1999 Vectra B SRi Estate Saab Turbo Conversion

[woodenspatulas]

Hello people of Mig

Just thought I would start a thread on here about my little project.

I've owned this Vectra for about 6 or so years now and in that time I've used it as a daily driver and put over 70,000 miles on it. I've also owned a GSi estate (which I sold on and eventually got converted to a mint 3ltr) a Di estate (which I facelifted and popped in full heated leathers and is now owned by a local chap) and my new current daily driver, another 2ltr 140 SRi estate!

I like estates as you can see

Anyway back to the main car. I first started tuning the XEV and got as far as running it on Dbilas throttle bodies and was about to throw XER cams and a ported head etc and aftermarket management at it for giggles.

But then I drove my missus's Z20LET powered Vectra for the first time and had to have a turbo! About the same time I started looking into Saab engines. Started with the v6 low blow turbo as I knew it was a GM lump. That got quickly binned and I found that they GM900 shared alot of dna with cav's and Astra's.

So when a already stripped B204L engine came up for sale, I had to get it. After the Di estate having one last trip up north and back to get it and storing it in the GSi before it was sold on I finally had chance to get the lot upto my mate Jim for a try at getting it in.

After some fun with spanners and welding and probably allot of swearing it was in!







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Heres a video of a quick run on the rolling road to make sure the mounts are stable and everything works:

Vectra with a Saab Turbo engine test run 1 - YouTube

Now I have to say the biggest thanks to Jim for working on his tod to get this engine for bits and peices to a working lump. One word fella: GENUIS!!!

[woodenspatulas]

ALl this was about 2 years ago, since then theres been a few upgrades







the car spec is now:

B204L engine from a Saab GM900
Stage 1 ecu (mapped via T5 Suite)
9-3 fmic
custom bodged dowpipe and exhaust into a remus centre and back box
cone filter
new actuator
new dump valve
f23 gearbox
Quaife diff

the next stage will be:

3 inch downpipe
green giant injectors
remapped ecu
3 bar map sensor
TD04 turbo

should see nearer 300bhp, im heading to track and road essex where the first video was taken to get a set of figures to comapre once the upgrades are done.


Stock it ran about 180bhp and 220 pound foot which is FPT standard. with the current upgrades I'm hoping to get nearer 200bhp and then nearer 300bhp with the next stage of upgrades.

Hope you like

[astragsiv6]

i have always liked the vectra estate and you have a very good example there mate but what kind of wheels are they mate

[woodenspatulas]

They are off a 98 omega mv6. I bought it for pennies with a blown oil cooler. Got annoyed when I broke a banjo bolt and a mate asked to buy it for the 3ltr engine to go in his vec. I sold it, but kept the wheels.

They run 205 40 17 tyres and I've had to roll the arches on the back but I love them

Still factory original too just showing signs now of needing a refurb becuase of lacquer peel and some kurbage.

[Tathan]

Nice.

[Admin_Steve]

Awesome work!

[nova4x4]

have you got any details of how this was fitted??

[woodenspatulas]

No real photos were taken and the guy that fit the engine at the time said he wouldn't do another one. Not sure if it was harder than the normal turbo conversions he did or if he just wanted this to be a one off.

But basically it's bolted to a Vx gearbox and uses most of the vectra mounts. There's one that's been made to fit. The wiring would be the hardest but with a ecu that's not got the vss immobiliser makes it easier.

We had to mod the subframe slightly as the engines wedge shape wouldn't sit under the bonnet.

Mostly thought it can't be much harder than doing a c or z20let.

[nova4x4]

thanks have been asked to do one for a customer was just checking it out

[westyvan1]

ive managed to fit the saab 2.0 in deeks vectra and the bonnet closes fine and doesnt hit the subframe

[woodenspatulas]

To get it sat straight on the mounts used it had to be cut to be sure it wouldnt hit. How far from getting it road worthy?

[westyvan1]

hi mate can i ask which driveshaft your using on the driverside ?