Some technical questions for you saturn gurus.

wolfgatebk2 · 01-07-2004, 09:31 PM

I currently own a 1993 Saturn SL1 SOHC which I am currently working on.
I have a few questions about motor work and forced induction.

1. Is it possible since I think that it is the same longblock to just switch out the sohc head for a dohc head.

2. I also noticed that my car is not fuel injected, is there a way to swap that out or would it be too costly.

3. Is it possible in my current sohc non-fi to strap a turbo kit on, if not what would you recommend I have to do.

4. If it works out would I be able to buy a turbo kit from a 95 civic and use the main parts like the fmic and the turbo ect.

So if any of you guys could answer those questions I will be closer to hamburgering all of those ricers out there.

James

**Ssicarman** · 01-08-2004, 05:40 AM

Welcome to the board.

#1
The head will bolt up but the pistons from the SOHC and the DOHC engines may not be the same. Also you will need to get the timing chain and timing chain cover, wiring harnesses, PCM, fuel pump and most likely a few other things that you will not think that you need but you will.
#2
Your car is fuel injected but t is not multi port. It is a throttle body single injector in the throttle body.
#3
Anything can be done with enough cash and determination.
#4
See #3

wolfgatebk2 · 01-08-2004, 06:58 AM

Thanks I really appreciate all the feedback I can get, and I just figured that out that my car is fuel injected like 10 seconds after my post.
So would it just be better to drop a twincam motor in there? and if so would a newer, 99+ motor fit directly?

monkeyracing · 01-08-2004, 11:18 PM

The mechanical components will fit in the car. The question is about the wiring, really.

You'd have to replace the entire wiring harness, pcm, and gauge cluster to make this work.

I'd suggest getting the newest DOHC engine you can, and running the electronics and cluster from a pre-95 DOHC if you really want to do the swap. The horsepower is the same as current models, there's a little less emissions crap to deal with, and you won't have to buther your dash board to hook up a gauge cluster that may or may not work in your car.

Jim

BTW: if I understood one of your questions correctly, you don't need to swap to DOHC to turbocharge your Saturn, but it would be a good starting point in relation to basline HP.

JIm

onefast94sc2 · 02-08-2004, 10:21 PM

you need to get the pcm and the wiring out of the car you are getting the engine from and also from 1991 to 1993 the crank and ignition timing were 15 degrees different from the rest of th4e years. but when you get the other parts you will alleviate that problem

ke6960 · 02-09-2004, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onefast94sc2

from 1991 to 1993 the crank and ignition timing were 15 degrees different from the rest of the years.

this might be a dumb question but... why? is one better (the 15 deg difference??) and are the older ones advanced or retarded that 15 deg??

Joeybagodonuts · 02-09-2004, 04:20 PM

dude i can set you up with a complete twin cam swap for about 700.00 , you dont need the gauge cluster, thats optional, the only thing that does is show the higher rev limiters, but its not needed, its controlled by the pcm, the one wiring harness you need to replace is not hard, its simply a matter of who sets up your kit, most places wouldnt know that in late 94 the bottom of the fuse box was changed, the plug and lock ins. so by using an early twin cam harness and pcm you elimate having to do massive work, the one harness is also very easy to install, one bolt at the bottom of the fuse box, we leave it hooked up to the engine, and yes you can upgrade to a 99 or newer motor for a little more money, and you unplug the pcm, we send you, slip the harness through the same spot your old one is on the firewall and repllug in the new pcm, done deal....
www.6thplanetusedparts.com

Anony00GT · 02-09-2004, 11:45 PM

You'd probably want a motor that's pre-99 with a metal intake (I believe the 99+ or 2000+ have plastic ones) for forced induction. A DOHC swap would be a definite to-do before adding a turbo IMO.

Go with Joey's kit, you'll probably spend about the same as you would do pieceing a DOHC swap together yourself, while saving a lot of headaches.

MacG · 02-17-2004, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ke6960

Quote:

Originally Posted by onefast94sc2

from 1991 to 1993 the crank and ignition timing were 15 degrees different from the rest of the years.

this might be a dumb question but... why? is one better (the 15 deg difference??) and are the older ones advanced or retarded that 15 deg??

Greetings. I learned the hard way that the timing notch in the crank is different beacuse of cold start problems in '91, '92. The change is at '93.
If you put a '93 in a '92 it will not work right. It will behave as a plugged exhaust. At least that's what my mechanic and Saturn thought till they put it on a scope and found the "spark comps all over the place" due to the difference in the crank. The motor was improperly ordered on the parts store end and was not discovered until it was installed. OY!
Hope this helps,
MacG