How about a Saab engine in the back of a Ford Focus!! A Saabocus!!
The plan is to build a budget blaster for Sprints, Hill climbs, Track days etc,
So what’s best on a restricted budget?? lots of choice here!! Had to be a saloon car, as it might be road legal, had to be an engine that is very tuneable on a limited budget. So this is what I have gone for = Ford Focus with a Saab turbo motor/transmission/suspension in the rear of the vehicle, anyone who knows his cars knows the Ford Focus is a great little drivers vehicle, anyone who knows there engines also knows the Saab 9000 turbo is a great engine. A couple of little niggles with the Focus, firstly it’s driven by the front wheels, secondly the Zetec is a great little engine but to get big HP its very expensive!!.
So the plan so far, First up I purchased a 97 plate Saab 9000 turbo, generally in reasonable nick, drove very well with a stonking motor, pulled the complete front sub frame, transmission, motor, suspension and brakes from under the car, scrapped the rest. Second purchased a 52plate ST170 3door hatch



So far we have removed all the interior, engine and transmission all underside components and then cut out the complete rear floor pan, not an easy task as it weakens the structure somewhat!! So we have welded some temporary bars in place to hold it securely



Vehicle manufacturers are very good to us at times because what they have done is to mount a complete engine – transmission – suspension assembly on a subframe which is almost ready to use, I have made a support frame which holds the suspension in place and the now fixed steering arms this will become part of the rear structure of the Focus and all welded into place



Here we have the Saab engine placed in the back just to size it all up, very pleased so far, it looks right at home



Outline plan is to use the current engine just to get it all fitted in and running once its in and running I will pull it back out and replace the engine with a modified 2.3 lump, I’m currently gathering the necessary goodies
Cheers for now

Excellent!

Having just bought an RS I know how well these cars handle in standard form, I bet its going to be a weapon when finished!

Mark.

Impressive. Seeing that the front of the focus is considered a totally crushable area where are you putting the fuel tank?

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Having just bought an RS I know how well these cars handle in standard form, I bet its going to be a weapon when finished!

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interesting project. what sort of power mods are you going to do to the motor?? keep us up to date with progress pictures

Cracking work, my mate is currently doing this to his 888 coupe, using a vectra Vxr engine.

Interesting project, great work, make sure you post updates.....

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Excellent! Having just bought an RS I know how well these cars handle in standard form, I bet its going to be a weapon when finished! Mark.

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I want to do this but with a volvo lump in the back of a puma.

Keep up the build blog.

Ummm.. OK,
I've been a Saab nutter since '84.
My 97 9000 Aero B234R engine is significantly different... in appearance at least.
Perhaps UK'rs were sold on 'other' Saab product? or someone sold you a Turnip :-)

Why not leave the original engine in as well for extra giggles?

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Originally posted by Bare
Ummm.. OK,
I've been a Saab nutter since '84.
My 97 9000 Aero B234R engine is significantly different... in appearance at least.
Perhaps UK'rs were sold on 'other' Saab product? or someone sold you a Turnip :-)

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quote:

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Originally posted by Bare
Ummm.. OK,
I've been a Saab nutter since '84.
My 97 9000 Aero B234R engine is significantly different... in appearance at least.
Perhaps UK'rs were sold on 'other' Saab product? or someone sold you a Turnip :-)

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That's the maddddddesst project I've seen yet. Would love to see you at the lights next to some sports car lol

Excellent project, I have the same plans with same engine on the back of a 400mm shortened Haynes chassis for a "sporty" middy.

Any chance you have a few more photos or dimensions of your subframe and uprights "unit"?
Particularly side on photos.

I don't want to pull apart a full car to get a few key dimensions!

The very best with your works
Steve

It’s In!!
After a day’s measuring, more measuring, tweaking, it’s finally in place and with a couple of brackets made to locate it, it’s been welded exactly where I want it, just got to now attach it to the chassis and strengthen the rear end to cope with the extra weight, very pleased so far, it looks like it belongs in the back.







Added bonus the Saab wheel PCD is the same as the Ford, centre boss on the Saab is a big bigger but a simple adaptor plate/combined spacer means the Ford wheels fit onto the Saab hubs, unfortunately the same cannot be said for the callipers, more challenges !!





Cheers for now

Have you got any ideas about your gear linkeage or charge cooling yet ?

Is the body propped up ? As those drive shafts are on one h3ll of an angle !

Yea, body still has to go down by 50mm or suspension up by 50mm

I talked about doing something similar to a mini - basically building a 'twinni' and was looking into the hassle of linking up twin gear linkages, throttles etc when my pal came up with an ingenious solution - use an Automatic donor : the front will sort itself out to suit the rear.

I do hope you are going to keep the front engine thoughall this work, you might as well have 4WD.