Hi all. My name is Tom. I (my wife) has a 2001 SL1, 1.9 with the SOHC engine. The car is a great knock around car. We have 206k miles on it and while it's tough to get in and out of, you can't beat it for something to run around town in, not to worry about someone pushing a cart into it and it's supper easy to maintain. Only recently have I had to do any real serious work on it. Last summer, the front wheel bearings were making noise so I pulled the steering knuckles off and press in new bearings and while there I replaced the tie rod ends and completely rebuilt the front (and rear breaks). Then a large tree limb fell on the car about a month later. So I replace the windshield, the door trim and mirror after re-shaping the roof. Put new tires on it this past December. So when my timing chain slipped and destroyed the cylinder head, I just could bear to put the car down, so I'm in the process of rebuilding the engine all the way from the bare block up. Sure hope this thing runs again when I get it all back together. Otherwise I'll be looking for a new used Saturn to replace it.

 

Welcome to the forum, man. I admire your tenacity. Most of us probably would have just scrapped the car after all of that!

 

Welcome to the forum,

Tenacious indeed. Die hard Saturn owners/lovers just can't euthanize one that can be nursed back to health if they have the skills to do it.

Would love to see a separate 3rd gen SOHC rebuild thread with pictures after completion of logical steps. Shouldn't slow you down too much, plus it'll become a sticky in the S car Sedans sub forum!.

 

Hello Mr B. I just joined today. You really must love that Sat not to scrap it after the tree. But then after all that work the engine snaps. I can see at that point (after all that other work was done) why you had to go through the motor. It would really be a waste to junk it after all that. Good luck with your baby and many trouble free miles ahead.