Saab Head (Split from General Chat)

Lightning_Coupe

Holly poo, who's Dr Robertson and what the heck is that bolted to the engine?? 200bhp! blimey thats well done! I hope thats not one of those mythical flywheel figures with 40bhp transmition loss is it? what did it have at the wheels?

Well impressed with Peter Bull's Zaf, 191bhp from a pair of cams and a chip. Anyone know what cams they are??

JohnnyN

Lightning Coupé said:
Holly poo, who's Dr Robertson and what the heck is that bolted to the engine?? 200bhp! blimey thats well done! I hope thats not one of those mythical flywheel figures with 40bhp transmition loss is it? what did it have at the wheels?

Well impressed with Peter Bull's Zaf, 191bhp from a pair of cams and a chip. Anyone know what cams they are??

He's also got a different exhaust manifold I think.

Brilliant report. I got my copy today.

Daz

Lightning Coupé said:
what the heck is that bolted to the engine??

U mean this....

Lightning_Coupe

yea, that! would be nice if the nutty proffesor wrote a little about it! Also, is it me or is that rocker cover a little odd? ive not seen one that shape before, its ever so slightley different to the ones ive seen.

Daz

It looks odd bcoz its got a saab head fitted....

Lightning_Coupe

Oh, that would explain it! how cool is that! Whats the thinking behind that then, does it have bigger valves or better porting as standard? or did he just have to replace the standard one and that came up I wonder.

vocky

Lightning Coupé said:
Oh, that would explain it! how cool is that! Whats the thinking behind that then, does it have bigger valves or better porting as standard? or did he just have to replace the standard one and that came up I wonder.

the saab head is 'sand cast'

the vx head is 'lost foam'

the saab head is much stronger and can take more power

JohnnyN

What's lost foam??

I've often thought that the head looks like polystyrene if you know what I mean. The aluminium looks like lots of little balls stuck together.

notsure.gif :oops: notsure.gif

vocky

the saab head is cast using a sand mould

the vx head uses a foam mould

basically the vx heads crack and the saab heads don't, similar to the c20xe head problems but not so common

Lightning_Coupe

lost foam techniqe is a form of patern making and casting metal. It would take ages to expalain here, best to google it. But basically, a replica of your head is made in a die from polestyren. That polysteyren (or similar material) is then used to make a mould for the head.

Lost foam casting or (LFC) is a type of metal casting process that uses expendable foam patterns to produce castings. Lost foam casting utilises a foam pattern which remains in the mould during metal pouring. The foam pattern is replaced by molten metal, producing the casting.

Andy_Coupe

I did ask the Dr on the day what was what but it just confused the hell out of me, it was all basicly home made with his own custom inlet manifold! Surprised he hasnt been on line yet tbh!

BlackAstra2_2

I've read somewhere that the saab head is capable of revving higher, something to do with the balancing mechanism.

Blue_2_2

The saab heads are far superior to GM standard heads

Unfortunately it requires considerable rework but is the head that is used by GM to record their land world speed record for front wheel drive compact vehicle and is capable of 1800 bhp

It is also used by VXR on the BTCC engines

rushy

JohnnyN said:
What's lost foam??

I've often thought that the head looks like polystyrene if you know what I mean. The aluminium looks like lots of little balls stuck together.

notsure.gif :oops: notsure.gif

Tell me about it, Ive not long had a new head and the polystyrene effect really stands out on fresh metal.

zafman

my cams are piper re-ground from the originals,the garage
who fitted them told me they were 270 deg but with the tick
over being so lumpy chipped thought they might be nearer race
spec notsure.gif my exhaust is :-dbilas four branch manifold
2.5"stainless system-pre cat removed,race cat

vocky

zafman said:
my cams are piper re-ground from the originals,the garage
who fitted them told me they were 270 deg but with the tick
over being so lumpy chipped thought they might be nearer race
spec notsure.gif my exhaust is :-dbilas four branch manifold
2.5"stainless system-pre cat removed,race cat

I've got the piper cams, the tickover is addictive :twisted:

ATOM_X

Hi I am the mad saab headed engine man

I am just about to start a new assignment at pobably the top motorsport engine engineering company in britain (For contractual reasons I cant tell you who, but if you guess their name I will not deny)

I will be able to trade from this location

Current projects
Z22se standard engine using standard bottom end with mild top end work 210 bhp cost £2-3000
Z22se multi throttle bodies married to fully developed robust 275bhp engine completely tractable for road use £3-5000
Z22se drag engine with high stall auto box 300lbs of torque 0-60 2.5 sec, 0-100-0 mph in less than 8secs £5-7000
Z22se race engine fitted to ariel atom 350bhp normally aspirated (thats 1000 bhp per ton) £18000

I own 3 vehicles all using Z22se engines and have 5 spare engines all used for development work thus the permutations are constantly changing

Regal, Thorney, Courteney & 888 please take note

Andy_Coupe

Feck me.... some impressive figures there Dr!

alanoo

And well, the big question is.... "When ?" 🙂

JohnnyN

I think i've just pooped my pants!!

:oops: