB
installation, the newer engines have the distributor facing the front
of the car. Moving the same engine to at TR-7 would place the
distributor in the end of the duct to the heating system or somewhere
near the power brake servo.
This is all speculation as I have a TR-8 and a later 900 and I'm
not sure how the TR-7 engine compartment differs. To continue, would
this conversion fit? I'm not proposing that anyone try it--I'm only
posting the question to get some discussion started.
Tim Buja Cherry Valley, IL
(via ccm0b@vm.cc.purdue.edu)
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