Timing covers to put T5/T7 cylinder head on B202?

[DeLorean]

I'm in for one too. Sounds like Luke needs to do a group buy! I have a few timing covers to get things started if need be. I'm sure there are a whole bunch of people on TSL that would buy one too... but some people may not have a cover to send right away though. I'd say the best way to handle that would be to charge a "core cost" to people who don't have the extra cover to send out to be modified, say along the lines of $150.

[Luke]

This is what I did originally:





It wasnt too much work, just some small 1/4" plate shapes cut out and welded on and then milled flat.

[DrewP]

Luke,

Did you tap holes on your added end to bolt the edge of the head down like stock, or just rely on the gasket and sealant to do the job?

Paul and DeLorean, you're right, it's really more about sharing the love at this point, I'm sure Luke can commiserate what the profit margin on the diff covers is for him, probably just enough for it to make sense to put together the order and weld the stiffeners on - enough to buy some nice beer for the seat time to lay the beads.

For the sake of argument, is $150 for the modification and $150 core (good suggestion DeLorean) doable? ($150 is diff cover money!)

Cover would come back nice and clean from the solvent bath to get the weld area nice and clean too, added bonus for those of you like me who wear their road grime with a sense of pride (pride is so easy to confuse with laziness these days.... )

I've got some cores to get things started here too....

[Luke]

Luke,
Did you tap holes on your added end to bolt the edge of the head down like stock, or just rely on the gasket and sealant to do the job?

Hey Drew, not exactly sure what you mean about the threaded holes, so i guess the answer to that question is a no :)

It ends up looking like this.

The little bracket is for the power steering mount. It bolts right on...

I hear you on the cost of making small runs of things. Its one reason why I havent been in such a rush to do another run of diff covers and I don't build the shifters anymore. Net, I end up making a few bucks, but if you add up all the hours and expendables I've got to be making like $3 an hour on them.

[KPAero]

I think 150 sounds like a pretty reasonable price for a part that will be made to last.

Luke, are your shifters no longer available? Or do you have any left in stock?

[Geoff]

$150 sounds great to me

[DeLorean]

sounds like a good price to me as well, where do I place my order?

[99Super]

Yeah, I could use one too...

john

[Crazyswede]

I could use one as well

[airsweden]

2 more please.... 1 for me and 1 for Chris Rizzon

Just let me know when/where to send the cores.

[SwedeSport]

Why not just produce the pieces on a waterjet, and sell it as a U-weld it kit? Could keep the costs down really low then. At that rate you could make a bunch of extra sets for those who are not in a position to get in on the group rate.

I had planned on doing this type of motor in the future for my notchback racer, but thats pretty far off at this point. If its cheap enough to buy the pieces to burn in later I could justify finding the dough.

[Crazyswede]

Why not just produce the pieces on a waterjet, and sell it as a U-weld it kit? Could keep the costs down really low then. At that rate you could make a bunch of extra sets for those who are not in a position to get in on the group rate.

I had planned on doing this type of motor in the future for my notchback racer, but thats pretty far off at this point. If its cheap enough to buy the pieces to burn in later I could justify finding the dough.

I would personally rather pay $150 for one that is already to bolt in. Otherwise I have to find someone to weld said kit in place and then machine it smooth.

[SwedeSport]

Producing it as waterjet cut pieces would still be the way to go, then both options could be accomodated. Drew could produce enough parts to do a bunch of timing covers, and only weld them up as needed. Or sell the parts to broke-asses like me to DIY it.

Since it really isnt structural, it could be waterjet cut, and even epoxied in place.

Either way you have to cut out all the pieces to do them, might as well produce the pieces in a larger qty.

[DrewP]

Luke, thanks for the photo links, I appreciate it. I don't think I realized the bolt holes lined up that well already, so you answered my question.

....sell the parts to broke-asses like me to DIY it.

Since it really isnt structural, it could be waterjet cut, and even epoxied in place.

I could do something like that no problem. Realistically it looks like it's gonna be something like 10 covers, and we'll probably just make a pattern and cut them on a bandsaw, I don't have a problem sending you the bits if you want.

I'm gonna scrounge around and see how many good covers I can nab and will put up the results when I get some time to work on it. I'll update to this thread when I have more info.

$150 sounds good to me too, I want to see more cool classic SAABs getting the modern bits they deserve!

Drew

[Raul]

Drew,
I've been thinking about using a T5/T7 head on my next project, an NA, headered, 2.1 99. It may even get ITBs...
I like the idea, but at that price, isn't it just easier to install a plug in the head?

john

New generation T5 900s 2.0L produces only 130hp, that is about the same as stock 1986-1990 900s.