The curve...a solution...I thought
 

As my posts keep ticking, I'll keep flaunting.


Now I know I need an engine with BLACK rocker covers. Find one on CL, it's clean in the picture, same year I need, guy says 30K on clock, only needs intake (cool I've got mine), 300 bucks, super deal.


I call, talk to the fella, tell him I'll take it but can't get there until tomorrow. Dude says: "For 20 bucks I'll deliver", I say sweet bring it. Okay, now I'm thinking sketchy CL guy, strung out, chop shop, or what ever, he's 70 miles from me.


90 minutes later he shows up in a brand new Acura MDX, engine clean as a whistle, shrink wrapped, sitting on a radial that I'd be running on one of my rigs.


He tells me his sad story. Blew the motor on his rig, found a low mileage car totaled in the rear, pulls both engines over the week end, goes to work Monday. When he gets home, both cars have been towed by his city's vehicle abatement, 750 each, must pay both to release one. He says screw it.


Sits in my shop for 2 years. Pull my engine, wait a month then start in on the whole works, pull what I need and clean it all in the parts tank.


Start to get it back together and right off the bat I see the intake flange is different on the good motor?? WTF, the rocker covers is black. Apparently, BLACK is not the MAIN area of compatibility!!


Once again, more than I want to learn at that time. What could I have done to make it work? PAX

what you could have done was buy the correct engine.

I guess that doesn't really count.

You apparently bought a 99+ engine as opposed to a 97-98 engine, as the intakes are compatible within the two ranges listed, but not between them. You were also screwed on the exhaust mani as up to 98 were 5 bolt, but 99+ were 9 bolt.

Ideally, you'd swap in a 97/98 head and be done with it. I'm sure I forgot something; I can feeeeeeel it......

My car is a 2000. The CL add said '99 DOHC 1.9. When I spoke to the fella, presumedly, more Saturn smart than me, "It'll fit, all you need is the intake". More to it than meets the eye. PAX

If it was a 99 engine, your 2000 intake would have bolted right up. It was a ,97/98.