> From: gall@ultrix.uleth.ca (Greg Gall)
> Date: Wed, 14 Dec 94 15:47:43 MST
>
> Forwarded message:
> From RFried@ix.netcom.com Tue Dec 13 22:47:27 1994
> Date: Tue, 13 Dec 1994 22:47:27 -0800
>
> Hello SOL'ers
So I take it this came from the "Big list"?
(I Cc:-ed it, hope nobody minds)
> Here I sit with a 1980 Triumph TR7 with rod noise. Now whats a boy to do.
RUDOLF!
...whoops, sorry... thought it said "red nose"! :)
> My first thought was to put a RX7 motor into it (TRx7 ?) but I got over that.
I've considered that one myself. Just imagine one with a fiberglass tub
over the little blender-motor... Cool, a trunk in the front _and_ the
back! :) (how much fun it would be toying with the people who think the
TR7 is mid-engined! :)
> Next I thought of a small block V8 (ah, a TR7(8)) after getting the skiny from
Too heavy! (I like to turn and stop :)
> John's cars in Texas, No go. He offers a V6 kit from a late model GM, but
Heard _bad_ things about them! (ask around a bit)
> must use the GM Trans as well.
No comment.
> SAAB? Then last night I noticed the SAAB 99 swap. It is True, I could go
"noticed the SAAB 99 swap."? It's been done??
> from the worst engine to a swedish ?
Well, to my understanding...
The engine started life as the Dolomite 1850 (maybe even a smaller
version) in, the Triumph Dolomite. (who'da thunkit?) Saab was interested,
and ended up buying them directly from Triumph for a number of years,
turning them around backwards, and plugging them into the 99. They also
started making their own engines, a very close copy, but with a different
head design... One major difference, was the head studs on the lower side
of the combustion chamber are parallel to the bore, unlike the Dolomite
heads. I don't know if anything else will match. (water jacketing, oil
source and return, etc.) Triumph bumped the engine up to 1998 (2.0) and
slapped a 16 valve (Sprint) head on it for the Triumph Dolomite Sprint.
Later, the Sprint block and the 1850's 8 valve head were combined (WHY?!)
for the TR7. I don't think Saab ever bought any of either version of the
2.0 engine, they just punched their own engine up in size.
Please keep in mind this is only "to my understanding"! Any of this
could be very wrong, but it is all I've been able to learn about this
engine. Corrections are more than welcome! :)
I did some checking a long time ago, and in the J.C. Whitney catalog (yech!),
the Saab 99 and TR7 have the same pressure plate... This is a very good sign.
I don't know if the belhousing pattern is the same though, and I can't
remember about the clutch plates...
One thing to keep in mind... Some Saab engines (later ones) have the
distributor on the end of the cam, making the engine _much_ too long
to fit. I realize you are referring to the 99, but I thought I'd mention
it, just to save someone else some trouble. (ie: the 2.6?L Turbo 16V is
a no-go ):
> The other problem is that I keep seeing prices of $3000 for a rebuild of
> my engine (I don't know which end a wrench to use), so the job goes
> outside
> Any suggestions?
YOW!! Yes, check other places! You can get a ~210hp 2.1L 16V Sprint
engine for $400 more! (complete, carbs and ignition to headers and clutch!
balanced, blueprinted, ported, and polished!)
Check for a rebuilt or new engine from Rimmer Bros. in England for a
much better price. They also have some _great_ sounding brake upgrade
kits! (even complete conversions!)
> RFried@ix.netcom.com
Later, hope this helps!
Kevin
---
"Any resemblance to persons, living, dead, or undead, is purely coincidental"
"Lycanthrope Productions Ltd."
- in trailing credits of "An American Werewolf in London".
Kevin Burtch - Keeper of Scorpions.
|