Saab 9-3 ecotec swap

[heineck]

I was wondering if anybody here ever looked into swapping the saab 9-3 turbo ecotec in, im thinkin i might wanna try this what would i need? And would i need new tranny

[kwhauck]

why not just a normal ecotec and turbo it, seems kind of retarded to me..

[comanche]

Sounds very interesting...

Not sure if the trans is different or not, I would assume you would need to replace the trans.
Obvious things are PCM & BCM (which will cause difficulties, since BCM is different on the SAAB; you would have to get the SAAB PCM VIN changed) + coolers, harness, etc. May not be worth the work. Just going from a 2.4L to an ecotec was a lot of hassle.

[heineck]

Well i can get a turbo for wat like 4000 or the saab engine for 800 and do they still make the eco s/c kits all the stores say discontinued, i havent gone to the dealership though

[guiguilandry]

I say that it will mechanically doable but the wiring will be a PITA because it's a SAAB engine and the sensors and ecu are not the same..... and IIRC the SAAB use the F40 6 speed tranny...

[heineck]

yea doesnt sound worth it, but the turbo and turbo manifold will still fit right? IIRC all the ecotec manifolds are interchangeable so i can use those

[Noseminer]

I've been thinking the same thing and i believe the manifolds are interchangable. u would probably need more than the manifold and turbo though. Check out jbody.org, they seem to have alot of turboed ecos on there and u can research it more. or other eco sites that i can't remember the name of. I would make sure to do ur homework before jumping into it thou.

[Vinalero]

Thats not a bad idea to take the manifold and turbo. Actually, I don't know jack about turbo SAAB, but I'd guess you'd need the downpipe, the intercooler, and some custom piping. Then you'd need a new MAP sensor that can read boost, then custom tune your PCM. But it could be feasable that way.

[heineck]

yea im derfinitely doin my homework, and i know theres more to a turbo than the turbo and manifold. im thinkin im gunna do it unless i can find a s/c kit for the eco lol

[Noseminer]

This is what i was thinking of doing, getting saab turbo, manifold, injectors, custom fab piping, intercooler, down pipe, HP tuners, gauges just for starters.

[heineck]

yep yep yep, my thoughts were if the s/c on the lsj would fit then the turbo from the lk9 should fit. i just gotta get all the parts and HP Tuners, and with sum serious research ill do this by fall

[alerored04]

I am looking into purchasing a 9-3 right now and from what I have found in my research the head on the Saab 2.0 is different from the other eco's which means there is a possibility of different spaced or shaped exhaust ports.

[Cliff8928]

why not just a normal ecotec and turbo it, seems kind of retarded to me..

It has all the upgrades the LSJ has but with a turbo.

1) Piston Oil Squirters
2) Oil Cooler
3) Forged Crankshaft

etc...

Just make sure you get the LK9 / B207R and not the LQ8 / B207L

[leoalero]

I say that it will mechanically doable but the wiring will be a PITA because it's a SAAB engine and the sensors and ecu are not the same..... and IIRC the SAAB use the F40 6 speed tranny...

so you could make your alero 6 speeds,nice,but is it easy to do?!?

[AleroDrime]

if you want it that bad maybe try swapping entire chasis?, like a body swap, not shure how similar the 9-3 is

[heineck]

y th hell would i do that? im talking about using the turbo components not the the chasis

[Cliff8928]

I say that it will mechanically doable but the wiring will be a PITA because it's a SAAB engine and the sensors and ecu are not the same..... and IIRC the SAAB use the F40 6 speed tranny...

It's not a Saab engine really.. It's just a LSJ with a turbo instead of a supercharger. Just swap it over using the existing harness.

The Saab either uses a F35 or F40, depending on the year.

[econewb22]

i like the idea...u gotten any prices on anything yet?
(except the 800 for a full engine)

[Spilner521]

if you want it that bad maybe try swapping entire chasis?, like a body swap, not shure how similar the 9-3 is
It doesn't realy work like that. Both cars are unibody structures. You can't just pull the body off one and drop it onto the chassis of the other.

[AleroDrime]

ok sry you but that v8 alero was on an s10 chasis wernt it

and i was wondering if a cobalt transmission would work with teh aleros ecotec

[heineck]

cobalts are ecotec

[AleroDrime]

i know thats why i wonder if itll work, my girlfriend had one b4 she got her liscense, yeah her parents bought a car just for her to learn in, 05 cobalt, pwr lock but manual windows(weird) but it was fast as hell, i felt it was the transmission witch shifted quicker and better,

i always wondered if a trans swap would work

and would it be effective and worth it since i'm assuming you would loose the enhanced traction system

[heineck]

yea the ls cobalts have L61s i looked into doin this a few months ago when i found the tranny, but i heard finding the console pieces are a PITA though

[AleroDrime]

PITA?, what console peices would be needed, would harnesses still match up and would you lose ets

[heineck]

NOT to mention clutch heres the console piece,

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/2/3694/241/21732620010_large.jpg

[AleroDrime]

i was thinking an automatic one

[cherrington17]

i'm pretty sure auto for auto is going to be a retarded swap.

the shift points are controlled via computer, you can tweak that with HPtuners, or a PCM upgrade. the prior is recommended, though.

[heineck]

Wait a cobalt auto for an alero auto? Wats the point?

[AleroDrime]

the auto from the cobalt felt like it shifted quicker and was faster, plus maybe i thought was were the efficiency difference was, was just a idea i had floating in my head, had kinda disregarded it but this thread brought it back to my mindseye

[AleroDrime]

if its not tranny that makes the difference its either improvements on the ecotec or the weight/size of the cobalt, if its the motor r the improvements replicable on teh alero's with in a cost justified budget

[Vinalero]

If it felt like it shifted faster, it could be as simple as GM setting the computer so that the pressure in the transmission lines is higher on the cobalt than in the alero.

[Spilner521]

my girlfriend had one b4 she got her liscense... 05 cobalt... it was fast as hell
I'm assuming you've never been in an actual fast car before?

[AbHeLlRaZoR]

I support the idea of swapping an engine because it's cheaper, I don't think I would be satisfied with doing that I would love to have boost but after seeing what my cousins old civic could do I think I would want to run more boost so I would just build my engine with all forged internals and spend the money on a brand new turbo set up instead of used parts that don't have warranties on them.

[Cliff8928]

I'm assuming you've never been in an actual fast car before?

No doubt!

Any time I drive another car after the STS, it's always like "Are we there yet?"

[heineck]

I support the idea of swapping an engine because it's cheaper, I don't think I would be satisfied with doing that I would love to have boost but after seeing what my cousins old civic could do I think I would want to run more boost so I would just build my engine...
i agree this was just an idea but i think imma just get a t3 theres some manifolds on ebay for like 200 and i can probably get a used t3 for under 500

[AleroDrime]

fastest thing would probably be a 89 thunderbird which my father said hes going to give to me, itll never happen

[Cliff8928]

fastest thing would probably be a 89 thunderbird which my father said hes going to give to me, itll never happen

Is it a SC?

[AbHeLlRaZoR]

i agree this was just an idea but i think imma just get a t3 theres some manifolds on ebay for like 200 and i can probably get a used t3 for under 500
not bad price wise I'm sketched out on used stuff but I think the easiest way would to be start out with a turbo set up on low boost for like a summer and save up and order parts for a full engine build to do over the winter.

[Spilner521]

fastest thing would probably be a 89 thunderbird
I'm sorry to hear that...

[AleroDrime]

has the 302 and digital guages

[[ion] C2]

http://img3.harmony-central.com/acapella/ubb/facepalm.gif this thread

[AleroDrime]

i just wanted to know about if a cobalt auto tranny owuld work and be better and if i could keep the ets

[natedawg9640]

too bad i didn't see this 2 weeks ago... my friend totaled his 9-3 ... (bent frame) let the junkyard have it... couilda had the whole thing for $400

[shez]

C2;450220']http://img3.harmony-central.com/acapella/ubb/facepalm.gif this thread

agree.

[heineck]

it was a serious idea till this auto to auto swap crap came up

[Vic28]

too bad i didn't see this 2 weeks ago... my friend totaled his 9-3 ... (bent frame) let the junkyard have it... couilda had the whole thing for $400
GO GET IT :( .. Could of make some money from me if you had the parts lol.

[natedawg9640]

i'll ask him if there's any way to claim it still... i told him he could part it out but he's lazy... it's also 2.5 hours north of our city... the damn seats are worth the wrecking fee.

[heineck]

if hes down to yank that turbo ill take it off his hands

[natedawg9640]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SAAB-9-5-V6-Turbo-charger-exhaust-manifold_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1171Q7c6 6Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a0Q7c 293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhash Zitem140312712132QQitemZ140312712132QQptZMotorsQ5f CarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[Vic28]

damn you got my hopes up... but thats the wrong one lol:rolleyes2:

[AleroDrime]

Why is it that rediculouse? I figured the new tranny had improvements, which made it feel faster?

[Nate's Alero]

Why is it that rediculouse? I figured the new tranny had improvements, which made it feel faster?do i have to repeat myself?


SPEED IS NOT EVERYTHING YOU HALF WIT!!!

[[ion] C2]

Just because he's uninformed about automotive stuff doesn't mean you have to insult him.

[Noseminer]

I Believe the turbo that fits is off a 2003 2.0l saab b207r correct me if i'm wrong.

[kwhauck]

has the 302 and digital guages

the digital gauges are what gives it the real power...

C2;450598']Just because he's uninformed about automotive stuff doesn't mean you have to insult him.

i disagree, i started a thread just to insult him and i'm pretty sure I remember you jumping in on the bandwagon...

[xbxradxsx]

I just want a 9-3's 6speed in the ho... as far as motor, build your own...

[AleroDrime]

I wasn't only thinking speed, the cobalts are more efficient in gas.

Plus I think "Yeah, its an Alero with a Cobalt Tranny" sounds seriouse

[heineck]

alright thats it... "Yeah, its an Alero with a Cobalt Tranny" sounds seriouse no its sounds retarted like said b4 its the same engine with the 4T45 tranny. if your gunna swap the tranny get the 5 speed. seriously this is beyond thread crapping

[AleroDrime]

would someone list some real reasons as to why its not a good idea,

so far its just been opinions

[alerored04]

Because the transmission is not the reason for that car feeling slightly better and doing better in mpg. IT WEIGHS LESS!!!! DUMBASS! now shut up and let the thread go back on course.

[guiguilandry]

Because the transmission is not the reason for that car feeling slightly better and doing better in mpg. IT WEIGHS LESS!!!! DUMBASS! now shut up and let the thread go back on course.

HAHAHAHAHAH ROFL

[Vic28]

is $$300 decent for the saab turbo??? or too high? not the manifold.

[heineck]

that sounds pretty good, i just came up on a t3 for 100 bucks.

[natedawg9640]

Because the transmission is not the reason for that car feeling slightly better and doing better in mpg. IT WEIGHS LESS!!!! DUMBASS! now shut up and let the thread go back on course.


might wanna check that

[econewb22]

this thread makes my brain hurt :lol:
anyway id like to do this eventually and was wondering if anybody had any GOOD information on if this is feasable or not

[Valley olds]

AleroRacing: would someone list some real reasons as to why its not a good idea,

so far its just been opinions

The new ecotec 2.2 has 150 hp stock rather than the Aleros 140, So there is one difference. The tranny, I think, is the same, maybe they just changed the tuning. Something that would be more cost efficient than the tranny swap would be for you to use HP tuners to mess with your tuning as well, thus giving you cobalt, or better than cobalt shifting.

[Vic28]

More turbo questions than transmission :bs: !!!!!! plus who the hell wantz another automatic, get a 5-speed atleast.

[AleroDrime]

The new ecotec 2.2 has 150 hp stock rather than the Aleros 140, So there is one difference. The tranny, I think, is the same, maybe they just changed the tuning. Something that would be more cost efficient than the tranny swap would be for you to use HP tuners to mess with your tuning as well, thus giving you cobalt, or better than cobalt shifting.

thanks how much would tunning be, i saw that chip thing that was like 3 grand, yeah right, thats too much for me to spend on making anything faster and more efficient.

ps. why would wanting the most advanced models of motor/tranny for your car be so bad, especially when replacing a messed up one

[alerored04]

/\ Dude start a new thread for the love of GOD!!!!

Econewb have you looked into the manifold, I did say that the Saab's have a different head on the Eco than the normal one, which means that the exhaust manifold bolts may not line up. Be sure to check into that.

[Vic28]

for those that want some research. http://www.j-body.org/forums/read.php?f=40&i=123136&t=123136

quoted
Question: Can I use the 2003+ 2.0 Saab Turbo manifold on my 2.2/2.0/2.4? (ECOtecs)

Yes. Same bolt pattern.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/BlackoutNJ/FAQ/saab.jpg

[Cliff8928]

The new ecotec 2.2 has 150 hp stock rather than the Aleros 140, So there is one difference.

There were some changes to the head and cams.

/
Econewb have you looked into the manifold, I did say that the Saab's have a different head on the Eco than the normal one, which means that the exhaust manifold bolts may not line up. Be sure to check into that.

The head should be the same as the LSJ.

[Spilner521]

All the 2002+ Ecotec engines use the same bolt pattern for the intake and exhaust manifolds, and therefore you can interchange any manifold from any Ecotec engine and it will bolt up.

[AleroDrime]

could my head and cams be upgrades to the cobalts ones then????

[heineck]

omg start a new thread for ur retarted off topic questions dude! uve thread jacked this one like 3 times already!

[AleroDrime]

wouldnt even know what to title it...