Saab b204r engine swap

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

initial_g
E30 Zone Moderator
E30 Zone Moderator
Posts: 975
Joined: Fri Oct 24, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: derby

Post Fri Feb 06, 2015 1:33 am

Have any members done a saab swap? Im picking a 95 cabby donor car up on sunday for the swap. I know this goes against the grain for most owners... but im no purist, I want a light turbo charged engine with lots of scope for tuning, its alot cheaper to tune than a jap motor, the internals can hold 400hp safely, its 110kg bare, and for less than 1k you can see 350hp.
I know I can fit the vauxhall omega v6 box and the handel abuse fairly well... are there any other box options?
Welcome any imput if anyones done the swap cheers
jmc330i
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 6621
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Somerset

Post Fri Feb 06, 2015 9:49 am

Its been done, I can remember seeing pics of a Saab engined E30 (as well as the Volvo T5 lump), but from memory they were in Sweden - lots of spare time and Saabs!

It makes sense to me as well - there's no point building a low comp turbo M42 when Saab have done the work for you.
James
'91 325i Sport
'93 318i touring 16v
jimmyspeed
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 848
Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: riding a wagon wheel west

Post Fri Feb 06, 2015 11:29 am

There a uk Saab engined one, I'm sure it was a red touring, it sometimes comes up in Google images when I'm searching e30 mods

It's on drift works as well - http://www.driftworks.com/forum/parts-s ... rsion.html
jmc330i
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 6621
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Somerset

Post Fri Feb 06, 2015 12:02 pm

Ah yes, he's a member on here. I seem to remember that it didn't get finished :( I think there were concerns about the Vauxhall gearbox not coping well??
James
'91 325i Sport
'93 318i touring 16v
initial_g
E30 Zone Moderator
E30 Zone Moderator
Posts: 975
Joined: Fri Oct 24, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: derby

Post Fri Feb 06, 2015 2:44 pm

Cheers guys yes ive seen afew projects that have got to this stage then abondoned usually with the low slung sump issue the 204 is a touch shallower than the 234r ive seen one e30 completed but cant find a build thread, the omega box with a type 9 ford internals copes well from what ive seen, you can bolt the rype 9 box up but this results in a wonky gear shift. Ill do more digging :) im not after mega power aslong as the box will take 350ish ill be happy
Bristol_Jer
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 2523
Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: Bristol, UK

Post Fri Feb 06, 2015 6:04 pm

They've covered the Saab into rwd swap in PPC magazine. It's in an Escort but has a bit of info about putting the engine into a rwd configuration.
Grzesiek325i
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 54
Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2014 11:00 pm

Post Fri Feb 06, 2015 8:46 pm

Saab B2x4 is preety heavy also long and tall than simillar R4's. Swap into E30 is also not easy. Needs a lot of modyfiactions


Why not old good M50? Fits almost p&p stock botom enough for 500ps/600Nm if you want turbo

Image
Image
initial_g
E30 Zone Moderator
E30 Zone Moderator
Posts: 975
Joined: Fri Oct 24, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: derby

Post Sat Feb 07, 2015 1:04 am

The saab engine built is 30kg lighter than the built m50 engine... also the b204 will run a reliable 400hp on stock internals all day long. A m50 would cost thousands to turbo and wouldnt be reliable as a track car and would have a fraction of the power of a b204r on flight 2 ecu, 234r injectors hybrid turbo that would run 350hp reliably. Ive spoke to atliss today that can make me a sump theyve made afew and have the drawings it will sit a inch lower than the m20 sump so ill have to stick a sturdy sump gaurd on.