Hey,

I am currently trying to put a zetec engine into my saab 96, i was convinced this would be a relatively simple swap but have come up with some major problems! i really should of seen them before now, one is the fact that the input shaft of the saabs gearbox won't go far enough in the flywheel of the zetec, so either the input shaft or flywheel need modifying.

However a bigger problem i really should of noticed is that the boltholes in the bellhousing don't line up, it is pretty close but no cigar.

so i now have an saab with no engine and an engine that won't fit without more hassle.

so i am considering fitting an audi engine and gearbox, like someone mentioned awhile ago, it will hopefully work out better as the audi engine is apparently lighter and the gearbox will have 5 gears, though i don't know if it will fit.

does anyone know which audi donor i will need? the person who mentioned it before, i would be grateful for your help! also what are the diemesions of the engine/gearbox? would be very grateful if anyone knows this.

Hope someone can help,

many thanks

ps i now have an 1800 zetec silvertop for sale, the 130ps version with the better cams etc am at home with intermitant internet so may not reply straight away

Why not make an adaptor plate?

Liam can advise - and it only took him 2 years...

10 valve 5 cylinder engine and 5 speed transaxle from an 80, 90 1979 to 1986 or Coupe GT 1980 to 1988. The 1980s Audi 100 is also an inline/transaxle fitment.

There is also an 1800 4-pot from the above cars, same as Golf 1800 but inline and obviously shorter than the 5s. I don't know about the later engines in the Coupe Mk2 but suspect they are also inline.

Have you considered the Colgne V6 engines (2.3 2.8 and 2.9). Same bellhousing bolt pattern as the 1500 Taunus as they are all basically the Taunus engine with 2 extra pots grafted on?

Cheers Chris.

Tricky...how about an adaptor plate? For the misalignment

And a turned piece for the input shaft, see the dreadful drawing

yellow - flywheel
blue - adaptor
green - new bearing for input shaft
pink!! - for bolts that hold on flywheel

Any use anyone????



[Edited on 26/3/07 by Mr Whippy]

Of course the best option (but NOT Locost) is a Hewland Ld200 from a Formula Ford Zetec. Bolts straight up. Or a MK9 5speed.....

Other options are Renault (as also used in Formula Renault) with options of 8 or 16 valve 2-litre engines, or at a pinch the 1.7 8valve.

Just to confuse you even more....

You know space is VERY limited in the 96 engine bay, particularly the front end. I might be inclined to rebuild and tune the 1500. These are very strong engines with massive crank and big end journals, hugely oversquare (so will rev it's nuts off)and will easily bore out to 1700. With some proper cylinder head porting, bigger valves and uprated cam they arecapable of big power outputs. The rally 96 V4s as used by Stig Blomquist were making nearly 180bhp from 1700cc!

[Edited on 26/3/07 by Memphis Twin]

Why not fit a Saab engine.

man am i stupid, really should of checked the bolt holes properly!

an adapter plate won't really work as there is no room for one, i had to cut the valence of the saab to get the zetec in in the first place!

i could make it fit, but it is alot of hassle for an gearbox that will probally break relatively quickly.

am thinking that the passat or audi engines would be the way to go, does anyone have any diemensions? as i really want to make sure it will fit! the 5 pots will be too long i would imagine, so only 4 pot diemensions! hope someone can help

many thanks

ps have already sold the v4 that was in there, doh!

[Edited on 27/3/07 by trogdor]

The later V4 gearboxes have a ribbed casing which is stronger than the earlier type. It's the casings that explode in these boxes(!) - the actual gears, synchros and shafts are as strong as anything. Bearings wear and become noisy, but are easily changed. If you keep a close eye out for cracks in the casing and change the bearings if noisy, then you'll get away with it