[Josdek]

Hello -- I've heard this has been done before, mating the T7 head to a B234 (later, post 94 9000) block and putting it into a 9-5 (1999). I've read every thread I can find on the topic but there is one issue I've not found covered: How do you deal with the fact that the coolant passages on the block are shaped differently from those on the head?

I'm planning to use the B234 head gasket and looking at how it lays on the head, there coolant passage holes overlap but do not exactly match up. The head gasket has those little red areas of sealant built into it which surround each passage, but on one of the passages, the one at #1 cylinder, towards the intake side, the red stripe of sealant would actually cross over part of the opening on the head. Do I weld the head to change the shape of the passage or will a litttle silicone RTV do the trick? Trying to get this right the first time!

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[Matthew]

Did you ever solve this puzzle?

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[Tboy]

I did notice that the passages were slightly different. I didn't do anything on my swap though. B234 block, T7 head, B234 head gasket. No problems after 12000 miles so far. More specifically, not a single overheating or heat related issue.

Tboy

 

[Josdek]

I have about 12K on mine as well, same experience as Tboy.....

 

[greenmatt]

To both Josdek and Tboy, how does the combination drive? Also what turbos do you have on them, any tuning?

 

[Ivan]

Does it mean that with this swap the engine could handle as much HP as older 9000?

 

[greenmatt]

Does it mean that with this swap the engine could handle as much HP as older 9000?

Should be able to, the head is better so you may be able to pull out more hp.

 

[Tboy]

I bought the car with the bad b235 so I can't compare, but the two short blocks are nearly identical. I imagine it drives exactly as it did before with T7 correcting any slight differences there might be.

I have a td04 on mine, drives nice, boosts fine, but I haven't tuned it yet.

 

[Matthew]

Should be able to, the head is better so you may be able to pull out more hp.

Even with the B235's weedy oil pump?

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[Tboy]

Even with the B235's weedy oil pump?

I've seen you asking about the oil pump in the b235 several times I don't think that the oil pressure has a direct correlation to how much power you can make, but certainly with low oil pressure you greatly increase the chance of damaging your engine the higher hP you go. That said Daveship or fatship has a 500 hp or so motor with the 9-5 oil pump as far as I know.

The oil pump does suck. Even with a new rebuild, I can only manage 25-27 psi oil pressure once fully warmed up and 12-15 at idle once warmed. It bothers me, but the car seems to run just fine. It is something that I would like to address. From what I have read, the pumps overcapacity was reduced in the 9-5. I have both oil pumps (b234 and b235) and the b235 pump has far less lobes.

I have heard and its never been too official that some of the pump housings were defective or improperly machined and had too much clearance. This year I plan to pull the motor again and replace the housing. I replaced the gear set when I rebuilt, but re0used the old housing.

Another option is to figure out a way to mount all the accessories on the old b234 timing cover. It might not be easy though.

 

[Matthew]

I'll be looking into using the B234 oil pump instead of the B235. I've heard that it's possible with a little adaptation but that's it.

The slack tolerances on the B235 oil pumps problems are partially documented in this article:
http://www.saabpros.com/saab/nines/articles/nines_290.pdf

There are other interesting sludge articles in the index:
http://www.saabpros.com/saab/nines/

Building a new engine with robust internals but a suspect oil pump makes me nervous

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[Tboy]

I'll be looking into using the B234 oil pump instead of the B235. I've heard that it's possible with a little adaptation but that's it.

The slack tolerances on the B235 oil pumps problems are partially documented in this article:
http://www.saabpros.com/saab/nines/articles/nines_290.pdf

There are other interesting sludge articles in the index:
http://www.saabpros.com/saab/nines/

Building a new engine with robust internals but a suspect oil pump makes me nervous

In my case the B234 was a cheap alternative to an expensve replacement b235. Regardless this is my wifes car and honestly I have no desire to take it further than 250 hp. Mostly I replaced the GT17 with a td04 since the gt was bad and the TD04's have better reliability with the added bonus of more boost!

I've read all of Chuck Andrews work, but unfortunately he seems to have halted work on the oil issues lately. He mentioned somebody attempting to put a b234 oil gear set in the b235 housing. I've thought about that at length and I don't think the modification is "slight". The diameter (both inner ring and outer ring) is larger than the b235 counterparts.

Take a look at the b235 gear set in the housing here:

Here is the b234 set:

Here they are side to side:

Notice that the B234 set has material inbetween the inner an outer gear where the gap is the largest. You could machine out the b235 housing to accomodate the outer b234 gear, but how do you add the material in between the two gears? I had thought maybe just machining a small lobe, and bolting it in. You'd have to increase the diameter of the entire housing, then machine the little lobe, and drill and tap holes for the lobe to bolt on to.

 

[Matthew]

I've now had the chance to compare the two oil pumps, housings and covers. No way the B234 pump can be used without serious modifications.

On a different note, which oil filler is used for this conversion? The B234 filler is plastic and a push-fit onto an insert into the block. The B235 filler is metal and a push-fit direct into the block with an o-ring seal.

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[MacNoob]

Could you just use a B234 cover instead of the B235 cover?

 

[Matthew]

That would also require extensive modification because many of the mounting lugs are either absent or in the wrong place.

As with these things, everything's possible but not necessarily feasible.

I've decided to use the B235 cover but with a new oil pump (apparently the tolerances on the later pumps are much tighter). I'll be fitting an oil pressure gauge for the running-in period.

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[Chips900S]

So, quick question, I am mating a T7 head to a B234 block and haven't dug in yet are the head bolts different from the B235 and B234? and if so which ones should I use, and what torque specs should I use or are they all the same?

Thanks, Chip

 

[mgmt585]

9000 head bolts, i dont know the torqu sorry

 

[Chips900S]

Hey thanks, that's fine at least I know which bolts to use now, I guess it would probably stand to reason if I use 9000 bolts I would probably use 9000 torque specs also. Maybe somebody else will chime in....

 

[Jssaab]

Hey thanks, that's fine at least I know which bolts to use now, I guess it would probably stand to reason if I use 9000 bolts I would probably use 9000 torque specs also. Maybe somebody else will chime in....

They are the same... You can checm eeuro and genuine saab, same part numbers

 

[Chips900S]

Thanks!

-Chip